Pet Shop Boys - 'West End Girls' Reaction! Dope Song! Who Knew They Could Flow!!
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- Опубліковано 23 лис 2024
- "West End Girls" is a song by the British musical duo Pet Shop Boys, released as a single in 1984. It was their debut single and became a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and later on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is known for its distinctive beat and introspective lyrics, which explore themes of urban life, class struggle, and social dynamics in the context of London's West End. Its minimalist, bass-driven sound was influenced by hip-hop and electronic music trends of the time. The track was produced by Stephen Hague and the Pet Shop Boys themselves, and its success established them as influential figures in the synth-pop genre. The song's success was partly due to its innovative production and the duo's unique blend of social commentary and catchy melodies.
How can anyone on the planet not have heard this song a million times? An instant classic.
Never broke America.
Hugely respected by football casuals.
@@spruce381 Naw, this was all over American MTV and in the clubs in the 80s. In the United States, West End Girls debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71, reaching the number one position on 10 May 1986, and remained on the chart for 20 weeks. The song also peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for two weeks.
A lot of American Black Culture were not listening to 80's UK Synth pop new wave.
The only reason why a lot American black youth know the hook It's because they have been sampled on hip hop song.
So they don't actually know the song, they just know a piece of it.
I only heard it 987,487 times... Ridiculous hyperbolic comment! 🙄
Hard to explain after forty years, the atmosphere in London in 84.....I started working there as a news cameraman that year and it was....something else. London was booming, while the rest of the UK was dying under Thatcher. The wealth on display in the city, was beyond belief. This song caught the zeitgeist to the times, when we all thought we were kings and masters of our domain....
East End = Rough side of town West End = wealthy side of town [London]
Both = Dead End World, nice wordplay there.
@@onsesejoo2605 Typical jealous poor person response...
Hmm. I thought it was the opposite. I thought the East End Boys were slumming in the West End because the girls were easier. Even my small town has a North End vs. South Side rivalry (mostly from school sports).
@@rebeccalipps23nope this is like billy Joel’s uptown girls, where the blue collar downtown boy is getting with the upper middle class uptown girl.
@@rebeccalipps23 Nope, rich girls attracted to rough guys. Also, the East End is heavily black/South Asian, while the West End is more heavily white.
I'm an 80s child (born in 79) and the Pet Shop Boys music has stuck with me my whole life, great band.
@@staygoldponyboy8881 stand corrected
Right? 💯
Ha! I once "won" a rap battle with my 14 year old by dropping every word of this on her.
Good thing she didn't own any appliances that could access the entirety of human knowledge. She thought I was the shit😂
For people not from London, east end boys tend to be working class, west end girls tend to be upper or upper-middle class.
Obviously coming together in bars, pubs and nightclubs in central London at the weekend.
When I was a kid in the American south the upper crust kids were preppies and we the working class kids were boonies or boondock boys
Late 70s early 80s
I visited a gal in London in March 1979. She lived in Hackney (East End). She was from there, had lived there her whole life. I visited her for two weeks, and while there I ventured into the West End. The disparity between the two sides of London was mind boggling. All I can say is that this song struck me when I first heard it, cause I knew just what it meant. A great reflection of the times.
In many West-European countries too. This because we have in mostly west-wind and in the industrial revolution time all this smoke from the factories in the Cities where blown to the east of the Cities (Smell, Dirt,...) and the West-End was the cleaner, better air area and therefore more expensive.
Also worth reminding of the political state at the time of the song and hinted at in the video, early 80s East London and it's working class communities were still reeling from the previous decade of industrial decline (complete decimation), while the West end was benefitting from the neo liberal Thatcher / Reagan financial services boom focussed on The City financial district. It's also about urban fantasy and alienation, quite a layered historical song.
Guys, love your reaction, ........I can tell YOU love good, music! I grew up on the "New Wave" from Europe, Pet Shop Boys, Eurythmics, Culture Club, Thompson Twins, etc ....... keep it cool, just subscribed to your channel.
Forty years later, still solid. That’s some well-made pop music. Glad you enjoyed, gents!
I never realised it was Number One in America. That's a bona fida hit all day long.
#1 for 1 week only in the US, the week of my 14th birthday. :)
I lived in Missouri and was in high school. We had one pop station and it played this song a lot for about a month. They played it for months after it dropped out of the top 40, but of course less so. It is forever burned into my memory, but in a good way.
The 80s truly was some of the best time for music.
