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
That's very good. I worked downtown in my city in the 1980s and the center of town had just started redeveloping and gentrifying, so all these old buildings were becoming fashionable districts so there was this very distinctive vibe of a place caught in different times that you describe.
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.
this is why we all like it and most dont... they werent there... they dont know what hearing this in hollywood clubs felt like.... you could go to a hip hop club or a trance club and hear this and you just knew it was time to get ready.. youngsters will never know that feeling.. Not like that....
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.
Yes here in the US, it was a staple in the mod and new wave club scene. I went to a place called the Second Level, a Sacramento club, and the music was this, early Depeche Mode, and just stuff I didn't know. All the girls were smoking cloves and wouldn't dance with the guys. I was never into that scene, but it was interesting checking it out from the side.
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.
I wish I could find current music that I can call music, I try to turn to the MTV current music channel and I just cringe with ALL the vocoder and auto tune crap. I also miss old school rap, I try really hard to listen to the new stuff but it is so incredibly vulgar. Point me to any current music that isn't this stuff and I will listen, I just can't seem to find myself
@@monicajarnport2005 An artist that I personally like a lot is Big Black Delta. He has a definite 80s influence, but with his own contemporary flare. Really interesting layers of sounds in the songs, and a lot of good melodies. I guess it would be categorized as industrial synth pop? Anyway, maybe check him out. If you want some rap with a more old school feel, I think you would like Little Simz. She's great. You wanna rock out, try King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. You want a more indie soft rock vibe, try Sharon Van Etten or Weyes Blood. Or maybe Trentemoller for some cool electronic vibes. Have fun, happy hunting.
Ryan is waaay off on his dismissal of “80s music”. Such a narrow view where some of the greatest music of all genres came out. Classic music is timeless regardless of the decade. And the 80s laid the foundation for all modern /urban music. This song is one of the pinnacles of English new wave dance and pop. I could understand Ryan since he more basic (haha) but George ??? Come on Bruhh , you know your musics 😂😅
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
To do electronic music in the 80s actually took a lot of knowledge because there was no youtube how to videos, no Pro tools where you could edit at will to get things exactly how you want it. It was trial and error with synths and .... maybe even reading the manuals, which is really a lost art.
To dismiss the 80s decade completely but listen to the crap that I’ve seen in the last videos is beyond me. That time has a lot to offer and it’s a disappointment. This channel wasn’t always like this.
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 .
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"
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 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.
Came to say same thing. Once you start thinking about whether you "should" like something or wonder what others would think of you for liking it, you've lost the plot and ceased to be a pure lover of music.
The explanation for some reason is making me think of Dire Straights "wild west end", but I always envisioned the "west end" in their song as not the rich side (that could also be influenced by my own city having what most would consider to be a wild west end). Some Londoners would have to educate us, or at least me.
@@bboyenzoIL Many but none shared or that particular selected. ABC, Men without Hats, Wall of Voodoo, Falco, The Fixx are examples that you can start with and then throw in more well known like Duran Duran, The Cars, Pat Benatar, The Go-Gos and some of the one hit wonders from the decade.
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.
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.
Sure but the Petshop Boys were my least favorite, that doesn't make them a bad act though, they were pretty ok but i would consider Depeche Mode, OMD, Erasure, Human League, Heaven 17, Yello etc more impactful with way better songs. The Petshop Boys were always so over stylized and over hyped by the critics.
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.
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.
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.
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
We were young when first listening and, then, other people’s opinions about music kinda mattered. Like our “friend “ group. As we grow all the way up the IDGAF kicks in, we like what we like. We ain’t tryna be nothing but ourselves….
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...
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 ❤
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.
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 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.
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.
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
Music from the 80's isn't removed from this era at all. If anything, it gets aped more nowadays than the past. Listen to The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, synthwave artists like The Midnight. The "sound" that you guys are referring to, that lounge like feeling, is what they call the sophisti-pop sound. Was the big thing, especially in the U.K. and Norway / Sweden in the mid 80's onward.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The lyrics of this have a lot of political references. The lyric 'From Lake Geneva to the Finland Station', refers to the train route taken by Vladimir Lenin while being smuggled by the Germans to Russia during World War I. East end and West end were areas of London with upper class living in the west end and working class living in the east end. Class division was extreme in the 80's. "Which do you choose, the hard or soft option" comes from a Margaret Thatcher speech. ( she was advocating a hardline approach against communism and against British labor unions and strikes) Nicknamed 'The Iron Lady".
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!
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
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 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.
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)
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 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.
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.
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.
