Pet Shop Boys Community

Greetings,

I see Tony Blair is still around the traps pushing for Digital ID, just like he relentlessly pushed for the Identity Card Act back in the day... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Cards_Act_2006

Back then, Pet Shop Boys responded to this planned encroachment with one of their most potent and powerful songs ever recorded - Integral. A few years later, they also recorded the b-side We're All Criminals Now, which further lamented the technology-enabled surveillance regime that was stripping us of our liberties.

Whilst it doesn't look like Tony Blair has softened his stance at all over the last 20 years, has Neil? Can we expect to see more anti-technocratic-totalitarian anthems from Neil or would he just clap along with it all now?

All the insights and perspectives welcome.

Retro.

When no words will suffice...

I dunno, Retro, shall we maybe wait until we can see some lyrics before we pass judgment, rather than engage in Some Speculation that's probably only gonna get some panties in a bunch?

retrofuturist wrote: Sat 15 Feb 2025, 10:33 amWhilst it doesn't look like Tony Blair has softened his stance at all over the last 20 years, has Neil? Can we expect to see more anti-technocratic-totalitarian anthems from Neil or would he just clap along with it all now?

I think we'll see even more pointed lyrics.

I think Neil’s rather more preoccupied with Putin and Trump nowadays.

Greetings,

petshopgrrl wrote: Sat 15 Feb 2025, 6:10 pm Some Speculation that's probably only gonna get some panties in a bunch?

I have faith in this community that people are more capable of reasoned, non-hysterical discussion than at various times in the past.

Also, with continual advancements in technology, and the demonstrated willingness of governments to use technology as a means of controlling citizens (e.g. China's social credit system, vaccine passports and QR-logins during the pandemic) the issue of "the surveillance state" is not going to go away any time soon.

The real question I guess is whether we're going to get another barnstorming number of the ilk of Integral with "even more pointed lyrics" per NotInvisible's prediction, or whether "Neil’s rather more preoccupied with Putin and Trump nowadays" per TallThinMan. I'm inclined towards the latter, yet would love the former.

Retro.

I think Neil is obsessed with Trump & Putin, so I’d go with that possibility. However, after Daniel Andrew’s draconian rules here in VIC during the pandemic (& getting away with it) I think Tony Blair’s stance on things is never going to go away. As for what Neil might have to say, I think further comment on Blair’s ideas would be good.

G'day Andie,

Andie wrote: Sun 16 Feb 2025, 1:22 am I think Neil is obsessed with Trump & Putin, so I’d go with that possibility. However, after Daniel Andrew’s draconian rules here in VIC during the pandemic (& getting away with it) I think Tony Blair’s stance on things is never going to go away. As for what Neil might have to say, I think further comment on Blair’s ideas would be good.

Lol. I wrote plenty of songs about Dan Andrews. Unlike mine, Neil's songs don't descend into rampant profanity. I think we can be reasonably confident that won't change any time soon...

Retro.

retrofuturist wrote: Sun 16 Feb 2025, 7:43 am G'day Andie,

Andie wrote: Sun 16 Feb 2025, 1:22 am I think Neil is obsessed with Trump & Putin, so I’d go with that possibility. However, after Daniel Andrew’s draconian rules here in VIC during the pandemic (& getting away with it) I think Tony Blair’s stance on things is never going to go away. As for what Neil might have to say, I think further comment on Blair’s ideas would be good.

Lol. I wrote plenty of songs about Dan Andrews. Unlike mine, Neil's songs don't descend into rampant profanity. I think we can be reasonably confident that won't change any time soon...

Retro.

Omg! I’d love to hear your songs! I hate him with a passion!

Tony Blair isn’t PM anymore, so doubt it would cross NT’s mind to return to that subject.

I think Neil is obsessed with Trump & Putin, so I’d go with that possibility.

They’re pretty hard to ignore.

Neil should write another song about Peter Mandelson.

retrofuturist wrote: Sat 15 Feb 2025, 10:33 am Greetings,

I see Tony Blair is still around the traps pushing for Digital ID, just like he relentlessly pushed for the Identity Card Act back in the day... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Cards_Act_2006

Back then, Pet Shop Boys responded to this planned encroachment with one of their most potent and powerful songs ever recorded - Integral. A few years later, they also recorded the b-side We're All Criminals Now, which further lamented the technology-enabled surveillance regime that was stripping us of our liberties.

Whilst it doesn't look like Tony Blair has softened his stance at all over the last 20 years, has Neil? Can we expect to see more anti-technocratic-totalitarian anthems from Neil or would he just clap along with it all now?

All the insights and perspectives welcome.

Retro.

I never understood why they were so bothered about ID cards. They're hardly anarchists opposed to the idea of a state, are they? Surely if you acknowledge the need for a Government running the state, then they need to know what's going on and who is in the country, etc. I await their hi-NRG anti-PAYE banger. Down with National Insurance numbers!

Greetomgs.

dukeduvet wrote: Sun 16 Feb 2025, 10:07 am Tony Blair isn’t PM anymore, so doubt it would cross NT’s mind to return to that subject.

Tony is still at it though...

https://x.com/wideawake_media/status/19 ... 9690794064

If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear...

Retro.