1974 to 1984...the best decade, if I had to choose
@@JoTracy 1967 to 1975 for me...............but I'm OLD ! LOL :)
You bet the British Invasion was real, I lived thru it & it was great times! Love this song.👍💜💜💜
The second British invasion(musically).
You guys are amazing! Being a British guy who's now an American citizen, watching American guys reacting to what I grew up with, is priceless
I love your reactions.
And yes, us UKs peoples did it again hahaha
Oh, And I'm pure a born proud East End Boy!!!
I heard this song in high school, college, and now I'm a 58 year old 80s DJ, I've played this song 1,000 times... and I STILL get a chill when you hear those first few chords.
The PSB are a factory of HITS!
So you want to make this 70-year-old London Male cry do you? You, nearly, succeeded. I was born one mile from there and that was Waterloo,a large Train Station in South East London just 1 mile from Central London where most of this was filmed. I lived there for my first 29 years until I bought this house just 11 miles away on the very edge of South East London and Kent in 1983 and that "42" London Bus was one of 14 Bus Routes that travelled down my High Street:)
Wonderful memories of a vibrant, stimulating area and era.
Much love!!!
@@thisisitreactions Thanks,My Friend.
I was 22 when this was dropped, great band, the 80’s were just ……….. perfect.
The Uk has always had a Swag that doesn't care what Americans think.
It got Ollie dancing!😊
Everybody boppin'
Stationed in Germany, dancing at the club to this.... man, the memories.
Me too, though I hated this then and now just not my jam
Damn Chris's beat is so smooth....in so many of their classics
Ollie has that 80s club groove in him.
I love the Pet Shop Boys. This was my first introduction to them and I still love the song to this day.
Loved them from the first time i heard them in 84 as a kid. Totally underated band on this side of the pond.
Although they had their moment in the US it was relatively short-lived, and they were still cranking out bangers until ... well, today really! The album the released this year (the fifteenth of their career) is terrific .... However, although they may not have had hits in the US, they have been very influential of younger artists. They performed a fantastic medley of their hits at the BRITS in the noghties with Lady Gaga and Brandon Flowers, to name but two.
Saw them in concert last year. Still great live and I believe they are close to 70 years old.
Definitely one of my Favorite 80s songs !
1986 growing up in the UK. This song is a time machine. 15 again.
I'm a classical piano trained '80s metal head born in '68. Always loved TF out of this banger of a song. Took a trip to England back in '83 so the visuals from the video are nostalgic for me. Love it.
Another great reaction video, 1984, the year I left school and this song will always be one of my favourites.
I was 23 when this came out. The PSBs really 'spoke' to a lot of us.
FYI West End 'posh' but East End 'Working Class'
I love this song!!! I liked it back then...it was pretty good (for a club dance floor) but listening to it NOW, it is so cool, hip and London stuff. Makes me want to be there!!! It has a club sound from back in those days!!!!
Probably my favourite song of the 80s. And that's against some amazing competition.
Really like this channel's taste in music.
A banger of a tune! One of many dance hits the Boys had. Always filled the dance floors.
They covered The Village People's "Go West", U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name", "Always On My Mind" and did a duet with Dusty Springfield on "What Have I Done To Deserve This?". "It's A Sin" is another dance floor classic, as is "Left To My Own Devices".
They're good friends with Elton John and his husband.
My fav jam from the 80s takes me back swear I listen to it everyday ❤
The song is 38 years old. And before someone says it was before it's time, it was very much OF it's time.
I LOVE London❤️
Wow wow ..that took me alllll the way back to high school. Loved that song then and now!!!
Smooth and serious.
the same lead singer was in this song from the 1990's - listen to this group - "Electronic - Idiot Country" love your video and reaction!
They sure knew how to make catchy songs in the 80's and the synth definitely had something to do with it.
The entire "Please" album oozes smoothness. My friends and I used to listen to the album while driving, before heading out to parties. It set the tone. Great reaction.
I love watching these gentlemen. I love the reaction and comments. They have great energy!
I remember this song. I haven't heard it in years but definitely remember it.
My man top left. I started this song and looked away jamming to it myself and when I glanced at the screen you were enjoying it so much I’m going to rewind and watch you enjoy it from the start 😂. You all got a sub.
LOVED this song when it came out
I was a teen in the 80’s and listened to a program on the radio called Rock Over London where they would introduce the songs from these bands to the US as part of the British invasion. It was a glorious time to be a teen.
