(The official album cover)
Welcome back on Blogger!
Earlier this year I started a series dedicated to Madonna's peers with my review for Cyndi Lauper's debut album She's so Unusual.
It's now time to add another piece to the series and review the iconic Please by the British duo Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe).
Let's get right into this article!
HISTORY
A synthpop record, Please was released on March 24, 1986. It was preceded by two singles, the smash hit West End Girls, released in the fall of 1985, and Love Comes Quickly, which came out in February 1986. Two more singles, Opportunities and Suburbia, were released to promote the album in May and September respectively.
Please was an original release at the time, as the heavily electronic and dance nature of the songs was accompanied by socially conscious lyrics. This would eventually become the main characteristic of Pet Shop Boys' music. Also Neil Tennant's supposed bisexuality (he only revealed his homosexuality in 1993) gave some songs on the album an ambiguous tone, as they could work both in a gay and heterosexual context.
The album was critically appreciated and became a commercial success, giving new life to the synthpop scene which was slowly decreasing in popularity after the boom of the early 1980's.
The title of the album also has a curious background, as the duo called it Please so people could go into a record shop and ask: "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, Please?". Another singular fact is that since then, the duo has named each one of their albums with only one word.
The success of the album was so big that a remix album, titled Disco, was released in November 1986. It contained remixed versions of the four official singles released from Please and two b-sides (also remixed), In The Night and Paninaro. The record became an outstanding commercial success and it is one of the best selling remix albums of all time.
REVIEW
Two Divided By Zero: The album starts with this great electronic tune about two people and their desire to escape. Something compromising has apparently happened and the couple plans to leave their city and start a new life abroad: "We'll catch a plane to New York, and a cab going down / Cross the bridges and tunnels, straight into town / Tomorrow morning we'll be miles away / On another continent and another day".
The voice that repeats "Divided by zero" throughout the song comes from a talking calculator Neil Tennant had bought for his father.
From this first song the listener instantly understands that this album is going to be all about story songs (which would eventually become the duo's trademark).
West End Girls: The first single released from the album, West End Girls is one of the most successful songs of the 1980's. The blend of synthpop, hip-hop and city sounds creates an atmospheric track that still to this day is highly influential. Our Diva herself was inspired by it for her hit "Jump".
Lyrically, West End Girls is about class issues and how simple street guys from the East End of London fall in love with the rich and sophisticated girls from the West End. It's a song that presents the opposite realities existing in London like poverty and wealth, capitalism and simplicity, criminality and well being.
Commercially, the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a massive European hit.
A timeless track.
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money): The third track on the album is another fantastic uptempo tune that apparently deals with capitalism: "I've got the brains / You've got the looks / Let's make lots of money".
While it can in fact be read as two people planning to change their lives and become rich, it can also be about prostitution and sexual desire, with money being a synonym for sex.
This song was released as the third single from the album and became another top 10 hit for the Pet Shop Boys on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #10.
It's one of my favorites on the album.
Loves Comes Quickly: The second single released from the album, Love Comes Quickly is a mid-tempo synthpop ballad about the power of love and the influence it has on people, even on those who think they are not ready for it, don't believe in it or are apparently above it.
This song is one of the duo's own favorite songs and a fan favorite as well. Unfortunately, its commercial performance was somewhat disappointing after the success of the previous single West End Girls, only peaking at #19 on the UK Singles Chart and #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Suburbia: Another example of social commentary accompanied by a dance beat, Suburbia deals with young people and their rebellious attitude towards the system.
Throughout the Full Horror version of the song we can even hear sounds of suburban violence and chaos like screams, riots, smashing glass and dogs barking. This song was the voice of 80's British youth and in a way it almost serves as a time capsule.
Released as the fourth and last single from the album, Suburbia became a top 10 hit all around Europe and closed the Please era with a bang.
Tonight is Forever: After a 32-second reprise of Opportunities this melancholic dance anthem titled Tonight is Forever starts. It tells the story of a poor and unemployed guy falling in love with someone and this helps him forget his problems at least for one night (that he wishes would go on forever). He may have it bad but at least he's not alone.
Liza Minnelli recorded her version of the song on her 1989 album Results (which was entirely produced by the Pet Shop Boys).
Violence: My favorite song on the album after West End Girls, Violence is an elegant synthpop track about, indeed, violence and how it sadly is the only meaningful thing in some people's lives: "The sons and brothers, fighting for another cause / Anything to give their lives some meaning / Busy with their guns and dreaming / Far away from here / Said they would act in self-defense".
I love how the calm and solemn atmosphere of the song contrasts with its lyrics. Violence is probably the best example we could use to make someone oblivious to the Pet Shop Boys know what they are all about artistically.
I Want a Lover: Another favorite of mine, I Want a Lover is a very straightforward song about sexual desire between two people who have just met at a club. Many people even speculate that this song actually refers to the 80's gay scene and depicts a homosexual encounter.
I particularly love the trumpet that plays during the bridge and accompanies the final chorus. Excellent track.
Later Tonight: The album is almost over and here comes this short, dreamy ballad about an unrequited teenage love: "That boy never cast a look in your direction / Never tried to hook for your attention"".
I absolutely love short songs, especially ballads, and this is no exception. It gives an even more "classy" touch to this album. Lyrically, it is also ambiguous as we don't know if the teen is a boy or a girl.
