A Life In Pop.

The Pet Shop Boys to me embody all things that a pop act should be. Intelligent, witty storytelling with infectious electro beats, or lush orchestration.

We just finished watching 'A Life In Pop', a documentary commissioned by Channel Four in the UK. A comprehensive time line of all things Pet Shop Boys (excluding anything about the cheesy Comic Relief single 'Absolutely Fabulous')

I love this group. Their books 'Literally' and 'Pet Shop Boys V's America' are witty and insightful and addictive. Their grasp of live theatrical performance wonderfully refreshing. I can always remember being in front of the stage at their Australian leg of the 'Discovery' World Tour totally enthralled and elated the whole way through. They have worked throughout the years with the likes of Scissor Sisters, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Robbie Williams, Liza Minelli, Rufus Wainright, Boy George, Kylie Minogue, Johnny Marr, Benard Sumner and Madonna and still maintained the edge, even if it was lost in the translation for a number of years. They have performed at Glastonbury, Creamfields and at the end of March at V In The Park in Centennial Park, Sydney. The talent to compose an original score for a silent black and white Russian film, Battleship Potemkin and the Johnathon Harvey Musical 'Closer To Heaven'. Then perform with the BBC Orchestra. Is there anything these guys don't excel at??

So in honour of Neil and Chris, here is a list of my Top 10 fav Pet Shop Boys songs, and Top 5 albums.

...I wonder what 'Rent' would have sounded like if it had been recorded by Madonna, the person it was intended for??...hmmm...

Songs.

1. Being Boring - (Behaviour)


2. Jealousy (Behaviour)
3. Home And Dry (Release)
4. Domino Dancing (Introspective)
5. Bright Young Things (Numb EP)
6. West End Girls (Please)
7. It Couldn't Happen Here (Actually)
8. Flamboyant (Pop:Art)
9. Heart (Actually)
10. Shameless (Very: Further Listening)

Albums
1. Behaviour


2. Actually
3. Fundamental
4. Very Relentless
5. Introspective

A wee treat. At the end of the docco we are introduced to a tribute band, The Westend Girls, who recorded their take on 'Domino Dancing'.Ahhhh...bless those crazy Scandinavians! Enjoy..

'Perfume' & 'Catalogue'

One of my all time fav books, 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind has been given the celluloid treatment.
I always thought it would be an extremely complex and difficult film to make given the whole premise is scentual stimulation.

The thing I love about the novel is that it leaves the judgments of the hideousness orphan who was born with no scent at all, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille to the reader. Also the hideous nature of his crimes. But one thing is always present, the sense of smell. The novel forces you to tap into those scents that have either repulsed us or drew us in.

I saw it with much want, and much trepidation last night and I was most disappointed. It was beautiful, yet dark, long, and painfully drawn out. The score by the Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle is gives light and hope to a haunting topic and is easily the best thing about it. The book will still remain a fav, however Ben Whishaw was no where near as grotesque as I imagined Grenouille. Alan Rickman as Laure, the object of Grenouille's affection's father Antoine Richis was one of the highlights. Dustin Hoffman's performance as the master perfumer, Guiseppie Baldini, was woeful. His Italian accent easily rivalling Brad Pitt's abomination on the Irish accent in 'The Devil's Own' as all time worst

And since we are sharing books, my latest love of my life is 'Catalogue'. This is the complete graphical biography of the Pet Shop Boys to date, featuring clips from the music videos, single and album artwork, posters, and their historical performance of the score of Battleship Potemkin whilst it screened in Trafalgar Square. I love this book. I will never tire of it.