Yes yes yes! You must react to those two songs. I recommended "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" when you two reacted to one of Dusty Springfield's songs. I think y'all will really enjoy both those songs.
@@KneeJerkReactions13 It was number one in 13 countries, top ten in at least 8 more, including the US, and hit number 3 on the US Dance Chart. Wasn't just Brits who danced to it.
In an interview he granted BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2007, Tennant explained the meaning of this classic. According to him, his strict Catholic background always made him feel that everything he loved doing was a pure sin. So he put it in a song. This track is premised on the idea that everything the singer wanted to do or actually had done in his youth somehow drew the ire of the Church. And due to these beliefs being an ingrained part of his being, when he looks back on his life he feels a deep sense of “shame”. Thus in the bridge he is asking God to forgive him. However, these references are sarcastic instead of literal. And in all, what he is basically doing is criticizing the Church based on his inferred belief that they set unrealistic and indeed oppressive moral standards.
Neil Tennant is of course gay and the Church is well known to be intolerant of homosexuality. ( wrongly!) I expect that's the "sin" angle he's getting at.
I think the lyrics are about his inner conflict, between the excesses of the Church and the things which the Church are right about and he feels guilty about, the video hints at gluttony with the woman scoffing the cake, and the lyrics also with the Lines "Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it Whatever you taught me, I didn't believe it Father, you fought me, 'cause I didn't care And I still don't understand" Its striking a balance between selfishness and the excesses of the church, very clever song when you look a little deeper
This might be my favorite of their songs. Their cover of “always on my mind” is great. At one time (maybe still??) they were the best selling duo in UK history.
Pet Shop Boys were such a refreshing addition to the 80's music movement. Fabulous music, important stories that need to be told and uncovered, a great band. Great reaction, loved your take. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️ ❤️ 🇨🇦🇨🇦
PSB are genius! Lyrically poetic, poignant, introspective and often melancholy but they def want to make you dance. What Have I Done To Deserve This, Always on my Mind, Opportunities, Go West...lots of goodies from these guys.
Good recommendations! I agree wholeheartedly with both of these. I'd say try out 'Go West' first for a completely different vibe through the beat and lyrics.
I'm gay and I'm 41. As a young teenager I felt shame and fear for being gay. I had no control over being gay... I developed OCD and anxiety which I still have now. My parents didn't take my coming out well. Nowadays we get along and I feel accepted to a degree but the feeling of shame and regret and self-loathing remains. It's so great to have people like you who are accepting of people and have so much love for others.
Don't feel so bad, I grew up in similar type of situation and I'm 50 and gay! I grew up in Catholic household and went through Catholic schools K-12, so this song always hit a chord with me since I know how much I had to hide and bury just to appear to live a "normal" life, little did I know that period in my life was the most miserable and having to carry that burden around for so long.
Fun fact for Amber and Jordan and the younger viewers. When you have a song stuck in your head. It's called an Earworm. Not to be confused with Earwig. That is an actual insect. Keep up with the good work 😎👍
Been a fan of PSB for decades. This is one of their best songs. I think you'd also love "Heart", "Can You Forgive Her?", "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money), and "The Way It Used to Be".
You mentioned how for some it must be difficult to be who you are (depending upon the environment you are in), and how that message was unexpected given the dance beat... Give Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" a listen.
definitely bronski beat with 'smalltown boy' and 'why'. also listen to the communards which was the next project jimmy Sommerville did after bronski. ' dont leave me this way' was iconic and dancy. he sang a bee gees cover 'to love somebody' if you are a fan of Barry's falsetto, OMG jimmy Somerville will make you melt!!
You guys should react to more Pet Shop Boys… "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)", "Love Comes Quickly", "One More Chance", "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", "Rent", "Domino Dancing", "Always on My Mind" 💃🏻🕺🏼
The Pet Shop Boys song to react to is "What Have I Done To Deserve This" with the great Dusty Springfield. Dusty going to church at the end of the song is the cherry on the sundae.
2 important things to remember how the Pet Shop Boys reflected the times, which also made them cutting edge: 1. Electronic dance music was a new thing. The Pet Shop Boys (this song in particular) and New Order were the pioneers in popular, electronic dancefloor songs that would eventually evolve into the techno, trance, etc that we take for granted today. 2. Remember where this kind of music is evolving OUT OF as well: New Wave/New Romantic. So, darker, moodier etc. The Pet Shop Boys are right on the cusp of moving from being gay as a sad burden to cope with; into living as yourselves in the mainstream with no apologies. So, while the music is electro up-beat (what it will evolve into), the lyrics and theme are still New Romantic moodier (what it is evolving out of). This song (and the Pet Shop Boys generally) really hit the nail on the head of where young gay men were at at the time and their music exploded in the gay clubs.
And I will be on 4th Row - Center from the stage next Friday, October 7 to see BOTH bands at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in their Unity Tour. CAN'T WAIT !!!!!!!!!
Both Neil Tenant and Chris Lowe were gay and this band had a huge gay following. In 1987, being gay was still hard for a lot of people, and there was a lot of stigma still associated with being gay. Go West totally slaps. I loved that as a club song. So Hard is more obscure but a personal fav.
being a gay teen at the time this was released, and having grown up in the south, I remember relating to this song on a deep, personal level. almost as though the lyrics were about me.
@@danielbyrne5402 Thanks to MTV (the early years) British bands were very popular in the US during the 80s. It was termed the 2nd British Invasion ... the first invasion happned in the 60s with Beatles and Rolling Stones. Erasure is one of my favorite pop acts. But as the 80s progressed I was more into groups like Siouxsie, New Order, Cure, Smiths, Cocteau Twins, etc.
