Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (REACTION!) 

That 80's sound is called "walking at night down a dark alley that is both heavily shadowed yet suspiciously well lit and clean."

This song is dope. So much style and so ahead of it’s time.

Any pop act today would kill for a song this good.

Gotta remember ... the sound of this song was completely new at the time. You call it the '80's' sound now ... but back then - completely new. That is the reason why this sound left such an impression

Anyone who thinks it’s cheesy or embarrassing to listen to old music doesn’t respect music as an art form. As the decades keeping passing by music/songs that are capable of standing the test of time are less and less. The 80s and 90s were the last decades of consistently great music.

I feel sorry for people that dismiss the 80s.

This song went to #1 in the US and UK. It also topped the dance charts, in the US. More remarkably, it charted on the R&B, Rock, *and* Adult Contemporary charts. It was written as a British response to Grandmaster Melle Mel "The Message". It was about working class lads trying to climb the social ladder with rich girls. It was the first of several major hits for the band who is still going strong.

To really appreciate pet shop, Depeche Mode, cure, new order etc you really need to listen to several of their songs . They all evolved into to great bands with great libraries .

Petshop Boys is fire man. They had so many hits for a reason. It's very electronica but they were super creative.

I can't respect anyone that dismisses 80s music off hand. The music was done by very technical musicians. The 80s simply was one of the best decades for music. The diversity of music that hit airwaves can't be matched

I'm a hard rock guy, but Pet Shop Boys - Please is AWESOME. Something about West End Girls grabbed me when I heard it on the radio so went out and bought it. I wore that album out! p.s. George, just because there's synths in a song doesn't automatically make it "cheesy"

This will always be one of my favorite 80's songs !

Pet Shop Boys were KINGS of the dance floor in the mid-80's - their grooves were infectious, top-notch synth, vocals/lyrics that were unconventional, but still had something to say! I love these guys! HIGHLY suggest: Opportunities (Let's Make Money), It's A Sin, Shopping, One More Chance...if you're up to hear a couple of their dance-floor burners.

I was more of a metalhead in the 80zzzz, but the Pet Shop Boys caught my ear 🤘🏽

It’s strange that Ryan says, “music is so far removed from what it sounded like then”. It really isn’t. Just look at artists like The Weeknd and you can see what a massive influence the 80s sound continues to have. And sure, there are cheesy 80s songs, but every decade has them. West End Girls is not one of them. It oozes cool vibes throughout.

This is a classic 80s hit. Its unique and timeless.. 👍🏻

Classic song....always loved the haunting melancholy feel of this song....underated!

Ryan needs to quit caring about what people may think !! This song is a VIBE! Always has been🎉

This is part of a group of timeless songs with a very specific time vibe. Absolutely 80s that will still rock in the 2080s.

Pet Shop Boys are the most successful pop duo /pop synth duo in history. They are still going strong today. This song was a massive hit all over the world for them, being their 1st song it would lead to even better songs. You should definitely try It's A Sin and Together.

80's MASTERPIECE by the LEGENDARY DUO. Period. (BTW, #1 in Billboard hot 100 as a debut song).

The "80s cheese" is what makes and breaks some of these songs. This sound makes it!

I am 41. I lived in Italy 92-94. Euro MTV played a lot of Pet Shops Boys (the album that was released at the time, including "Go West"). This reminds me of that time of my childhood. Nostalgia to a simpler time.

It helps that the Pet Shop Boys had well engineered, well produced projects. The layered vocals, jazz elements… it wasn’t 80s fluff. It’s a lot of synth but they use synthesizer as well as Carl McIntosh of Loose Ends.

Love the Pet Shop Boys. Never once thought of what he does as rapping. Hmm.

In the UK back in the day this was a JAM and it still is.

Man, when I was in the U.S Navy in the 80's this Track was played ALL Over Europe! You could not go anywhere without hearing this!

This is a perfect song for riding in a convertible in the summer time.

Dance club classic. NYC clubs rocked this with the freestyle back in the 80s.

I wouldn't call any part of this rapping. He is talk-singing which is a long time method....Bowie did it, the Beatles did it.... In no way is this supposed to be a banger you y'all. It is a mood, it is a vibe. And I echo the prior comments on very good production values. Thanks guys!

Yeah but Petshop Boys was not really just "80's" music. There was a lot of poppy sort of thowaway songs that came out of the 80's. This band is one of the ones that stood out from the rest and had a following for a reason. They weren't some one hit wonder like many of the "80's" songs and Ryan just dismissed them as such which is silly. Petshop Boys is a respected synthpop act by many musicians.

Listening to this while driving around in GTA V was a top tier experience

Depeche mode is on a whole other level. Extensive catalogue for 40 years going.

It's so weird, I haven't heard this song in a long, long time, and I never really liked it. I never hated it, I just never really cared one way or another about it. However...listening to this now just hit me for with a wave of nostalgia and melancholy I wasn't expecting. Crazy how music can do that to you

Nah, man this is a CLASSIC !!! LOVE IT!!

