Podcast appearances and mentions of Neil Tennant

I denne uges udsendelse kigger vi på om ideén om at boykotte alt amerikansk også skal omfatte deres store musikskat, vi nyder en herlig dansk singlehitliste fra marts 1986 og så anbefaler vi et legendarisk album af John Lennon og Yoko Ono, en koncertoplevelse fra London med komponisten Anne Dudley med store gæstesangere, bl.a. Neil Tennant fra Pet Shop Boys, og så anbefaler en af vores lytter den nye akustiske tourné og tilhørende album fra danske Rasmus Walter. Derudover tager vi på pubber og små klubber med Elton John, vi fascineres over at Spider-Man er begyndt at spille klaver i Londons undergrund, vi mindes en duesteg med fantastisk brun sovs, vi undrer os over et nummer om Den sorte død tilsat italo disco, og så bliver det desuden til en snak om lathyrusfrø, det japanske bootlegmarked, en dansktopklassiker, Walter og Carlo og intet mindre en den danske statsminister som skuespiller. Playliste: John Lennon - I'm losing you Art Of Noise - Moments in love (Anne To Tears Mix) Pet Shop Boys - Nothing has been proved (Live) Rasmus Walter - Skygger af dig Grand Avenue - The outside Andreas Odbjerg - USA The Minds Of 99 - Ideen er død Elton John - Twentieth Century blues Bjørn Tidmand - Tre hvide duer Danielle Deneuve - The plague Mette & The Comets - Slabadubadelle Billy Ocean - When the going gets tough, the tough get going a-ha - The sun always shines on TV Walter og Carlo - Op på fars hat