@thebeardedseeker5633 bloody heck, you're my mother's long lost twin brother lol R.I.P mom, but yeah, she'd listen to them all the time hence my own tastes.
As a gay man raised Catholic, I came to understand that everything I did was a sin, not just the sex. Around the same time as this song came out. It's a heavy burden to carry, even more so when it's the 80s and you're still growing physically and emotionally.
I had a very similar experience growing up in the 80s as a bisexual man. My Catholic faith that I had at the time was really important to me, so my sexuality really had me in mental turmoil. I was so stressed at one point I even spoke about my lifestyle to a priest during a visit to confession, and the priest actually told me that the fact I had these urges made me a deviant and was abhorrent in the eyes of himself, church and God. Something about this changed me. I didn't change a thing about myself simply because the way I saw it, if a church and faith could look at me like filth, then I didn't want to ever be part of something so vile. This song really resonated with me at this time.
Not gay myself am 45yo now grew up with punk and hardcore. This was my fav PSB song because it even spoke to my life. Was different back then for you guys though and no doubt gave you bigger goose bumps than it gave me when i was going deaf listening at full noise. I was the guy at gigs and party's who would chuck it on on have the room turn against me. They loved it they just didn't know it yet 😜
I love when your Mama and Papa bears come out. He's gay, so all the messages from conservative religious people was that everything about him was a sin. I simply adore you for being so open-minded and loving
@@jimrosser7494 that's so great. You're following the teachings of Jesus. Unfortunately, not everyone follows your lead. "Love the sinner, not the sin" is too often interpreted as "shame the sinner for who they are." I hope people like you triumph.
P.S. I don't believe gay or trans people are sinners, at all. I was raised Catholic, I've left that behind. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate religious people who accept everyone. That's right, just, and loving.
Pet shop boys are iconic! This has to be my fav of theirs, then West end girls and then? Always on my mind, and Go west. They've done so many great songs though. They're total legends.
Another eighties synth band that has both a light and a dark side is the Human League. Their early stuff especially can be pretty dark, like "Being Boiled" from 1978 and 1980 (two versions of it; I like the second one better), but they also have some really cheerful stuff like "Fascination" from 1983.
Pet Shop Boys are a brilliant band that are still around today. You are not spoilt for choice they have many hit songs that you can react to like “ Always on my mind” a Willie Nelson remake, “Opportunities (Let’s make lots of money”, “Suburbia”, “Left to my own Devices”, “Domino Dancing”, “Go West” a Village People remake, “So Hard”, “Se A Vida E”, “Red Letter Day” to name a few….. I could go on and on, that’s how many hits they have😊, definitely one of my favourite bands of all time!
Great reaction video yet again 😀. This track was chosen as the theme for a recent eponymous UK television drama series about the spread of AIDS in the 1980s. The series was excellent; indeed, I have a gay friend who told me it was almost biographical with regard to his lifestyle! See if you can find it. By the way, I also think you'll enjoy The Pet Shop Boys' version of "Always On My Mind".
Russel T Davis - Director - it’s called “it’s a sin” …. UK it aired on channel 4 but maybe available on “all four” streaming service. Following the lives of a group of young adults in 80’s London during the aids pandemic. Well worth a watch 👍🏻
@@LadyCatBlue In the states, it's hard to access many BBC shows without a VPN. We have "BBC America" as a streaming option that can be added, I think, to Hulu, and I think it's moving to Disney+ but it's missing a bunch of great shows.
As friends growing up the 80s we all had different musical tastes from heavy metal to hip hop, but no matter what we were into, every one of us loved the PSBs!
Neil Tennant ( The lead singer) grew up with Catholic rules in his life- listening to priests telling him every move was a sin. Of course they were incorrect. But it stuck with Neil his whole life and ended up writing this song.
So guys, you gotta get what it was like to dance to this in gay clubs at the time. Everyone chiming in with “it’s a sin” in a fabulous group release mocking the guilt that religion laid on us and rejecting it. Knowing who we were!!!❤👍👍👍
My favorite from Pet Shop Boys was not released in the US, I think-“King’s Cross”. Totally different vibe, very mellow and slightly melancholy, but beautiful.
Check out Pet Shop Boys: "Love etc.", "Heartbeat", "What Have I Done to Deserve This" with Dusty Springfield, and "Always On My Mind", which was an awesome cover of an Elvis song.
When looking at the earlier days of techno/electronica, there's some context that needs to be considered. The musical style first started as part of the underground party scene in the LGBTQ community of the time. During the 80s, it was illegal for queer people to be queer in many cities. Lots of towns had specific ordinances which allowed police to hassle gay clubs, arrest their patrons and expose them to public ridicule. In England, the home country of the Pet Shop Boys, the government was considering a law that would allow people who had been diagnosed with AIDS to be forcefully relocated to internment camps. So a lot of electronica music, while danceable and high energy, often has darker lyrics about shame, fear and repression. "It's a Sin" is a good example of that. Many of the Pet Shop Boys songs were very popular in gay clubs because the band wrote lyrics which addressed our feelings of anger and hurt about being 'shut out' of society.
Internment camps? Don't talk crap. I ( an Englishman) came out in 1984 so you could say I was "there" Never heard of that rubbish. Stop inventing history.🤡🤡
love the Pet Shop Boys !! lots of great songs. "What have i done to deserve this?" "Always on my mind" , "Domino Dancing" "Opportunities" "Love comes quickly"
Persevere with the PSBs! They're definitely the pinnacle of their genre. Maybe try "Opportunities" for something more fun? "Jealousy" for something more moody? "Can You Forgive Her" for something very electronic and poppy! Much love ❤️
Writing and inspiration In this song, Tennant describes some impressions he got from his time at the Catholic St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He ended up feeling that everything he had done or was going to do was a sin. Tennant has said that he wrote the lyrics purging his emotions in a moment of frustration and anger, but that it was not something serious: People took it really seriously; the song was written in about 15 minutes, and was intended as a camp joke and it wasn't something I consciously took very seriously. Sometimes I wonder if there was more to it than I thought at the time. But the local parish priest in Newcastle delivered a sermon on it, and reflected on how the Church changed from the promise of a ghastly hell to the message of love.
Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits album was called Pop Art, because they split their output into songs that were "pop" and songs that were "art". This one fell into the "art" category. They're still on the go, nearly 40 years later, and they have a huge back catalogue that is worth checking out. My own particular favourite is "Left To My Own Devices".
Pet Shop Boys are the EDM (electronic dance music) kings... They are still huge in Europe, and still have a cult following in the US since their 80's heyday... Neil Tennant is the voice, Chris Lowe is the tech. The duo perform concerts w/ elaborate stage shows. Their only platinum (1 million copies) record in the US was their 1986 debut album 'Please'... 2nd album 'Actually' was a huge hit in Europe, but only went gold (half million copies) in the US in 1987... as did 3rd album 'Introspective' in 1988... 'Behaviour' (1990) sold less... but 5th album 'Very' (1993) was another hit in Europe, gold-selling record the US. Subsequent records sold less, but still charted top 5 in the UK... and charted in the US. Last 2 records were 'Super' (2016) and 'Hotspot' (2020). Some more Pet Shop Boys hits - 'Love comes quickly'... 'Heart'... 'Always on my mind' (Elvis cover) ... 'Left to my own devices'... 'Liberation'...'Domino Dancing'.
I recently reviewed your analysis of the song's reception. Your observations were generally accurate. Neil's upbringing in a Catholic school instilled in him the belief that all worldly pleasures are sinful. Upon the song's release, the Catholic Church issued a statement acknowledging that their teachings have evolved since then, which is factually incorrect.
These guys were huge in the 80s. And rightly so. They have many hits to listen to. The one thy did with 60s star Dusty Springfield is well worth a listen. "What Have I Done To Deserve This" 🎵🇬🇧🎼🇺🇸
So many of the 80s songs had fun, highly danceable music, but the lyrics were deep and emotional. Many of them were done by UK bands, too. I always loved the juxtaposition of it.
Hi Jay and Amber i love the way you react to all this beautiful songs in the last period i dont't react to every song but i listen to a lot of reactions from you. I love to hear you saying that you learn your children to be as they wanted and live the way they wanted to live it, that is in my oppinion the only good way, i also did this with my children and of course they make misstaps but they learn from it love you guys and keep checkin all this beautiful songs especially from the 80's that is my period when i went to disco's, bars and so ever. greetings from the netherlands
One of the greatest synthpop new wave bands of ever. Got to see them in Philly with New Order the other night. Fucking amazing since I was a little kid.
Yeah they are massive In pretty much every country especially Latin ones and pretty much the whole of Europe.i believe in America tho they are in the top 10 selling dance acts of all time as you have like a seperate dance chart . They don't hit the singles charts anymore but that's because they dynamic has changed towards online sales , they have had sell out concerts all over the world since lockdowns ended.
That was great to hear again as for what's next 'Always on my mind','What have I done to deserve this (with Dusty Springfield)','Go west','Love comes quickly ' those are some
The Pet Shop Boys have a lot of bangers like this track "So Hard", "Paninaro" "Can You Forgive Her?", the Latin freestyle "Domino Dancing" but then some really beautiful songs like "Dreaming Of The Queen", "A New Life", "Kings Cross", one of the sweetest love songs "Liberation", fun cover versions like "Always On My Mind", the epic "Go West" and the U2 meets Four Seasons "Where The Streets Have No Name I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and many more delights.
What Have I Done to Deserve This with Dusty Springfield is a must listen. My favorite PSB song is Rent. The lyrics to It's a sin make a lot of sense when you realize it's about growing up gay in the Catholic Church.
Anyone who knows about Neil Tennant's life will know that he was raised as a Catholic and even went to a Catholic school. And this song is basically about the people in his life shaming him (and others) and how he was taught that everything was a sin - being shamed in this way is something that many Catholics (and probably Christians in general) will undoubtedly go through. Note the lyrics: "At school they taught me how to be, so pure in thought and word and dead." - in other words they taught him how to behave, how to act, to not think what they considered improper thoughts, and to not say what they considered improper things. Add that to the fact that as he was growing up he realised he was gay, and will probably have been struggling with self condemnation because of what he was taught - especially with being gay being considered a sin. The video shows interpretations of the seven deadly sins (aka capital vices or cardinal sins) - pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. The seven deadly sins are contrary to the seven heavenly virtues (aka contrary virtues or remedial virtues) - prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope, and charity. Neil Tennant is openly gay and revealed he was gay in a 1994 Attitude Magazine interview - although I'm not sure if he told anyone else (ie family members, friends, etc) at any point beforehand.
So pleased that you’re reacting to the Pet Shop Boys again. There’s so many PSB tracks you could react to - they were at the absolute top of their game for a big part of the ‘80s & ‘90s. Two of my favourites are ‘Being Boring’ & ‘Left To My Own Devices’. Devices has the epic sound of Its A Sin but with the more mundane vocal delivery similar to West End Girls. Being Boring is a bit of a departure musically featuring actual guitar and is (IMHO) an absolute classic. Both songs are rather autobiographical lyrically and I’d be really interested to see your interpretations of these.
More synth-pop from PSB - "Opportunities" and "You were always on my mind" (a synth-pop version of the classic) and "What have I done to deserve this". And, a NEW ARTIST suggestion for you for synth-pop is the group "Dead or Alive" signing "You spin me round (like a record)". Definite 80's synth-pop dance!
