r/petshopboys

Sixth track from their eleventh studio album Elysium released on September 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

> There’s a place beyond this world where the mountains meet the sky. It’s a different state of mind, like a dream where you can fly > > Can I tell you this in confidence? I need to regain that old innocence.

Seems like the Boys were reflecting over their own fame and fate as artists while going through a very existentialist process that, for anyone who doesn't know them, would look like they were ready "to step aside" and retire; what an awful situation that I'd rather not entertain any longer!!!

Although, this lovely midtempo ballad can also be interpreted as being conscious of your own limitations as a person and knowing when to take a step back in order to reconstruct, recreate and recharge your emotional needs.

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving - 9.2

2. Invisible - 8.3

3. Winner - 4.5

4. Your Early Stuff - 6.7

5. A Face Like That - 7.8

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell - 6.8

2. In His Imagination - 8.2

3. Baby - 6.5

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' - 7.4

5. The Way Through the Woods - 7.2

6. I Started a Joke - 6.5

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

Which are their most beautiful songs?

My list

• Being Boring (especially when they end their concert with this one. You could always rely on a friend
• Miracles
• The Survivors
• Liberation
• Love Comes Quickly
• Rent

Edit

• My October Symphony
• Dreaming of the Queen

Edit 2

• It always comes as a surpise
• liberation
• A New Life

Fifth track from their eleventh studio album Elysium released on September 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

Tropical sound effects mixed with an incredible synth-pop production serve as the perfect almost 2 minute intro to this immersive experience the Boys meticulously achieved. Its lyrical content is quite straightforward; we found our narrator getting involved with someone who's a "perfect storm" with stunning beauty. Guess any sort "toxic traits" can be forgiven as long as you're a hottie!

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving - 9.2

2. Invisible - 8.3

3. Winner - 4.5

4. Your Early Stuff - 6.7

5. A Face Like That -

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell - 6.8

2. In His Imagination - 8.2

3. Baby - 6.5

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' - 7.4

5. The Way Through the Woods - 7.2

6. I Started a Joke - 6.5

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

Ready to dance 💃 🕺

Fourth track from their eleventh studio album Elysium released on September 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

One thing about the Boys is that they're constantly aware of the general public's perception of them.

This song works as an updated version of “Yesterday When I Was Mad”, yet this time around it feels different. It's like they recollected every single backhanded "compliment" about non Petheads enjoying their early stuff much better than most recent releases, even going as far as disregarding or forgetting they were still active. And hey, if I may throw some shade as a semi newcomer, some Petheads only LOVE their "imperial phase", which is incredibly unfair for the Boys and their extensive catalog!

I failed to notice last year but, while reading geowayne's website, someone pointed out that the "what's your name?" background line might be a reference to Depeche Mode's gayest song “What's Your Name?", which sadly they hate (hopefully they've learned to embrace it these days!). Justice for their debut album with Vince Clarke! It's a good one.

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving - 9.2

2. Invisible - 8.3

3. Winner - 4.5

4. Your Early Stuff -

5. A Face Like That -

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell - 6.8

2. In His Imagination - 8.2

3. Baby - 6.5

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' - 7.4

5. The Way Through the Woods - 7.2

6. I Started a Joke - 6.5

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

Third track from their eleventh studio album Elysium released as the lead single on July 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

The Boys got inspired to conceive this triumphant song as their own optimistic and more inclusive version of Queen's "We Are the Champions" while going on tour as 'special guests' with Take That in 2011. They also served as an inspiration with their song "Greatest Day".

While the Olympics imagery of the single cover might suggest it was intended to be the main anthem for said global event (2012 Summer Olympics), it's not exactly true. However, the Boys would perform the song twice and it was played in-between tennis matches.

Neil expressed his dislike for one specific lyric on "We Are the Champions" – 'no time for losers' – so he started to write about everyone being winners, either by participating on a championship or by proxy as mere audience/supporters of said players. As all great PSB songs, the lyrical meaning is expansive and not necessarily meant to be pigeonholed to one specific category; the same topic could be applied to musicians and even on mundane events where everyone could be a winner regardless of the outcome! 🏆

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

Single cover art

\"Winner Remixed\" remixes cover art

🛼🏳️‍⚧️🛼🏳️‍⚧️🛼🏳️‍⚧️

Special mention to the Boys for showcasing the transgender community in a loving and positive light in their music video, especially among women which nowadays they're constantly having the most grueling confrontations with... 🩵🩷🤍🩵🩷🤍

Any thoughts or memories you have about the official music video?

