Pet Shop Boys Community

Let's go with this game. Here there is a list of potential songs that should have been single material from my perspective but they never were (you can add other ones if you want).

The question is: do you think there was a Number 1 in any of this songs? Of course, it's pure speculation you have to bear in mind the popularity of PSB on that particular period of time. Which one do you think could have been getting higher on chart?

In the Night (The Clothes Show soundtrack people in UK knew)
Paninaro (the song from Chris, much better than the 90's version)
Why don't we live together? (I see on it a good song for single, specially in USA)
One More Chance (It was a single but when PSB were not famous it could have worked later)
King's Cross (the best ballad of the history of PSB and I know PSB think the same)
Shameless (even PSB have recognized that it should have been single material)
One Thing Leads to Another (a short version of this song had worked fine on charts)
Metamorphosis (not an amazing track but quite good for single)
I didn't get Where I am today (I don't think I Get Along is better)
The Sodom and Gomorrah Show (this song has an edited version because it was planned for single)
Integral (but the album version, all of us know this song was a big contender for charts)
Pandemonium (this song works perfectly for radio, a lot of airplays here)
Undertow (a personal preference for single)

Other songs: Will-o-the-wisp, An open mind, Why am I dancing?

Which of this song could have been Number 1?
With a good video and with the release of the album, I think "Integral" had a chance of getting the Number 1 spot.

Metamorphosis would have been laughed out of court.

Two Divided By Zero would have been number one with a bullet.

A video for Shameless as double A-side with Go West, just like they did with How can you expect to be taken seriously? and Streets in 91, maybe they could've claimed two number 1s for the effort.

I think if Paninaro had been released as a "proper" single (in between Opportunities and Suburbia) it could have been a big hit. It would have been too jarring to have after Love Comes Quickly, but I think Opportunities sets the scene nicely for something like that.

Kings Cross could have been huge but sadly the Kings Cross fire put an end to that plan.

I think for "Imperial Phase' that's probably about it.

Paninaro
Kings Cross
Tonight is forever (perhaps?)
Left to my own devices (if followed Always on my mind or Heart)
Go west (if released when originally intended)

What have I done to deserve this? and Go West but these are the obvious picks.
Out of album tracks and b-sides I somehow think A new life with the proper production and arrangement (not the ones like in Helena Spings' New Love) could be a hit.

upd
Agreed with Shameless.
Probably if A red letter day was released as a Bilingual's lead single it could get quite high in UK chart? Not the #1 of course, but Top 5 perhaps.
Same question for the album version of Integral or Fugitive as a lead single from Fundamental.

I'm Not Scared. First single off Introspective.

This Must Be The Place as the first single off Behaviour.

The album version of Integral. It wouldn't have been number one but should definitely have been the 2nd single. If not the first.

Devices as the lead Introspective single not Domino

Bought forward the release date of What have I done to deserve this?? by a fortnight.

A remix 12” for Go West

Kings Cross/Rent Double A Side

Se A Vida Es as the Bilingual lead single not Before.

Paninaro as an actual standalone single in 1986. Jack the lad could have been the suburbia B-Side

Undertaker wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 2:57 am This Must Be The Place as the first single off Behaviour.

Really?

From Please:
Tonight is forever, depending on the release order.

From Actually:
King's Cross

From the Behaviour era, there were some missed opportunities: I think My October symphony and Miserablism would have done well as singles, but I don't see anything else making no. 1. This isn't a comment on quality or my fondness for the songs but on what was popular at the time.

Shameless should have been on Very and the first single from the album.

After the imperial phase, I think the B sides were often better than the singles. From Bilingual, Delusions of grandeur, How I learned to hate rock 'n' roll, and The boy who couldn't keep his clothes on were all magnificent. From Release, Bright young things. I could go on. These might not have made no. 1 on the main charts, but with so many different charts being introduced around this time, maybe no. 1 there?

Several releases from recent years have hit on. 1 on some of the more obscure (?) charts like UK Physical Singles and UK Vinyl Singles, so do those count?

I think a more interesting question is whether there are any songs from later in their career that could have been massive hits if released between 1985 and 1993?

How would Miracles, Love etc, Pandemonium, Integral, or The Way It Used to Be have fared in the charts in 1987-88?

CroMagnon wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 1:07 pm I think a more interesting question is whether there are any songs from later in their career that could have been massive hits if released between 1985 and 1993?

How would Miracles, Love etc, Pandemonium, Integral, or The Way It Used to Be have fared in the charts in 1987-88?

Any of their fan favourites from last decades would've worked I think, because at least there are melodies and hooks in their songs.I can't believe my eyes when huge crowds sing along to Taylor Swift. How can they memorize the lyrics when it's all rubbish?

markus wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 3:05 pm

CroMagnon wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 1:07 pm I think a more interesting question is whether there are any songs from later in their career that could have been massive hits if released between 1985 and 1993?

How would Miracles, Love etc, Pandemonium, Integral, or The Way It Used to Be have fared in the charts in 1987-88?

I can't believe my eyes when huge crowds sing along to Taylor Swift. How can they memorize the lyrics when it's all rubbish?

But that is actually what the gist of pop music is. We are spoiled because we grew up with the Boys and their lyrics; I know a friend of mine who used to cry to the lyrics of Baby One More Time, LOL.

PSBForTheMasses wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 6:37 pm

markus wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 3:05 pm

CroMagnon wrote: Sat 04 Oct 2025, 1:07 pm I think a more interesting question is whether there are any songs from later in their career that could have been massive hits if released between 1985 and 1993?

How would Miracles, Love etc, Pandemonium, Integral, or The Way It Used to Be have fared in the charts in 1987-88?

I can't believe my eyes when huge crowds sing along to Taylor Swift. How can they memorize the lyrics when it's all rubbish?

But that is actually what the gist of pop music is. We are spoiled because we grew up with the Boys and their lyrics; I know a friend of mine who used to cry to the lyrics of Baby One More Time, LOL.

I always figured it was about domestic abuse.

No.