Classic 80s pop, check these guys out, they had hit after hit in the 80s and 90s, they're still going strong, played Glastonbury festival in the UK this summer.
The truth of the song is it is a purposeful and appropriate attack on the Catholic Church and it's condemnation of homosexuality. It uses Massive driving hooks and beats to hook the listeners attention, so the overall message gets through, without preaching.
I love this song, ❤ what ever the meaning was and I'm a Catholic, but it applies to me in other aspects of my life, that's why I love it message delivered
This song is about growing up gay in a catholic school, it's a sin. You should defo check out Pet Shop Boys - Heart. Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays the vampire in the video :))
Brilliant tune and great dancfloor filler... Works well with Two Tribes from Frankie goes to Hollywood, Enola Gey from OMD, We are glass from Gary Numan, Ashes to ashes from David Bowie, Just cant get enough from Depeche mode, tainted love from Soft cell, Blue Monday from New Order, Living on the ceiling from Blancmange and All stood still from Ultravox.
PSB are one of my favorite bands ever. Their music is so meaningful AND such ear candy. They can have you in tears AND on the dance floor at the same time! Check out I'm with Stupid (w/ the video) for their take on American politics. In Private their duet with Elton John. Domino Dancing, Left to My Own Devices, So Hard, Can You Forgive Her? and I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing....all early hits.
Give their "Always on my mind" a go - they put their unique spin on a standard that was first a hit fir Elvis and later for Willie Nelson. Give those versions a listen to, while you're at it. Nice reaction as always!
Jay & Amber, you'll love their "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"(ft. Dusty Springfield) and "Always On My Mind"!!
Agreed
Yes yes yes! You must react to those two songs. I recommended "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" when you two reacted to one of Dusty Springfield's songs. I think y'all will really enjoy both those songs.
Opportunities is good too!
@@portalofwisdom8858 Two divided by zero as well, could go on and on..
Or their recent live version with Lady Gaga singing Dusty’s lines…… also featured The Killers Brandon Flowers
Pet Shop one of the biggest British 80s dance music bands. This record used to get people in the clubs dancing
Really? You British are weird peeps
Bless
@@KneeJerkReactions13 It was number one in 13 countries, top ten in at least 8 more, including the US, and hit number 3 on the US Dance Chart. Wasn't just Brits who danced to it.
They are the most successful UK duo of all time. 2024 marks 40 years in music for them. ❤
Pet Shop Boys were masters of having deep and sad feelings desguised in joyfull dance music. 🥰
They still are - check their brand new single, 'Loneliness'! New album, 'Nonetheless' in april 😏😎🎶
@@JakobDANicolaisenand yes, I’m a #PetHead from heart and soul and I’m waiting for it! ❤
😏😎🎶🍾🧡
In an interview he granted BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2007, Tennant explained the meaning of this classic. According to him, his strict Catholic background always made him feel that everything he loved doing was a pure sin. So he put it in a song.
This track is premised on the idea that everything the singer wanted to do or actually had done in his youth somehow drew the ire of the Church. And due to these beliefs being an ingrained part of his being, when he looks back on his life he feels a deep sense of “shame”. Thus in the bridge he is asking God to forgive him. However, these references are sarcastic instead of literal. And in all, what he is basically doing is criticizing the Church based on his inferred belief that they set unrealistic and indeed oppressive moral standards.
This is spot on.
Neil Tennant is of course gay and the Church is well known to be intolerant of homosexuality. ( wrongly!) I expect that's the "sin" angle he's getting at.
I think the lyrics are about his inner conflict, between the excesses of the Church and the things which the Church are right about and he feels guilty about, the video hints at gluttony with the woman scoffing the cake, and the lyrics also with the Lines
"Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it
Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it
Whatever you taught me, I didn't believe it
Father, you fought me, 'cause I didn't care
And I still don't understand"
Its striking a balance between selfishness and the excesses of the church, very clever song when you look a little deeper
It’s about the church making gay people feel bad about themselves.
It helps if you remember that Neil Tennant is gay.
My favorite Pet Shop Boys song! I'm glad you finally got to hear this one.
For next PSB choice, it should definitely be “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” A duet they did, with Dusty Springfield 💕 🎶
I came here to comment that exact thing, and am not surprised to see it's already been suggested, seconded, thirded etc
Domino Dancing
Totally agree.
This might be my favorite of their songs. Their cover of “always on my mind” is great. At one time (maybe still??) they were the best selling duo in UK history.
One of mine too. "Domino Dancing" is still my favorite. Only Hall and Oates can compare to them. That's how good they are.
Yes! I love Domino Dancing also.
@@jenniferwebb1005 And I really like Delusions of grandeur.
Suburbia, What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Always On My Mind... The list of their hits are vast and worth going down the proverbial rabbit hole.
All great suggestions. I love them.
Suburbia, Suburbia, Suburbia, Suburbia they`re best song imo
@@Evilinge I agree 😊
"Suburbia" is one of my favourites too
Thank you for reminding me of Suburbia!
Pet Shop Boys were such a refreshing addition to the 80's music movement.
Fabulous music, important stories that need to be told and uncovered, a great band. Great reaction, loved your take. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️ ❤️ 🇨🇦🇨🇦
PSB are genius! Lyrically poetic, poignant, introspective and often melancholy but they def want to make you dance.
What Have I Done To Deserve This, Always on my Mind, Opportunities, Go West...lots of goodies from these guys.