In eager pursuit of dance and merriment, we dust down the current events. Which this week involves …. … are teenagers no longer in love? And what does this mean for pop music? … are people better musicians now than 40 years ago? And is that because you can get online tutorials explaining how to play everything? … Paul McCartney taking two buses across Liverpool just to learn the chord of B7. … how the best pop songs start with someone walking into a room. … Ghana! India! New Zealand! The Caribbean! The King's Spotify Playlist, a carefully chiselled love letter to the Commonwealth. … do couples still have “Our Tune”? And do they still request songs for each other on radio shows? … Neil Tennant's memories of pre-Putin Russia – “we swept into Moscow in Gorbachev's limousine”. … Thunder Road, And Then He Kissed Me, Wouldn't It Be Nice and other magical songs about dating. … Amanda Seyfried does Joni Mitchell! … the best pop song ever written - and we know the answer! Plus birthday guest David Messer and two great Lou Reed live albums (“he heckles the hecklers!”). David and Mark's One-Man Show in Wareham on April 4: https://loveitlocalmagazine.co.uk/events/one-man-show/ Neil Tennant's piece about pre-Putin Russia: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/12/neil-tennant-pet-shop-boys-russia-putin-gay-club-mtvHelp us to find out more about how to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In eager pursuit of dance and merriment, we dust down the current events. Which this week involves …. … are teenagers no longer in love? And what does this mean for pop music? … are people better musicians now than 40 years ago? And is that because you can get online tutorials explaining how to play everything? … Paul McCartney taking two buses across Liverpool just to learn the chord of B7. … how the best pop songs start with someone walking into a room. … Ghana! India! New Zealand! The Caribbean! The King's Spotify Playlist, a carefully chiselled love letter to the Commonwealth. … do couples still have “Our Tune”? And do they still request songs for each other on radio shows? … Neil Tennant's memories of pre-Putin Russia – “we swept into Moscow in Gorbachev's limousine”. … Thunder Road, And Then He Kissed Me, Wouldn't It Be Nice and other magical songs about dating. … Amanda Seyfried does Joni Mitchell! … the best pop song ever written - and we know the answer! Plus birthday guest David Messer and two great Lou Reed live albums (“he heckles the hecklers!”). David and Mark's One-Man Show in Wareham on April 4: https://loveitlocalmagazine.co.uk/events/one-man-show/ Neil Tennant's piece about pre-Putin Russia: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/12/neil-tennant-pet-shop-boys-russia-putin-gay-club-mtvHelp us to find out more about how to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In eager pursuit of dance and merriment, we dust down the current events. Which this week involves …. … are teenagers no longer in love? And what does this mean for pop music? … are people better musicians now than 40 years ago? And is that because you can get online tutorials explaining how to play everything? … Paul McCartney taking two buses across Liverpool just to learn the chord of B7. … how the best pop songs start with someone walking into a room. … Ghana! India! New Zealand! The Caribbean! The King's Spotify Playlist, a carefully chiselled love letter to the Commonwealth. … do couples still have “Our Tune”? And do they still request songs for each other on radio shows? … Neil Tennant's memories of pre-Putin Russia – “we swept into Moscow in Gorbachev's limousine”. … Thunder Road, And Then He Kissed Me, Wouldn't It Be Nice and other magical songs about dating. … Amanda Seyfried does Joni Mitchell! … the best pop song ever written - and we know the answer! Plus birthday guest David Messer and two great Lou Reed live albums (“he heckles the hecklers!”). David and Mark's One-Man Show in Wareham on April 4: https://loveitlocalmagazine.co.uk/events/one-man-show/ Neil Tennant's piece about pre-Putin Russia: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/12/neil-tennant-pet-shop-boys-russia-putin-gay-club-mtvHelp us to find out more about how to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group's “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it take for an artist to achieve imperial dominance? Why might Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s or The Weeknd in the 2010s qualify, while Cher or Lizzo don't quite fit the bill? Are there rules for imperial phases? Hit Parade's Chris Molanphy says yes—he's got chart rules for determining when an artist is at peak imperiality. And he says Madonna's late '80s streak of hits might be the ultimate imperial phase. Join Chris as he dissects the most regal artists across the decades, defining what makes them imperial—and he walks hit by hit through Madonna's biggest phase, which may remain unmatched. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paddling the three-man conversational kayak across the rock and roll rapids this week involved … … Olive Mess, Candied Yams, Gorilla Biscuits …? Challenging indie act or seasonal vegan recipe? … the amount YMCA earned through Donald Trump and why the man who wrote it is complaining. … Tom Hanks' valuable words of wisdom. … Neil Tennant's favourite bridge in a pop song (and it's not We Can Work It Out or I Will). … musicians and the modern world of the “one-night stand” circuit. … Baker Street, Money, Careless Whisper, Giant Steps, Jungleland … and the sax solo that outranks them all. … the genius of Henry Mancini and the powerful DNA of film music. … the lost world of small ads – eg this pasted by Roxy Music: “The perfect guitarist for avant rock group: original, creative, adaptable, melodic, fast, slow, elegant, witty, scary, stable, tricky. Quality musicians only.” … Beatles '64 - “randomly assembled and directionless”, a listener declares!  Here's Plas Johnson playing the Pink Panther theme with Henry Mancini: https://youtu.be/jBupII3LH_Q?si=brjVwsPlmcnii1MdFind out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddling the three-man conversational kayak across the rock and roll rapids this week involved … … Olive Mess, Candied Yams, Gorilla Biscuits …? Challenging indie act or seasonal vegan recipe? … the amount YMCA earned through Donald Trump and why the man who wrote it is complaining. … Tom Hanks' valuable words of wisdom. … Neil Tennant's favourite bridge in a pop song (and it's not We Can Work It Out or I Will). … musicians and the modern world of the “one-night stand” circuit. … Baker Street, Money, Careless Whisper, Giant Steps, Jungleland … and the sax solo that outranks them all. … the genius of Henry Mancini and the powerful DNA of film music. … the lost world of small ads – eg this pasted by Roxy Music: “The perfect guitarist for avant rock group: original, creative, adaptable, melodic, fast, slow, elegant, witty, scary, stable, tricky. Quality musicians only.” … Beatles '64 - “randomly assembled and directionless”, a listener declares!  Here's Plas Johnson playing the Pink Panther theme with Henry Mancini: https://youtu.be/jBupII3LH_Q?si=brjVwsPlmcnii1MdFind out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddling the three-man conversational kayak across the rock and roll rapids this week involved … … Olive Mess, Candied Yams, Gorilla Biscuits …? Challenging indie act or seasonal vegan recipe? … the amount YMCA earned through Donald Trump and why the man who wrote it is complaining. … Tom Hanks' valuable words of wisdom. … Neil Tennant's favourite bridge in a pop song (and it's not We Can Work It Out or I Will). … musicians and the modern world of the “one-night stand” circuit. … Baker Street, Money, Careless Whisper, Giant Steps, Jungleland … and the sax solo that outranks them all. … the genius of Henry Mancini and the powerful DNA of film music. … the lost world of small ads – eg this pasted by Roxy Music: “The perfect guitarist for avant rock group: original, creative, adaptable, melodic, fast, slow, elegant, witty, scary, stable, tricky. Quality musicians only.” … Beatles '64 - “randomly assembled and directionless”, a listener declares!  Here's Plas Johnson playing the Pink Panther theme with Henry Mancini: https://youtu.be/jBupII3LH_Q?si=brjVwsPlmcnii1MdFind out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the Season Finale of Queer The Music and we have a big one for you! It's none other than Neil Tennant to talk about Pet Shop Boys' 1987 smash hit 'It's A Sin'.    Neil joined Jake on his sofa to talk about making the song, the meaning behind the lyrics & his brilliant music career. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and learn so much about many of Pet Shop Boys songs, their collaborations and creative process.    Thank you to everyone who has listened to this series - we'll be back with Season 3 next year, let us know who you would like us to feature on Queer The Music, but in the meantime keep an eye out for a very special festive bonus.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 with keyboard magic-dust provider, ~Andy Richards with more hits, more number ones (including a potential 2 more to make the full 10).And so much brilliant 80s pop…5. GEORGE MICHAELAn opportune meeting, a Sunday afternoon session and more immortality as Andy works with George on the iconic Careless Whisper. A later session with David Cassidy (on yet another top 10 smash) allows him the opportunity to work with George again.6. PET SHOP BOYSA triple whammy of number one singles between July 87 - April 88 as Andy works on It's a Sin, Always on my Mind and Heart (which he also produces). Not forgetting more hits in Suburbia and Rent as well as working on the Actually album.Later he works on the Liza Minelli album, Results (produced by the Pets) ‘resulting' in another top 10 hit in Losing My Mind.Comparisons are made between working with Liza and Dusty Springfield (who he produced on her Reputation album).7. CHRIS DE BURGHFrom the great experience working on the sublime pop of the Pets to the more problematic cheesy monobrow of The De Burgh.Another massive number one single with The Lady In Red (with a little help from George Michael) but at some cost.Despite the experience (and like mothers forgetting the pain of childbirth) Andy returns and works on another top 3 hit in Missing You. Plus discussion at the end on where else George Michael appears in the ARoeuvre.8. PREFAB SPROUTAndy produces the wonderful “Hey Manhattan!” By The Sprouts from their From Langley Park To Memphis album.Discussion on Paddy's views of the track (and why he is wrong, bless the little genius).9. PRODUCINGAs well as being the keyboard maestro go-to guy, Andy also produced many artists in the 80s.Here we go through some of them, from less successful experiences (Berlin) to yet more chart success with Fuzzbox and Holly Johnson. 10. MISCELLANEOUS80s odd and sods including the start of his film/TV work and a chance to mop up any other  hits worked on, including a potential 10th number one (Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is being the potential 9th). THE 80SOGRAPHY QUICKFIRE ROUNDAnd why not.For more on Andy - andyrichards.comTo help fund the pod or say hi - 80sography@gmail (PayPal)Vaughn George. Neil Tennant vocal analysis “Heart”.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMjGpyzAIsSend us a text