Im a huge metalhead and rap fan. This shit absolutely slaps. 80s pop has so many bangers. It started to fall off a cliff in the 90, but its crazy to dismiss a whole decade.
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 really like the 80’s new wave sound. It’s why I was happy when vaporwave popped off. There’s a lot of 80’s music I do not like at all, like I fcking hate hair metal. But i really like the aesthetics of that electronic 80’s sound. I think you have to be able to vibe with more electronic music. I love the more organic sounds of “real” instruments, but I’ve always enjoyed more electronic sounds. Sometimes it can be a bit cheesy, like that god awful built this city song, but idk, when it hits it hits. Plus my fav movie Donnie Darko utilized 80’s music beautifully. I feel like 80’s music goes so well with a movie soundtrack.
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.
The 80s embracement of new electronic technology from drum machines, Simmons analog to electronic drums, synths and sequencers made for a very demanding and playful era. Sure there are dated sounds, but every era falls victim to this. Bands like Pet Shop Boys, ABC, OMD, Missing Persons, Thomas Dolby, Yello, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and many more, just used new tech mixed with their astonishing musicianship to try an entire new thing. Most of the time it was successful. Listen to the keys and bass gtr on Poison Arrow from ABC. It’s a perfect mix of killer playing with creative and monstrous electronic elements.
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
That 80's sound is called "walking at night down a dark alley that is both heavily shadowed yet suspiciously well lit and clean."
That's very good. I worked downtown in my city in the 1980s and the center of town had just started redeveloping and gentrifying, so all these old buildings were becoming fashionable districts so there was this very distinctive vibe of a place caught in different times that you describe.
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.
They want to hear something embarrassing…just turn on the radio
baila morena 😍😍
💯💯💯
I’m embarrassed they are even saying this clearly they have massive egos and know nothing about good music 🎵
This song is dope. So much style and so ahead of it’s time.
It sure is!!!
🤮 🤮
"What have I done to deserve this?" is the song to listen to from them. ❤️
It's only the first song.They never stop evolving. Their carreer is full of fantastic bangers.
"How much have you got?"😊
Any pop act today would kill for a song this good.
Mic drop.
Clap 👏 for facts
❤
RIGHT??
I feel sorry for people that dismiss the 80s.
It is considered one of the greatest decades ever on movies and music.
I heart the 80s!
80’s pop and 90’s r&b two of the best genres
Dismissing the 80’s or 90’s is dissing Generation X.
this is why we all like it and most dont... they werent there... they dont know what hearing this in hollywood clubs felt like.... you could go to a hip hop club or a trance club and hear this and you just knew it was time to get ready.. youngsters will never know that feeling.. Not like that....
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.
Jarvis Cocker nailed that too :)
Yes here in the US, it was a staple in the mod and new wave club scene. I went to a place called the Second Level, a Sacramento club, and the music was this, early Depeche Mode, and just stuff I didn't know. All the girls were smoking cloves and wouldn't dance with the guys. I was never into that scene, but it was interesting checking it out from the side.
WERK! Grrrreat reply! And yes I've seen them a dozen times over the decades!
This is iconic.🎉 IMO
When u get older & listen to the lyrics it's crazy too haha .. Definitely a classic
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.
Agreed! This is far from 80’s cheese.
I wish I could find current music that I can call music, I try to turn to the MTV current music channel and I just cringe with ALL the vocoder and auto tune crap. I also miss old school rap, I try really hard to listen to the new stuff but it is so incredibly vulgar. Point me to any current music that isn't this stuff and I will listen, I just can't seem to find myself
@@monicajarnport2005 An artist that I personally like a lot is Big Black Delta. He has a definite 80s influence, but with his own contemporary flare. Really interesting layers of sounds in the songs, and a lot of good melodies. I guess it would be categorized as industrial synth pop? Anyway, maybe check him out. If you want some rap with a more old school feel, I think you would like Little Simz. She's great. You wanna rock out, try King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. You want a more indie soft rock vibe, try Sharon Van Etten or Weyes Blood. Or maybe Trentemoller for some cool electronic vibes. Have fun, happy hunting.
@@flatpicker74 I'm just gonna add in the artist Rezz.... Modern dark electronic with very 80s alternative synths.... I highly recommend
Ryan is waaay off on his dismissal of “80s music”. Such a narrow view where some of the greatest music of all genres came out. Classic music is timeless regardless of the decade. And the 80s laid the foundation for all modern /urban music. This song is one of the pinnacles of English new wave dance and pop. I could understand Ryan since he more basic (haha) but George ??? Come on Bruhh , you know your musics 😂😅
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
To do electronic music in the 80s actually took a lot of knowledge because there was no youtube how to videos, no Pro tools where you could edit at will to get things exactly how you want it. It was trial and error with synths and .... maybe even reading the manuals, which is really a lost art.
