'I feel like I've just come out of a nightclub and read novel at the same time', is the perfect metaphor for PSB music. The video for Always on My Mind is taken from the film It Couldn't Happen Here, (I still have it on VHS somewhere lol) the film is a metaphysical, surrealist journey through their Actually and Please albums. It features a few well known, for the time, British actors.
Seeing this young American chap smile and get into the classic Pet Shop Boys groove has made my day! Oh and I really like he talks at the right moment during the tracks instead of pausing all the time. Nicely done sir. 👍🏻👏🏻❤️
There is a good reason why "Go West" gave you "YMCA" vibes, the song was originally performed by the Village People. The Pet Shop Boys were asked to sing it for an Aids Charity event, and following that decided to release it as a single.
The beginnings of that 80's/90's Pet Shop Boys sound - doesn't get any better than that...they created not just songs but anthems and are still going strong today. Great people and off the scale creative talent.
The video for Always on My Mind is made up of scenes the PSB made in the 1987 called It Couldn't Happen Here. It's full of famous British actors. Go West is a cover of the Village People song. It was originally about gay men wanting to move to San Francisco (go west) and the PSB cleverly subverted it to have the Russian angle in the visuals and sound of the choir.
Always on my mind was #1 in three decades sung by three artists - Elvis in the 60s, Pet Shop Boys in the 80s, and Willie Nelson in the 90s. Amazing song.
Love “Opportunities” - which has been revived this year due to that Allstate commercial. The “Go West” video definitely has a “YMCA on drugs vibe!” 😅😂. Great choices - thanks Bryson. 👍👋🦃🍁
Agreed Opportunities is excellent and has aged very well as with most of their songs. Go West was a cover of another lesser known Village People song so yeh that will be why it has YMCA vibes 😊
Thanks Dude. love the PSB. There is no one quite like them. FYI : In a recent UK poll, their cover of "Always On My Mind" was voted best cover ever. Their cover of "Go West" features the Gay Men's Chorus and they changed the lyrics to reflect on those friends lost to the AIDS crisis. "Left To My Own Devices" features a real 40 piece orchestra and is produced by Trevor Horn. The full version runs 8 minutes and is far more musically adventurous (i.e. less commercial) than this radio edit. Thankfully, you chose the single remix of "Opportunities", which is actually an improvement over the original album version. It was the third single off their first album and recently became a smash. hit again due to it's inclusion in an insurance commercial.
And if we’re Trainspotting, might be worth mentioning that opportunities was released twice. The first time it was definitely not a hit. I Don’t think it even made the top 100.
FUNNY WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE VILLAGE PEOPLE? Go West is a song by disco group Village People, released as a lead single. It was written by the group's lead singer Victor Willis. The song was successful in the disco scene. "Go West" found further success when it was covered by synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys.
Opportunities the album version was totally different to the video version, it gave more of a fun energy vibe to it. But ‘Love Comes Quickly’ will always be my favourite PSB song. Awesome reactions as always.
My all time favourite group and you reacted to “Opportunities”!!!! They do pay attention to their visuals. I love a lot of their lyrics as well. They have at least other 40 great singles, so you’ll have more chances to react to their music… suggestions? Please try “Rent”, “It’s alright”, “You only tell me you love me when you’re drunk” and “ Was it worth it?”.
Go West totally slapped as a club song in the 90s. The video doesn't hold up so well with all the crappy computer graphics. Go West is a cover of Village People song, though this version is so much better. All of these songs are really great PSB songs.
I love this format where you get to react to more than just one song from an artist! The Disco Mix version of "Left to My Own Devices is really theatrical. A personal favorite. Also there is a version one video for "Opportunities". Other Pet Shop Boys you may want to listen to are: "Jealousy", "New York City Boy", "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing", "Red Letter Day", "Pop Kids", "Was it Worth It?", "Did You See Me Coming", "Love Etc.", "Flamboyant" and maybe their Christmas song, "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas". Enjoy!🎶
Until recently I'd thought of Willie Nelson as the original singer of "Always..." and totally loved what PSB did with it. Didn't realize it went back even further than Willie. "Go West" of course a 70s gay anthem by Village People superbly remade into a 90s gay anthem but with the genius use of Soviet iconography in the video. And where else you gonna find a lyric like "Che Guevara and DeBussy to a disco beat" except in a cerebral PSB composition? I love these guys and all the theatrical drama they bring to anything they touch, visually, lyrically, and sonically.