---

B-SIDE #1

A CERTAIN 'JE NE SAIS QUOI'

Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

Here's another track intended to be for Kylie Minogue, PLEASE WE NEED A NEW COLLAB IN THE NEAR FUTURE!!!!

Neil takes the place of a female narrator, singing about a mysterious yet extremely charming French guy with a 'je ne sais quoi' quality about him, whether you'd like to interpret it as a sexual metaphor for something BIG or not, it's all up to you!

However, if I were to give a different perspective, I have a hunch that the French dude's 'je ne sais quoi' might be his hidden homosexuality. After all, Kylie is the Queen of the Gays, so falling for a handsome fella who might turn out to be gay wouldn't be too far fetched. Another song I'm finding thematic similarities with is "Ziggy" by Canadian/French Royalty Céline Dion! Originally written for the musical "Starmania", Céline released her version in the early 90s; the video is incredible and so ahead of its time!

B-SIDE #2

THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

Original poem by Rudyard Kipling. Produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

This one is probably their most experimental, haunting and progressive-rock-ish song. The Boys threw any pop music rules out the window and decided to make an almost 6 minute extravaganza, with an incredibly eerie atmosphere that includes surrounding sound effects as if you're the one inside this terrifying forest that works as a genius metaphor for old memories, nature vs. human intervention and religion.

Rudyard Kipling was a prolific yet controversial novelist and poet. However, this specific poem lives in the outskirts of his usual work. The emphasis of a "road through the woods" implies that this specific works as a concept to explain how nature prevails and endures in spite of humanity's temporary plans to continue building societies. The religious angle is also worth mentioning, as "the woods" are a mere idea made by humans to seek out haven and a safe community, yet at the end of the day it's all a fallacy.

B-SIDE #3

I STARTED A JOKE

Written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. Produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

This beautiful mid-tempo cover was conceived as a tribute to the late and incredibly talented Robin Gibb. As for the mystery of the lyrical content, it's better to let it stay as an open interpretation. Who's the one that started what joke? Was it God or humans in our every day lives? lol.

From 1 to 10 how would you rate these b-sides? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving - 9.2

2. Invisible - 8.3

3. Winner -

4. Your Early Stuff -

5. A Face Like That -

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell - 6.8

2. In His Imagination - 8.2

3. Baby - 6.5

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' -

5. The Way Through the Woods -

6. I Started a Joke -

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

Second track from their eleventh studio album Elysium, released on September 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

This was the very first taste of the album. It "leaked" online which made fans speculate it was gonna be the lead single (totally wrong, as it was "Winner", a song I'm prepared fans will give low ratings 💔)

According to Neil:

> Chris and I both had the same idea for a song about how growing old is a process of becoming gradually invisible.

> I read a column in a newspaper complaining that a woman over the age of fifty walking into a social gathering may as well be invisible, and I thought, ‘Try being a gay man over the age of fifty …’

(you tell 'em Neil! 🤏🏻)

> But in writing the lyric, I also imagined it being the commentary of someone dead, a ghost haunting the parties he used to attend, now invisible, possibly forgotten.

With a somber and subdued yet elegant electronic beat, the Boys present a dreadful and kinda awkward reality of becoming "invisible" after being perceived as "the life and soul of the party", particularly as you age and younger folks tend to stop noticing all about you. It can easily extend to not only gay culture but also to any social setting in which youthfulness is regarded as the epitome of beauty.

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

Because the official video lacks the presence of the Boys as it's someone else moving on a "camouflaged" background, the video stills will remain invisible 👻

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving - 9.2

2. Invisible -

3. Winner -

4. Your Early Stuff -

5. A Face Like That -

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell - 6.8

2. In His Imagination - 8.2

3. Baby - 6.5

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' -

5. The Way Through the Woods -

6. I Started a Joke -

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

First track from their eleventh studio album Elysium, released as the second single on October 2012. Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, with additional production by Andrew Dawson.

