Pet Shop Boys Community

Well, I have been hearing than the new songs of the new Madonna's album have been played by surprise in some clubs of different places and different cultures. The idea is to know what's the reaction of people with the new stuff and know if they like the new songs before the release or they have to change some of them.

I think is not a bad idea. Would you like something similar for PSB?, changing something depending of the reaction of people before the album release.

terrible idea, though you can appreciate why record companies do it. surely it takes away from the record being an artistic endeavour, reflecting something about the act themselves ? I can understand it for S Club Juniors, McFly, Avril Lavigne, Cheeky Girls, Fast Food Rockers, Coldplay and U2 but not any act with
integrity. I can understand why movie directors get pissed off when the studio forces a change to a films ending because of the feedback from a test showing

Shaping an album in this way is a terrible idea, designed purely to maximise sales across as many markets as possible. Its like using focus groups in politics to shape policy - it completely lacks any real integrity.

You will just end up with the lowest common denominator.

What does this have to do with artistic talent, freedom, and integrity?

Great art, and I include music, is not generated through focus group discussions. Artists should be free to persue their own agendas.

Record companies are taking less and less risks. Nowadays there's even software that can calculate whether a song can become a hit or not. And no, I'm not kidding, I'm bloody serious.

I don't see anything against dropping an occasional song, but NOT with the purpose to radically change it or not release it at all. Fortunately Pet Shop Boys have a satisfying, loyal fanbase, so they don't depend on what general music consumers like or not. Release is the best proof. Many PSB-fans didn't really like it, yet bought the cd-singles and the album.

There are both economic and artistic concerns.

I can slightly understand such tests for (not very artistic) expensive mainstream movies or global stars like Madonna who have a lot to lose, but PSB belong to a different, less prominent breed. Tests for them would be pretty useless. They have their core audience and that's it.

Anyway, one can argue how artistic pop music really is, but a certain degree of it can certainly be found in Pet Shop Boys products. And art is no democracy.

But I think they don't have to change anything if they don't want (at the end, the album is created by the artist). But maybe it can help to make a better album.
Some songs like Suburbia, Heart or A Red Letter Day have been improved from the original version to the single version (and that's why all these songs were re-oriented for a more massive public).

Also, a previous audition in a disco could be a good thing.Some old songs were previewed by PSB in some clubs (Example: Go West, I think it was in a club called Haçienda and they could see the reaction of the audience with it).

There is nothing wrong about it. We have to recognaize PSB fans are very conformists with all they do. Sometimes we apreciate horrible songs. There is nothing wrong to know the opinion of others (psb fans or not).

dVTB wrote:Release is the best proof. Many PSB-fans didn't really like it, yet bought the cd-singles and the album.

Count me out.

nickname wrote:But I think they don't have to change anything if they don't want (at the end, the album is created by the artist). But maybe it can help to make a better album.
Some songs like Suburbia, Heart or A Red Letter Day have been improved from the original version to the single version (and that's why all these songs were re-oriented for a more massive public).

Also, a previous audition in a disco could be a good thing.Some old songs were previewed by PSB in some clubs (Example: Go West, I think it was in a club called Haçienda and they could see the reaction of the audience with it).

There is nothing wrong about it. We have to recognaize PSB fans are very conformists with all they do. Sometimes we apreciate horrible songs. There is nothing wrong to know the opinion of others (psb fans or not).

What you say is, in some cases, factually correct. But I think you are greatly misjudging the reasons behind these actions.

For example, with remixing, it is often the case that the PSB's will decide to release a single, and commission remixers (who generally have artistic freedom themselves, it should be noted). They may decide that one of them would actually make a better single release (ie Yesterday, when I was mad). But the decision is still entirely in their hands.

Of course there are commercial concerns, but they did NOT preview 'Go West' to test the crowd reaction. They did so because it was appropriate for the event. They knew it would be a hit anyway, so much so that Neil wanted to release the single right after they had finished recording it. It took EMI to convince them that they should save it for the album.

Crowd reactions are too variable - are the crowd drunk or on drugs? are they warmed up? are they fans of electronic music? is it a Monday or a Friday? are they male or female? young or old?

All these things will make a difference, and there is no singular scientific test one can conduct to see if a song will be a big hit or not.

I fundamentally disagree with your assertion that previews in clubs will be a good thing. They wont. What can you possibly tell from the reaction of a load of pilled-up gay boys? You could play the bloody Rose of Scotland and there would still be arms in air.

Btw, Madonna's album 'testing' took place like this:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/ ... =musicnews

What you say is, in some cases, factually correct. But I think you are greatly misjudging the reasons behind these actions.

For example, with remixing, it is often the case that the PSB's will decide to release a single, and commission remixers (who generally have artistic freedom themselves, it should be noted). They may decide that one of them would actually make a better single release (ie Yesterday, when I was mad). But the decision is still entirely in their hands.

Of course there are commercial concerns, but they did NOT preview 'Go West' to test the crowd reaction. They did so because it was appropriate for the event. They knew it would be a hit anyway, so much so that Neil wanted to release the single right after they had finished recording it. It took EMI to convince them that they should save it for the album.

Crowd reactions are too variable - are the crowd drunk or on drugs? are they warmed up? are they fans of electronic music? is it a Monday or a Friday? are they male or female? young or old?

All these things will make a difference, and there is no singular scientific test one can conduct to see if a song will be a big hit or not.

I fundamentally disagree with your assertion that previews in clubs will be a good thing. They wont. What can you possibly tell from the reaction of a load of pilled-up gay boys? You could play the bloody Rose of Scotland and there would still be arms in air.

I mostly agree... I've enjoyed many songs in clubs (and on drugs)
that did'nt do anything to me afterward....

Anyway what's the point 2 see the public reaction...???
I Mean c'mon, They do what they want and if I like like...Great if I don't ..too bad....

Oupss... the last post is in reverse... I mean the upper part is the quote and the quote is My Thinking..........

EHm, the Madonna song are being played in clubs because it's completely dance-oriented music and because you can work for 12 h on a track but you will never know how the crowd reacts. So that's why Price who works with her just tested a song without any vocals in a club...

The Chemical Brothers have been previewing their album tracks like this for years under their Electronic Battle Weapon series BTW.

dVTB wrote:Release is the best proof. Many PSB-fans didn't really like it ...

OK, 'Release' could've been prevented from
being released (*kidding*) but no, I do NOT
like the above idea.

Madonna would sell her children to ensure success. I hate the way films are 'tested' - I can't believe anybody with a vestige of artistic integrity would do this.

This item on e-bay is interesting: Rocco and Lourdes.....