It’s Neil Tennant’s birthday today, the possessor of a talent for giving voice to pop songs of exquisite quality, elegance and artistry. His distinctive North East lilt always instantly recognisable, dripping with everything: restraint, wit, longing, social commentary, joy and at times regretful pain.
Together with his often silent partner in crime keyboardist Chris Lowe (whom he met as legend would have it in an electronics shop in 1981)at their best The Pet Shop Boys bestrode the 1980s with some of the most melodramatic, flamboyantly knowing post-modern electro pop music informed by everyone from Noel Coward and Bowie to Moroder.
Their songs were reflective of a alienated kind of urbanity, the guzzling consumerism and greed of Thatcherism, they defined a high campness that crossed over from pop art into high art.
Despite a few missteps(‘Go West’ and their version of ‘Always on My Mind’ in particular), when they briefly become a parody of themselves, they have been consistently one of the best and most artfully evolving British pop bands of their era. Last year’s comeback album ‘Electric’ showed they were far from over as a force. Today we raise a glass to Neil, and pick out some of our favourite Pet Shop Boys pop songs.
1. Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia
2. Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
3. Pet Shop Boys – Heart
4. Pet Shop Boys – It’s A Sin
5. Pet Shop Boys – Let To My Own Devices
6. Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring
7. Pet Shop Boys – Jealously
8. Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
9. Pet Shop Boys – The Way It Used To Be
10. Pet Shop Boys – Rent
What are your Favourite Pet Shop Boys songs?!
