Pet Shop Boys Community

Was thinking about this today while listening to the track...

Parlaphone pushed this out as a cheap single !!!

Think about it... There were no "remixes" commisioned... A very cheap video was produced (with no involvement from Neil & Chris- FIRST TIME EVER !)... The single sleeve was a photo taken years ago from Sam Taylor Wood, therefore no new artwork required... The DVD Single had exactly the same sleeve as the CD Single (AGAIN FIRST TIME EVER !)....

Such a shame

davenjulieuk wrote:A very cheap video was produced (with no involvement from Neil & Chris- FIRST TIME EVER !)...

They ARE involved ...


Just kidding, I know what you mean. They should've put out 'Integral' !
The production/making/release could've been 'cheap' nonetheless ...

the video is not cheap btw... I don't know which are the costs but it looks more than decent

davenjulieuk wrote:A very cheap video was produced (with no involvement from Neil & Chris- FIRST TIME EVER !)

Each to their own but I think the video is one of their best.

davenjulieuk wrote:The single sleeve was a photo taken years ago from Sam Taylor Wood, therefore no new artwork required...

I don't see what's wrong with that. It's a great photo that hasn't been seen before. And 2003 IMO isn't that long ago...

davenjulieuk wrote:The DVD Single had exactly the same sleeve as the CD Single (AGAIN FIRST TIME EVER !)....

There was no DVD: CDS, CDM, 7" and DMD. I don't mind coz I love the photo.

What's the story behind the video then?
Some of the imagery looks like it could have fit Potemkin - was there something planned with that?

Debussy wrote:What's the story behind the video then?
Some of the imagery looks like it could have fit Potemkin - was there something planned with that?

I'm sure there is a connection between them

Perhaps it was originally going to be the video for the proposed "No time for tears" single? That would be cheap. At least the sleeve, while old, was one that was always planned for "Numb," back when they were first thinking of releasing it in 2003.

Neil mentioned the Numb video at the conversation last week. The video was produced by two directors, that the Boys have never met, but contains footage of about ten classic Russian films.

There' s a connection between Numb video and Potemkin probably. But I'd never call Numb a cheap video - never. This video is their best out of Fundamental!

As far as I'm informed, a single is never cheap. In fact, with the current state of singles sales, they often cost more money than they generate. No matter what sleeve pic or videoclip, you need to print cd's, take care of distribution, create artwork and do a certain amount of promotion.

I heard some views from other PSB fans who feel that the Numb video was originally intended to be the video for 'No Time For Tears' ; the Potemkin song that was originally going to be a single, but that plan was cancelled. Apparently, when you play NTFT single version, the Numb video imaginery fits very well to it.

so if that was the case we would have a second hand video !!! Even cheaper !!! Also i wouldnt say that including a picture of Neil & Chris taken from the fundamental album shoot for 3 seconds in a video is psb appearing in a video !!!

davenjulieuk wrote:so if that was the case we would have a second hand video !!! Even cheaper !!! Also i wouldnt say that including a picture of Neil & Chris taken from the fundamental album shoot for 3 seconds in a video is psb appearing in a video !!!

Even if the video was supposed to be for NTFT, how would this mean it would be "even cheaper"?

Surely the video cost the same regardless if it was for NTFT or Numb?

Personally, I couldnt give a toss if they only used the one photo across the 2CDs , its whats inside that counts.

I also dont care if they do/dont appear in their videos. They hardly appear in the I'm with stupid video - is that a cheapskate flick too?

Edit..

Finally, Numb isnt really a remixable track, hence the need not to comission any remixes, the same applied to I Get Along.

dVTB wrote:As far as I'm informed, a single is never cheap. In fact, with the current state of singles sales, they often cost more money than they generate.

I would say that is the case with the vast majority of releases. When I completed my thesis on the music industry in 1996 only 7% of singles released in the UK actually turned a profit, and when you think how far sales have declined this figure can only have decreased. Of course with digital distribution a lot of costs have been reduced but videos still tend to cost a lot of money

i like the cd image. remembers me of "eyes wide shut". and the inside "numb" is pure depression. i love this song. but some how it is a remarkable release, because no one would expect such a song to be a big hit and make lots of money with it.
they would have earned more if they`d released "party song" as an a-side, wouldnt they? again, the b-sides make this such a superb cd for me.

yes i agree the bsides did save this !!