Good recommendations! I agree wholeheartedly with both of these. I'd say try out 'Go West' first for a completely different vibe through the beat and lyrics.
suburbia is worth a shout too
I'm gay and I'm 41. As a young teenager I felt shame and fear for being gay. I had no control over being gay... I developed OCD and anxiety which I still have now. My parents didn't take my coming out well. Nowadays we get along and I feel accepted to a degree but the feeling of shame and regret and self-loathing remains. It's so great to have people like you who are accepting of people and have so much love for others.
You are accepted. Be proud.
@@SpiroFleecy I hate myself. Just the way it is for me. But thanks.
Don't feel so bad, I grew up in similar type of situation and I'm 50 and gay! I grew up in Catholic household and went through Catholic schools K-12, so this song always hit a chord with me since I know how much I had to hide and bury just to appear to live a "normal" life, little did I know that period in my life was the most miserable and having to carry that burden around for so long.
@@Rhyfelwyr321 hope things are better for you nowadays
God loves you. I suffer OCD too.
Fun fact for Amber and Jordan and the younger viewers. When you have a song stuck in your head. It's called an Earworm. Not to be confused with Earwig. That is an actual insect. Keep up with the good work 😎👍
I've killed several Earwigs sitting in old books 📚 throughout the years. 😆
Is earworm not a thing any longer? 😂
Never knew 😮
My favourite earworm is Capybara by Shonen Knife
What have I done to deserve this gets stuck in my mind... I LOVE THAT EARWIG singing it softly to me.... 🤣
Been a fan of PSB for decades. This is one of their best songs. I think you'd also love "Heart", "Can You Forgive Her?", "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money), and "The Way It Used to Be".
You mentioned how for some it must be difficult to be who you are (depending upon the environment you are in), and how that message was unexpected given the dance beat... Give Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" a listen.
definitely bronski beat with 'smalltown boy' and 'why'. also listen to the communards which was the next project jimmy Sommerville did after bronski. ' dont leave me this way' was iconic and dancy. he sang a bee gees cover 'to love somebody' if you are a fan of Barry's falsetto, OMG jimmy Somerville will make you melt!!
"Smalltown Boy" is such a heartbreaker. "Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely faaaaaaaace...."
You guys should react to more Pet Shop Boys…
"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)", "Love Comes Quickly", "One More Chance", "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", "Rent", "Domino Dancing", "Always on My Mind"
💃🏻🕺🏼
Oooooo!! “Love comes Quickly “ and “Rent”. Yes please!
Must check my iTunes now!
The Pet Shop Boys song to react to is "What Have I Done To Deserve This" with the great Dusty Springfield. Dusty going to church at the end of the song is the cherry on the sundae.
2 important things to remember how the Pet Shop Boys reflected the times, which also made them cutting edge:
1. Electronic dance music was a new thing. The Pet Shop Boys (this song in particular) and New Order were the pioneers in popular, electronic dancefloor songs that would eventually evolve into the techno, trance, etc that we take for granted today.
2. Remember where this kind of music is evolving OUT OF as well: New Wave/New Romantic. So, darker, moodier etc. The Pet Shop Boys are right on the cusp of moving from being gay as a sad burden to cope with; into living as yourselves in the mainstream with no apologies. So, while the music is electro up-beat (what it will evolve into), the lyrics and theme are still New Romantic moodier (what it is evolving out of). This song (and the Pet Shop Boys generally) really hit the nail on the head of where young gay men were at at the time and their music exploded in the gay clubs.
And I will be on 4th Row - Center from the stage next Friday, October 7 to see BOTH bands at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in their Unity Tour. CAN'T WAIT !!!!!!!!!
@@TheKayaklover Awesome! I am jealous!
Both Neil Tenant and Chris Lowe were gay and this band had a huge gay following. In 1987, being gay was still hard for a lot of people, and there was a lot of stigma still associated with being gay.
Go West totally slaps. I loved that as a club song. So Hard is more obscure but a personal fav.
Don't forget Vince Clarke's mark on the genre with Depeche, Yazoo and Erasure.
Oh, speaking of New Order and Pet Shop Boys… Electronic!!
Funny - This is SERIOUSLY DANCEABLE music - yet with such a deep message.
They did a great remake of “Always on my mind”. It was one of their more popular hits.
It stopped The Pogues 'Fairytale of New York" from getting the UK Christmas Number 1 in 1987.
being a gay teen at the time this was released, and having grown up in the south, I remember relating to this song on a deep, personal level. almost as though the lyrics were about me.
I didn't think most British bands made it your way? You know erasure?
@@danielbyrne5402 Thanks to MTV (the early years) British bands were very popular in the US during the 80s. It was termed the 2nd British Invasion ... the first invasion happned in the 60s with Beatles and Rolling Stones. Erasure is one of my favorite pop acts. But as the 80s progressed I was more into groups like Siouxsie, New Order, Cure, Smiths, Cocteau Twins, etc.
@thebeardedseeker5633 bloody heck, you're my mother's long lost twin brother lol R.I.P mom, but yeah, she'd listen to them all the time hence my own tastes.
Those guys were HUGE in the 80s and early 90s. They were on a level with Madonna, U2, Queen, and other Giants of that time.
One of my favorite British pop rock bands .. plenty of great songs
"Left to My Own Devices" is my favorite Pet Shop Boys song
Opportunities and Always On My Mind!
New wave, alternative.
🕺
we had a lot of melancholic music back then lol. happy upbeat music with dark lyrics.
As a gay man raised Catholic, I came to understand that everything I did was a sin, not just the sex.
Around the same time as this song came out.
It's a heavy burden to carry, even more so when it's the 80s and you're still growing physically and emotionally.
