Pet Shop Boys Community

The truck driver and his mate - yeah it's fun I guess in its own way, but have to be in the mood for it. Not something I skip if it ever comes on randomly, but I don't seek it out on purpose.

Gabby wrote: Wed 18 Feb 2026, 7:20 pm The truck driver and his mate - yeah it's fun I guess in its own way, but have to be in the mood for it. Not something I skip if it ever comes on randomly, but I don't seek it out on purpose.

I think exactly the same

I can never decide if I like it or not.

I love this song. It instantly revs me up everytime I hear it and I have to resist the urge to get up and dance around. It's the first of a string of stronger b-sides from the boys for their entire career in my opinion. This song also had a bit of radio play on the youth network radio station Triple J here in Australia at the time of release. Yes, lyric wise it is light on but that has rarely been the main reason I personally are attracted to a song. It's sound and melody sucks me in everytime.

It's alright but I was far more enamoured with Hit and Miss at the time. This is obviously the first b-side post-Alternative and they did maintain a decent quality over the years, which is testament to their songwriting.

Hit and miss, which we are about to get to, buried this and Before as far as I was concerned. I couldn't get over how good that was, guitar and all.

Gabby wrote: Wed 18 Feb 2026, 7:20 pm The truck driver and his mate - yeah it's fun I guess in its own way, but have to be in the mood for it. Not something I skip if it ever comes on randomly, but I don't seek it out on purpose.

My thoughts exactly. I don't seek it but I don't skip it either.

I like Truck. The bridge interlude is very pretty and atmospheric. Easy to dismiss as cheesy but it's got drive, so to speak.

Drico One wrote: Wed 18 Feb 2026, 6:01 pm Track 100: The truck driver and his mate

Chronology: Bilingual, Further Listening, Track 3

Absolutely brilliant. I love the pairing of this and Hit and Miss, both of which eclipse the single they're paired with. But where the latter gets the songwriting gong, this one is just plain loony fun. A terrific track for blasting with the top down in the summer sun. Could have used another verse, though.

Drico One wrote: Wed 18 Feb 2026, 6:01 pm Track 100: The truck driver and his mate

Chronology: Bilingual, Further Listening, Track 3

The Yorkie ad set to music.

I may be being particularly dense here but:

1) I've never noticed anything homoerotic about Truck Driver. To me, it's always just been two chaps larking around while on a break, probably doing cheesy disco moves to Kylie or something.
2) TIL that Yorkie bars were named after the city of York, because that's where they were made!

Truck Driver always makes me smile when it comes on because it's so out of character. But at the same time, it's pure PSB - two chaps larking around in a studio, trying to make songs in the vein of their current faves, except - oopsie! - they also have the weight of the Parlophone/EMI machine behind them. And probably while doing cheesy disco moves to Kylie or something.

I'd put money on you lot getting this one at the Obscure dates, especially if Neil gets to break out the guitar.

P.S. I realize we're skipping over them because we've discussed the originals already, but shout outs to Paninaro 95 and In The Night 95! ITN is more of a remix as we lose most of the original song but I like the way it shifts up and down the gears. And this is by far my favorite version of Paninaro, especially for the raggafied bassline but also for the heartbreaking new rap. The video is a blast as well - Chris being drop dead cool, Neil going full Max Headroom and the baby-oiled dancers don't hurt either. OK, maybe that one's a teeny bit homoerotic.

petshopgrrl wrote: Thu 19 Feb 2026, 4:17 am I've never noticed anything homoerotic about Truck Driver. To me, it's always just been two chaps larking around

I suppose it depends on your definition of “larking”. Drico nailed it: definitely one from PSBs Tom of Finland range…

Also the elation of the fade out, with Neil speaking the title and the triumphant brass - probably one of the most elated endings.

I always thought this was a pretty filthy verse:

“Acting out of compulsion
after hours sitting in the van
taking coals to Newcastle
talking man to man”

Surely “taking coals to Newcastle” in this context is a massive euphemism? You’re giving something to someone that they’ve already got. The promo sleeve is an embodiment of the lyric.

Dog wrote: Thu 19 Feb 2026, 8:31 am I always thought this was a pretty filthy verse:

“Acting out of compulsion
after hours sitting in the van
taking coals to Newcastle
talking man to man”

Surely “taking coals to Newcastle” in this context is a massive euphemism? You’re giving something to someone that they’ve already got. The promo sleeve is an embodiment of the lyric.

Absolutely! Brilliant name check of Neil's part of the world too...

It’s such a funny track! But even though the lyrics are “fun” and the arrangement is some kind of camp fake-”rock”, thanks to the solid songwriting it doesn’t end up being just a novelty track. Lovely, but just as others also have said, I never actively choose to play it