A “must-have” when it comes to Pride Month music, the Pet Shop Boys cover of “Go West."
Of course, it's on my pool playlist all summer long. But, especially during Pride Month.
The track is a 3-time gay-gay-gay play.
Originally recorded by The Village People (do I even have to elaborate here?), the song was covered by the Pet Shop Boys in 1993 and nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Music Video.”
Plus, the tune was featured in the Broadway musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
See? Gay 1, 2, 3. What’s not to love?
On top of the muscular melody, the lyrics offer a positive message totally born for Pride:
(Go West) Life is peaceful there (Go West) In the open air (Go West) Baby you and me (Go West) This is our destiny (Go West) Sun in wintertime (Go West) We will do just fine (Go West) Where the skies are blue (Go West) This is what we’re gonna do
UK pop legends the Pet Shop Boys are giving this frigid February a blast of musical sunshine by releasing a digital four-track ‘in-the-moment’ EP called Agenda this week.
“It contains three satirical songs and one rather sad song,” says band member Neil Tennant of the EP. “I think it’s because of the times we’re living through.”
The first song,“Give Stupidity A Chance,” I featured yesterday in my News Round-Up.
The second, “On Social Media,” dropped today.
The third, “What Are We Going To Do About The Rich?” is set for Thursday, and then on Friday, “The Forgotten Child,” (figure that for the sad song) will drop as the complete EP will be available to purchase.
Over an infectious house beat, “On Social Media” skewers our everyday habits as we post, scroll, tweet, selfie, hashtag and pontificate via our smart phones.
From “On Social Media:”
Likes are in the thousands / My tweets are being retweeted
My family pics or holiday snaps / With total love are greeted
It’s so nice when people like you / You’re feeling hashtag blessed
You pop out of the conversation / It’s like you passed the test
This isn't the duo's first entre in political satire. You may recall PSB's 2006 track, "I'm With Stupid," which offered comedic slaps at then-President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Agenda, the first new music from the iconic duo since 2016’s Super, drops this Friday, February 8.
• I love Wrangler jeans. And the outdoors. And cowboy hats.. And, hold on, something else, it's coming to me... :)
• The movie Boy Erased, based on Garrard Conley’s real-life journey through so-called 'conversion therapy' will not be released in Brazil. Universal Pictures says the film won't be released due to 'financial reasons.' The South American country recently elected openly-homophobic Jair Bolsonaro as president.
• If you ever wondered EXACTLY what it's like to be bullied at school as a young boy, before he's even figured out who he is, please read this by my talented friend, David Toussaint. Definitely worth the read.
• ABC News: An investigation by a government watchdog organization shows President Donald Trump’s four trips to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida over four weeks in March and February 2017, including his summit with the Japanese prime minister, cost the government nearly $14 million.
• Opera singer David Daniels and his husband Scott Walters, were arrested Tuesday over allegations of rape by baritone Samuel Schultz in 2010. Schultz, who told police he was drugged and raped in 2010, came forward with the allegation in August.
• Texas political phenom Beto O'Rourke gave Oprah "a strong signal" he is seriously considering a 2020 run for the White House.
Talking with @Oprah just now, Beto sends a strong signal he is weighing a run for President and will decide by the end of the month. Oprah characterized his remarks as “leaning towards a run” and Beto did not correct her... #nhpolitics#Beto#Beto2020#DraftBetopic.twitter.com/Nz1c4F1lxC
• Pet Shop Boys drop their first single, “Give Stupidity a Chance”, from their upcoming EP Agenda (release date April 12).
Neil Tennant describes the track as “a satirical song about the poor quality of political leadership in the modern world.”
“Chicks are always up for it / You’ve got to grab whatever you can / We need a leader who knows money means class / With an eye for a peach-perfect piece of ass”
A little #FlashBackFriday as I remember this awesome performance by Liza Minnelli in 1989 at the "Grammy Living Legends" Awards.
The song she performs here, "Losing My Mind," from Stephen Sondheim's Follies, was another reinvention for the EGOT winner.
I remember watching the show live, and was knocked out by the completely captivating movement and "new look" for Minnelli.
The track is from Minnelli's 1989 masterpiece Results, produced by the Pet Shop Boys, and will be reissued as a 3CD+DVD deluxe set this August in the UK.
Super Deluxe Edition reports the edition will have 21 remixes, and a DVD featuring music videos and television appearances.
In reviewing the latest from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the iTunes store says the album "highlights middle-age's continued failure to blunt their edge." I would say I strongly agree with that.
The tracks sound current and relevant, and easily on par with any other new synth-pop out there today.
Definitely sounds perfect for a Saturday by the pool.
You can check out all of the tracks from the album at the duo's YouTube channel here.
The Pet Shop Boys announce their new album SUPER, and share this track from the project, "Inner Sanctum"
Via press release:
Pet Shop Boys will release their brand new studio album, 'Super', on April 1st.
Produced and mixed by Stuart Price in Los Angeles, it features 12 new Tennant/Lowe compositions including the lead single, 'The Pop Kids’.
'Super' can be pre-ordered now from iTunes with the track ‘Inner Sanctum’ available as an immediate download. CD and vinyl formats are also available to pre-order.
Pet Shop Boys will also play a four-date residency entitled Inner Sanctum, at London’s Royal Opera House on July 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd.
Staged by designer Es Devlin and choreographer Lynne Page, these will be Pet Shop Boys only UK concerts this year and a fabulous opportunity to see them in an extraordinary venue. Tickets are now on sale from the link below.
Check out "Inner Sanctum," plus the cool promo video below.
Really excellent "behind the scenes" view of Pet Shop Boys' Electric Tour brought to you by Vevo Tour Exposed.
So many elements that take long-lead advance work and development - costuming, lighting, programming instruments - it's huge. As the guys say in the clip, moving one song from one position on the set list can mean hours of reprogramming. Interesting view into what it takes to create these concert experiences. Plus great video of the concert itself.
The Pet Shop Boys take Panti Bliss' famous speech about homophobia last month and turn it into a ten minute dance groove, "The Best Gay Possible - Oppressive Dance Mix."
This short film has been produced and directed by the filmmaker and photographer, Joost Vandeburg. He has created it using authentic amateur film footage shot at various raves in the late 80s, along with some footage from the Haçienda in Manchester.
The video (and the song) was inspired by the way British youth at this time found its own freedom with a new culture epitomised by dance music and raves: "It's in the music/It's in the song/And the feeling of the warmth around us all is so strong."