I had a very similar experience growing up in the 80s as a bisexual man. My Catholic faith that I had at the time was really important to me, so my sexuality really had me in mental turmoil. I was so stressed at one point I even spoke about my lifestyle to a priest during a visit to confession, and the priest actually told me that the fact I had these urges made me a deviant and was abhorrent in the eyes of himself, church and God. Something about this changed me. I didn't change a thing about myself simply because the way I saw it, if a church and faith could look at me like filth, then I didn't want to ever be part of something so vile. This song really resonated with me at this time.
Not gay myself am 45yo now grew up with punk and hardcore.
This was my fav PSB song because it even spoke to my life.
Was different back then for you guys though and no doubt gave you bigger goose bumps than it gave me when i was going deaf listening at full noise.
I was the guy at gigs and party's who would chuck it on on have the room turn against me. They loved it they just didn't know it yet 😜
Ditto! The Baptists were just as bad if not worse! Growing up in that made me love this even more!
@@jeffshoup5742 LIkewise.
I’m so incredibly lucky to have been brought up in Britain, although only born in the late 90s, surrounded by these sounds thanks to my parents.
I love when your Mama and Papa bears come out. He's gay, so all the messages from conservative religious people was that everything about him was a sin. I simply adore you for being so open-minded and loving
I'm conservative and religious and don't judge him at all. His music is great, and have always liked it.
@@jimrosser7494 that's so great. You're following the teachings of Jesus.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows your lead. "Love the sinner, not the sin" is too often interpreted as "shame the sinner for who they are." I hope people like you triumph.
P.S. I don't believe gay or trans people are sinners, at all. I was raised Catholic, I've left that behind. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate religious people who accept everyone. That's right, just, and loving.
We're all sinners, we just have different sins.
@@Faltor895 Or perhaps none of us are sinners.
Pet shop boys are iconic! This has to be my fav of theirs, then West end girls and then? Always on my mind, and Go west. They've done so many great songs though. They're total legends.
A great song. So powerful. We dance to express our joy and also sometimes to forget our pain 💔 music is so healing 💖 ✨️
ABBA we’re the Beatles of the 70s, the Pet Shop Boys were the Beatles of the 80s. Just awesome popular music
Another eighties synth band that has both a light and a dark side is the Human League. Their early stuff especially can be pretty dark, like "Being Boiled" from 1978 and 1980 (two versions of it; I like the second one better), but they also have some really cheerful stuff like "Fascination" from 1983.
Pet Shop Boys are a brilliant band that are still around today. You are not spoilt for choice they have many hit songs that you can react to like “ Always on my mind” a Willie Nelson remake, “Opportunities (Let’s make lots of money”, “Suburbia”, “Left to my own Devices”, “Domino Dancing”, “Go West” a Village People remake, “So Hard”, “Se A Vida E”, “Red Letter Day” to name a few….. I could go on and on, that’s how many hits they have😊, definitely one of my favourite bands of all time!
I used to listen to the Pet shop Boys in London in 1984 when i was 12.
Great reaction video yet again 😀. This track was chosen as the theme for a recent eponymous UK television drama series about the spread of AIDS in the 1980s. The series was excellent; indeed, I have a gay friend who told me it was almost biographical with regard to his lifestyle! See if you can find it. By the way, I also think you'll enjoy The Pet Shop Boys' version of "Always On My Mind".
Russel T Davis - Director - it’s called “it’s a sin” …. UK it aired on channel 4 but maybe available on “all four” streaming service. Following the lives of a group of young adults in 80’s London during the aids pandemic. Well worth a watch 👍🏻
I watched It's a sin on Netflix. I'm in the UK. I don't know if it's on Netflix in other countries.
@@LadyCatBlue In the states, it's hard to access many BBC shows without a VPN. We have "BBC America" as a streaming option that can be added, I think, to Hulu, and I think it's moving to Disney+ but it's missing a bunch of great shows.
BBC America is a propaganda channel for SIS. Like Voice of America
"What Have I Done to Deserve this"! Great song for your next Pet Shop Boys review.
As friends growing up the 80s we all had different musical tastes from heavy metal to hip hop, but no matter what we were into, every one of us loved the PSBs!
Neil Tennant ( The lead singer) grew up with Catholic rules in his life- listening to priests telling him every move was a sin. Of course they were incorrect. But it stuck with Neil his whole life and ended up writing this song.
Hard times made him compose this great song! Success until today
I’m a Christian conservative but Legalism is a problem in churches.
The Pet Shop Boys did a duet with the late Dusty Springfield called What Have I Done to Deserve this. Well worth listen.
PSB has countless deep, theatrical, atmospheric, danceable gems...I hope you continue with them as well as the amazing Depeche Mode 💯😊
My favorite Pet Shop Boys song is “Opportunities”. I think you’d enjoy it. 😊
Same!!💙
So guys, you gotta get what it was like to dance to this in gay clubs at the time. Everyone chiming in with “it’s a sin” in a fabulous group release mocking the guilt that religion laid on us and rejecting it. Knowing who we were!!!❤👍👍👍
This is beautiful to imagine ❤
Definately. What we assumed was meant, or one meaning, of the song. Believe they did formally come out eventually, as well. IF I am correct.
Growing up gay and catholic in the 80's. Yup, been there, done that. This song hit home in a big way!
This song was a massive slap in the face for a lot of people at that time ...and avmassive hit❤
They are touring now with NEW ORDER - in sold out concerts in North America. Just did 2 nights in NYC and Brooklyn.
My favorite from Pet Shop Boys was not released in the US, I think-“King’s Cross”. Totally different vibe, very mellow and slightly melancholy, but beautiful.
Such a great song!
Check out Pet Shop Boys: "Love etc.", "Heartbeat", "What Have I Done to Deserve This" with Dusty Springfield, and "Always On My Mind", which was an awesome cover of an Elvis song.
