Pet Shop Boys Community

I think the data of Spotify is more accurate to know the popularity of the songs all around the world and not only in UK.

With the exception of Depeche Mode, PSB have better numbers than New Order (with the exception of Blue Monday), Erasure, Frankie goes to Hollywood (with the exception of Relax), Spandau Ballet and not too far from Duran Duran.

Nickname wrote: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 12:17 pm I think the data of Spotify is more accurate to know the popularity of the songs all around the world and not only in UK.

With the exception of Depeche Mode, PSB have better numbers than New Order (with the exception of Blue Monday), Erasure, Frankie goes to Hollywood (with the exception of Relax), Spandau Ballet and not too far from Duran Duran.

Not sure that's accurate. FGTH sold massive amounts more than PSB even if you only count Relax, TT and PoL. Duran Duran looks like they outsold them too by a long mark, albeit with more singles. It's UK figures here, nor worldwide.

VRIDD wrote: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:20 am Where are these data from?
Are they estimates? Do they come from real counting?
Do they include all the formats (7", 12", cds...)?
Do these numbers count real sales, or do they count printed items?
Do they include import items?

Calculated from the official point of sale figures of record stores. From 7inch, 12 inch cassette and CD sales in the 1980's. The official sales information is spread across several websites but not in this format. I am working out the sales across all years and cross referencing them with other sales from the same artist.

Bananarama 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It’ (with Fun Boy Three) 399,257
‘Really Saying Something’ (with Fun Boy Three) 345,771
‘Shy Boy’ 331,166
‘Love In The First Degree’ 279,480
‘Help!’ (with Lananeeneenoonoo) 276,199
‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’ 225,318
‘Robert De Niro's Waiting’ 212,840
‘Venus’ 186,728
‘I Want You Back’ 175,882
‘Cruel Summer’ 168,997
‘Nathan Jones’ 120,139
‘I Heard A Rumour’ 111,622
‘Love Truth & Honesty’ 66,810
‘Rough Justice’ 59,772
‘Cruel Summer’ (’89 remix) 58,242
‘I Can’t Help It’ 50,082
‘Cheers Then’ 41,860
‘Do Not Disturb’ 35,989
‘Trick Of The Night’ 31,773
‘More Than Physical’ 28,526
‘Hotline To Heaven’ 11,883

Other singles released were not in the top 1000 sales figures and not calculable (Usually less than 5,000 copies sold)

Kim Wilde 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘Kids In America’ 494,664
‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ 306,918
‘Chequered Love’ 272,472
‘You Came’ 216,665
‘Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree’ (with Mel Smith) 212,092
‘Cambodia’ 210,204
‘Water On Glass’ 180,096
‘Another Step Closer To You’ (with Junior) 151,436
‘View From A Bridge’ 151,237
‘Four Letter Word’ 149,515
‘Never Trust A Stranger’ 133,739
‘Love Blonde’ 83,283
‘Rage To Love’ 75,922
‘The Second Time’ 53,516
‘Say You Really Want Me’ 42,177
‘Love In The Natural Way’ 40,273
‘Child Come Away’ 35,570
‘Hey, Mr Heartache’ (with Junior) 29,767
‘The Touch’ 14,841

Other singles released were not in the top 1000 sales figures and not calculable (Usually less than 5,000 copies sold)

Tentenlad wrote:Bananarama 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It’ (with Fun Boy Three) 399,257
‘Really Saying Something’ (with Fun Boy Three) 345,771

Surprised by the success of their first singles with Fun Boy Three. I always thought the SAW productions were more successful. The Fun Boy Three tracks are better of course (imho)

leesmapman wrote: Sun 23 Mar 2025, 12:10 pm

Tentenlad wrote:Bananarama 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It’ (with Fun Boy Three) 399,257
‘Really Saying Something’ (with Fun Boy Three) 345,771

Surprised by the success of their first singles with Fun Boy Three. I always thought the SAW productions were more successful. The Fun Boy Three tracks are better of course (imho)

This is mainly because sales were much higher in the early eighties. Sales began to reduce significantly around 1986.

