Today the Pet Shop Boys release their 12th album ‘Electric’.
While all albums from the electronic duo have one word titles, they’re not afraid to use a longer phrase for a track name.
We reckon these are the 10 best track names from the Pet Shop Boys long career.
10. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Through their career the boys have performed with, and written songs for, some amazing female performers. From Tina Turner, to Kylie, Liza and Shirley Bassey, but possibly none were bigger than Dusty Springfield. After having success with this single off their second album , Neil and Chris wrote a number of tunes for Dusty’s comeback album. This tune was written with American songwriter Allee Willis who also wrote the theme to ‘Friends’, the Pointer Sister’s ‘Neutron Dance’ and the Earth Wind and Fire hit ‘Boogie Wonderland’. From the 1987 album ‘Actually’.
9. This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave
On their fourth record, the Pet Shop Boys got kinda mellow, and while ‘Behaviour’ wasn’t a mega-selling hit on it’s release, the album was critically acclaimed and sales have grown over the years. The melancholic ‘This Must Be The Place I Waited Years to Leave’ featured Johnny Marr from The Smiths on guitar. From the 1990 album ‘Behaviour’.
8. It’s Just My Little Tribute to Caligula, Darling
In 2001 Chris and Neil premiered ‘Closer to Heaven’ their first musical. It was written with gay writer Jonathan Harvey (‘Beautiful Thing’, ‘Beautiful People’, ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’.) All the action was set in a nightclub. Frances Barber played retired rock idol Billie Trix who narrated the story and sings this camp tune. Check out the demo version of the song below. From ‘Closer to Heaven’ cast recording 2001.
7. How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?
Also from the ‘Behaviour’ album and again featuring Johnny Marr on guitar. Many people believe this song is about Wendy James, the lead singer of rock band Transvision Vamp. The boys got DJ David Morales to create a bunch of remixes of this tune, the instrumental ‘classical reprise’ is awesome if you can track down a copy. From the 1990 album ‘Behaviour’.
6. We All Feel Better in the Dark
This b-side track was on the flip side of the ‘Being Boring’ single from 1991. It’s one of the few tracks that feature Chris Lowe on lead vocals. The ‘After Hours Climax’ remix takes the track into a nocturnal space. You can also find this track on the boys first compilation of b-side tracks called ‘Alternative’ that came out in 1995.
5. I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing
The 1993 album ‘Very’ is often described as the band’s coming out album because it’s camp, full of dance music and lead singer Neil Tennant appeared on the cover of gay magazine ‘Attitude’ discussing his homosexuality. The song has the memorable line’ I feel like taking all my clothes off, dancing to the Rite of Spring, but I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing.” Robbie Williams has also recorded a version of this song.
4. The Boy Who Couldn’t Keep His Clothes On
This tracks off the flip side of single ‘Red Letter Day’ from 1997. It has simple lyrics, “the boy who couldn’t keep his clothes on, goes dancing, all night long”. Could be a scene in pretty much every gay club.
3. How I Learned to Hate Rock n Roll
This track is one b-side of the 1996 single ‘Se a Vida e’ which was a massive hit. The Bruce Webber directed video of hot guys in a water park is a classic. The song is a dark house track, so dark that the US record company removed it from the single.
2. I Don’t Know What You Want But I Can’t Give It Anymore
Produced with Davis Morales this song was the lead track off the bands 1999 album ‘Nightlife’. It was given some awesome electro-clash remixes by Felix Da Housekat.
1. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When Your Drunk
The boys best long song title has to be this one. It’s a sweet love song and is also from the 1999 album ‘Nightlife’. Check out the biys performing it on ‘Top of the Pops’. The song has been covered by the band Splendid with lead vocals from ex-Frente singer Angie Hart.
