I love this series and how you discuss some incredible songs and artists. The Pet Shop Boys are a strange case for me because I don't remember ever seeing them as anything other than two gay men. As a straight teenager this was never a problem for me and I don't remember it being problematic for others because they were 'pop stars' so for us the Pet Shop Boys had lives a bit outside the norms of the time.
When they released West End Girls they shot the video in all the places in London that I was familiar from Waterloo station which was my gateway to the city and into Soho which, at that time, was still a bit dangerous, edgy and ultimately desirable.
For me The Pet Shop Boys showed me that there was another way to be male that could be sensitive and emotional and sing about intangibles like Love Comes Quickly! Although I defined them as 'gay' that definition was never a block to loving their music - although I recognise that the scared butch boys at MTV got scared off by the Domino Dancing video because they thought it was 'too gay'!
I think that in the real world people were and are much more willing to embrace queer artists if they are left to their own devices (!) to enjoy the art for its own sake. I was not seeing my self represented in terms of sexuality when I saw The Pet Shop Boys but I felt a creative connection with their music which I think is a sign of great art because it allows the audience to connect and enjoy on different levels. This is demonstrated by the fact that the 'Armani, Armani' section from Paninaro was adopted by English football (soccer) fans as a chant from the terraces. Talk about crossover success!
This is a wonderful Substack and thank you for your insights!
The sheer amount of time they spend obsessing over Kylie Minogue in their book “Pet Shop Boys, Literally” should have put an end to any speculation lol. Love my queer elders!!!!!!
❤️❤️
Damn, I love this one 🙌🏾
Feeling like a Pet Shop Boys fan.
Here for the Twit90s & Songs That Saved Your Life mashup.
Wow! I'd never really followed the Pet Shop Boys never realized that they had such an interesting (and significant) history.
I love this series and how you discuss some incredible songs and artists. The Pet Shop Boys are a strange case for me because I don't remember ever seeing them as anything other than two gay men. As a straight teenager this was never a problem for me and I don't remember it being problematic for others because they were 'pop stars' so for us the Pet Shop Boys had lives a bit outside the norms of the time.
When they released West End Girls they shot the video in all the places in London that I was familiar from Waterloo station which was my gateway to the city and into Soho which, at that time, was still a bit dangerous, edgy and ultimately desirable.
For me The Pet Shop Boys showed me that there was another way to be male that could be sensitive and emotional and sing about intangibles like Love Comes Quickly! Although I defined them as 'gay' that definition was never a block to loving their music - although I recognise that the scared butch boys at MTV got scared off by the Domino Dancing video because they thought it was 'too gay'!
I think that in the real world people were and are much more willing to embrace queer artists if they are left to their own devices (!) to enjoy the art for its own sake. I was not seeing my self represented in terms of sexuality when I saw The Pet Shop Boys but I felt a creative connection with their music which I think is a sign of great art because it allows the audience to connect and enjoy on different levels. This is demonstrated by the fact that the 'Armani, Armani' section from Paninaro was adopted by English football (soccer) fans as a chant from the terraces. Talk about crossover success!
This is a wonderful Substack and thank you for your insights!
The sheer amount of time they spend obsessing over Kylie Minogue in their book “Pet Shop Boys, Literally” should have put an end to any speculation lol. Love my queer elders!!!!!!