Pet Shop Boys Community

Drico One wrote: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 9:56 pm Markus, enough.

[Removed by Moderator]

Moderator Comment: Month ban.

markus wrote: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 9:58 pmFor once, you were actually respectful — which is how you should be toward everyone here.

markus wrote: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 9:58 pmthis parasite

The irony.

How I hate suffers from repetition. Once Neil states his case, he hasn't a whole lot to add to the broad and interesting soundscape that Chris confects. It's a better track than it is a song, I think. It's very much a b-side, but Neil's manifesto-waving explanation allows fellow travellers to take it to heart. Perhaps the most interesting thing about all of this is its timing of release: as Britpop began to curdle. They were commenting on the musical mores of the time here - as they would, indirectly, on Betrayed. The excesses of rock that Neil railed against in his youth were back from the dead. Allowing Oasis in the front door meant that Shed Seven and Rick Witter were getting in the tradesman's entrance...

Drico.

Drico One wrote: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 10:51 pmHow I hate suffers from repetition. Once Neil states his case, he hasn't a whole lot to add to the broad and interesting soundscape that Chris confects. It's a better track than it is a song, I think. It's very much a b-side, but Neil's manifesto-waving explanation allows fellow travellers to take it to heart. Perhaps the most interesting thing about all of this is its timing of release: as Britpop began to curdle. They were commenting on the musical mores of the time here - as they would, indirectly, on Betrayed. The excesses of rock that Neil railed against in his youth were back from the dead. Allowing Oasis in the front door meant that Shed Seven and Rick Witter were getting in the tradesman's entrance...

IMO it would have had more bite as an OTT banging stomper like It's a Sin or Shameless. The piddling backing track - and the corresponding lack of a killer pure pop chorus - don't exactly make the case for the opposite of rock. The other option of course would have been to make it a rock track, although that was going to come later for them...

Delete

petshopgrrl wrote: Wed 28 Jan 2026, 7:37 am Track 91: Electricity
Chronology: Bilingual, Track 4

Monti Rock III has passed away.

What timing for the thread, may he rest in peace.

Sex-o-Lettes and Les Petites Bon-Bons .... Any other outer-rim band references in PSB lyrics?

I can imagine Neil pouring over kitsch gay culture books from the 70s and 80s.

How appropriate for the thread to have a temporary burnout when we get to this period in their career. Will we be questioning whether we should just pack it in once we get to Nightlife?

Back on track...

Track 103: Betrayed
Chronology: Bilingual, Further Listening, Track 6

Xakrij wrote: Sat 07 Mar 2026, 6:37 am Back on track...

Track 103: Betrayed
Chronology: Bilingual, Further Listening, Track 6

Excellent write-up

I think that Betrayed would benefit a lot from a similar production treatment as “you only tell me you love me when you’re drunk”. A very good b-side, good melody, good lyrics and nice jungle production.

Betrayed is nice. Atmospheric, trippy drums, Neils vocals captured up close the way I like it.

And yeah the next period of their career is different, but still lovely. Not to worry.

At first, I struggled to get into it because of the production, but once it clicked, everything fell into place. Great melody. A top-tier B-side.

dylanww73 wrote: Sat 07 Mar 2026, 10:40 am

Xakrij wrote: Sat 07 Mar 2026, 6:37 am Back on track...

Track 103: Betrayed
Chronology: Bilingual, Further Listening, Track 6

Excellent write-up

Sometimes fingertips and touch screens don't perform as expected and my write up is floating around out there somewhere in cyberspace. However I prefer your more verbose and comprehensive review.

Did somebody say verbose?

The drum and bass really dates this. I think it diminished the song at the time.

Drico.