Yep I would argue Elvis Presley’s interpretation of Always on My Mind was the most famous. PSB version was first played on a tribute show to Elvis himself.
Great picks, great songs, great videos... love Pet Shop Boys!! I was recently reading a Depeche Mode biography and was laughing at this tidbit... before his PSB days, Neil Tennant was an editor/writer for the music magazine Smash Hits and wrote dispariging items about our beloved DM, particularly regarding People are People. My fave PSB song is "So Hard", if I could request that for your next reaction 😃
PSB have done some fantastic cover versions, they really make Always On My Mind and Go West their own. You should definitely check out the video for Can You Forgive Her? it's probably my favourite of theirs.
PSB and Depeche Mode are well known for their Remixes. Many different versions of each single for clubs. Also worth mentioning is the burgeoning of the long video format (mini movies) from visually challenging artist.
Always On My Mind got me back together with my ex boyfriend in 1994 when we broke up. It perfectly said what a poor partner he'd been and how much he wished he hadn't stuffed up our relationship. Needless to say we are still close friends nearly 30 years on. Go and see them when they bring their Dreamland tour to the US - they always give a great concert and often do updated remixed versions of their classic songs.
Always on My Mind is a ballad, first released by Gwen McCrae (as "You Were Always on My Mind") in 1972. Brenda Lee also released a version in 1972. The song has been a hit, in both the country and western and pop categories. While Lee's version took number 45 on the US chart, other performers reached the top 20 in the United States, like Elvis Presley; Willie Nelson's version in 1982; and of cause Pet Shop Boys in 1987.
Great reactions, thanks! You'd love the "Introspective" album version of Left To My Own Devices, which is even longer and more epic... it's a 6-track album, all the tracks 6-10 minutes long, the idea being that instead of doing 3-4 minute songs and extending them for 12" versions, they'd start with long versions and cut them down for singles! And if you like Neil's lyrics, the song Being Boring is a must-listen (and another great cover version is It's Alright) 😀
(5:07) * When the Old Brit Dud get out of the Cab, I recognize, He recites a Line from "What Have I Done to Deserve This." Another one of Pet Shop Boys Favorite Songs with the Late Dusty Springfield. A Real Classic!. 😃
Looking back at all these songs from the 80's makes me realize how brilliant my childhood was growing up in the 80's. 80's videos are the best, so many random things that make no sense whatsover lol.
@@PancakeMarshmallowDude It was originally scheduled for 2020...I think we all know what happened. Lol. If you're interested in a new band to check out, try Nothing But Thieves. If you want to listen to an angel sing, check out Lover Please Stay or Particles (the piano version) ... if you want to rock out, Amsterdam or Unperson are your jams! Happy Holidays!
And yet again, you've made my evening! Great reaction to some great songs - thank you. Please keep up the PSB journey and react to more of their stuff.
Great picks! And I highly recommend seeing PSB if they come to your area. It is one of the gayest and most amazing things ever. It's pure over the top and bizarre spectacle. I've seen them 2 or 3 times and you just never know what to expect at their live shows. Always a fun time.
If you really like the pet shop boys, you need to see the RU-vid video (10:38), of their live act at the 2009 Brit Awards. After receiving the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, with guest star Lady Gaga.
Rent is one of my favourites. But I wonder why nobody even mentioned Being Boring. This is such a great song! It is different from everything else I ever heard from PB.
All great songs, Opportunities is my favourite also. I loved your analogy about having been to the club and read a book, I nearly spat out my coffee, spot on. Loving your work.
I'd love to see you do one for Dead or Alive next. I know you've only done "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and their cover of "That's the Way I Like It". I'd recommend "Brand New Lover", "Something in My Heart", "Turn Around and Count 2 Ten" and "Come Home (With Me Baby)" (for that last one, I'd go with the video that says "extended video", 'cause the other one is a bit crunchy in picture quality).
A lot of people at the time (1985/6) unfortunately missed the irony in "Opportunitie$" and took it as an *endorsement* of the "Greed is good", Gordon Gekko mentality of the 1980s. BTW there's an alternate video around for it with an alternate mix of the song, might want to go find that and watch it as well. Cheers.
Always on My Mind vocal melody sounds familiar because it is a cover of the original hit made famous by Elvis Presley 😊 also it was Christmas number one in the UK in 1987 which was a huge deal. It actually kept “Fairytale of New York” off the number one spot. I was (and still am) a massive fan of the Pet Shop Boys. 👍🏻❤️
First is an old cover song, also done by Elvis and is featured in a movie called It Couldn't Happen Here which was a movie made since the did not do live at that time...so a form for while waiting for the next album. If you want to see them live is This Must Be The Place I've Waited Years to Leave which was an idea for a James Bond movie. Found on the Performance live concert.