In which we feed the week's events through our heat-seeking Fun-Filter®️ to see what makes the bell ring. Which includes … … Richard Ashcroft in the new John Lewis Christmas ad. … U2 v Coldplay, the Beatles v Pink Floyd – rock bands and the “diploma divide”. … why can we still recite entire song lyrics we learnt when teenagers but can't remember the shopping list we wrote this morning? … “they couldn't find their backside with the flashlight”. … the new form of tribute group: the Fall, Thin Lizzy and Talk Talk and the bands made up of ex-members who are recording their ‘new music'. … Elvis, Noel Coward, Churchill, Dylan, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bowie, the Stones, Frank Sinatra … who should Craig Brown write about next? … the very few people more famous than Paul McCartney.   … our search for the poshest pop star. … Beatles fans v the National Anthem. … is this the only podcast on God's green earth to mention the Wars Of Spanish Succession? … and birthday guest Giles Fraser on Phil Manzanera, Neil Tennant, Clare Grogan, Midge Ure and other musicians with fabulous speaking voices.Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we feed the week's events through our heat-seeking Fun-Filter®️ to see what makes the bell ring. Which includes … … Richard Ashcroft in the new John Lewis Christmas ad. … U2 v Coldplay, the Beatles v Pink Floyd – rock bands and the “diploma divide”. … why can we still recite entire song lyrics we learnt when teenagers but can't remember the shopping list we wrote this morning? … “they couldn't find their backside with the flashlight”. … the new form of tribute group: the Fall, Thin Lizzy and Talk Talk and the bands made up of ex-members who are recording their ‘new music'. … Elvis, Noel Coward, Churchill, Dylan, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bowie, the Stones, Frank Sinatra … who should Craig Brown write about next? … the very few people more famous than Paul McCartney.   … our search for the poshest pop star. … Beatles fans v the National Anthem. … is this the only podcast on God's green earth to mention the Wars Of Spanish Succession? … and birthday guest Giles Fraser on Phil Manzanera, Neil Tennant, Clare Grogan, Midge Ure and other musicians with fabulous speaking voices.Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we feed the week's events through our heat-seeking Fun-Filter®️ to see what makes the bell ring. Which includes … … Richard Ashcroft in the new John Lewis Christmas ad. … U2 v Coldplay, the Beatles v Pink Floyd – rock bands and the “diploma divide”. … why can we still recite entire song lyrics we learnt when teenagers but can't remember the shopping list we wrote this morning? … “they couldn't find their backside with the flashlight”. … the new form of tribute group: the Fall, Thin Lizzy and Talk Talk and the bands made up of ex-members who are recording their ‘new music'. … Elvis, Noel Coward, Churchill, Dylan, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bowie, the Stones, Frank Sinatra … who should Craig Brown write about next? … the very few people more famous than Paul McCartney.   … our search for the poshest pop star. … Beatles fans v the National Anthem. … is this the only podcast on God's green earth to mention the Wars Of Spanish Succession? … and birthday guest Giles Fraser on Phil Manzanera, Neil Tennant, Clare Grogan, Midge Ure and other musicians with fabulous speaking voices.Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whose been kissing Madonna's brother? It's a Careless Whisper and the only living person would never admit to being jilted. An 80s frontman takes a swing at Taylor Swift. We do not want to be his social media manager right now. Did we brainstorm a more interesting Flash Gordon remake and Dori has been flirting with other 80s podcasts. When she realises how few awards they've won, she'll be back. Remember the TV Show, Adderley? Raise your left-hand if you do. Paulo found a hidden Sly Stallone gem that has it all - Billy Dee Williams, Rutger Hauer, Sly dressed as a little old lady. Someone needs to take the internet away from him. Finally, how did the Toy Hall of Fame (yes, a real thing) bring up Paulo's child-hood trauma? Find out at the end of the show. And it's a lot more interesting than playing with sand. Mentions Derry Girls: "00:14:01" Podcast-a-thon: "00:27:18" 1980s Now Podcast: "00:28:39" YouTube: "00:37:41" Kaleidoscope.com: "00:49:14" National Toy Hall of Fame: "01:00:29" The Toys That Made Us: "01:00:29" Facebook: "00:57:27" George Michael: A Life: "00:14:30"" Adolescent Psychology": "00:38:18""60 80 Movies You Have to Watch Before You Die": "01:04:48" MTV European Music Awards: "00:06:04" Rihanna's song "SOS": "00:55:41" Lifeforce: "00:21:04" Flash Gordon: "00:19:20" Elderly: "00:32:15" Neon Rider: "00:38:18"" Nighthawks": "00:40:08" Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling: "00:49:57" Billie Jean: "00:09:27" Shake It Off: "00:09:50" Karma Chameleon: "00:10:10" Taika Waititi: "00:19:57" Dino Riders: "00:51:21" Ghostbusters: "00:52:28" Stickers and Sticker Books: "00:53:32" Phase 10: "01:00:45" #That 80 Show, #1980s, #pop culture, #nostalgia, #music, #contemporary pop music, #Neil Tennant, #Pet Shop Boys, #Taylor Swift, #personal anecdotes, #internet influence, #celebrity interviews, #grumpy 80s pop legend, #Spandau Ballet, #Culture Club, #Tears for Fears, #creativity, #experimentation, #iconic sounds, #synthesizers, #keytars, #George Michael, #Madonna, #Christopher Ciccone, #Flash Gordon, #Taika Waititi, #Queen soundtrack, #Betamax, #VHS, #1980s cartoons, #Pac-Man, #Dino-Riders, #Ghostbusters, #sticker books, #National Toy Hall of Fame, #Transformers, #My Little Pony, #Phase 10, #Cabbage Patch Kids, #Game Boy, #Nighthawks, #Sylvester Stallone, #Rutger Hauer, #forgotten classics, #Saturday morning cartoons, #80s movies, #Who Framed Roger Rabbit, #The Terminator, #humor, #engaging discussions, #personal connections, #social media, #award-winning podcast, #community, #nostalgia of the 80s.

