Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[Too Many Shadows]

Lots of noirish, shadowy activity going down on I’m Not Scared. I very much like these songs where Neil’s lyrics leave the listener to fill in the blanks. For example, “I don’t care” is mentioned a lot, then comes the contrary “If I was you, if I was you, I wouldn’t treat me the way you do”. This doesn't come across as the thoughts of someone who is carefree. What’s that all about?

[Lleonard Pler]

Lots of noirish, shadowy activity going down on I’m Not Scared. I very much like these songs where Neil’s lyrics leave the listener to fill in the blanks. For example, “I don’t care” is mentioned a lot, then comes the contrary “If I was you, if I was you, I wouldn’t treat me the way you do”. This doesn't come across as the thoughts of someone who is carefree. What’s that all about?

Well for me, one thing is pristine clear throughout the song: the narrator does care and is scared. But singing is a way of reassuring and empowering themselves.

I'm not scared is what you would tell yourself when you are scared, like I can do it when you feel weak our doubt your possibilities.

All in all, a great song, one of their warmer melodies, and a very cinematic production.

[TwizzleUK]

The psb version sounds older to me, although it was released after the EW version.

I've always wondered if the Introspective version was effectively an extended, jazzed up version of the original demo they did for Eighth Wonder.

[Towa]

I've always wondered if the Introspective version was effectively an extended, jazzed up version of the original demo they did for Eighth Wonder.

That has always been my suspicion as well

[Too Many Shadows]

I've always wondered if the Introspective version was effectively an extended, jazzed up version of the original demo they did for Eighth Wonder.

That has always been my suspicion as well

This has to be the case. Have you ever tried to create the next iteration of something without reference to all previous iterations? Super annoyingly, you're probably most susceptible to what's gone before at the precise moment when you're trying hardest NOT to think of what's gone before.

[ChrisLove]

that orchestral parts in I'm not scared at the start, in the middle and in the ending are not real orchestra aren't they ? are they fairlight samples ?

Not Fairlight samples, but they're taken from news snippets from the 1968 Paris student protests.

Fantastic song, at first I was surprised they recorded the song themselves, but it's such a great song, why wouldn't they?

I didn't meant that part i was talking about sounds which starts 0:36 (ends on 0:53) then 4:13 and in the long ending 6:13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPWWNof ... el=2009pet

[TallThinMan]

that orchestral parts in I'm not scared at the start, in the middle and in the ending are not real orchestra aren't they ? are they fairlight samples ?

Not Fairlight samples, but they're taken from news snippets from the 1968 Paris student protests.

Fantastic song, at first I was surprised they recorded the song themselves, but it's such a great song, why wouldn't they?

I didn't meant that part i was talking about sounds which starts 0:36 (ends on 0:53) then 4:13 and in the long ending 6:13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPWWNof ... el=2009pet

They’re not real strings. I should imagine they’re Fairlight CMI series III or Emulator II strings from the sample libraries that shipped with those instruments.

[ChrisLove]

They’re not real strings. I should imagine they’re Fairlight CMI series III or Emulator II strings from the sample libraries that shipped with those instruments.

Yeah it's what i expected and they sounds even better than real orchestra. I heard it's the same for It couldn't happen here, fairlight was such an amazing instrument it made the sound of Pet Shop Boys.

[TallThinMan]

They’re not real strings. I should imagine they’re Fairlight CMI series III or Emulator II strings from the sample libraries that shipped with those instruments.

Yeah it's what i expected and they sounds even better than real orchestra. I heard it's the same for It couldn't happen here, fairlight was such an amazing instrument it made the sound of Pet Shop Boys.

I agree, I love their sound from the time of ‘Actually’. Have you seen this? https://youtube.com/watch?v=WQ0XRksZ4N8

[ChrisLove]

Thanks i always wanted to hear that song without vocals it's really beatiful fairlight sounds was used also in It's a sin i think

But going back to I'm not scared i love this song for me it's on the level of Enjoy the Silence for Depeche Mode.

[Patrick Bateman]

Though I love their version, Patsy's is definitive. Look at how stunning she is on TOTP - arguably they nailed writing perfect sexy pop here and they never really revisited that genre with their later collaborations.

https://youtu.be/0FgN7qZlJc0?si=Wu_r9GsMp9dJPD-_

Weird it wasn't included on Dreamworld too. Far more of a genuine hit than many of the songs they played.

[Pinhead44]

I'm Not Scared

For me, the 10" mix of the Eighth Wonder track is the definitive version. 5 and and a half minutes of pop magic !

That the boys added their own version on Introspective, less than a year after the Eighth Wonder version made the top ten, suggests to me that (along with I Want A Dog) they were scratching around for a couple of tracks to make up the 6.

I like the first and last minute's of the boys version, everything inbetween I find myself drifting away and longing for the 'oh oh oh oh oh oh's' and Patsy Kensit sexily singing 'J'ai Pas Peur' to me on the Eighth Wonder version (6/10)

[Neilatrone]

Track 34: Always on my mind/In My House

Chronology: Introspective Track 5

I can remember watching the Elvis Presley performance on the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops in 1987. I cannot recall if I saw the original "Love Me Tender" programme but this was it for me - a Pet Shop Boys fan for life.

[Too Many Shadows]

Track 34: Always on my mind/In My House

It’s rather excellent, isn’t it?

Better than the hit single version? Probably. By how much? I’m still crunching the numbers on that.

Favourite bit: the fine detail in the euphoric transitions.

[Neilatrone]

Favourite bit: the fine detail in the euphoric transitions.

Classic Pet Shop Boys, I'd say.