I feel you did them in reverse chronological age. Always on my mind is Elvis song.the guy in the car is actor Joss Auckland.the woman was Barbara Windsor (miss her😢carry on movies,soap actress)the guy with the dummy is Gareth hunt he was in the new avengers (60's,70's TV not marvel) as gambit with Joanna Lumley's purdy. Go west is the village People song they dressed like this for a while and we're trying the new technology for the video. Left to my own devices.i wonder if Neil Tennant was distracted like you with those guys in body suits😁. Opportunities was in the 80's when yuppies were making alot of money.the line about programming a computer.the 8)'s were when computers were finally small enough to fit on a desk in one room and people were getting them for there houses. Anne Marie and nial Horan from 1d have recorded their version of Fleetwood Mac everywhere for this year's children in need charity single.
Fun fact: The singer, Neil Tennant, actually has a Doctorate in Mathematics from the Sorbonne and is considered one of the smartest men in music. Must reacts to are: West End Girls and It's A Sin.
IS that true? I thought it was just a line in "Let's make lots of money" making fun of corporate people and yuppies. I thought he's got a degree in history, he's interested in russian history and worked as an editor. But you're right he IS indeed very smart and I love his witty references to history, society and zeitgeist.
Neil studied history, and he is especially interested in Russian history. Chris studied architecture, and both are very well-read and smart gentlemen, with a keen sense of design.
I am sure you will be intrigued by Pet Shop Boys - Left to my own Devices Wembley 2004 remastered HD. After your introduction to this wonderful group's first hit West End Girls, your journey has just begun and will continue. Thanks for taking time to check them out.
Early music videos were very primitive and literal and they liked to just throw in a bunch of random images and random dancers. I think Michael Jackson and Madonna were the ones that really propelled the music video into high quality production and story telling.
"Always on my mind" is a cover of Elvis Presley's song by the same title. The video comes from the Pet Shop Boys movie "It couldn't happen here". The movie "documents" a way the Boys had taken to fame and stardom. Very quirky and bizarre indeed.
The first track was one of my favorites when it was released. At the time I was so impressed how PSB transformed "Always on My Mind" (a country song made famous by Willie Nelson) into an electronic dance club extravaganza. I'm sure Dolly Parton recorded it too. There are probably other comments below (didn't check them all) but "Go West" was a bit hit for the Village People. PSB updated the track with their electronic sound. The visuals are full of Statue of Liberty images, which I guess would be appropriate for them since NYC is west of London. I always interpreted the song as an invitation to go out to San Francisco, where all the boys were. (I was there back then looking for them!) "Opportunities" was their take on a gay relationship. That's how I took it anyway. I'm enjoying this time travel experience through your eyes.
Always On My MInd was made famous by Elvis Presley, and Go West, as you rightly guessed, by The Village People - except the PSB version is significantly reworked and an improvement. For context, we know for a fact that Neil Tennant (the singer) is gay, and most likely Chris Lowe too - but they're not and never have been a couple, apparently...
"Go West" is a cover of a Village People original, so relating it to "YMCA" was a good call. Their cover and video was a response to the dissolution of the USSR, so again you were right it is a social and political song. In fact, it was sort of social and political when the Village People performed it, but it was a totally different statement.
Go west was the first video shown on MTV Russia when it looked like Russia actually was looking to the west so it was no accident it had that Soviet flavor. Sadly Russia went back to their old ways only a couple of years later.
PSB's version of Go West could be read as an elegy to the AIDS pandemic. In fact a number of their other songs address it... Being Boring is one of them.
Go West the OG YMCA song was a call for the LGBT community to go to San Francisco, as there was a lot of oppression in NYC in the 70s, the Pet Shop Boys version was the same, only for the fall of the Soviet Union and the destination being NYC.
I use to watch the go west video on vhs over and over! Lol. Pet shop boys are awesome! Its very interesting that they are what came from the sad ashes of the absolutely incredible JOY DIVISION which you must check out!!
Pet shop boys have played a big part in my turbulent personal life from my first marriage in Spain in 1986 right up to my forthcoming and fourth marriage
When Pet Shop Boys started out they spoke about how much they disliked performance music videos and for a long time they didn’t want to perform live either.