Pet Shop Boys Community

Drico One wrote: Sat 24 Feb 2024, 8:16 pm Being boring's notorious chart entry at 36 in November 1990 came on the back of panel sales of 447, a paltry figure. Basically, it was estimated to have sold 7,500 copies in its first week. The second single from the previous album, Left to my own devices, had sold three times as many copies in its first week two years earlier. For added ignominy, Bombalurina and Timmy Mallett entered five places higher...

I never thought Being boring was single material at the time. At least not in a commercial sense. While they were obviously older, greyer, balder and more established, I also think the fact that the single version of Being boring was really just an edit rather than a significantly remixed offering damaged its commercial potential. This was the first PSB single - released after its parent album - that did not get a noticeable facelift since Opportunities. It really just sounded like a shorter version of the album opener, a bit like Loneliness is today. Compared to Suburbia, Rent, Heart, Left to my own devices, and It's alright - all dramatically different to their album versions - this seemed a bit lazy and disinterested. It was probably just them being practical. Why change perfection?

Of course, I loved the CD single with its evocative, aspirational artwork - replete with Zelda quote - and the b-side. Holding it was like having an invitation to a secret world in one's hands. I still think it's their most perfect single in that sense - but it was never a hit in a million years to my 18-year-old ears.

Drico.

Drico One wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:06 pm The single version of Rent is far bouncier than the album version, which is more subtle and understated. These things are subjective, of course, but the single version was much more exciting to my 15-year-old ears at the time. And that was the thing with the Pets - they were exciting. Being boring really wasn't. That's why it bombed.

Who was Nicky Campbell introducing after the PSBs? "Now some real class..." I'm not sure I like the implication.

Drico.

Nickname wrote: Sat 24 Feb 2024, 11:38 pm I ask myself if it is possible to take all the sales and create a ranking of the best selling singles from PSB in UK.

Straight_Talker wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:28 pm

Drico One wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:06 pm The single version of Rent is far bouncier than the album version, which is more subtle and understated. These things are subjective, of course, but the single version was much more exciting to my 15-year-old ears at the time. And that was the thing with the Pets - they were exciting. Being boring really wasn't. That's why it bombed.

Who was Nicky Campbell introducing after the PSBs? "Now some real class..." I'm not sure I like the implication.

Drico.

Yeah, I remember Nicky Campbell on the radio after he’d played “Before” to which he said “That’s another 3 and a half minutes of Life-is-a-pop-genius there, from the Pet Shop Boys”

I remember thinking “what a t***”..!

Gabby wrote: Mon 26 Feb 2024, 2:26 am

Straight_Talker wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:28 pm

Drico One wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:06 pm The single version of Rent is far bouncier than the album version, which is more subtle and understated. These things are subjective, of course, but the single version was much more exciting to my 15-year-old ears at the time. And that was the thing with the Pets - they were exciting. Being boring really wasn't. That's why it bombed.

Who was Nicky Campbell introducing after the PSBs? "Now some real class..." I'm not sure I like the implication.

Drico.

Yeah, I remember Nicky Campbell on the radio after he’d played “Before” to which he said “That’s another 3 and a half minutes of Life-is-a-pop-genius there, from the Pet Shop Boys”

I remember thinking “what a t***”..!

Didn't realize I needed to add Nicky Campbell to the Radio 1 DJ PSB haters list. It's astonishing they got any airplay at all.

Drico One wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:06 pm The single version of Rent is far bouncier than the album version, which is more subtle and understated. These things are subjective, of course, but the single version was much more exciting to my 15-year-old ears at the time. And that was the thing with the Pets - they were exciting. Being boring really wasn't. That's why it bombed.

Who was Nicky Campbell introducing after the PSBs? "Now some real class..." I'm not sure I like the implication.

Drico.

Straight_Talker wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:28 pm Yeah, I remember Nicky Campbell on the radio after he’d played “Before” to which he said “That’s another 3 and a half minutes of Life-is-a-pop-genius there, from the Pet Shop Boys”

I remember thinking “what a t***”..!

Gabby wrote: Mon 26 Feb 2024, 2:26 am
Didn't realize I needed to add Nicky Campbell to the Radio 1 DJ PSB haters list. It's astonishing they got any airplay at all.

Patrick Bateman wrote: Mon 26 Feb 2024, 7:39 am

Drico One wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:06 pm The single version of Rent is far bouncier than the album version, which is more subtle and understated. These things are subjective, of course, but the single version was much more exciting to my 15-year-old ears at the time. And that was the thing with the Pets - they were exciting. Being boring really wasn't. That's why it bombed.

Who was Nicky Campbell introducing after the PSBs? "Now some real class..." I'm not sure I like the implication.

Drico.

The act played after them was Bombalurina featuring Timmy Mallett, so no doubt Campbell was being ironic.

Nicholas wrote: Mon 26 Feb 2024, 7:44 am

Straight_Talker wrote: Sun 25 Feb 2024, 5:28 pm Yeah, I remember Nicky Campbell on the radio after he’d played “Before” to which he said “That’s another 3 and a half minutes of Life-is-a-pop-genius there, from the Pet Shop Boys”

I remember thinking “what a t***”..!

I don’t get why this is a DJ diss. Did he do a funny voice?