Moyet Moment #35 explores the minutes' first single When I Was Your Girl as well as diversions into radio playlisting, Top of The Pops, Neil Tennant and social media.

This episode originally aired on May 16, 2023, under the title “Doctor Who is Autistic.”“‘But I hope that in 15 years time, in 1988, you will publish another special to celebrate 25 years of wandering in time with The Doctor, (signed) Peter Capaldi, age 15.'” “Oh, my God!”“In 1974, at the age of three, David John McDonald tells his parents that he wants to be an actor so that he can be Doctor Who…He later became a member of the Actors Union. Unfortunately, there was already a David McDonald in there. So, because he was a fan of the Pet Shop Boys, he took Neil Tennant's name and became David Tennant.”“One of the common things for the autistic people—we don't do hierarchy. If you're an Autistic kid, you treat the teachers, you treat the principal, you treat a president the same as you treat anybody else, because we're very egalitarian in that regard.”“Matt Smith, a very fascinating guy, very naturally somewhat clumsy, tended to break a lot of props, ruin a lot of costumes—very much considered the ADHD Doctor.”“What Peter Capaldi and the Doctor Who franchise in general bring is, I think, an Autistic culture definition of kindness, which is a deep, abiding, justice-fueled kindness—not about friendliness or cheeriness.”“We do love a little arcane trivia. I think that's part of what makes the Doctor Who world partly part of our autistic culture is there is more arcane trivia than you can shake a stick at.”“When they made this particular hero, they didn't give him a gun, they gave him a screwdriver to fix things. They didn't give him a tank or a warship or a X-Wing Fighter, they gave him a phone box from which you can call for help. And they didn't give him a superpower, or pointy ears, or Heat Ray, they gave him an extra heart. They gave him two hearts and that is an extraordinary thing. There will never come a time when we don't need a hero like the Doctor.”Who's your favorite Doctor and why? Share it in the comments!Fan Favorite Game, design #12 (get yours here)Play the game! Fan Favorites Game rules* https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/tbadag/is_it_ethical_that_the_10th_doctor_took_away/* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ0fmUr5cfUReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Check us out on InstagramRate us on Apple podcasts and SpotifyMatt Lowry, LPPAutistic Connections Facebook GroupAngelaLauria.com and Difference PressAngela's social media: Twitter and TikTokTACP's Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe

MY HEARTBEAT AS ALWAYS!  EPIC, MELODIC, HEART POUNDING EDM TRACKS, NEW & CLASSIC, MIXED, EDITED, CURATED AND EFFECTED BY YOURS TRULY.  ELECTRONIC MIXOLOGIST JT #126-129BPM.. DEDICATED TO AARON & I'S, 5 YEARS TOGETHER AND FOREVER MORE!  #MISSUMARLEY HOME (EM JT XTENDED EDIT) - CAMELPHAT, RHODES, ADANA TWINS, SAMM & AJNA 5AM TO LIMA - DARREN TATE NUMB - ELDERBROOK, JORIS VOORN ENDLESSLY - CAMELPHAT, NADIA ALI THE FUTURE IS NOW - DAVID GUETTA, MORTEN THEIR LAW - MRAK, DAVID LINDMER ON THE LOW - SCRIPT DUN DUN - CASSIAN EVERYTHING - OLIVER SMITH, TOM BAILEY TAKE OFF - ARMIN VAN BUUREN, ARTBAT WHY? (EM JT XTENDED EDIT) - SUPERCHUMBO, NEIL TENNANT, BRONSKI BEAT MY COMPUTER - GLOWAL, ADANA TWINS ONE NEW CHANGE - GORGON CITY THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE/ASOT MIX - ARMIN VAN BUUREN, TREVOR GUTHRIE GET ON - ANUQRAM KIND OF ILLUSION - DANNY SERRANO, SANTAMARIA, MILLICENT ANSWER - DOSEM, SOHMI THE BEST PART - ANAME, BIEN TIED TO YOU - YOTTO, ELDERBROOK