Tentenlad wrote: Sun 23 Mar 2025, 11:53 am Kim Wilde 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘Kids In America’ 494,664
‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ 306,918
‘Chequered Love’ 272,472
‘You Came’ 216,665
‘Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree’ (with Mel Smith) 212,092
‘Cambodia’ 210,204
‘Water On Glass’ 180,096
‘Another Step Closer To You’ (with Junior) 151,436
‘View From A Bridge’ 151,237
‘Four Letter Word’ 149,515
‘Never Trust A Stranger’ 133,739
‘Love Blonde’ 83,283
‘Rage To Love’ 75,922
‘The Second Time’ 53,516
‘Say You Really Want Me’ 42,177
‘Love In The Natural Way’ 40,273
‘Child Come Away’ 35,570
‘Hey, Mr Heartache’ (with Junior) 29,767
‘The Touch’ 14,841

Other singles released were not in the top 1000 sales figures and not calculable (Usually less than 5,000 copies sold)

Thank you for taking the time.

VRIDD wrote: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:20 am Where are these data from?
Are they estimates? Do they come from real counting?
Do they include all the formats (7", 12", cds...)?
Do these numbers count real sales, or do they count printed items?
Do they include import items?

Judging by the Kate Bush figures and from working in the industry the figures can be somewhat estimated. Babooshka for example is a silver award single over 250K single sales , 7" only, awarded 1980.

Thanks, so far.

Another ridiculed band, but still: Modern talking.

nervousboy wrote: Sun 23 Mar 2025, 2:37 pm

VRIDD wrote: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:20 am Where are these data from?
Are they estimates? Do they come from real counting?
Do they include all the formats (7", 12", cds...)?
Do these numbers count real sales, or do they count printed items?
Do they include import items?

Judging by the Kate Bush figures and from working in the industry the figures can be somewhat estimated. Babooshka for example is a silver award single over 250K single sales , 7" only, awarded 1980.

Singles certifications in the UK:
Silver 200,000
Gold 400,000
Platinum 600,000

Tentenlad wrote: Sun 23 Mar 2025, 3:02 pm

nervousboy wrote: Sun 23 Mar 2025, 2:37 pm

VRIDD wrote: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:20 am Where are these data from?
Are they estimates? Do they come from real counting?
Do they include all the formats (7", 12", cds...)?
Do these numbers count real sales, or do they count printed items?
Do they include import items?

Judging by the Kate Bush figures and from working in the industry the figures can be somewhat estimated. Babooshka for example is a silver award single over 250K single sales , 7" only, awarded 1980.

Singles certifications in the UK:
Silver 200,000
Gold 400,000
Platinum 600,000

Which is why Babooshka got silver Over 250K sales. As I said.
Though I think now its Gold with digital and streaming.

Modern Talking 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

Brother Louie 226,185
You're My Heart, You're My Soul 43,384
Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) 16,915
You Can Win If You Want 12,036

The Reynolds Girls 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

I’d Rather Jack 149,549

(Outsold Pet Shop Boys 'It's Alright' by a few hundred copies in 1989. I'm also pretty sure this song would have been given to Mel & Kim, if they had continued...?)

Bronski Beat 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘Smalltown Boy’ 312,647
‘I Feel Love Medley’ (with Marc Almond) 284,835
‘Why?’ 224,281
‘Hit That Perfect Beat’ 215,237
‘It Ain't Necessarily’ So 115,294
‘C’mon C’mon’ 66,589
‘Cha Cha Heels’ (with Eartha Kitt) 39,032


The Communards 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ 687,633
‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ 229,262
‘So Cold The Night’ 157,709
‘You Are My World’ 117,317 (combined sales from 85 and 87)
‘Tomorrow’ 65,110
‘There’s More To Love’ 58,973
‘For A Friend’ 49,215
‘Disenchanted’ 38,131


Jimmy Sommerville 1980’s singles ranked by UK sales

‘Comment Te Dire Adieu’ 82,807