New PSB demo online - Hymn

[Spittingcat]

Not “assignation”, but rather “assassination”.

Sorry.

Actually, there’s a lyric idea.

[raggatwin]

When is the Palestine mix coming?

[y3potential]

..I'm still hoping for Disco 5....

[NotInvisible]

The situation with Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the West is complex and we are only getting one side in the mainstream news.

"Why isn't anyone presenting the Nazis' side?" -daveid,1936

[daveid]

The situation with Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the West is complex and we are only getting one side in the mainstream news.

"Why isn't anyone presenting the Nazis' side?" -daveid,1936

Oh dear, so I'm a Nazi apologist and didn't realise...

Extremism is created from an inability to understand the world and the various events on both sides that lead to atrocity. Putin is a monster but he's not operating in a vacuum.

Unfortunately a balanced viewpoint is not very exciting in this age of whipped up emotions where people have become the product of algorithmic self-reinforcement.

[NotInvisible]

Oh dear, so I'm a Nazi apologist and didn't realise...

I don’t think you’re a Nazi apologist, but that’s effectively your argument. Looks a bit silly transposed to a different context, doesn’t it?

Putin is a monster but he's not operating in a vacuum.

The West didn’t force Putin to invade a sovereign nation and target civilians.

Unfortunately a balanced viewpoint is not very exciting in this age of whipped up emotions where people have become the product of algorithmic self-reinforcement.

Balance isn’t presenting the side that claims it’s raining and the side that claims it’s not, it’s going outside to see what the weather actually is.

[leesmapman]

Incredible how invading a country, poinsoning political opponents and shooting down airplaines with innocent people would make someone the bad guy in this.

[daveid]

Incredible how invading a country, poinsoning political opponents and shooting down airplaines with innocent people would make someone the bad guy in this.

You know I think you might be on to something here. It's suddenly occured to me... Putin's a tyrant and Russia invaded the Ukraine. That's really bad. Well I'm a new man now. I've seen the light. You were all ahead of the game on this one. Well done and here are your Blue Peter badges. Next week on "Stating the Bleeding Obvious", why it's wrong to push someone off the roof of a medium-sized building.

[lucienchardon]

A beautiful tribute. My favorite bit:

Let Russia be free
From the poison of Putin
may it win liberty

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't think anyone has a problem with AN anti-Putin song but we don't want too many.

It wouldn't be so bad if they wrote a song about Netanyahu or Israel's genocide of Gazans but they won't because Israel's our monster and that would be the end of their career.

Yeah, that's what is off to me. A literal genocide with all the accordant imagery and not a word. I don't have a problem with artists being engaged politically but it often results in bad art. Also, they're not career diplomats and so their perspective tends to be naive and simplistic. Neil may think Give Stupidity a Chance is about Trump but it could equally apply to pretty much any Western election over the last 50 years.

[Vintage Youth]

I don't think it's unusual that someone who studied Russian history/a former frequent visitor feels like they have a connection to/understanding of the current conflict and doesn't feel the need to make songs about all conflict everywhere.

Macklemore and Kneecap aren't doing songs about Sudan, as far as I am aware.

There are a lot of awful songs about the Northern Ireland Troubles.

[richwill]

Very strange intervention. They're not religious, and Navalny was a fanatical racist. Maybe we should just be grateful they didn't do a song celebrating Musk's Hitler salutes.

[richwill]

I don't think it's unusual that someone who studied Russian history/a former frequent visitor feels like they have a connection to/understanding of the current conflict and doesn't feel the need to make songs about all conflict everywhere.

Macklemore and Kneecap aren't doing songs about Sudan, as far as I am aware.

There are a lot of awful songs about the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Your own concern for the people of Sudan is of course universally renowned.

[Spittingcat]

I don't think it's unusual that someone who studied Russian history/a former frequent visitor feels like they have a connection to/understanding of the current conflict and doesn't feel the need to make songs about all conflict everywhere.

More that that. The artists known as the Pet Shop Boys applauded and promoted Russia, and the Russian people, when they appeared there and featured it in their work. That they have now written a hymn to and for the Russian people, and dedicate it to a murdered political dissident, should come as no surprise. It is entirely consistent, and done with integrity.

And to those that ask “why don’t they question the UK government in song”, they have been doing so for decades.

And to those that suggest Putin is just another leader, that “they are all the same”. No.

And to those that think it is “too obvious” to write about Putin, because opinion on him and his acts are settled… read some of the other replies to this thread. Disinformation is everywhere, and artists can’t ignore it. You can choose to be silent. They have chosen not to be.

[Harry]

This is Neil and Chris enjoying the freedom they have to put out a quick demo directly onto YouTube, as per "Living in the past" in 2022.

On the subject matter, it's interesting to read all of the commentary on this forum, where there is evidently quite a diverse range of backgrounds and opinions. Those will not be solved here, but it is interesting to see them.

On the lack of a Pet Shop Boys song about Israel and Gaza, I strongly believe that it is Neil's right to write about subjects he is personally interested in, and we all know he has a lifelong interest in Russian history and culture. He is under no obligation whatsoever to write about any other topic, nor should he be expected to make a public pronouncement about it. Why should he?

In this social media age, everyone is expected to advertise their opinion on everything, and to toe the line. Neil will not. His opinions on the Middle East, if he has any, will be for his family and friends, and not for us or the media.