MY HEARTBEAT AS ALWAYS!  EPIC, MELODIC, HEART POUNDING EDM TRACKS, NEW & CLASSIC, MIXED, EDITED, CURATED AND EFFECTED BY YOURS TRULY.  ELECTRONIC MIXOLOGIST JT #126-129BPM.. DEDICATED TO AARON & I'S, 5 YEARS TOGETHER AND FOREVER MORE!  #MISSUMARLEY HOME (EM JT XTENDED EDIT) - CAMELPHAT, RHODES, ADANA TWINS, SAMM & AJNA 5AM TO LIMA - DARREN TATE NUMB - ELDERBROOK, JORIS VOORN ENDLESSLY - CAMELPHAT, NADIA ALI THE FUTURE IS NOW - DAVID GUETTA, MORTEN THEIR LAW - MRAK, DAVID LINDMER ON THE LOW - SCRIPT DUN DUN - CASSIAN EVERYTHING - OLIVER SMITH, TOM BAILEY TAKE OFF - ARMIN VAN BUUREN, ARTBAT WHY? (EM JT XTENDED EDIT) - SUPERCHUMBO, NEIL TENNANT, BRONSKI BEAT MY COMPUTER - GLOWAL, ADANA TWINS ONE NEW CHANGE - GORGON CITY THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE/ASOT MIX - ARMIN VAN BUUREN, TREVOR GUTHRIE GET ON - ANUQRAM KIND OF ILLUSION - DANNY SERRANO, SANTAMARIA, MILLICENT ANSWER - DOSEM, SOHMI THE BEST PART - ANAME, BIEN TIED TO YOU - YOTTO, ELDERBROOK

"LET'S GET LOST WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN!"   SOME NEW & CLASSIC BEATS CURATED, MIXED, LOOPED & EFFECTED BY YOURS TRULY... EM JT #ONLYTHEBEST  SUN WILL RISE - SASSON, MARTEN LOU BELIEVE - SUPER FLU JUST THE KINDA FEELING - LOST BOY, YOTTO PEACE LOVE HAPPINESS - LOVE REGENERATOR RELAX - ERAN HERSH, DMITRY KO CORACAO - JERRY ROPERA, MIJANGOS, JESUS F REMEMBER ME? - YOTTO CHAINS - ABOVE & BEYOND, MARTY LONGSTAFF KIND OF ILLUSION - SANTAMARIA, JOHAN MILA, DANNY SONNERA AT NIGHT - ROBERTO TROPEA, TR3NACRIA ONE NEW CHANGE - GORGON CITY WHY? - NEIL TENNANT, BRONSKI BEAT, SUPERCHUMBO MY COMPUTER - GLOWAL, ADANA TWINS DUN DUN - CASSIAN GET ON - ANUQRAM THEIR LAW - MRAK, DAVID LINDMER ON THE LOW - SCRIPT MY WAY HOME - JAREN, AVENUE ONE SAUTI - FRANCIS MERCIER, FAUL & WAD ALL WE NEED - DJ TOMER, RICARDO, JORDAN ARTS STARWAVE - ESTIVA YOU'RE AN OCHESTRA IN THE COSMOS - SEBASTIAN MULLAERT, JORIS VOORN

NEIL TENNANT 70th BIRTHDAY SPECIAL ALWAYS ON MY MIND (Extended Dance Mix) Pet Shop Boys 1987 LOSING MY MIND Liza Minnelli 1989 GETTING AWAY WITH IT Electronic 1989 DANCING STAR... LEARN MORE The post TTBA Replay 12JUL20024 Pt. 3 appeared first on Turn the Beat Around.

On the July 10 edition of Music History Today podcast, Madonna's sudden popularity gets taken advantage of in a magazine, Shazam premieres, and we lose two legends. Also, birthdays today for Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and Jessica Simpson. For more music history, subscribe to my Spotify Channel or subscribe to the audio version of my music history podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts from ALL MUSIC HISTORY TODAY  PODCAST NETWORK LINKS - ⁠https://allmylinks.com/musichistorytoday⁠  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/musichistorytodaypodcast/support

