Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[markus]

This is a discussion forum, not the CERN laboratory.

There is no evidence for this.

I was the Nightlife tour at Globen in Stockholm in early 2000 with two friends who were not PSB fans. One was a talented musician who liked the album enough to buy it after I played it to him. The other was into clubbing and dance music — Nightlife fitted right in when we were partying.
After the show, one of them said “gay”, the other didn’t mind at all — but the important thing was this: Globen wasn’t sold out.

Then PSB released “Drunk” as the final single and simply stopped. Momentum gone — just when I’d brought two new listeners with me.
So no, I don’t accept that Nightlife failed because it couldn’t reach new people. The bridge was there. They just didn’t follow through.

[NotInvisible]

Anyone want to move on to Girl & Boys, Live in Rio?

Still their best remix. They approached it like they were making a new single, not like they were bashing out a bit of extra cash in 15 minutes before dinner.

[NotInvisible]

the important thing was this: Globen wasn’t sold out

I don’t accept that Nightlife failed because it couldn’t reach new people

Defeated your own argument there, mate.

[markus]

the important thing was this: Globen wasn’t sold out

I don’t accept that Nightlife failed because it couldn’t reach new people

Defeated your own argument there, mate.

Nope, they should have released FYOG as the single because we all loved that one.

[NotInvisible]

Nope, they should have released FYOG as the single because we all loved that one.

I loved FYOG but I don't think it would have changed anything. As you said, the tour wasn't sold out. To the point that Chris recognized they were in dire straits and proposed dissolving the Pet Shop Boys. Doubling down on what wasn't working wasn't going to achieve anything.

[markus]

Nope, they should have released FYOG as the single because we all loved that one.

I loved FYOG but I don't think it would have changed anything.

On what basis exactly?

[NotInvisible]

On what basis exactly?

On the basis that neither of the two electronic dance tracks they released were significant hits, FYOG isn't a pop song and so wouldn't have had much radio play anyway, and the album wasn't able to convince people to sell out the tour. When one of the group is openly suggesting they pack it in, you know the whole era is a dud.

Pet Shop Boys are here today because of Release and Battleship Potemkin, they've influenced almost everything they've done since. You don't get Nonetheless and its critical acclaim without rebuilding the idea of what Pet Shop Boys could be circa the turn of the century. They evolved from an outdated synth group to a wide-ranging art project capable of delivering anything from Axis to Burning the Heather, and managed to wring out another nine years in the Top 20 instead of following the trajectory of the Nightlife singles (although it's worth noting that Drunk, which broke the format, is the one that went Top 10).

Nobody wanted electric bangers from Pet Shop Boys in 1999 and that wasn't going to change by hiring Stuart Price to make the follow up and doubling down on what had become a tired stereotype. And while I adore Electric and think the other two Price albums have some great material on them, the fact remains that none of those tracks were actual hits.

[markus]

On what basis exactly?

On the basis that neither of the two electronic dance tracks they released were significant hits, FYOG isn't a pop song and so wouldn't have had much radio play anyway, and the album wasn't able to convince people to sell out the tour. When one of the group is openly suggesting they pack it in, you know the whole era is a dud.

Pet Shop Boys are here today because of Release and Battleship Potemkin, they've influenced almost everything they've done since. You don't get Nonetheless and its critical acclaim without rebuilding the idea of what Pet Shop Boys could be circa the turn of the century. They evolved from an outdated synth group to a wide-ranging art project capable of delivering anything from Axis to Burning the Heather, and managed to wring out another nine years in the Top 20 instead of following the trajectory of the Nightlife singles (although it's worth noting that Drunk, which broke the format, is the one that went Top 10).

Nobody wanted electric bangers from Pet Shop Boys in 1999 and that wasn't going to change by hiring Stuart Price to make the follow up and doubling down on what had become a tired stereotype. And while I adore Electric and think the other two Price albums have some great material on them, the fact remains that none of those tracks were actual hits.

Sure, but couldn’t they have done all of this while also positioning themselves as the ultimate source of quality electronic dance music, and owned their MTV award as recognition for a 40-year career, where the other 30 years of contributions to the music business also mattered — essentially claiming their place in the holy triangle of Royksopp, Daft Punk, and PSB?

[telys]

the important thing was this: Globen wasn’t sold out

I don’t accept that Nightlife failed because it couldn’t reach new people

Defeated your own argument there, mate.