Why Don't We Live Together: The album ends with this spectacular dance track about physical attraction. The singer suggests to his/her partner to live together so they can have a good time in bed.
The dance/Italo Disco production is immaculate on this song and the "babe" right before the chorus is incredibly catchy and elevates the chorus itself.
Perfect conclusion to the album and a single that got away, honestly.
In conclusion...
Please is one of my favorite albums of the 1980's and in my top 5 when it comes to Pet Shop Boys' discography. It is the perfect introduction to their artistic universe and it contains some of their greatest songs ever, lyrically and sonically.
I think at that time, between 1985 and 1986, an act like the Boys was needed. Synthpop was slowly starting to fade and they gave new life to the scene, making the genre a chart force again and paving the way for bands like Erasure.
The union of social themes and dance music is exquisite and proves that we can have some fun and still pay attention to what is going on around us.
Let your body move to the music
The voice that repeats "Divided by zero" throughout the song comes from a talking calculator Neil Tennant had bought for his father.
From this first song the listener instantly understands that this album is going to be all about story songs (which would eventually become the duo's trademark).
West End Girls: The first single released from the album, West End Girls is one of the most successful songs of the 1980's. The blend of synthpop, hip-hop and city sounds creates an atmospheric track that still to this day is highly influential. Our Diva herself was inspired by it for her hit "Jump".
Lyrically, West End Girls is about class issues and how simple street guys from the East End of London fall in love with the rich and sophisticated girls from the West End. It's a song that presents the opposite realities existing in London like poverty and wealth, capitalism and simplicity, criminality and well being.
Commercially, the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a massive European hit.
A timeless track.
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money): The third track on the album is another fantastic uptempo tune that apparently deals with capitalism: "I've got the brains / You've got the looks / Let's make lots of money".
While it can in fact be read as two people planning to change their lives and become rich, it can also be about prostitution and sexual desire, with money being a synonym for sex.
This song was released as the third single from the album and became another top 10 hit for the Pet Shop Boys on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #10.
It's one of my favorites on the album.
Loves Comes Quickly: The second single released from the album, Love Comes Quickly is a mid-tempo synthpop ballad about the power of love and the influence it has on people, even on those who think they are not ready for it, don't believe in it or are apparently above it.
This song is one of the duo's own favorite songs and a fan favorite as well. Unfortunately, its commercial performance was somewhat disappointing after the success of the previous single West End Girls, only peaking at #19 on the UK Singles Chart and #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Suburbia: Another example of social commentary accompanied by a dance beat, Suburbia deals with young people and their rebellious attitude towards the system.
Throughout the Full Horror version of the song we can even hear sounds of suburban violence and chaos like screams, riots, smashing glass and dogs barking. This song was the voice of 80's British youth and in a way it almost serves as a time capsule.
Released as the fourth and last single from the album, Suburbia became a top 10 hit all around Europe and closed the Please era with a bang.
Tonight is Forever: After a 32-second reprise of Opportunities this melancholic dance anthem titled Tonight is Forever starts. It tells the story of a poor and unemployed guy falling in love with someone and this helps him forget his problems at least for one night (that he wishes would go on forever). He may have it bad but at least he's not alone.
Liza Minnelli recorded her version of the song on her 1989 album Results (which was entirely produced by the Pet Shop Boys).
Violence: My favorite song on the album after West End Girls, Violence is an elegant synthpop track about, indeed, violence and how it sadly is the only meaningful thing in some people's lives: "The sons and brothers, fighting for another cause / Anything to give their lives some meaning / Busy with their guns and dreaming / Far away from here / Said they would act in self-defense".
I love how the calm and solemn atmosphere of the song contrasts with its lyrics. Violence is probably the best example we could use to make someone oblivious to the Pet Shop Boys know what they are all about artistically.
I Want a Lover: Another favorite of mine, I Want a Lover is a very straightforward song about sexual desire between two people who have just met at a club. Many people even speculate that this song actually refers to the 80's gay scene and depicts a homosexual encounter.
I particularly love the trumpet that plays during the bridge and accompanies the final chorus. Excellent track.
Later Tonight: The album is almost over and here comes this short, dreamy ballad about an unrequited teenage love: "That boy never cast a look in your direction / Never tried to hook for your attention"".
I absolutely love short songs, especially ballads, and this is no exception. It gives an even more "classy" touch to this album. Lyrically, it is also ambiguous as we don't know if the teen is a boy or a girl.
Why Don't We Live Together: The album ends with this spectacular dance track about physical attraction. The singer suggests to his/her partner to live together so they can have a good time in bed.
The dance/Italo Disco production is immaculate on this song and the "babe" right before the chorus is incredibly catchy and elevates the chorus itself.
Perfect conclusion to the album and a single that got away, honestly.
In conclusion...
(From the West End Girls video)
Please is one of my favorite albums of the 1980's and in my top 5 when it comes to Pet Shop Boys' discography. It is the perfect introduction to their artistic universe and it contains some of their greatest songs ever, lyrically and sonically.
I think at that time, between 1985 and 1986, an act like the Boys was needed. Synthpop was slowly starting to fade and they gave new life to the scene, making the genre a chart force again and paving the way for bands like Erasure.
The union of social themes and dance music is exquisite and proves that we can have some fun and still pay attention to what is going on around us.
Let your body move to the music
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