Neste episódio do ‘Minha Canção', Sarah Oliveira destaca a trajetória e os hits do duo britânico Pet Shop Boys, formado por Neil Tennant e Chris Lowe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reciban un cordial saludo. Desde Cali (Colombia), les habla Sergio Luis López, compartiéndoles un nuevo episodio de "Así la escuché yo..." La banda británica Pet Shop Boys presentó en 1993 su álbum “Very”, anotándose un éxito musical con la canción “Go West” (Vamos, Oeste). Este tema musical de Pet Shop Boys es una nueva versión de la canción grabada originalmente en 1979 por la agrupación estadounidense Village People, que viene en el álbum homónimo “Go West”Así la escuché yo… Como dato curioso, hay que decir que la versión de los Pet Shop Boys esta ensamblada sobre una melodía similar al himno de la Unión Soviética, como una clara alusión a la tensión entre Este y Oeste. ¿Y tú, en cuál grabación la escuchaste primero? Autores: Jacques Morali & Henri Belolo & Víctor Willis (estadounidenses) Go West - Pet Shop Boys (1993) "Very" álbum (1993) Canta: Neil Francis Tennant (británico) Pet Shop Boys (dúo británico conformado por Neil Tennant y Chris Lowe) Género: Pop Electronic Dance Go West - Village People (1979) "Go West" álbum (1979) Canta: Victor Edward Willis (estadounidense) Village People (agrupación estadounidense) Género: Disco Himno Soviético - Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra & Choir (1944) single “Himno de la Unión Soviética” (1944) Música: Aleksandr Aleksándrov (soviético) Letra: Serguéi Mijalkov & Gabriel El-Reguistán (soviéticos) Género: Instrumental (Himno) ___________________ “Así la escuché yo…” Temporada: 8 Episodio: 42 Sergio Productions Cali – Colombia Sergio Luis López Mora

This week's theories, rants, ruminations, recollections, weak gags and free and frank exchanges of view alight upon the following …    … is pop music now all about identity? …. the recording of the Animals' House of the Rising Sun and other apocryphal tales. … has any act been as ubiquitous since Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984? … or has anyone inspired a greater level of personal devotion than Taylor Swift? … Peter Green, a shotgun and his accountant. … books bought but never read. .. re-reading Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and the changing benchmarks for good and bad musical taste. … intriguing parallels between the book and record industries. … and Neil Tennant braves the digital lynch-mob. Plus Adam Clayton's garden, Konstantin Chernenko, Richard Burton, Rebel Wilson, Dark Academia, creepy weepies and birthday guest John Montagna looks at singles by the same act that are ‘descendants' – ie pretty much identical – eg the Monkees' Teardrop City and Last Train To Clarksville, the Kinks' You Really Got Me and All Day And All of the Night and Mark Knopfler's Cannibals and Walk Of Life. Or just try the first few seconds of these four by the Inkspots – Maybe, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, If I Didn't Care and Whispering Grass.Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's theories, rants, ruminations, recollections, weak gags and free and frank exchanges of view alight upon the following …    … is pop music now all about identity? …. the recording of the Animals' House of the Rising Sun and other apocryphal tales. … has any act been as ubiquitous since Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984? … or has anyone inspired a greater level of personal devotion than Taylor Swift? … Peter Green, a shotgun and his accountant. … books bought but never read. .. re-reading Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and the changing benchmarks for good and bad musical taste. … intriguing parallels between the book and record industries. … and Neil Tennant braves the digital lynch-mob. Plus Adam Clayton's garden, Konstantin Chernenko, Richard Burton, Rebel Wilson, Dark Academia, creepy weepies and birthday guest John Montagna looks at singles by the same act that are ‘descendants' – ie pretty much identical – eg the Monkees' Teardrop City and Last Train To Clarksville, the Kinks' You Really Got Me and All Day And All of the Night and Mark Knopfler's Cannibals and Walk Of Life. Or just try the first few seconds of these four by the Inkspots – Maybe, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, If I Didn't Care and Whispering Grass.Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's theories, rants, ruminations, recollections, weak gags and free and frank exchanges of view alight upon the following …    … is pop music now all about identity? …. the recording of the Animals' House of the Rising Sun and other apocryphal tales. … has any act been as ubiquitous since Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984? … or has anyone inspired a greater level of personal devotion than Taylor Swift? … Peter Green, a shotgun and his accountant. … books bought but never read. .. re-reading Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and the changing benchmarks for good and bad musical taste. … intriguing parallels between the book and record industries. … and Neil Tennant braves the digital lynch-mob. Plus Adam Clayton's garden, Konstantin Chernenko, Richard Burton, Rebel Wilson, Dark Academia, creepy weepies and birthday guest John Montagna looks at singles by the same act that are ‘descendants' – ie pretty much identical – eg the Monkees' Teardrop City and Last Train To Clarksville, the Kinks' You Really Got Me and All Day And All of the Night and Mark Knopfler's Cannibals and Walk Of Life. Or just try the first few seconds of these four by the Inkspots – Maybe, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, If I Didn't Care and Whispering Grass.Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New @TalkArt! We meet the PET SHOP BOYS to explore their new album NONETHELESS!!!Recorded in London's Kings Cross, we chat to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe about their history as the UK's most successful pop duo, their mutual love of art, collaborations with artists throughout their 40 year career including Derek Jarman, Eric Watson, Wolfgang Tillmans, and most recently Tim Walker, plus we explore Neil's interest for collecting & living with art. This feature-length exclusive episode celebrates today's release (April 26th 2024) of their incredible new album Nonetheless, via Parlophone Records. This is their 15th studio album, and since releasing their debut single back in 1984 they've gone on to sell more than 50 million records worldwide.‘Nonetheless' features 10 brand new tracks and is available now digitally and in various physical formats, including CD, black vinyl, clear vinyl, grey vinyl and cassette. Recorded and mixed in London last year, the album is the duo's first with producer James Ford at his studio in East London. The orchestra and backing vocals were recorded at The Church studio in North London. This is one of our favourite PSB albums they've made! Be sure to download or buy it now. The album also sees the duo return to Parlophone, the label which released their iconic and massively successful material spanning 1985 – 2012.