Partially inspired by the sensible departure of Neil's parents, the Boys decided to write about loss with a very subdued electronic production that enhances the overall "dreamy" and contemplative vibe.

For some weird reason, I think of this track as an immediate response to Cher's “Believe”, especially on both their choruses:

> Do you believe in life after love? > I can feel something inside me say > “I really don’t think you’re strong enough, no.”

> I know enough's enough and you're leaving. > You've had enough time to decide on your freedom > but I can still find some hope to believe in love.

Am I the only psycho who noticed this unexpected connection? lol

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Elysium to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements? What are your favorite remixes and live versions?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

---

CD single cover art

“Leaving Again” remixes cover art

Video stills taken from the official music video of “Leaving”

Any thoughts or memories you have about the official music video?

---

B-SIDE #1

HELL

Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

The lyrical content is "about dictators talking to each other in Hell, set to a "Balkan" beat".

Repeatedly asserting that "evil is a bore" in a place like Hell where all the less than well-regarded people hang out for eternity, it's assumed that staying in Hell is extremely challenging, not because of the environment itself but because of its deplorable yet ordinary and dull inhabitants. I wonder if the narrator is speaking from experience or is just another omniscient voice.

I find it quite commendable and humorous of the Boys to find specific words to rhyme with the names of each dictator, like wasabi and Robert Mugabe. One of a kind, no other duo like them in the world.

B-SIDE #2

IN HIS IMAGINATION

Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

Who doesn't love to occasionally daydream of a better life where you find yourself overjoyed instead of working a 9 to 5 basically on autopilot?? Our song's main character is exactly that way, as a first-person narrator presents us with his story of success after spending so much time daydreaming which magically leads him to find an artistic career.

But one only has to wonder, how much of that is real and how much of it is make-believe in order to cope with his own bleak reality?

B-SIDE #3

BABY

Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

Conceived back in 2003 with multiple options to be released: as another instant hit for their PopArt compilation and as another song for Alcazar (Can I be the oneeee to share your love life? 🕺💃)

Ultimately, this summer song was released by Alcazar in 2009 on their "Disco Defenders" album but it wasn't until 2017 when the Boys decided to release their original version.

A very straightforward song about a guy who's confused about an ex-girlfriend and her intentions with him, calling him "baby" on his answering machine. Both being a bit apprehensive, they give it another shot at their romance for the summer 🌞

From 1 to 10 how would you rate these b-sides? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements?

---

TRACKLIST:

1. Leaving -

2. Invisible -

3. Winner -

4. Your Early Stuff -

5. A Face Like That -

6. Breathing Space -

7. Ego Music -

8. Hold On -

9. Give It a Go -

10. Memory of the Future -

11. Everything Means Something -

12. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin -

---

BONUS:

1. She Pops -

2. In Slow Motion -

---

B-SIDES:

1. Hell -

2. In His Imagination -

3. Baby -

4. A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' -

5. The Way Through the Woods -

6. I Started a Joke -

7. Listening -

8. One Night -

9. Inside -

I have one song from an artist that feels different from the rest.

For me, I think the most interesting thing about Pet Shop Boys is how their songs can sound simple on the surface but have so many layers, the lyrics, production, emotion, and storytelling.

What was the first Pet Shop Boys song that made you stop and think, “This is something special”?

Was it a song you discovered when it was released, or one you found years later?

I’d love to hear the story behind it, not just the song title, but why it stayed with you.

Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.
I’m a musician. Some of my music has been featured on BBC Music Introducing and I’m also a Voting Member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards).
I recently discovered that I appear to be blocked by the official Pet Shop Boys Instagram account. I’ve been a fan for many years and even own one of their signed CDs. I have never sent abusive messages or posted negative comments. I downloaded my full Instagram data and couldn’t find any comments or interactions with their account that might explain it.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you ever find out why, or were you manage to get the block removed?
I’m genuinely just trying to understand what happened.
Thanks!

Is there anything the boys have done that you would consider "scary" or "creepy"? Within reason of course

As a teenager I always got a semi scary vibe from "The sound of the atom splitting", lots of high pitched unsettling sounds and what sounded to teenage me as screams in the song, I'd say that's PSB scariest song

Also, 'You know where you went wrong" has a bit of a jumpscare sound at the very end of the song

What are some examples for you?