Birthday Boy

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Monty-- · #1 Post by **Monty--** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 9:34 pm

I know I've previously posted that one should make their own interpretations towards songs but I can't help it! I gotta know! What the heck is Birthday Boy about?!!

One of the crowd · #2 Post by **One of the crowd** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 9:36 pm

Stephen Lawrence?

! · #3 Post by ! » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 9:46 pm

A boy's birthday?

One of the crowd · #4 Post by **One of the crowd** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 9:51 pm

From geowaynes site...

Birthday Boy

An interview with Neil and Chris posted on the Boys' official website reveals the genesis of this enigmatic track. Neil was stuck for ideas for lyrics to an appealing chord sequence that Chris had developed. Chris picked up a newspaper and noted a reference to a "birthday boy," which struck Neil as a promising start. It was around Christmastime, which made Neil think of Jesus Christ as a "birthday boy" who also happened to be a figure of martyrdom. This brought to mind a pair of other, much more recent martyr figures: Steven Lawrence, a black teenager who had been killed by racists in London, and Matthew Shepard, a young gay man murdered in Wyoming. Neil views these two as modern-day Christ figures who had in essence "died for our sins"—young men whose tragic, violent, untimely deaths resulted in greater awareness and understanding ("from pain comes pity"), forcing people, as Neil has put it, to "confront their own hatred."

The line "He's been through all this before" is, in effect, a reference to the words of Jesus (as translated in the King James Version of the Bible), "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." That is, the persecution of another—and particularly of those who are disadvantaged or underprivileged—is tantamount to persecution of Christ himself. (If only more professed Christians would remember that.) The virtual riddle posed by the lyrics ("If you knew his name would you feel the same?") is explained by Neil in this way: "If you knew he was Jesus would you still be killing him?"

The sheer profundity of it all is heightened by the music: a slow, almost dirge-like arrangement provides at times an almost creepy air of mystery and foreboding, yet during the chorus and bridge the melody positively soars, building with sweeping, epic intensity. In sum, it's an incredibly powerful musical and lyrical statement. As such, "Birthday Boy" stands as one of the Pet Shop Boys' great latter-day triumphs.

Pani · #5 Post by **Pani** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 9:51 pm

No clue as I never listen to 'Release', particularly 'cause
of boring songs like 'Birthay Boy'. What a lullaby ...

Monty-- · #6 Post by **Monty--** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 10:00 pm

One of the crowd wrote:From geowaynes site...

Birthday Boy

An interview with Neil and Chris posted on the Boys' official website reveals the genesis of this enigmatic track. Neil was stuck for ideas for lyrics to an appealing chord sequence that Chris had developed. Chris picked up a newspaper and noted a reference to a "birthday boy," which struck Neil as a promising start. It was around Christmastime, which made Neil think of Jesus Christ as a "birthday boy" who also happened to be a figure of martyrdom. This brought to mind a pair of other, much more recent martyr figures: Steven Lawrence, a black teenager who had been killed by racists in London, and Matthew Shepard, a young gay man murdered in Wyoming. Neil views these two as modern-day Christ figures who had in essence "died for our sins"—young men whose tragic, violent, untimely deaths resulted in greater awareness and understanding ("from pain comes pity"), forcing people, as Neil has put it, to "confront their own hatred."

The line "He's been through all this before" is, in effect, a reference to the words of Jesus (as translated in the King James Version of the Bible), "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." That is, the persecution of another—and particularly of those who are disadvantaged or underprivileged—is tantamount to persecution of Christ himself. (If only more professed Christians would remember that.) The virtual riddle posed by the lyrics ("If you knew his name would you feel the same?") is explained by Neil in this way: "If you knew he was Jesus would you still be killing him?"

The sheer profundity of it all is heightened by the music: a slow, almost dirge-like arrangement provides at times an almost creepy air of mystery and foreboding, yet during the chorus and bridge the melody positively soars, building with sweeping, epic intensity. In sum, it's an incredibly powerful musical and lyrical statement. As such, "Birthday Boy" stands as one of the Pet Shop Boys' great latter-day triumphs.

Thanks for the time, to look up and type all that! Very revealing and fascinating! Neil Tennant truly is the greatest lyricist of our times!

Young Offender · #7 Post by **Young Offender** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 10:04 pm

Liked the song before reading the above a long time ago, and after reading it really make me appreciate the lyrics and meaning so much more....

One of my top 20 psb tracks

Pani · #8 Post by **Pani** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 10:05 pm

Young Offender wrote:One of my top 20 psb tracks

LOL, Good one ...

boyjohn · #9 Post by **boyjohn** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 10:56 pm

One of my top 20 psb tracks

mine also

Young Offender · #10 Post by **Young Offender** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 11:07 pm

Pani wrote:
Young Offender wrote:One of my top 20 psb tracks
LOL, Good one ...

as much as I like psb top 40 pop tracks, my favourite tracks are b sides, remixes and non single tracks.

Chrispsb · #11 Post by **Chrispsb** » Sat 08 Apr 2006, 9:15 am

Pani wrote:[...]'cause
of boring songs like 'Birthay Boy'.

Can't see why this song should be boring. In fact, it's one of the strongest tracks on Release. N.'s vocals sound absolutely brilliant and the track contains a strong melody as well. But of course, it's all about the personal taste in music. In my opinion, Scooter tracks that are always the same and stupid sound much more boring.

Ghost within this house · Sat 08 Apr 2006, 9:18 am

Pani wrote:No clue as I never listen to 'Release', particularly 'cause
of boring songs like 'Birthay Boy'. What a lullaby ...

Pani, did u read the post above?

Still no clue?

Pani · #13 Post by **Pani** » Sat 08 Apr 2006, 9:22 am

Ghost within this house wrote:
Pani wrote:No clue as I never listen to 'Release', particularly 'cause
of boring songs like 'Birthay Boy'. What a lullaby ...
Pani, did u read the post above?

Yes I did and I had a jolly good laugh about
the 'comparison' with Scooter as a little side
blow ...

I find BB 'boring' as it is 2 slow for me ... no
matter what lyrix or how brilliant Neils voice
comes across.

Ghost within this house · Sat 08 Apr 2006, 10:01 am

Pani wrote:
Ghost within this house wrote:
Pani wrote:No clue as I never listen to 'Release', particularly 'cause
of boring songs like 'Birthay Boy'. What a lullaby ...
Pani, did u read the post above?
Yes I did and I had a jolly good laugh about
the 'comparison' with Scooter as a little side
blow ...

I find BB 'boring' as it is 2 slow for me ... no
matter what lyrix or how brilliant Neils voice
comes across.

fair enough!

So do you think Fundamental (with FIVE ballads!!) will satisfy you?

Chrispsb · #15 Post by **Chrispsb** » Sat 08 Apr 2006, 10:15 am

I wonder why you like most of the latest DM songs then...