The Pet Shop Boys are the most successful duo in UK music history. Forty years after their first hit West End Girls they are about to release their new album Nonetheless. Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant join Samira Ahmed to talk about making sense of life through culture, their music being used in hit films like Saltburn and All of Us Strangers and their gay icon status. Also joining Samira in the studio are art critic Catherine McCormack and writer Jenny McCartney to review the new tennis film Challengers - which stars Zendaya and Josh O'Connor and Tate Modern's new exhibition Expressionists: Kandinsky, Münter and The Blue Rider.Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Paula McGrath

Welcome to Further Listening, the series where we delve even deeper into the back catalogues of some of our favourite artists. We're kicking things off with the band who inspired the Track By Track podcast and the name of this series... It's Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe AKA Pet Shop Boys. This series was first released as a Patreon exclusive, however we're now sharing the episodes across all podcasting platforms AND we're bringing it bang up to date with some additional choices. Let us know your thoughts on the episode and our picks on the socials @trackbytrackuk - and if you haven't already please do leave us a rating and review.

Neil's an old friend from our days back at Smash Hits in the early ‘80s. The first Pet Shop Boys demos were played on the office tape machine, though he was a bit self-conscious about “the one with the rap on it”. He's always had a journalistic capacity for story-telling, remembering everything in famously entertaining detail, and we had so much material from this reunion we turned it into a two-part podcast. Here's a taste of what you'll find in this second half ... … “every group has to have an angle”. … pop's current obsession with identity. … why Bronski Beat were so significant. … David Bowie's scathing one-word reviews of Michael Jackson and Oasis at the Brits. … “the whole world of pop songs is a giant ever-expanding artwork”. … meeting Frida from Abba, “a song waiting to happen”. … the ‘Pits & Perverts' gay benefit for the miners in 1984. … London clubs in the early ‘80s - “we had a competition to see who could wear the highest heels”. … how everyone at Smash Hits thought Michael Jackson's Thriller was “a damp squib”. … recording West End Girls.  … first hearing a 12-inch single. … appearing on Soul Train with Don Cornelius – “like being on a different planet”. … why Dusty Springfield gave Jerry Wexler a nervous breakdown. … seeing the last Ziggy Stardust show. … meeting Steven Spielberg, Micky Dolenz and Joni Mitchell. … and Boy George's gag about George Michael.----------------------------------- PSB tour dates: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/pet-shop-boys-tickets/artist/735852 Order the new Pet Shop Boys album ‘Nonetheless' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-Deluxe-2CD-Shop-Boys/dp/B0CTKKBBVF-----------------------------------Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil's an old friend from our days back at Smash Hits in the early ‘80s. The first Pet Shop Boys demos were played on the office tape machine, though he was a bit self-conscious about “the one with the rap on it”. He's always had a journalistic capacity for story-telling, remembering everything in famously entertaining detail, and we had so much material from this reunion we turned it into a two-part podcast. Here's a taste of what you'll find in this second half ... … “every group has to have an angle”. … pop's current obsession with identity. … why Bronski Beat were so significant. … David Bowie's scathing one-word reviews of Michael Jackson and Oasis at the Brits. … “the whole world of pop songs is a giant ever-expanding artwork”. … meeting Frida from Abba, “a song waiting to happen”. … the ‘Pits & Perverts' gay benefit for the miners in 1984. … London clubs in the early ‘80s - “we had a competition to see who could wear the highest heels”. … how everyone at Smash Hits thought Michael Jackson's Thriller was “a damp squib”. … recording West End Girls.  … first hearing a 12-inch single. … appearing on Soul Train with Don Cornelius – “like being on a different planet”. … why Dusty Springfield gave Jerry Wexler a nervous breakdown. … seeing the last Ziggy Stardust show. … meeting Steven Spielberg, Micky Dolenz and Joni Mitchell. … and Boy George's gag about George Michael.----------------------------------- PSB tour dates: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/pet-shop-boys-tickets/artist/735852 Order the new Pet Shop Boys album ‘Nonetheless' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-Deluxe-2CD-Shop-Boys/dp/B0CTKKBBVF-----------------------------------Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil's an old friend from our days back at Smash Hits in the early ‘80s. The first Pet Shop Boys demos were played on the office tape machine, though he was a bit self-conscious about “the one with the rap on it”, and he's one of the few people who's seen the music press from every angle - as a reader in the ‘70s, as a writer and interviewer and as a musician on its front covers. We had so much great material from this wide-ranging conversation that we've turned it into a two-part podcast. Here's a taste of what you'll find in this first half ...  … the NME article he and his brother pinned to their bedroom wall. … the event at a Sex Pistols show “which stopped me going to gigs for about three years”. … the first time he saw his name in print. … interviewing Marc Bolan in his “fat phase”. … a barbed chat with Morrissey. … the pop press shift from “super-showbiz to super-counter-culture”. … Television, the Clash and other music he discovered through the NME. … meeting John Taylor 35 years after interviewing him.   … the pop decade when “something extraordinary happened every day”. … his mother's horrified reaction when he left Smash Hits to start the Pet Shop Boys. … the Human League in their Imperial Phase. … Phil Collins showing him round Abba's studio in Stockholm. … and why ‘80s pop stars were “the most controlling”.------------------------------------- PSB tour dates: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/pet-shop-boys-tickets/artist/735852 Order the new Pet Shop Boys album ‘Nonetheless' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-Deluxe-2CD-Shop-Boys/dp/B0CTKKBBVF-------------------------------------Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free! - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil's an old friend from our days back at Smash Hits in the early ‘80s. The first Pet Shop Boys demos were played on the office tape machine, though he was a bit self-conscious about “the one with the rap on it”, and he's one of the few people who's seen the music press from every angle - as a reader in the ‘70s, as a writer and interviewer and as a musician on its front covers. We had so much great material from this wide-ranging conversation that we've turned it into a two-part podcast. Here's a taste of what you'll find in this first half ...  … the NME article he and his brother pinned to their bedroom wall. … the event at a Sex Pistols show “which stopped me going to gigs for about three years”. … the first time he saw his name in print. … interviewing Marc Bolan in his “fat phase”. … a barbed chat with Morrissey. … the pop press shift from “super-showbiz to super-counter-culture”. … Television, the Clash and other music he discovered through the NME. … meeting John Taylor 35 years after interviewing him.   … the pop decade when “something extraordinary happened every day”. … his mother's horrified reaction when he left Smash Hits to start the Pet Shop Boys. … the Human League in their Imperial Phase. … Phil Collins showing him round Abba's studio in Stockholm. … and why ‘80s pop stars were “the most controlling”.------------------------------------- PSB tour dates: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/pet-shop-boys-tickets/artist/735852 Order the new Pet Shop Boys album ‘Nonetheless' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonetheless-Deluxe-2CD-Shop-Boys/dp/B0CTKKBBVF-------------------------------------Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free! - access to all of our content, plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extra-special episode we welcome into the RBP lair not one but two legends of music journalism. Former Smash Hits/Q/MOJO supremo Mark Ellen and Sylvia (I'm Not With The Band) Patterson join us to pay tribute to their late friend and colleague upon the publication of our book Phew, Eh Readers? The Life and Writing of Tom Hibbert – the single funniest music journalist who ever lived. Both guests recount their initial and unforgettable encounters with "Hibbs" – Mark's at New Music News in 1980; Sylvia's at Smash Hits in 1986 — before we look back at Tom's early years, his marriage to the marvellous Allyce Tessier and his pop passions from the Byrds to Big Star (via Moby Grape and the 13th Floor Elevators). Interspersing the conversation with quotes from the classic Hibbert pieces collected in Phew, Eh Readers? and the tributes to Tom we commissioned for the book — plus clips from audio interviews with Jon Bon Jovi, Vivien Stanshall and Tom's Smash Hits colleague Neil Tennant — we follow our hero's path through his brilliant career. Stops along the way include his entirely made-up letters to New Music News, his 1987 audience with Margaret Thatcher, his infamous "Who the Hell" interviews for Q and his hilariously irreverent columns for The Observer and the Mail On Sunday. Not forgetting the Love Trousers, the neo-psychedelic covers band he formed with Mr. Ellen... The pathos of Tom's twilight years, following his 1997 hospitalisation with pneumonia and pancreatitis — is touched upon before we wrap up with a fond nod to his old pal "Juggins". We shall not read his like again. Phew, Eh Readers?: The Life and Writing of Tom Hibbert is published by Nine Eight Books on 1st February, 2024. Pieces discussed: Tom Hibbert articles on Rock's Backpages, Billy Idol on Majorca, Jon Bon Jovi audio, Neil Tennant on the RBP podcast, Just Like Gene Autry, the Margaret Thatcher interview??!, Who the hell does Ringo Starr think he is? and Who the hell does Roger Waters think he is?

