Music - Pet Shop Boys

I have been a fan of Neil and Chris for years now and bizarrely I think my introduction to Pet Shop Boys was my mother!

Everything they have created has been fresh and original and completely against the current trends - I think this is what has given them such a strong following and the reason why they have lasted so long.

My favourite Pet Shop Boys album has to be Behaviour as it is such a mix of styles and is so well produced. It's one of the best albums ever written and is helped by the inclusion of my favourite (and the Pet Shop Boys favourite) track, Being Boring. There are few songs that can move me so emotionally and yet Being Boring has the ability to do this.

Of course Neil is the classical influence and Chris is the dance influence of the duo and it works so well. Never has classical music been mixed so well with dance then on the Introspective album. It's Alright, Domino Dancing and Left To My Own Devices (the Christmas number one that year) are superb tracks.

Neil and Chris are very good producers and excellent writers too lending a hand to various artists (Liza, Dusty, Kylie to name a few) and then writing a hit West End musical (Closer to Heaven).

The Pet Shop Boys are also one of a few number of artists who produce "b-sides" and its so nice to hear new material with their single release instead of simple remixes (that said they have had some of the hottest remixers working on their work through the years). Another favourite Pet Shop Boys song is "The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes On" which is a b-side. I am sure they are the only act (apart from Prince) who have released a "greatest hits" compilation of b-sides -"Alternative".

2002 saw the addition of "Release" to the Pet Shop Boys collection and it is a very different album. Again the critics were taken aback by the diversity of the album. After all who'd have thought that Neil & Chris would ever produce a string/acoustic album? And to write about Tony Blair and Peter Mandellson (I Get Along) and affairs with Eminem (The Night I feel in Love) is truly inspired :)

Neil and Chris will never being boring to me (sorry couldn't resist that!).

Here is my top twenty Pet Shop Boys songs:

1	Being Boring	Behaviour
2	Domino Dancing	Introspective
3	Minimal	Fundamental
4	Home and Dry	Release
5	The Boy Who Couldn't keep His Clothes On	"Before" b-side
6	Se a vida é (That's the way life is)	Bilingual
7	What Have I Done To Deserve This? (and the Shep Pettibone Mix from "Pop Art Mix" comes a very close second)	Actually (w Dusty)
8	It's Alright	Introspective
9	Miracles	Pop Art (Mix)
10	Only The Wind	Behaviour
11	I Don't Know What You Want (But I Can't Give It Anymore)	Nightlife
12	The Sodom And Gomorrah Show	Fundamental
13	In Denial	Nightlife (w Kylie)
14	My Head is Spinning	Relentless
15	For Your Own Good	Nightlife
16	It Couldn't Happen Here	Actually
17	You Choose	Release
18	Nothing Has Been Proved	Reputation
19	Between Two Islands
20	This Is My Night	Closer to Heaven soundtrack


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