80s music is trash. I question the sanity and taste of anyone that actually likes this awful garbage.
@@vampirelogic Rainbow is a classic example
@@vampirelogicYeah, and a lot of patch sheets!
To dismiss the 80s decade completely but listen to the crap that I’ve seen in the last videos is beyond me. That time has a lot to offer and it’s a disappointment. This channel wasn’t always like this.
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 .
I woluld love for them to dive into Depeche ! So many great songs ! :))
New Order: Ceremony and Temptation
INXS
Honestly all the bands you listed I liked less the more they wrote their first few albums are almost always better then their later stuff
Let’s not forget The Smiths
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 !
japan 😍
Classic song....always loved the haunting melancholy feel of this song....underated!
Petshop Boys is fire man. They had so many hits for a reason. It's very electronica but they were super creative.
Love 80s synth pop but the magnum opus of that genre is tears for fears
This is a classic 80s hit. Its unique and timeless.. 👍🏻
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 🤘🏽
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.
In the UK back in the day this was a JAM and it still is.
In the US too
Ryan needs to quit caring about what people may think !! This song is a VIBE! Always has been🎉
Came to say same thing. Once you start thinking about whether you "should" like something or wonder what others would think of you for liking it, you've lost the plot and ceased to be a pure lover of music.
Not exactly freethinking
@@avonlaveFOR REAL
Quite. He cares too much about other people. I just don't trust his opinions.
The explanation for some reason is making me think of Dire Straights "wild west end", but I always envisioned the "west end" in their song as not the rich side (that could also be influenced by my own city having what most would consider to be a wild west end).
Some Londoners would have to educate us, or at least me.
This is part of a group of timeless songs with a very specific time vibe. Absolutely 80s that will still rock in the 2080s.
You got a playlist for those timeless songs ?
@@bboyenzoIL Many but none shared or that particular selected. ABC, Men without Hats, Wall of Voodoo, Falco, The Fixx are examples that you can start with and then throw in more well known like Duran Duran, The Cars, Pat Benatar, The Go-Gos and some of the one hit wonders from the decade.
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.
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!
Also, if I'm remembering right, this song was a crossover hit on Urban stations. So it had appeal beyond the Pop and New Wave audiences.
It's not rapping. Jheeze. Educate yourself. They are reciting a monologue over the beat. Not the same.
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.
Most pop of any era IS throwaway music.
Sure but the Petshop Boys were my least favorite, that doesn't make them a bad act though, they were pretty ok but i would consider Depeche Mode, OMD, Erasure, Human League, Heaven 17, Yello etc more impactful with way better songs. The Petshop Boys were always so over stylized and over hyped by the critics.
Love the Pet Shop Boys. Never once thought of what he does as rapping. Hmm.
The "80s cheese" is what makes and breaks some of these songs. This sound makes it!
its funny they call this cheesy but they react to mgk and joyner lucas lol like come on
@@hornyconvictthere's quite a difference between cheesy and shitty. Lol
There’s nothing cheesy about it
Not cheesy…talented. Today’s era….shit!
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.
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.
Beautifully put. Yes.
80's MASTERPIECE by the LEGENDARY DUO. Period. (BTW, #1 in Billboard hot 100 as a debut song).
Dance club classic. NYC clubs rocked this with the freestyle back in the 80s.
This is a perfect song for riding in a convertible in the summer time.
Nah, man this is a CLASSIC !!! LOVE IT!!
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!
from Lake Geneva to the Finland Station ?
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.
They clearly did not research well. Especially the remixed Gollum dude.
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
I bought my first records in London in 1960 so imagine how I feel..lol
Exactly. Regards from Chile.
@@tomasgonzalezmarin6118 Saludos desde Inglaterra. Espero que te encuentres bien.
We were young when first listening and, then, other people’s opinions about music kinda mattered. Like our “friend “ group. As we grow all the way up the IDGAF kicks in, we like what we like. We ain’t tryna be nothing but ourselves….
The timing is interesting when music really grabs you, make that emotional connection and you’re good. Sometimes it just doesn’t too, so interesting.
"He's rapping like he's numb inside"...nailed it.
Listening to this while driving around in GTA V was a top tier experience
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...
Or Dua Lipa, or Miley's last record or most Gaga tunes, the list goes on.......
GTA V classic
You know it
Wasn’t that Vice city?