Introducing the Band:Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) are joined by guest Dave Weigel. Dave is a founding reporter at Semafor, where he covers the 2024 campaign and writes the Americana newsletter. Check his work out here and find him on Twitter at @daveweigel.Dave's Music Pick: Pet Shop BoysOpportunities are knocking: I've got the brains, and you've got the looks, so let's make lots of money as we use the post–July 4 week to celebrate the United Kingdom's most famous '80s/'90s synthpop dance-music duo! Of course, Pet Shop Boys -- a two-man collaboration that began in 1981 when rock critic Neil Tennant ran into bedsit-room synths-and-sequencers muso Chris Lowe at a record shop -- are much more than that besides. They managed the trick of being one of the United Kingdom's most commercially dominant chart acts while also being one of its cleverest and most tasteful, the result being that their classic run of albums beginning with Please (1986) have not dated even as they helped create and define the sound of '80s and '90s pop, club, and dance music. Neil Tennant's knack for melody and endlessly clever lyrics relating stories of heartbreak, ennui, and urban adventure from a then still-hidden subculture (gay London of the '80s and '90s) matched perfectly with Lowe's preternatural ability to layer keyboards hooks and sequenced percussion into compulsive radio fodder: The Pet Shop Boys scored 22 top-ten singles in the U.K. and ten over here in the United States, and you'll be surprised how many of them you knew without realizing you did.  So press play, get ready to dance, enjoy a real treat. By the end you may be asking yourself: "What have I done to deserve this?"