When looking at the earlier days of techno/electronica, there's some context that needs to be considered. The musical style first started as part of the underground party scene in the LGBTQ community of the time. During the 80s, it was illegal for queer people to be queer in many cities. Lots of towns had specific ordinances which allowed police to hassle gay clubs, arrest their patrons and expose them to public ridicule. In England, the home country of the Pet Shop Boys, the government was considering a law that would allow people who had been diagnosed with AIDS to be forcefully relocated to internment camps. So a lot of electronica music, while danceable and high energy, often has darker lyrics about shame, fear and repression. "It's a Sin" is a good example of that. Many of the Pet Shop Boys songs were very popular in gay clubs because the band wrote lyrics which addressed our feelings of anger and hurt about being 'shut out' of society.
Internment camps? Don't talk crap. I ( an Englishman) came out in 1984 so you could say I was "there" Never heard of that rubbish. Stop inventing history.🤡🤡
The chorus almost sounds like a dark synth pop version of Only Time Will Tell, by Asia, mixed with Could This Be Magic by Barry Manilow.
ALWAYS ON MY MIND & DOMINO DANCING, HUGE SONGS BY THIS LEGEND DUO,
I LOVE PET SHOP BOYS 💯💪💯
One of my Pet Shop Boy favourites is "Suburbia"! ..... Ride around with the dogs tonight!
love the Pet Shop Boys !! lots of great songs. "What have i done to deserve this?" "Always on my mind" , "Domino Dancing" "Opportunities" "Love comes quickly"
Persevere with the PSBs! They're definitely the pinnacle of their genre. Maybe try "Opportunities" for something more fun? "Jealousy" for something more moody? "Can You Forgive Her" for something very electronic and poppy! Much love ❤️
Amber, your comments are always spot on. You've got great intuition!
I remember reading the music magazine Smash Hits when Neil worked there as a music journalist and reading he was leaving to start a band.
I love their "Absolutely Fabulous".
This is 1 of my favorite songs from the 80s
My all time favorite Pet Shop Boys song is “Opportunities”. Check it out! 😊
Amber, I loved your concern. It translated to empathy to me. Thanks for showing humanity. 🥰
Writing and inspiration
In this song, Tennant describes some impressions he got from his time at the Catholic St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He ended up feeling that everything he had done or was going to do was a sin. Tennant has said that he wrote the lyrics purging his emotions in a moment of frustration and anger, but that it was not something serious:
People took it really seriously; the song was written in about 15 minutes, and was intended as a camp joke and it wasn't something I consciously took very seriously. Sometimes I wonder if there was more to it than I thought at the time. But the local parish priest in Newcastle delivered a sermon on it, and reflected on how the Church changed from the promise of a ghastly hell to the message of love.
Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits album was called Pop Art, because they split their output into songs that were "pop" and songs that were "art". This one fell into the "art" category. They're still on the go, nearly 40 years later, and they have a huge back catalogue that is worth checking out. My own particular favourite is "Left To My Own Devices".
And now I want to (for myself) follow this with their song - "What Have I Done To Deserve This?"
Pet Shop Boys are the EDM (electronic dance music) kings... They are still huge in Europe, and still have a cult following in the US since their 80's heyday... Neil Tennant is the voice, Chris Lowe is the tech. The duo perform concerts w/ elaborate stage shows. Their only platinum (1 million copies) record in the US was their 1986 debut album 'Please'... 2nd album 'Actually' was a huge hit in Europe, but only went gold (half million copies) in the US in 1987... as did 3rd album 'Introspective' in 1988... 'Behaviour' (1990) sold less... but 5th album 'Very' (1993) was another hit in Europe, gold-selling record the US.
Subsequent records sold less, but still charted top 5 in the UK... and charted in the US. Last 2 records were 'Super' (2016) and 'Hotspot' (2020).
Some more Pet Shop Boys hits - 'Love comes quickly'... 'Heart'... 'Always on my mind' (Elvis cover) ... 'Left to my own devices'... 'Liberation'...'Domino Dancing'.
I recently reviewed your analysis of the song's reception. Your observations were generally accurate.
Neil's upbringing in a Catholic school instilled in him the belief that all worldly pleasures are sinful.
Upon the song's release, the Catholic Church issued a statement acknowledging that their teachings have evolved since then, which is factually incorrect.
These guys were huge in the 80s. And rightly so. They have many hits to listen to. The one thy did with 60s star Dusty Springfield is well worth a listen. "What Have I Done To Deserve This" 🎵🇬🇧🎼🇺🇸
Great song. As other posts on this thread say, "What have I done to deserve this" is fabulous as well. My personal favourite - "Rent".
So many of the 80s songs had fun, highly danceable music, but the lyrics were deep and emotional. Many of them were done by UK bands, too. I always loved the juxtaposition of it.
Hi Jay and Amber i love the way you react to all this beautiful songs in the last period i dont't react to every song but i listen to a lot of reactions from you. I love to hear you saying that you learn your children to be as they wanted and live the way they wanted to live it, that is in my oppinion the only good way, i also did this with my children and of course they make misstaps but they learn from it love you guys and keep checkin all this beautiful songs especially from the 80's that is my period when i went to disco's, bars and so ever.
greetings from the netherlands
This was a big dance club tune back in the day.
*_Oppurtunities, Love Come Quickly, Suburbia, Rent_* are some of my fav Pet Shop Boys songs
One of the greatest synthpop new wave bands of ever.
Got to see them in Philly with New Order the other night.
Fucking amazing since I was a little kid.
Great reaction. Their best song dark with a wicked synth beat.
Pet Shop Boys is such an underrated band🙂
Underrated..? Maybe in your country but not in the UK
Yeah they are massive In pretty much every country especially Latin ones and pretty much the whole of Europe.i believe in America tho they are in the top 10 selling dance acts of all time as you have like a seperate dance chart . They don't hit the singles charts anymore but that's because they dynamic has changed towards online sales , they have had sell out concerts all over the world since lockdowns ended.
