Pet Shop Boys Community

"Why aren't Pet Shop Boys popular as they were?"

I think thats down to a few reasons.

1, they had a manager who new how to get them in the media, whereas now the boys aren't that bothered.

2, the boys were a fresh thing in music.

3, record companies tend to go with newer stuff, stuff they can garuntee the most sales.

4, the boys dont make music to hit the top, its more about what they wana do.

Madonna, George Michael and the Pet Shop Boys having hits in the '00s is like the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Cliff having hits in the '80s probably.

Still marking them up, but not necessarily representative of the decade.

Simply perhaps they are not as good. Trying to compare the PSB output post Very to pre Very is proof enough.

That and today's music has moved on from synthpop and PSB have a status quo to live up to... they wouldn't be PSB if they didn't! God bless'em - I like them the way they are.

I'm amazed about the way you talk about Madonna in this forum. Maybe it just happens in Spain, but I can assure she is massive here. Huge selingl figures, always on tv, news, newspapers, videoclips... and when she comes on tour there's always reports about her on the tv news.

pulse wrote:Simply perhaps they are not as good. Trying to compare the PSB output post Very to pre Very is proof enough.

That and today's music has moved on from synthpop and PSB have a status quo to live up to... they wouldn't be PSB if they didn't! God bless'em - I like them the way they are.

Music is a matter of opinion. Someone from nowhere can come into the charts as number 1. They are as good as they ever were in my opinion, bar the period between Very and Fundamental, when they dabbled in appealing to the gayer audience, put me right off them.

Fundamental onwards, they have tunned into what they know, how they feel about life collectively with all society. To be POPular, its about connecting with a mass of people, not just one or two things associated with themselves.

Neil writes a musical story well, when he connects with the public, theres no one better.

A multitude of factors but the harsh reality is they're not as good as they used to be and their singles post Very aren't as magnificently consistent as the rather brilliant Discography; but when you're that good straight off the bat you can forgive the odd drop in quality here and there.

To reiterate what Pulse said, music tastes have changed over the years and the public's thirst for synthpop has been replaced with other genres and ,ultimately, few pop bands, if they last that long anyway, transcend generations and pull in significant numbers from a new generation of listeners.

I'm happy for them to knock out the odd album every 2-3 years and challenge themselves with other side projects, some disastrous (the musical) and some suprisingly excellent (Battleship Potemkin OST). They've got a healthy worldwide fanbase which will allow them to continue for as long as they wish and for as long as they're driven by and enthusiastic for pop music.

Music tastes has changed over time.. but however look at hellogoodbye... they are considered a synth-pop band.. and they are popular over america... I think when the pet shop boys release a new album (fingers crossed) i think they will be pleasantly suprised of their sales figures in the USA because of the Fundamental Tour... as Chris said in an interview during theirFundamental tour across America... "lets break america..... AGAIN"

pulse wrote:Simply perhaps they are not as good. Trying to compare the PSB output post Very to pre Very is proof enough.

The singles on Discography are pretty much essential (give or take Streets, It's Alright and the two newbies) but comparing Actually and Fundamental is far more instructive. Whether they're describing Thatcherite Britain or the 'war on terror', they managed to write pop songs about the contemporary. It's just that popular culture is no longer interested in pop music that documents its nuances. I'm with Stupid is precisely the kind of pop song that should have been huge in 2006 but an infantalised public want pop that doesn't think too much and which allows them not to think too much either. Take That were huge in 2006.

Janet Street-Porter wrote:

pulse wrote:Simply perhaps they are not as good. Trying to compare the PSB output post Very to pre Very is proof enough.

The singles on Discography are pretty much essential (give or take Streets, It's Alright and the two newbies) but comparing Actually and Fundamental is far more instructive. Whether they're describing Thatcherite Britain or the 'war on terror', they managed to write pop songs about the contemporary. It's just that popular culture is no longer interested in pop music that documents its nuances. I'm with Stupid is precisely the kind of pop song that should have been huge in 2006 but an infantalised public want pop that doesn't think too much and which allows them not to think too much either. Take That were huge in 2006.

Interesting.

I'm with Stupid is precisely the kind of pop song that should have been huge in 2006 but an infantalised public want pop that doesn't think too much and which allows them not to think too much either. Take That were huge in 2006.

Exactly. I couldn't have put it better. I'm With stupid should have been huge...

Madonna was always in the superstar league, her worst album sales (4+ million for American Life) is probably the best PSB have achived with Introspective and that was way back in 1988 !! So its pointless comparing PSB with her or even George Micheal for that matter saleswise

I think it all amounts to public perception and musical tastes have changed for better or worse. PSB are frankly 'considered old' and when u mention them, the first thing is 'are they still around' !! and this inspite of pretty good marketing, promo appearances (I think they surely went all out for Fundamental Era).

I remember this conversation I had with this guy, who said he stopped buying their music post Nightlife, because he found them repetitive and trying to be too clever all the time I dont know, if this is a general perception of the older fans, as he was one since 1986 !!
Guess even the 'young' gay fan, would rather dance to a justin ? Their core fanbase remains those who were from the start..

I personally have been pretty dissapointed with their single releases since Nightlife. FYOG, In Denial, Positive Role Model, Fugitive are examples of some pretty obvious single choices IMO which never made it.

I wish they associated themselves with more current producers. Someone like a Timbaland or Pharell, have amazing dance/club sensibilities and can easily mould a PSB track into sounding a little edgier and modern, that is provided PSB want to sound 'today'. What Madge achived with Confessions, was brilliant and yet had pointers to the 80s sounds. I loved Fundamental, but every song had a deja vu to their yester efforts.

Paddymacall wrote:
I'm With stupid should have been huge...

But it wasn't good enough melodically to be huge.

Unfortunately, the thirty- and forty-somethings that are interested in this subject matter being worded cleverly and with homoerotic undertones don't drive the singles market.

No matter what the reason is-it's a pity that high quality music is overshadowed by talentless casting stars which disappear as soon as the next "superstar" is choosen in the new season and rap crap!

And do you really consider George Michael being more popular than PSB? Each single after "Outside" flopped badly and the albums didn't do extremely good too. I hear more PSB songs on the radio in 1 week than G.M. songs in one month!

Well I think the PEt Shop Boys are still popular.. look at Scissor Sisters.. their single releases for Ta-Dah.. havent been doing very well... Land of a thousand words came in at No. 19 and Shes my man came in at No.29! and their latest release came in at No.43 - kiss you off... To conclude the Pets are more popular than the scissor Sisters! haha! I went off in a tangent!