@@hamburgersandfuriousanger6820 Nope and that's odd considering it's a 80's game!
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.
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.
Same here saw them at Barclays center a year ago amazing concert!
Depeche mode is on a whole other level. Extensive catalogue for 40 years going.
Their latest song Ghost Again might be one of my favorites of theirs. They still got it.
@@carrionflowers6764”never let me down” off the new album is an amazing song.
@@MountainxManx you mean never let me go?
@@carrionflowers6764 yes sorry!
To be fair, Petshop Boys are still making music, too. (Now both groups are duo’s! 😂)
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.
I was a big fan of Pet Shop Boys back in 87. This really brings back memories..
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 STILL listen to PSB in the car to this very day. Perfect summer driving music with the windows down.
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.
The 80s electro sound was quite majestic in its way. Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, etc....
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.
My little 80's teen heart still loves this song. Under 18 Friday nights at the club. 😊
Classic tune. British music scene is so diverse.
It is 🔥🔥🇬🇧
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
Music from the 80's isn't removed from this era at all. If anything, it gets aped more nowadays than the past. Listen to The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, synthwave artists like The Midnight.
The "sound" that you guys are referring to, that lounge like feeling, is what they call the sophisti-pop sound. Was the big thing, especially in the U.K. and Norway / Sweden in the mid 80's onward.
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?
That was beautiful
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.
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.
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.
You nailed it
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
I have to say, George's analysis is always spot on. You have a knack for getting it and articulating it.
As opposed to Ryan George is a straight G
❤For some of us it's nostalgically always alive ,music has no boundaries....
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.
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!
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.
The lyrics of this have a lot of political references. The lyric 'From Lake Geneva to the Finland Station', refers to the train route taken by Vladimir Lenin while being smuggled by the Germans to Russia during World War I. East end and West end were areas of London with upper class living in the west end and working class living in the east end. Class division was extreme in the 80's. "Which do you choose, the hard or soft option" comes from a Margaret Thatcher speech. ( she was advocating a hardline approach against communism and against British labor unions and strikes) Nicknamed 'The Iron Lady".
One of the best bands of the 80s.
I don't care for 80's music but this song is a smooth groove. I love it
Great song! Definitely taps into an 80s vibe. Catchy as hell.
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.
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!
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
This song is unique and amazing.
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’m so excited you did this song! The Pet Shop Boys are underrated.
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.
"It's a Sin" is a great Pet Shop Boys track too.
Pet Shop Boys are FIRE
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".
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.
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)
Calling PSB “80s cheese” just shows a lack of knowledge about a group that has had hit after hit and has stood the test of time.
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.
80’s had sooo much to offer.
This is one of the most 80s songs of the 80s ever. I love it 😂
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.
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.
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.
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.
Im a huge metalhead and rap fan. This shit absolutely slaps. 80s pop has so many bangers. It started to fall off a cliff in the 90, but its crazy to dismiss a whole decade.
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.
Saw them in Leeds Saturday just gone. Neil in his 70’s still sounding great.
Music today is so far removed from back then😂 oh yeah this auto tune era is so much better lmao!
I really like the 80’s new wave sound. It’s why I was happy when vaporwave popped off. There’s a lot of 80’s music I do not like at all, like I fcking hate hair metal. But i really like the aesthetics of that electronic 80’s sound. I think you have to be able to vibe with more electronic music. I love the more organic sounds of “real” instruments, but I’ve always enjoyed more electronic sounds. Sometimes it can be a bit cheesy, like that god awful built this city song, but idk, when it hits it hits. Plus my fav movie Donnie Darko utilized 80’s music beautifully. I feel like 80’s music goes so well with a movie soundtrack.
It’s ok to like songs purely out of nostalgia
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.
This song is a banger
New Order, "Blue Monday" (12-inch version); Tears For Fears "The Working Hour" or "Mothers Talk"; Gang of Four "Not Great Men"
Actually this is the only song I know by Pet shop boys and I've always liked it
The 80s embracement of new electronic technology from drum machines, Simmons analog to electronic drums, synths and sequencers made for a very demanding and playful era.
Sure there are dated sounds, but every era falls victim to this.
Bands like Pet Shop Boys, ABC, OMD, Missing Persons, Thomas Dolby, Yello, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and many more, just used new tech mixed with their astonishing musicianship to try an entire new thing. Most of the time it was successful.
Listen to the keys and bass gtr on Poison Arrow from ABC. It’s a perfect mix of killer playing with creative and monstrous electronic elements.
I wasn't havin this song back in the day, but now I enjoy it for the nostalgia...and that's good enough for me...