Underrated? Maybe in USA, where the the people chose the music according at the sexuality of the musicians and not just for the music in itself.
It’s not underrated, even in the US.
Love The Pet Shop Boys, the 80s would not be complete without them. A very talented group.
Check out their cover of "Always On My Mind". You'll love it.
That was great to hear again as for what's next 'Always on my mind','What have I done to deserve this (with Dusty Springfield)','Go west','Love comes quickly ' those are some
I found it very moving when Amber got the sentiment of the song
I second The Pet Shop Boys' "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"(ft. Dusty Springfield) and "Always On My Mind".
The Pet Shop Boys have a lot of bangers like this track "So Hard", "Paninaro" "Can You Forgive Her?", the Latin freestyle "Domino Dancing" but then some really beautiful songs like "Dreaming Of The Queen", "A New Life", "Kings Cross", one of the sweetest love songs "Liberation", fun cover versions like "Always On My Mind", the epic "Go West" and the U2 meets Four Seasons "Where The Streets Have No Name I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and many more delights.
I have seen the PSB live and they are one of the best live shows on the planet. Just brilliant, with a huge catalogue of great music!
What Have I Done to Deserve This with Dusty Springfield is a must listen. My favorite PSB song is Rent. The lyrics to It's a sin make a lot of sense when you realize it's about growing up gay in the Catholic Church.
Be yourself - What a beautiful message to give to your children!
This song resonated with me as I came out and I felt like my existence was a sin!
Anyone who knows about Neil Tennant's life will know that he was raised as a Catholic and even went to a Catholic school.
And this song is basically about the people in his life shaming him (and others) and how he was taught that everything was a sin - being shamed in this way is something that many Catholics (and probably Christians in general) will undoubtedly go through.
Note the lyrics: "At school they taught me how to be, so pure in thought and word and dead." - in other words they taught him how to behave, how to act, to not think what they considered improper thoughts, and to not say what they considered improper things.
Add that to the fact that as he was growing up he realised he was gay, and will probably have been struggling with self condemnation because of what he was taught - especially with being gay being considered a sin.
The video shows interpretations of the seven deadly sins (aka capital vices or cardinal sins) - pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.
The seven deadly sins are contrary to the seven heavenly virtues (aka contrary virtues or remedial virtues) - prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope, and charity.
Neil Tennant is openly gay and revealed he was gay in a 1994 Attitude Magazine interview - although I'm not sure if he told anyone else (ie family members, friends, etc) at any point beforehand.
So pleased that you’re reacting to the Pet Shop Boys again. There’s so many PSB tracks you could react to - they were at the absolute top of their game for a big part of the ‘80s & ‘90s.
Two of my favourites are ‘Being Boring’ & ‘Left To My Own Devices’. Devices has the epic sound of Its A Sin but with the more mundane vocal delivery similar to West End Girls. Being Boring is a bit of a departure musically featuring actual guitar and is (IMHO) an absolute classic. Both songs are rather autobiographical lyrically and I’d be really interested to see your interpretations of these.
“Jealousy” is a great Pet Shop Boys song. Also “Go West” (a Village People cover).
They are so fun to see in concert, and are touring with New Order right now!
''Love comes quickly'' probably their best song.............
Pet Shop Boys is an icon of Techno Pop, his lyrics are as current as they were 35 years ago, one of the best in his style
More synth-pop from PSB - "Opportunities" and "You were always on my mind" (a synth-pop version of the classic) and "What have I done to deserve this". And, a NEW ARTIST suggestion for you for synth-pop is the group "Dead or Alive" signing "You spin me round (like a record)". Definite 80's synth-pop dance!
Classic 80s pop, check these guys out, they had hit after hit in the 80s and 90s, they're still going strong, played Glastonbury festival in the UK this summer.
Opportunities was the first song I ever heard them sing and it's still my favorite. I think you would love it!
My favorite group growing up ❤️
Other Pet Shop boys songs include "Heart" "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" and "Cool Kids."
The truth of the song is it is a purposeful and appropriate attack on the Catholic Church and it's condemnation of homosexuality. It uses Massive driving hooks and beats to hook the listeners attention, so the overall message gets through, without preaching.
I love this song, ❤ what ever the meaning was and I'm a Catholic, but it applies to me in other aspects of my life, that's why I love it message delivered
it's ironic that the catholic church opposes homosexuality but refuses to address pedophilia
This song is about growing up gay in a catholic school, it's a sin.
You should defo check out Pet Shop Boys - Heart. Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays the vampire in the video :))
Brilliant tune and great dancfloor filler... Works well with Two Tribes from Frankie goes to Hollywood, Enola Gey from OMD, We are glass from Gary Numan, Ashes to ashes from David Bowie, Just cant get enough from Depeche mode, tainted love from Soft cell, Blue Monday from New Order, Living on the ceiling from Blancmange and All stood still from Ultravox.
What Have I Done To Deserve This!! You’ll be bopping for sure!!
PSB are one of my favorite bands ever. Their music is so meaningful AND such ear candy. They can have you in tears AND on the dance floor at the same time! Check out I'm with Stupid (w/ the video) for their take on American politics. In Private their duet with Elton John. Domino Dancing, Left to My Own Devices, So Hard, Can You Forgive Her? and I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing....all early hits.
Love the Pet's second favourite group behind Blondie HINT HINT!!
Give their "Always on my mind" a go - they put their unique spin on a standard that was first a hit fir Elvis and later for Willie Nelson. Give those versions a listen to, while you're at it. Nice reaction as always!