Pet Shop Boys Community

Undertaker wrote:Pop40 out of the top 75 this week.

That's what I was getting at. It's lasted less time there than a re-entry of the 6 years old PopArt.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Pop-First ... _pr_sims_t

The review from Mr M.A.Reed sums up the problem with Erasure perfectly.

Firthy2002 wrote:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Pop-First ... _pr_sims_t

The review from Mr M.A.Reed sums up the problem with Erasure perfectly.

Yep, you are right. Pretty good write up, that is.

However, I suppose he's another one with an ''Inferiority Complex''

Exclusive for the PSB forum, it's the lead single off Erasure's new concept album!!

====

I'm crazy frosting over my pastries
A thousand ways to ice a doughnut that's so sweet
Flour and water what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers up and down my spine

For every gingerbread man that appears
My desire to keep baking disappears
Flour and water what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers up and down my spine

And the Bakewells that you sent for me
Didn't come with any icing or cherries
So I returned them to the pantry
And the note attached will read

"How I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you"

Oh you really still expect me to believe
That you put the wholemeal flour through a sieve
Sorry you what a shameful situation
Sending shivers up and down my spine

Ooh I like to read a brand new recipe
I like to cook a chocolate cake for tea
Loaf and cake what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers make me quiver
Feel it sliver up and down my spine

And the Bakewells that you sent for me
Didn't come with any icing or cherries
So I returned them to the pantry
And the note attached will read

"How I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you
I loaf to bake you"

I predict it will reach the dizzy heights of #122!

pulse wrote:Bitter? No. Disheartened? Yes. What makes Erasure fans disheartened is seeing their favourite group being ignored due to the focus of the PR machine. If anyone thinks that something is better because it sells (or even if it has the propensity to sell), I can't take them seriously. The endless attention Erasure receive on this forum is proof of the inferiority some PSB fans feel, and the vast majority of comments are not even about Erasure's music.

Pet Shop Boys are ignored in parts of Europe as well, so I can understand your frustration. But you can't blame Pet Shop Boys or their fans for the fact that Erasure doesn't score hits anymore. I don't understand this constant comparison. Both are duo's, both make synth-based pop music, but that's where most comparisons end. The rest is all created, just like the Oasis vs Blur hype around 1995. Useless.

It's not that weird to see Erasure music discussed on a PSB forum. The music can roughly be put into the same category, although (in my humble opinion) PSB experimented more with different music styles and settings outside pop music (musical, film score, ballet), where Erasure stayed closer to their original roots. No problem. I think many PSB fans don't doubt the craftsmanship of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke. Erasure had their successes, PSB had theirs. Live and let live.

Actually it is Pulse himself and his pals who always go and make sneak comparisons between PSB vs Erasure...Almost all the posts I have read from him always try to emphasize between the lines how great Erasure is, such as "this is a great song almost as good as that of Andy's" etc.

And when they get the reaction that is quite understandable in a PSB forum, they start to moan

The PR machine is surely down to the PR department at Mute/EMI and down to the band's own PR, and Andy has not done himself any favours. Whether somethng or not is better because it sells or doesn't sell is not always down to good or bad PR. Call me cynical but sometimes, occasionally, people will not buy something because it's really shit, outdated, mediorce or plain irrelevant. Sometimes they may be dissuaded by the poor lyrics, poor cover art or general poor direction of the music or band. Most of the time this is unfortunate and isn't fair, but when it happens consistently, you do have to wonder. Mute are a fantastic label with a strong brand identity and so much loyalty to their artists. It's for this reason alone, and the fact that Vince was there at the start, that Erasure haven't been dropped. But maybe they are in Nick Cave terrority these days

Syncratic wrote:The PR machine is surely down to the PR department at Mute/EMI and down to the band's own PR, and Andy has not done himself any favours. Whether somethng or not is better because it sells or doesn't sell is not always down to good or bad PR. Call me cynical but sometimes, occasionally, people will not buy something because it's really shit, outdated, mediorce or plain irrelevant. Sometimes they may be dissuaded by the poor lyrics, poor cover art or general poor direction of the music or band. Most of the time this is unfortunate and isn't fair, but when it happens consistently, you do have to wonder. Mute are a fantastic label with a strong brand identity and so much loyalty to their artists. It's for this reason alone, and the fact that Vince was there at the start, that Erasure haven't been dropped. But maybe they are in Nick Cave terrority these days

That should have been posted on page 1. Then this thread might not have rivalled War and Peace.

Erasure have become unlistenable though. There is an irritation in their work, along with a very boring approach, which immidiatly sends you to the mute (no pun intended) button. It's ok saying sales dont matter but their album sales have dropped like a lead weight in the past 5 years. Even the fanbase has dwindled by 50% in just a few years. That speaks volumes. They are simply fed up.

Undertaker wrote:

Syncratic wrote:The PR machine is surely down to the PR department at Mute/EMI and down to the band's own PR, and Andy has not done himself any favours. Whether somethng or not is better because it sells or doesn't sell is not always down to good or bad PR. Call me cynical but sometimes, occasionally, people will not buy something because it's really shit, outdated, mediorce or plain irrelevant. Sometimes they may be dissuaded by the poor lyrics, poor cover art or general poor direction of the music or band. Most of the time this is unfortunate and isn't fair, but when it happens consistently, you do have to wonder. Mute are a fantastic label with a strong brand identity and so much loyalty to their artists. It's for this reason alone, and the fact that Vince was there at the start, that Erasure haven't been dropped. But maybe they are in Nick Cave terrority these days

That should have been posted on page 1. Then this thread might not have rivalled War and Peace.

Erasure have become unlistenable though. There is an irritation in their work, along with a very boring approach, which immidiatly sends you to the mute (no pun intended) button. It's ok saying sales dont matter but their album sales have dropped like a lead weight in the past 5 years. Even the fanbase has dwindled by 50% in just a few years. That speaks volumes. They are simply fed up.

I'm sorry you feel this way.

Blueberry muffin song
Oh blueberry muffin song
Somewhere 'cross the market
Sometime in the early hour
In a restless bakery
On the open ovens

My home is where the dough is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my cakes to you

Blueberry muffin song
Oh blueberry muffin song
Racing 'cross the market
At a hundred miles an hour
With a tray of cupcakes
Through the crowded marketplace

My home is where the dough is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my cakes to you

I'm on my way back
And your pies will bring me home
I'm travelling fast
And your pies will bring me home
Will I discover
That your pies will bring me home?
Will I discover
That your pies will bring me home?
Yeah!

Somewhere 'cross the market
Sometime in the early hour
With a tray of cupcakes
Through the crowded marketplace

etc

Danny, You ought to make sure you get the right documents signed for future royalties. The writer always gets a fair chunk of any profits.

pulse wrote:I'm sorry you feel this way.

It's not a matter of feeling. It's a simple fact their sales are in the dumper.

patrick wrote:

pulse wrote:I'm sorry you feel this way.

It's not a matter of feeling. It's a simple fact their sales are in the dumper.

Sales ebb and flow like the tide (as PSB also know), and if you really put so much importance on sales, then you are more of a stock trader than an an art-lover.