Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[Vintage Youth]

Tale as old as time.

'What's your favourite Pet Shop Boys song?'
'It's So Hard'
'Yes, it is, isn't it'.
'No, I mean...'

[Xakrij]

One word:
MORALES

'nuff said

[Gabby]

The song is quite low within Neil's range.

Perhaps this is where the ‘he can’t sing’ arguement comes from. What range does Neil have, maybe an octave?

For us, that matters not one jot. His voice, stuffed with both susceptibleness and defiance, sits so well in the songs. It reminds me of Julie London.

I don't know, but it's more than an octave. Compare 'Birthday Boy' and 'Decadence". The most important attribute of Neil's voice is that he sounds like no-one else.

100% this! I'm so tired of the generic vocalists now. X Factor has ruined it for everyone. Where are the unique vocals that stand out from the crowd (irrespective of actual vocal talent/range)? Where are the Ian Curtis', Bernard Sumner's, Neil Tennant's, Robbie Williams'. You can pick out their unique vocals in a song without any trouble.

Nobody is suggesting people who can belt out a song aren't talented, but it's much too cookie cutter. Just because you can sing well, doesn't mean you deserve a recording contract.

[TwizzleUK]

Musically, So Hard is really three tracks in one. There's the ascending four chord change of the intro and bridge in F minor which is a direct homage to the chorus (if you can call it that) of I Feel Love. Then there's the "tough electronic groove" (Harold Faltermeyer's words) in C minor with the amazing filtered synth bassline that somehow seems to get sucked in on itself.

Musically and technically, the intro and middle section you refer to as being in F minor is actually in the C minor scale/key - it just starts on an F minor chord.

[TallThinMan]

Musically, So Hard is really three tracks in one. There's the ascending four chord change of the intro and bridge in F minor which is a direct homage to the chorus (if you can call it that) of I Feel Love. Then there's the "tough electronic groove" (Harold Faltermeyer's words) in C minor with the amazing filtered synth bassline that somehow seems to get sucked in on itself.

Musically and technically, the intro and middle section you refer to as being in F minor is actually in the C minor scale/key - it just starts on an F minor chord.

In my defence, I've learned more about scales in the eight years since I wrote that.

[RevAaron]

This song will always have a special place in my heart. Was the first cassette single I ever bought, even though I preferred the b-side "It Must Be Obvious" at the time. Behaviour was the second CD I ever bought (after Please), on my 15th birthday when I got my first Goldstar (now LG) CD player. I think I even got the long case for it, wish I still had that. I think with time, Behaviour has replaced Actually for me as my favourite album from the PSB. I feel, sonically, Behaviour has aged beautifully.

It's been mentioned about Neil singing lower on this album in general. I noticed that too at the time and thinking it really changed their sound. A few posts above, someone mentioned Neil's range... it was around three octaves at one point from what I can tell. He shied away from bass range in general.

For remixes, it would have to be the KLF mix for me. I remember Neil saying KLF told him he would have to re-record the vocals. Kind of shows the star power KLF had at the time. What a fantastic time in music, god I miss it.

Oh and hello (again).

[Leonidas]

Perhaps this is where the ‘he can’t sing’ arguement comes from. What range does Neil have, maybe an octave?

For us, that matters not one jot. His voice, stuffed with both susceptibleness and defiance, sits so well in the songs. It reminds me of Julie London.

I don't know, but it's more than an octave. Compare 'Birthday Boy' and 'Decadence". The most important attribute of Neil's voice is that he sounds like no-one else.

100% this! I'm so tired of the generic vocalists now. X Factor has ruined it for everyone. Where are the unique vocals that stand out from the crowd (irrespective of actual vocal talent/range)? Where are the Ian Curtis', Bernard Sumner's, Neil Tennant's, Robbie Williams'. You can pick out their unique vocals in a song without any trouble.

Nobody is suggesting people who can belt out a song aren't talented, but it's much too cookie cutter. Just because you can sing well, doesn't mean you deserve a recording contract.

It’s the imperfections which have added to the PSB appeal - the voice, the contrast in clothing, the lack of movement in the performance etc… Pop isn’t about perfection.

[Patrick Bateman]

The photo on the cover is still one of my favourite PSB images. Chris biting into the apple is very Pinter.

[Gabby]

The photo on the cover is still one of my favourite PSB images. Chris biting into the apple is very Pinter.

So many classic images from this era too. They probably struggled to decide on an album cover for Behaviour based on the photographic riches on display with this and what became the Being Boring sleeve.

[Pinhead44]

So Hard

This song has a brilliant start and finish to it ! Lyrically brilliant from NT.

The whole package, from the fab Julian Mendelsohn extended 12" (on further listening), to the David Morales remixes, and the surprise KLF remix, made this a great lead off single from Behaviour.

However, for me, So Hard is a bit of a misfit track on Behaviour compared to the other songs (whilst appreciating that they needed something commercial to kick things off). In my own little perfect Pet Shop Boys world, I would have preferred Miserablism on the album, and So Hard to have been held back as a big commercial return track for the promotion of the Discography release, rather than the lacklustre DJ Culture.

(8/10)

[Pinhead44]

Track 52 : Nervously

Behaviour Further Listening Disc 1 - Track 8

From one song with an amazing start and finish, to another.

Nervously feels like such a simple, straightforward (but beautiful) melody and lyric, that you listen to it and think, 'I could have written that'. Of course I couldn't, and it is testament to their genius, that they created these consistently amazing tunes, throughout their first 5 albums !

(9/10)

[Disco.]

A beautiful song.

[nonesuch]

One of my favorites.  I love the sweet, simple story it tells, and the music building with the wistful guitar (is that Neil?).

[Too Many Shadows]

'I could have written that’.

You so often here ‘I could have done that’ as a dismissal of art. Copied it? Yes. Created it? I very much doubt it.

[RevAaron]

Always thought of this as Neil's vocal moment on the album, like his very own "My Way". He's definitely showing off his octaves here. In the past I know this forum did like a "worst song elimination" of every album they've ever done and I'm pretty sure "The End Of The World" was voted the worst song on Behaviour, which is my favourite. If I had to choose my least favourite, it would be Nervously but only because it's very complex melodically and not as hooky as the rest. That's not to say I don't like it though.