Pet Shop Boys Community

markus wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 8:31 pm “Se a vida é” was as much a falling-in-love song in my confusing life. I had a strange crush on a friend who could offer me nothing more than friendship, and yet—oh my God—what a bromance we had. That summer and autumn, wisdom and guidance came from Neil, from the bittersweet melancholy of That’s the Way Life Is. It was my song. It was our song, even though he never knew.

That's a sweet story - Not a crush, but I have a someone who doesn't know that "Miracles" is "our song". Whether they ever will remains to be seen.

I'll never consider Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is) a classic, but every time I hear it I am struck by its pretty, sunny, earnest disposition. It's a sweet song, a little unusual for them. It was certainly a bigger radio hit than Before - but they left it too late to release it as a single. This needed to come out earlier than mid-August. The hadn't really absorbed the lesson of Domino dancing, though one could argue that was at least about a summer relationship gone sour. Se a vida é held up reasonably well on the charts, though, falling only three places to 11 on its second week. But their commercial diminution is exemplified when Bilingual is outsold by Suede's Coming Up. They're sliding faster than a kid at Wet 'n Wild in the Bruce Weber video...

Drico.

When "Se A Vida E" came out, I liked it quite a bit, although a step below their top singles. I still feel the same way today. The black and white of the video horrifies me. What worked in "Being Boring" detracts from it here.
I find it very interesting to read the different opinions of other fans about their songs. And sometimes those opinions surprise me. I would have thought, for example, that "Metamorphosis" was a more appreciated song among the fanbase

I've always loved Se a vida é. My fandom was definitely waning by this stage - I bought Alternative and Before but I had other interests, so seeing this for the first time at the end of The Chart Show was a reminder that they did still have it.

It's the ultimate happy-sad song - advising someone to cheer up and enjoy life, while still having this desperately melancholy air to it. The line 'life is much more simple when you're young' has a wistful tone and reminds me of the end of The Great Gatsby. Even as you enjoy the present it has become the past. Love the video too.

And because they still had it, I endured when I could have been one of those fairweather fans who checked out here. Like a supporter of a lower-league football team, I kept turning up even through the barren years that were to follow.

For me, the Pink Noise mix of Se A Vida E is up there as one of their best remixes.. Quite trippy...

Gabby wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 8:10 pm Can we please get back on...

Track 92: "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)"

Chronology: Bilingual, Track 5

I'm rather surprised that I like this one, to be honest, because I wouldn't normally listen to this kind of thing. But it is very sweet, heartfelt and simplistic (part of their "cheating with the third verse" range?) and has an honest-to-God singable chorus. And it has those big drums. Gotta love those drums (even if they're sampled).

Drico One wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 9:20 pm My head is spinning.

Talking of which... are we just skipping over the whole of Relentless? Where is it gonna fit in this timeline?

y3potential wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 11:43 pm For me, the Pink Noise mix of Se A Vida E is up there as one of their best remixes.. Quite trippy...

It's a great remix. One of my friends (who was a fairweather PSB fan) really liked it.

petshopgrrl wrote: Fri 30 Jan 2026, 12:39 am

Gabby wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 8:10 pm

Talking of which... are we just skipping over the whole of Relentless? Where is it gonna fit in this timeline?

Good point. Did we collectively drop the ball on that or are we waiting until the later release?!

Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is) is extremely joyful for me and always leaves me with a huge smile on my face! x

I'd say that Se a vida é is their last classic for the GP. None of my friends are PSB fans but they all sing along when Se a vida é pops out on a playlist.

It has that poignant but summery melody, simple lyrics which are perfect for a pop song like this. On Bilingual it comes to save the album at the right time. It's one of those song you can't simply don't like it: that's pop at its finest.

Also I love the splash effect on the single artwork.

I've always likeed SE A VIDA E. Since the very first time I heard it on the radio in 1996.

For me a classic comparable to their '80 biggest hits.

And I am always sad when they sing it live, and people reaction is not as enthusiastic as mine.

I think it’s a classic PSB. Love the vocal harmonies and the horns. Also the drumming is perfect for that truck and I don’t know why do they change its drum pattern when played live (see Dreamworld, its performance does not reach the heights of the Savoy one).
Anyway, a good PSB single for me. Very enjoyable.

It's a nice song. Brings back memories of going on a 'lads holiday' in my teens. It got decent radio play, and the non PSB fan group I was with tolerated it being played on the cd player we brought along (though they preferred '....rock and roll' from the CD single. Morel mix was good.

y3potential wrote: Thu 29 Jan 2026, 11:43 pm For me, the Pink Noise mix of Se A Vida E is up there as one of their best remixes.. Quite trippy...

Good shout - one of their better mixes!

Lleonard Pler wrote: Fri 30 Jan 2026, 8:27 am Also I love the splash effect on the single artwork.

This!!!

Let's just take a moment to really appreciate the effort made on PSB sleeve artwork, that I don't expect even a tome like Volume can truly do justice to.

That layered laquering was prevalent and a not inexpensive process.

Another tick in the box for physical product over digital.