Takes me right back to the 80's.
This was one of the biggest selling songs, worldwide in 1985. it was everywhere
First - loved this reaction! Ollie, you are 💀ing me with your appreciation for British bands!
Suggestion for another Pet Shop Boys’ song
- “Opportunities”.
BUT (even better)
Psychedelic Furs “Pretty In Pink”
A movie was based off the title (not the other way around) because Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club) loved the song. (Movie is not about the actual song, but the Furs re-recorded the song for soundtrack).
Probably use the soundtrack version.
If you like it, dive into their catalog! My favorite band.
Love this song❤
Two Queer boys from England who made it big with brilliant music. Try their song, OPPORTUNITES
The City atmospheric is beautiful.Favourite 80s Song.
Hey fellas !...
Here's a group you may have missed.. British pop-rock...
💥...She Drives Me Crazy...Fine Young Cannibals...1989
💥...Good Thing...Fine Young Cannibals...1989
Hay a great Labor Day !...
🌿🌿🌿
We will check it out!!
@thisisitreactions definitely worth your time. These British groups of the 80s didn't get much love in the States. Heard them a lot in Canada. Not a shock since we still belong to the 👑. Still have the original release on cassette tape in my collection. Along with Billy Idol, Pet shop Boys. The British invasion in the 80s were music's hidden gems.
well one of the pet shop boys is from my town, and still drinks in blackpool. ive met them. they used to be often in the clubs around blackpool and i used to work in the clubs pubs and bars all artound blackpool. i used to be able to go into any club and get free drinks back in the day in the late ninties and early naughties, i believe they live in lythem atm (many holywood stars have house in lytham due to the golfing including samual l jackson and fella from titanic )
If I were to pick two songs that represented the flavor of 80s pop it would be this one and Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Saw them live, incredible. Thank you for sharing this. 👵🇬🇧👍
I love the Pet Shop Boys. I don’t know if there’s a video for it, but I recommend the song It’s A Sin
They did a song with Dusty Springfield! That one is a good one too!
I love Pet Shop Boys❤❤❤❤❤
used to love to dance to this song back in the day
My anthem when I was first working around Oxford Street and Green Park (West End). Great, great song. And I still remember each word! Yay me, 61 now..
So many great bands from uk
Never realized they be rapping. lol
Such a great hook. Gets me moving every time
The actual hook is electronic cowbell (3:18). ''More cowbell!''
Great song. Actually released in late 1985 and hit no.1 in 1986
That was Chris Lowe in the background, the one who created that great music.
I was 20 and dancing to this every Friday night. You guys are great. Love your open mindedness. Please listen to The Clash white Riot!
Thanks for the reaction. It's one of the most underrated band. They wrote more than 300 songs. Every album is totally different. They had a huge influence on many bands and dj. Their carreer is incredible and they are still there with fantastic music. The last album nonetheless is awesome. Their live show, and design are unique. They had an imperial in the 80's with 4 number one. Their b sides are as good as the a sides, even better. You have to try king's cross, a fabulous title. They do electro banger as well as melancolic and sad ballads, they are pop masters.
So many memories! Great pick❤
So much part of my 80’s cage dancing mixtape! Seems like Madonna vogue and all of Depeche Mode were also! Thanks for the memories!
One of my FAVORITE bands !
Extended Remix was great to dance to at college parties in the mid to late 80s
Shep Pettibone (who also remixed many of Madonna's early hits) did a great job in remixing the track for the clubs.
Hit number one with Billboard's Dance Club Play Chart
I like that you guys are open to eclectic mix of music. Check out Love Shack by the B52s or Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band's Cherchez La Femme. The original videos add a lot. More recent is Black Violin (think Hip Hop meets Classical ) Anything by them is cool.
Yeah, even my metal head husband loved this ❤
Loved these guys ... along with Tears for Fears, Bronski Beat and The Communards 😊
Your next PSB songs to check out should be “it’s a sin“, “Always on my mind“, and “what have I done to deserve this.” All were radio hits.
This was the absolute coolest, hippest new thing in Europe in 1983.. Their sound was never heard of before. And what would then become the 80s aesthetics.
This song sounds like it could've come out in modern times, GR8 music 🎶
Been a huge fan of Pet Shop Boys since the song came out. Met them a few times too after concerts. They are one of the only groups that are still around and releasing new albums every few years 43 years after they formed (in 1981).
