Pet Shop Boys Community

Gabby wrote: Sat 10 Aug 2024, 3:13 pm

telys wrote: Sat 10 Aug 2024, 9:12 am

innerxsanctum wrote: Tue 06 Aug 2024, 4:31 pm

Because I enjoy bursting your bubble, it doesn't make sense because the song isn't Feel. I was kind of proud you liked the song because it's openly queer and most definitely sounds like a post-00s PSB song, but then you had to ruin your redeeming quality by saying it sounds like "young Neil Tennant" and that the album "sounds old." But hey, what do you know about queerness and anything post-Imperial phase, I guess.

I hear nothing queer in Feel. Nothing queer at all on Nonetheless unless mentioning the completely unknown Les Petites Bonbon counts as queer.

I've been trying to get my head around that too. Women go to prison too, so it could equally be that. Neil's delivery is quite feminine but the lyric "you make me feel like nobody else's man" is unequivocal.

Neil's stated several times that he sees Nonetheless as their "queer" album, but aside from some more obvious lyrics and themes, I don't hear it overall.

I'd be more inclined to describe it as an album that's showcasing and exposing feelings and vulnerability.

I just posted a longer answer to Telys that also touches on this subject btw

Thanks for this considered and sensible response, innerxsanctum. Of course people won't necessarily pick up on queer themes and nuances unless they're queer, and that's fine - it'd be the same for any group of people, especially one that isn't in the majority and/or has a history of marginalisation and subculture. But - while this isn't the place to relitigate the "are PSB a gay band" discussion - I think for those of us who are actually gay the argument is quite funny (if also exhausting) to watch.

Not as painful as people misinterpreting the term "Imperialist phase" to mean PSB were somehow bastions of an elite lifestyle

I guess people interpret the music to suit themselves, and sometimes in denial of the person who wrote or sang it.

But mostly I like innerxsanctum's point about "mystery". And they're the masters of the upbeat sad song, so always that possibility of enjoying something without necessarily understanding it fully.

jasonjohn wrote: Sun 11 Aug 2024, 2:30 am Not as painful as people misinterpreting the term "Imperialist phase" to mean PSB were somehow bastions of an elite lifestyle

I guess people interpret the music to suit themselves, and sometimes in denial of the person who wrote or sang it.

But mostly I like innerxsanctum's point about "mystery". And they're the masters of the upbeat sad song, so always that possibility of enjoying something without necessarily understanding it fully.

This is perfectly put! None of us really know what's behind some of it, and that's where the magic lies.

Nice feature/review in Paste magazine:

https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/pet ... -shop-boys

Knocking Down Tables With Pet Shop Boys
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe talk about “West End Girls” and how the wellspring of their songwriting is still fertile on their 15th studio album, the James Ford-produced Nonetheless, and remains as such.

And that’s why, after the guys bring up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lowe asks out loud: “Are we ever going to get inducted?”

“Do we want to be?” Tennant replies.

“I want to be offered it and then—” Lowe says, before he and Tennant say “turn it down” in unison.

The Current Enfants Terribles are at it again!

In the never-ending list of Nonetheless versions, I see we have it in a standard jewel case now.

https://wmc.shop/collections/pet-shop-b ... onetheless

Gabby wrote: Thu 27 Nov 2025, 5:43 pm In the never-ending list of Nonetheless versions, I see we have it in a standard jewel case now.

https://wmc.shop/collections/pet-shop-b ... onetheless

It’s been there for quite a while. Here’s my unboxing over a year ago.
https://youtu.be/Encc83EhHUg?si=hhWXp80A5e2Eqx3x

lalolalo wrote: Fri 28 Nov 2025, 11:53 am

Gabby wrote: Thu 27 Nov 2025, 5:43 pm In the never-ending list of Nonetheless versions, I see we have it in a standard jewel case now.

https://wmc.shop/collections/pet-shop-b ... onetheless

It’s been there for quite a while. Here’s my unboxing over a year ago.
https://youtu.be/Encc83EhHUg?si=hhWXp80A5e2Eqx3x

That's hilarious - Warner Canada had it listed a *NEW*!

wow, that's a cool and extensive unboxing page lalolalo

Blimey!

For those who don't have X.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-ex ... B000024KTW

Triple vinyl £17;90

tottenhammattspurs wrote: Fri 26 Dec 2025, 12:29 pm Blimey!

For those who don't have X.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-ex ... B000024KTW

Triple vinyl £17;90

It's not really a box set now, is it Amazon?

Gabby wrote: Thu 27 Nov 2025, 5:43 pm In the never-ending list of Nonetheless versions, I see we have it in a standard jewel case now.

https://wmc.shop/collections/pet-shop-b ... onetheless

That's funny
I bought that version in Germany last year! June 2024

I think psb should do a full album in the same mood of The secret of hapiness.

jules wrote: Sun 28 Dec 2025, 12:36 pm I think psb should do a full album in the same mood of The secret of hapiness.

You could make a loungey Bossa Nova-like album? Probably more than this, it's subjective

1. Secret of Happiness
2. It Always Comes As A Surprise
3. The View From Your Balcony
4. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin
5. Domino Dancing (Demo Version)
6. Betrayed

That plays well. I’ve added in 20 Something and Between two islands.