I don't know if you experienced ALL of the 80's Ryan. It's the most reminisced about decade ever. Life was amazing. Movies, music, sports....happy times that are gone but not forgotten.

I STILL listen to PSB in the car to this very day. Perfect summer driving music with the windows down.

The UK 80's scene - particularly the first half - was incredibly diverse musically. A true explosion of styles. Much of the music/lyrics were borne out of the political/social situation so if not particularly familiar with general/music UK history from that time it may be hard to fully appreciate.

The 80s electro sound was quite majestic in its way. Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, etc....

"He's rapping like he's numb inside"...nailed it.

My little 80's teen heart still loves this song. Under 18 Friday nights at the club. 😊

GTA V classic

I was a big fan of Pet Shop Boys back in 87. This really brings back memories..

Classic tune. British music scene is so diverse.

It's not rapping or anything else, I would never in the world understand what is this about (since I rarely care for lyrics) but it has such a nice 80's vibe with just a certain degree of originality to it that doesn't sound stale or cliche to me. The deep synth bass, the numb new-wavey sound of his voice, the message behind the song - it all comes together and it still sounds fresh to this day which is an accomplishment in itself for any 80's song. I've only heard so much from them but what I heard is enough for me to know that these boys are alright.

STILL listen to this to this day ❤ I cannot overrate just how great the 80’s were; graduated High School in Brooklyn in 1985, and hit the clubs throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. We had it all; Disco, R&B, Rap, Rock, Soft Rock, Electro, Hip Hop, New Wave, Techno, House, Acid, Freestyle, and more. So much creativity everywhere, beautiful people, happy times, gritty times, a culture much more United than today. This sense of nostalgia is what makes this music so much more than just the music; life was truly better, and not just because we were young. If you know, you know.P.S: met my husband on the dance floor in 1990; yep, we still got it and still dance ❤

Just saw them with New Order. They were phenomenal. This song is classic.

Amazing song, amazing bass line and i'm sorry Ryan, but you can't say that today's music is so far removed from the cheezy 80's with top selling artists like The Weeknd...

My best friend is a badass drummer and we met each other when I joined his hardcore metal band, and we both love heavy metal and prog. But we work together a lot (he has a fabrication shop) and for the last several years we just listen to eighties music all day, and we both agree that this shit was the best. We've started a new band that is writing original eighties music. So I'm not laughing at it, awesome song.

This album, and especially this song, will always hold a special place in my heart. In the late 80s we drove from New Hampshire to TX and my brother and I took turns listening on the Walkman to the only tape we happened to bring along - Please by the Pet Shop Boys. I can only guess how many times I heard this song over those 2,000 miles

I have to say, George's analysis is always spot on. You have a knack for getting it and articulating it.

13:00 "he's singing like he's numb", "it's about one night stands", "no future" The "no future" slogan was the core motto of the punk movement and a lot of new wave / synth pop has postpunk elements or sensibilities. The "numbness" was the zeitgeist, the Cold War era, people grew up under the constant threat of nuclear annihilation, under duress of Thatcher regime and for the first time really felt like the good times were over for good. The economy was revived for the wealthy, while relative poverty doubled, income inequality skyrocketed at the end of her last term to the point it forever remained under Major and Blair. The East End boys had nothing to be happy about and a West End girl would be a huge leap in social strata.

Come on, you can't NOT love this! It's the freaking Pet Shop Boys. This shit was the shit, and still is nearly 40 years later.

I only heard this song about 7 years ago, and I loved it. British accent rap is its own thing, and I think this was one of the first.

Great song! Definitely taps into an 80s vibe. Catchy as hell.

Whenever you listen to something older that was a big hit, you have to keep in mind it was probably at the leading edge in some way and now it may seem corny because popular things get imitated to death afterwards, but at the time this was fresh. Rap was still in its infancy when this came out so it couldn’t be compared to the better rap that was still to come. These songs are the musical milestones from my teen years so I can’t hear them now like it’s my first time like you guys can.

One of the best bands of the 80s.

I’m so excited you did this song! The Pet Shop Boys are underrated.

This song is amazing

Can't tell you how many tapes I ruined playing this song. It was on every mix tape. Every road trip tape. Every girlfriend tape. Just classic and emblematic of mid 1980s. Hair full of beach sand, feet hanging out the window as we move down the interstate, telling inside jokes and smoking a cig... What's not to love?

One of the great songs of the last 50 years especially those first 45 seconds ... always puts you back deep inna heart of the '80s.

The Pet Shop Boys added to other bands that were part of the British Invasion in the 80s. MTV really helped with their visibility. Great band!

❤For some of us it's nostalgically always alive ,music has no boundaries....

Why worry what people think? You can't please everyone. Not to mention, this is what you do. The fact that you are willing to listen and give your honest opinion removes any opportunities for someone to legit throw dork status your way. IMO. If you are a true music lover, so many different things will please your ears. I love the memories this song brings of my teenage years. 💖

I knew Ryan wouldn't like this one hahaha I love it though. I am a child of the 80s and honestly it might be mostly nostalgic but I love this synth groove.

