PET SHOP BOYS LIVE IN MANILA, AUGUST 6, 2013: SOME THOUGHTS AND AFTERTHOUGHTS

           

80’s New Wave  synth  duo Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are known to stage concerts with just the   two of them playing.  Neil Tennant sings and walks around while Chris Lowe just stands behind the keyboard, expressionless in  his trademark hat and sunglasses. Sounds boring?

                 

On the contrary,  these are words I have gathered from fans alike   which I agree appropriately describes their  recent concert here : “Mesmerizing,” "Stunning,” “Great Show,” “Amazing,” "Electrifying,” “Wonderful,” “A blast,” Lovely,”…

To what can I attribute this seeming paradox? Strong stage presence ? I don’t think so.  For me, the foundation of their spectacular show are their brilliant songs. In combination with a well- crafted theatrical productions ( in consonance with some of the lyrics and their artistic nature)such as, the  fantastic display of colorful strobe and  laser lights that constantly showered the coliseum,  the superb graphics used as backdrop, the  arty and  outlandish costumes (particularly the seemingly  light-emitting hat of Neil Tennant, the mirror ball head encasement of Chris Lowe,  the silver bull head- like head gear and the   spiny porcupine - like costume worn by the duo),  and   the two tireless and very entertaining backing dancers among others,  made this concert truly effective and a highly potent one.

           

 59 year old Neil Tennant’s delightfully  delicate  voice  as well as his vocal delivery  was  brilliant.  Like the way it sounded in records….

                                               

In terms of total worldwide album sales, chart success and awards received, I realize  Pet Shop Boys is actually the 'biggest'  80’s associated  classic  New Wave act that  performed  here in our country since Depeche Mode visited our shores in 1994.

                                             

1.) Sold 50 million records WORLDWIDE.  2.) Listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful duo in U.K. music history. 3.)  A 6-time Grammy nominees and 3-time Brit Award winner.  4.) 42 Top 30 and 22 Top 10 with four number ones in the U.K. singles chart. 5.) In the 2009 Brit Awards,  they received an award for Outstanding Contribution To Music.

                                             

            

Facts show  they are   alongside  U2 and Depeche Mode as the most prolific and successful New Wave acts who came from the 80's era , consistently churning out excellent albums since there debut while maintaining their original style. The guys never run out of great catchy melodies, memorable synthpop rhythms and intelligent lyrics.

                                           

Still going strong, having just released two brilliant albums in a span of less than a year; Elysium, released in September, 2012;  and Electric their 12th studio album , just last July. 

                                             

Pet Shop Boys Studio Albums:

  

     Please – 1986

     Actually – 1987

     Introspective - 1988

     Behavior -1990

     Very – 1993

     Bilingual -1996

     Nightlife -1999

     Release -2002

     Fundamental -2006

     Yes – 2009

     Elysium -2012

Electric – 2013

         

Note: They always use a single word for their album titles.

                                                 

Setlist:  (tracks with the corresponding studio album source)

1.       Axis  (Electric)

2.       One More Chance/Face Like That ( Actually/Elysium)

3.       Opportunities (Please)

4.       Memory Of the Future (Elysium)

5.       Fugitive/Integral   (* Fundamentalism/ Fundamental)

6.       The Rite Of Spring/I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (a sample from The Rite     Of Spring Ballet/Very)

7.       Suburbia ( Please)

8.       I’m Not Scared ( Introspective)

9.       Fluorescent (Electric)

10.    The Last To Die/ Somewhere (Electric/*Bilingual 2 cd edition)

11.     Leaving (Elysium)

12.     Thursday (Electric)

13.     Love Etc. (Yes)

14.     I Get Excited(You Get Excited Too)/Rent   (B-side of Heart, a 1988 single/ Actually)

15.     Miracles ( A 2003 single. Also included in PopArt, a 2003 compilation album.

16.     It’s A Sin (Actually)

17.     Domino Dancing (a 1988 single. 12” version from Introspective)

18.     Go West (Very)

19.    Always On My Mind (Introspective)

20.    West End Girls (Please)

21.    Vocal  (Electric)

Note: Fundamentalism is a 2 cd edition of the album Fundamental; "The Last To Die" is a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song; "Somewhere" is a U.K. top 10 hit single. A  cover of the Leonard Berstein/Stephen Sondheim song from the 1961 Broadway Musical West Side Story. The extended version is in the 2 cd edition of the album Bilingual.

                                       

Album distribution of songs:

Electric – 5 ; Elysium -3 ;  Yes – 1;  Fundamental -2;   Release – 0;   Nightlife – 0;  Bilingual – 1;   Very -2 Behavior – 0;   Introspective -2;  Actually – 3;   Please - 3                                        

From the set list it’s clear they are here to promote their recent albums,  not just to sing mainly for nostalgia their many hits from the 80’s and the 90's,                                          

In case  somebody maybe  wondering what was that bull-like head mask worn by the two dancers during the performance of the song "I Wouldn’t Normally Do this Kind Of Thing" is all about. It is actually a Minotaur, the mythical part bull, part man. A creature with human body and a head of a bull. It's featured in the music video of "Axis", the first single and also the first track of Electric. The visuals shown when  "Axis," the opening number of the concert was being played  was partly taken from the music video also.

                                           

Axis

Sample from Stravinsky’s "The Rite Of Spring Ballet" was used while the two bull-headed dancers were performing a sort of a ritual dance before "I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing". The “Rite Of Spring” is actually found in  the lyrics of the song.                 

“Ask me once, I say I think it's good for you

Believe it or not, I know where it's all leading to

I feel like taking all my clothes off

Dancing to "The Rite of Spring"

And I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing

I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing

I wouldn't normally do this kind of, this kind of thing”

Most applauded hit song:  "It’s A Sin."  Edging out" Domino Dancing", "West End Girls," "Go West" and "Suburbia."  

Most Applauded New Song: "Vocal", without a doubt. The driving,  pulsating, relentless and irresistable  beat  had the crowd up and dancing. A great show closer! (Considering, it is a new song.)

Vocal

                                           

 I read positive  comments in  social media coming  from people who attended their concert in Araneta Coliseum praising some songs from their  latest and recent albums, which they heard for the first time in the concert  such as "Leaving," "Thursday" and most especially "Vocal."

                                               

Just like in the case of OMD’s concert here  in support of  History Of Modern album, this is part of Pet Shop Boys’ Electric Tour but where is the Electric CD? Anyway, I grabbed one souvenir Electric Tour t-shirt.

                                     

 I wish the huge hanging screen at the middle of the coliseum was utilized to highlight some of the performances.This is important for the enjoyment of those located at the far sections of the Upper Boxes. The two big screens located high on both sides  of the Upper Box weren't bright.

                                        

                 

 The 80’s New Wave invasion continues,  last May, we had The Alarm and Modern English. Who knows maybe U2, New Order, Echo & The Bunnymen and perhaps The Cure might visit us in the near  future. Many thanks should go again to the concert producer,  Ovation Productions.

                                     

 One final note-- Electric is  another strong indicator  that-- NEW WAVE MUSIC IS ALIVE AND WELL!

Electric