Number one
“Opportunities” has this week risen to number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart in the USA. “West End girls” is now number 9 on the same chart.
Winner
Congratulations to Frances Barber for winning Best Lead Performance in a Musical at the Off West End Theatre Awards (the “Offies”) tonight for “Musik” at the Leicester Square Theatre!
Opportunities
Following its use in a TV commercial broadcast after the Super Bowl in the USA, “Opportunities” has charted in the Billboard Dance/Electronic chart at number 5. Full story below.
It’s a sin
The ground-breaking TV drama series “It’s a Sin” has apparently led to a big increase in streaming of the PSB classic song it takes its title from. Link to the full story below.
Firebird
Peeter Rebane directed the video for our single “Together” in Estonia in 2010. Now he has directed a feature film called “Firebird”. Read about it at the links below. Neil x
YouTube videos
Two official Pet Shop Boys music videos, the HD version of “Paninaro” and the extended version of “Domino dancing”, including three and a half minutes of additional audio and video, are now available to watch on the PSB YouTube channel. Links below.
"It's a sin"
Olly Alexander of Years & Years has recorded a beautiful version of “It’s a sin” to coincide with the new TV drama series of the same name in which he stars and which starts on Channel 4 in the UK tonight. Links below. Neil x
Pointless
PSB questions are answered in this popular British TV show. Link below.
Off West End Awards
Finalists for this year’s Off West End Awards have been announced, ahead of a ceremony in February. Nicknamed The Offies, the awards look to celebrate small-scale theatre productions in London. Congratulations to Frances Barber who has been nominated for Best Lead Performance in “Musik” at the Leicester Square Theatre last year. Full list of nominees below.
Film locations
If you’ve watched the reissue of “It Couldn’t Happen Here”, you might be interested in this short film of the seaside locations then and now. Link below.
Bruce Springsteen
“I love the Pet Shop Boys!” Bruce Springsteen plays two PSB songs on his latest Sirius radio show. Full story at the link below.
Harold Budd
Very sad to read that Harold Budd, one of my favourite musicians and composers, died from the Covid virus ten days ago. He made so much beautiful, atmospheric music, often in collaboration with other artists like Brian Eno and Robin Guthrie. If you’ve never heard his music, give him a listen. Neil x
Barbara Windsor
Rest in peace beautiful Barbara Windsor. We had such fun making our film with you and it was always a joy to see you. When we played the Royal Opera House in 2016, you were dancing in the Royal Box! Love, Neil and Chris
Stereogum
A survey on the music website Stereogum of every number one record in the USA has arrived in 1986 and “West End girls”. Read what they have to say at the link below.
Letters
Work is underway for the 2021 issue of Annually and this year it will include a bumper selection of letters from you. So, if you have a question for Chris and Neil, send it in an email by Monday, December 14th, to info@beckerbrown.com. (Alternatively, you could leave a question on Facebook or Twitter.) Details of how to pre-order your copy of Annually will be on this site early next year.
Atelier E.B.
Nice cap! If you're interested, go to the link to read about the Atelier E.B. art and fashion collaboration which has produced it. (PSB have no involvement with this company.)
London
A double rainbow in London this afternoon! Hope you’re all keeping well. Neil x
Someone’s birthday
Chris Lowe is 61 today apparently. Personally I don’t believe it. Chris xx