The singer (Neil Tenant) still sounds great at the age of 70 now. He was one of the very first white rappers on this song. 😆 Neil writes the words and sings. The other guy in the background is Chris Lowe and he composes all the music and plays the synths. He really is a genius when it comes to music but stays in the background mostly.
Pet Shop Boys are one of the very first groups that were out as gay, so they hold a lot of meaning to many of us gay people who were growing up in the 80s and 90s.
The cool guys have some many dance hits...
Pet shop Boys r the EDM godfathers... This was their 1st music video from 1985 and it took until 1986 to become a hit from their debut album 'Please' ... Neil Tennant is the singer; Chris Lowe does the electronics... The duo is still recording and touring today as old men 🤣calling themselves Pet shop Boys... Their latest album 'Nonetheless' was released in 2024.
Some of Pet Shop Boys' biggest hits - "Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)"... 'Love comes quickly' ... 'Heart'... 'Domino dancing' ... 'Liberation' ... "It's a sin"... 'Left to my own devices'... 🔥🔥
Don't forget " Suburbia"
Glad you liked this music. I’m an 80’s kid and love all this genre. Always on My Mind is a great song too by them.
Lots of great songs and still going strong. Other guy does all the music.
This black Detroit 60's chick loved this song and even though the pet shop boys are English the song sounded so New York to me and liked something we danced to in the 60s. Loved the pet shop boys songs especially one about let's make lots of money. Also loved the song they did with one of my favorite blonde blue eyed soul English soul singer Dusty Springfield who had hit singles in the 60s.
Remember this being a game changer when it came out - literally nothing to compare it to before that I had heard. It's timeless and a magical piece of music.
I wouldn't call it a game changer. It's no different (or better) than what Yazoo was putting out two year's before this.
@@TheRetroManRandySavage It's nothing like anything from Yazoo other than the use of a Synthesizer. Much more layered.
@@nigelw7626
I still don't see how this song changed the game, fella.
How did it change the synth pop genre or music in general?
How was it better or more revolutionary than what Yazoo (and other synth pop bands) were doing, and had done a few year's previously?
@@TheRetroManRandySavage I get it, you like Yazoo,, I do too, they are foundational Synth Pop, more so than the Pet Shop Boys. There hadn't been any electronic music as layered as this before this, it was of the time, of the zeitgeist, but it's timeless. Yazoo don't have jazz trumpets layered in, or rapping. It's more nuanced than anything Yazoo have made, or for that matter anything later that the PSBs have made. West End Girls is regarded as one of if not the most iconic "Sophisti Pop" tracks of the 80's. So there you go chum that's my point. You have yours we can agree to disagree.
@@nigelw7626 I actually wouldn't call myself a fan of Yazoo.
I quite like synth pop bands from the 80s, but I wouldn't call myself a fan of any particular group.
I'm more of a hard rock/metal fan myself.
I just didn't see how west end girls was a game changer.
I wouldn't say the pet shop boys were innovative in any kind of way. They were just a continuation of the synth groups that came before them.
Great song!
That 1st wave hit like a tsunami. 80-86.
Pet Shop Boys mastered the IDGAF facial expression, and I love it.
This song made this band my favorite band when I was 11 in early 1986
The West End of London is a Rich Area, East End is Poorer
Essential info to understand the lyrics. Lol 🙃
@bigdaddyeb56 Thanks, I didn't know.
@Belluser-we1uc5cb2l You are Welcome
massive song - massive talents - and they are still creating new music...
One of the best pop voices there is. Cool style.
I could listen to this song everyday, such a great VIBE! 👍
Gosh, makes me nostalgic hearing this song, it was huge here in the 80's.. Good times... Very much a song about class. Funny really I was playing Pet Shop Boys in my car today... 😊
Dancing at my desk with you guys!❤
This song will forever remind me of the Spring of 1985, my junior year of high school. This song was playing a lot then. I loved the funk of this song then. There was a lot of this type of funk going on.
Whew, takes me back to clubbing in the 80's ❤
This was a JAM💃
Try these other Pet Shop Boys' tunes - "What Have I Done to Deserve This" "Shopping" "Rent" "Hit Music" "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" "Love Comes Quickly"
Did anyone catch the bongos in that song? The song is so smooth, it's easy to overlook them, but they are rather prevalent.
I'm a baby boomer, and like this song! Have their vinyl record album in my collection. ❤
Pet Shop Boys performed West End Girls on Dancing With The Stars. While they were performing, professional breakdancers were poplocking on the stage.