What have Seriously done to deserve this?

[telys]

I guess we've all been wondering over the years what "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously" did to deserve the cinderella-like treatment it's received from PSB.
It was a double a-side single in UK and Europe and a proper single on its own in France and the US. It had its own video which I myself watched a lot on MTV back in the day. It had its own 7'' version. It was originally supposed to be the 3rd single off Behaviour. The only thing missing is that it didn't really have its own b-side (although the Classical reprise could be close enough).

But still. Seriously did not get any place on Discography, neither on Popart nor on Smash.

The 7'' version appearing on Discography would have solved the issue with new singles. Adding only DJ Culture as a new track on Discography would resolved the issue with Was It Worth It not being successful enough. And it wouldn't have made Discography any worse at all, probably the contrary.

[Drico One]

Actually, I think that's an interesting point regarding Discography. There was a certain complacency afoot at the time in thinking that Was it worth it? would chart well when most fans already had it on the greatest hits. I loved Was it worth it? but, up to that point, most of their already-available singles were remixed for an assault on the charts. Rent, Heart, Left to my own devices, It's alright, and Jealousy were cases in point. Even Being boring was dramatically shortened. But Was it worth it? couldn't be remixed because it was already out as part of the "Complete Singles Collection."

Of course, we know it was released to promote the greatest hits, and there may be an argument that it did that. But I don't think a number 24 flop - which is really what it was for a band who boastfully put all their chart positions on the greatest hits sleeve notes - was the best promotion for them. It called into question their continued existence. In hindsight, the inclusion of Seriously would have been neater. But it would have deprived us of Miserablism and the lovely CD single cover art. And, of course, Was it worth it? itself is a lovely track. I still like the video.

Drico.

[Danimal]

I’ve had the thought that a fun in-joke would be for PSB to play “…seriously” as the final song in their upcoming “Obscure” residency setlist. Even though it was a single and these shows are supposed to be composed of all non-singles they’ve never treated it as such much to the chagrin of some in their hardcore fan base.

[DopeFiend]

I'd argue that Absolutely Fabulous should be given the same treatment. SMASH and Dreamworld inclusion.
It peaked at number 2 on the charts here, it's one of PSB's biggest songs for Australia. If they tour here they should add it to the setlist IMO. It's the type of song you see in music request machines alongside Always On My Mind and West End Girls.

How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously is a mediocre song. New Jack Swing didn't really have the longevity that other music genres have had. It hasn't even had a revival.

Listening to Behaviour from start to finish, the song has it's place.
As a single, it helps to express this sort of snide and catty side of PSB we like to call satire.
In a pre-internet era, I feel it must have been an important statement about other pop stars.
I mean many artists only write love songs, this one is about being shallow and inflated.
Neil probably using his Smash Hits background as inspiration. A delightful dig.
It was a good accompaniment for the U2 cover. The U2 cover song was meant to almost satirise rock n roll
into something about glamour and showbiz. Where The Streets Have No Name has more staying power in the long run,
and is arguably the better song. I'm perfectly okay with it overtaking Seriously and getting the attention.

The only problem with How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously is how the version from the music video hasn't been re-released and was released without a unique title. It's currently exclusive to cassette and vinyl, and has the same exact run time (4:10) as the 7" Perfect Attitude Mix.

Lastly, the song isn't just shunned by PSB by the way, it's the fanbase. It's widely regarded as the black sheep of Behaviour.
I don't mind it but I prefer other songs to it. Again it served a purpose at the time, diversifying PSB's catalogue.

Actually, I think that's an interesting point regarding Discography. There was a certain complacency afoot at the time in thinking that Was it worth it? would chart well when most fans already had it on the greatest hits. I loved Was it worth it? but, up to that point, most of their already-available singles were remixed for an assault on the charts. Rent, Heart, Left to my own devices, It's alright, and Jealousy were cases in point. Even Being boring was dramatically shortened. But Was it worth it? couldn't be remixed because it was already out as part of the "Complete Singles Collection."

Of course, we know it was released to promote the greatest hits, and there may be an argument that it did that. But I don't think a number 24 flop - which is really what it was for a band who boastfully put all their chart positions on the greatest hits sleeve notes - was the best promotion for them. It called into question their continued existence. In hindsight, the inclusion of Seriously would have been neater. But it would have deprived us of Miserablism and the lovely CD single cover art. And, of course, Was it worth it? itself is a lovely track. I still like the video.

Drico.

Very interesting. Sounds like one for the Missteps thread. I also like the music video. Plus the Performance staging with the wacky pig costumes and slanted desk.

[One of the crowd]

Clearly they were seriously considering releasing it as a single in the UK in it’s own right as remixes by BIR and Morales had been commissioned
They also had enough b-sides (Girlfriend/Miserablism/LMM) for this and next two singles if need be

But they probably thought it wouldn’t be a hit following the low position of Being Boring and they knew they had a GH package around the corner, which they wanted two new tracks for.
They probably didn’t want two poor selling singles prior to Discography

So issuing it as the double A with Streets they did and they got the Top 10 hit they wanted and followed it up with the mid teen placings of Jealousy and DJ Culture.

Space on Discography prevented it being on there
It is a shame they didn’t include it on PopArt and I doubt we will see it on a complete retrospective one day.

[markus]

It's about George Michael isn't it? They must have had some negative reactions. U2 were diplomatic with their response to Streets have no name, but perhaps George Michael didn’t want to be associated with them. The idea to provoke him a bit didn’t land as intended.

[minimal]

Is there a good reason why they released 'Was It Worth It' as a standalone CD single, or has this ever been discussed? I've always liked it, and I still love it to this day. The video clip is lovely, too. They both look great in it, don’t they?

As for 'Seriously', the BIR 7" mix/edit is one of their finest sonic achievements, as well as being a great example of how they reinvented an original song for a single release. It's one of the smoothest PSB singles, and it's true that it's hardly acknowledged as such in the adaptable PSB canon.

m+

[Patrick Bateman]

Perhaps the reason they've buried it is that the group who recorded it in 1990 are no longer the same group. They've released a charity single, they preach and teach the world about various things, they have longevity.

[minimal]

I've had a quick look, and if I'm right, there isn't even an HD version of the Seriously music video on YouTube.

[Hillbilly]

It's really strange that it has never been released on any Further Listening either, but maybe it's because the single version is a remix by Brothers In Rhythm and they have only included their own remixes on the FL collections. But as a de facto single A-side it should definitely have been included on a compilation at least!

[Ramzy]

As for 'Seriously', the BIR 7" mix/edit is one of their finest sonic achievements

dVTB? Is that you?

[minimal]

I know I'm probably alone in this, but I've always loved the sound of the BIR 7" of 'Seriously'. It's so smooth! I wouldn't say it's one of their greatest singles, though. There's a difference.

Am+

[Towa]

I know I'm probably alone in this, but I've always loved the sound of the BIR 7" of 'Seriously'. It's so smooth! I wouldn't say it's one of their greatest singles, though. There's a difference.

Am+

I also like it a lot, mainly because it made me actually hear the song. I really didn’t like the album version, the NJS production put me off and I didn’t give the song much time. The remix made me hear the song and since then I can also appreciate the album version. Great remix. Still not one of their greatest singles though

[dukeduvet]

I was just listening to the PopArt commentary and Chris says "It's not that good is it?". I don't agree! Used to watch it again and again on 'Videography'. I really liked that red ski hat.

[tottenhammattspurs]

Ab Fab doesn't even appear in the upcoming "Volume"