I don't care for 80's music but this song is a smooth groove. I love it

Pet Shop Boys has dozens and dozens of amazing songs all the way to present years.I don't think people know just how successful Pet Shop Boys are. Theyve sold over 100 milluon records. I was 4 yrs old when West End Girls came out and knew the lyrics by the time I was 5. I believe Neil Tenant is now in his 60's and still going. There is much to say about an artist who has been there and done that. Too bad not everyone enjoys his music. It isn't for everyone.

I remember recommending this song in a past video. I'm glad you guys reviewed it. I was Born in 1990 and my parents always played the 80s stations with Casey Kasem all the time. Its just a sound I grew up around. I love the 80s sound even though I never grew up in it. It seems like people in the 80s didn't follow the norms and weren't afraid to experiment with different things.

This song is an iconic new wave song from the 80's. There is no other song that even comes close to sounding like it. Very unique. No one needs to over analyze the song or its meaning. It either hooks you or it doesn't. It's a GREAT song.

This is a timeless groove. Pet Shop Boys have been making great dance music for decades right up to today. They have great grooves along with laid back vocals and very clever lyrics that are a great mix of sadness and humor. People who shut their minds off to different music... the problem is with you, not the music.

I'm a rocker from the 80s as were my friends, but we all dug this shot. We listened to all types back then. Rock just had the biggest hold on us. 80s really did Rule

I named my son Weston after this song. When I was a kid I always thought they were saying Weston girls so it just stuck with me and I always loved that name. Always will be a very special song to me.

I had just left school PSB as they’re known are a iconic UK duo this was first big hit single and as such it was totally new at the time you had to be there everyone was buying the single and Uk radio was playing it non stop. They have influenced so much synthpop since this was released and they are still releasing albums.

98% of 80s pop puts a smile right on my face not cuz it's goofy old or out of date but because you can tell they had fun and stive always for a specific pocket that most modern outfits cant seem to replicate

It’s ok to like songs purely out of nostalgia

Memories… palm trees and white sand, night fires and girls in bikinis. Good times. And that Lenin reference “from Lake Geneva to the Finland Station” still gets me every-time. There is something underneath this song that is more ominous than just 80’s cheese. These dudes were smart, and they had the hooks.

I think the best thing about this channel is that no one can question your guys' honesty. Ryan's dismall cracked me up "that was a struggle".

This is one of the most 80s songs of the 80s ever. I love it 😂

You react authentically. I see so many people out there reacting as if they didn't know anything about the music and that sounds unreal, considering that these are songs that are still played in different places. Pet Shop Boys is one of the best sounds.

80’s had sooo much to offer.

I was in my 20s when this song came out and the dance floor would be jam packed whenever this song was played. It's a great song to dance to. I love it still today.

I love the 80's, for NOSTALGIA, and the music separately 😊

If were doing this, I've got so many suggestions. "Peek-a-boo" by Siouxie and the Banshees, "I Want to Know (Pure Energy)" by Information Society, "Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones, "Something About You" by Level 42

Pet Shop Boys are FIRE

"It's a Sin" is a great Pet Shop Boys track too.

This speaks LONDON EARLY 80s and ive never been there it has Atmosphere and a Melocholic feel the sound was eternal and will still sound brilliant in 50yrs from now the sound drenches you with Atmosphere.

I remember playing this in the mid eighties at all the neighborhood parties 😅

Although I was a rocker in the 80s, I was sneaking around with some others and listening on the side to Pet Shop Boys, who are top-level musicians that really cross over well! (Listened to a lot of Tears for Fears that way too)

Loved it then. Love it now!! It was different from most songs at that time.

Lush is the best word for this 80's style music. Fat and smooth synth, atmospheric, chorusy music. That's the way I always think of it.

Pet Shop Boys have a bunch of big hits - Suburbia, It's A Sin, Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money), Being Boring, Rent...list goes on.

I interviewed these guys about 25 years ago and remember singer Neil Tennant telling me how this was the first #1 pop song with a rap vocal. Perhaps it was the first UK pop single with a rap, but I would say "Rapture" by Blondie from 1981 was the first pop/rap vocal.

The bassline was inspired by Grandmaster Flash, the chord progression by Barry White. He wanted to perform it in an American accent but couldn’t pull it off, so he ended with that disaffected deadpan British voice. At the time, it felt unspeakably modern. It was startling.

It's about The Posh West End London girls loving the cheeky rough East End London boys.

This song is a banger

I was put in to this song because of gta i used to love hearing it while driving around the map but i had no idea who or what it was called im so glad i finally know

The "numbness" of 80's vocals...🤣🤣🤣

Love this song and band, personally will never get past the 80's 🎶🎶🎹🎶🎶

To me, 80s pop, synth-pop, pop-rock, new-wave etc are all too underrated. Just remember how you were not into 80's metal earlier, how you couldn't know what to do with that unique sound and style. Same goes for 80's pop-rock and synth-pop scene guys. Just like George said, it's gonna grow more in you if you let yourself get all the passionate elements that these bands&artists share with you. Cheers!

So fresh in the day. Realize, this was new and real back in the day. I lived that wonderful life. Naughty by Nature.