I was at that Globen concert as well. Had both a great pre-party and an after party at a club in Stockholm. Drunk had come out by then and I got a hold of the live-maxi edition.
I can't remember if it was sold out or not, but it wasn't that packed at the front so probably wasn't sold out. Great show but some geezer who couldn't sing decided to wail out Footsteps next to me.

[Patrick Bateman]

On the basis that neither of the two electronic dance tracks they released were significant hits, FYOG isn't a pop song and so wouldn't have had much radio play anyway, and the album wasn't able to convince people to sell out the tour. When one of the group is openly suggesting they pack it in, you know the whole era is a dud.

Pet Shop Boys are here today because of Release and Battleship Potemkin, they've influenced almost everything they've done since. You don't get Nonetheless and its critical acclaim without rebuilding the idea of what Pet Shop Boys could be circa the turn of the century. They evolved from an outdated synth group to a wide-ranging art project capable of delivering anything from Axis to Burning the Heather, and managed to wring out another nine years in the Top 20 instead of following the trajectory of the Nightlife singles (although it's worth noting that Drunk, which broke the format, is the one that went Top 10).

Nobody wanted electric bangers from Pet Shop Boys in 1999 and that wasn't going to change by hiring Stuart Price to make the follow up and doubling down on what had become a tired stereotype. And while I adore Electric and think the other two Price albums have some great material on them, the fact remains that none of those tracks were actual hits.

Drunk only made the top ten because it was released in the first week of January, like when Erasure got to number four with Breathe.

[Patrick Bateman]

Anyone want to move on to Girl & Boys, Live in Rio?

Great remix of a song that could have been written by them. Never been a fan of live tracks on singles - it's all a bit U2 - but I suppose they had to fill up the tracklist.

[NotInvisible]

Sure, but couldn’t they have done all of this while also positioning themselves as the ultimate source of quality electronic dance music, and owned their MTV award as recognition for a 40-year career, where the other 30 years of contributions to the music business also mattered

How? Especially when the public had tired of them as a synth act by 1999?

essentially claiming their place in the holy triangle of Royksopp, Daft Punk, and PSB?

There isn't really a scenario where Pet Shop Boys and Daft Punk occupy the same space - they've always done different things. You're not going to get Around the World out of Pet Shop Boys and you're certainly never going to get It Couldn't Happen Here out of Daft Punk (let's not forget that PSB have four times the number of Top 40 hits as it is). And frankly I don't think Royksopp sits in any kind of holy triangle; I like them, but let's face it, the average person has never heard of them and their greatest success was cracking the lower half of the of the Top 40 nearly a quarter century ago.

[NotInvisible]

Drunk only made the top ten because it was released in the first week of January, like when Erasure got to number four with Breathe.

Sure, but as Robbie Williams just showed, a stat is a stat.

[markus]

Sure, but couldn’t they have done all of this while also positioning themselves as the ultimate source of quality electronic dance music, and owned their MTV award as recognition for a 40-year career, where the other 30 years of contributions to the music business also mattered

How? Especially when the public had tired of them as a synth act by 1999?

essentially claiming their place in the holy triangle of Royksopp, Daft Punk, and PSB?

There isn't really a scenario where Pet Shop Boys and Daft Punk occupy the same space - they've always done different things. You're not going to get Around the World out of Pet Shop Boys and you're certainly never going to get It Couldn't Happen Here out of Daft Punk (let's not forget that PSB have four times the number of Top 40 hits as it is). And frankly I don't think Royksopp sits in any kind of holy triangle; I like them, but let's face it, the average person has never heard of them and their greatest success was cracking the lower half of the of the Top 40 nearly a quarter century ago.

What have PSB really sold beyond the same loyal fanbase that stayed after their imperial phase? Compare the streams for Nonetheless with the millions listening to Röyksopp or Daft Punk just because they like electronic dance music.
It explains why PSB are still seen mainly as a synth-pop band and why everything else gets ignored. They only nod to their dance audience with half-arsed Disco releases, while the best dance remixes usually come from fans turning ballads and musical numbers into club tracks.

[NOBODY75]

I think Daft Punk is a very overrated group. I think Röyksopp are much better. But they're still second-rate compared to Pets. I wouldn't want a holy trinity of Pets with just those two. If I were to think of a holy trinity of electronic music, I'd definitely add New Order and Depeche Mode.
I think if N.C. Boy reached number 14, I doubt any other track would have gone much higher. And I consider YOTMYLMWYADRUNK a masterpiece. A timeless song that's practically beyond the reach of any other group. Pets in top form. I'm glad it reached the Top 10, even if it was because it came out in January.