West End Girls (4:51)
584,282 plays (157,271 listeners)
“West End Girls” is a song by pop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe and was their first hit, reaching number one in the US and UK in 1986.
The lyrics were written in the early 1980s. The title and refrain refer to London’s divide between the traditional and working class East End and the cosmopolitan, consumer-driven West End.
The lyric “From Lake Geneva to the Finland Station” refers to the train route taken by Vladimir Lenin when he was smuggled by the Germans to Russia during World War I, and to Edmund Wilson’s book on the subject, To the Finland Station. There is further Russian Revolution imagery in the Bobby Orlando produced version of the single, which includes the line, “All your stopping, stalling and starting, / Who do you think you are, Joe Stalin?”; this line was removed for the 1985 version. Neil Tennant has a degree in history and his interest in Russian history is evident in many other Pet Shop Boys projects, such as their soundtrack to the silent film The Battleship Potemkin.
The single was first released in April 1984 through writer/producer Bobby Orlando’s label, and although not a hit in the United Kingdom, it was a minor dance hit in The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the USA. This initial release, on Epic in the UK, featured a mainly instrumental B-side called “Pet Shop Boys”. There have been numerous reissues and remixes of Orlando’s version as he still owns the original recordings.
The lyrics were written in the early 1980s. The title and refrain refer to London’s divide between the traditional and working class East End and the cosmopolitan, consumer-driven West End.
The lyric “From Lake Geneva to the Finland Station” refers to the train route taken by Vladimir Lenin when he was smuggled by the Germans to Russia during World War I, and to Edmund Wilson’s book on the subject, To the Finland Station. There is further Russian Revolution imagery in the Bobby Orlando produced version of the single, which includes the line, “All your stopping, stalling and starting, / Who do you think you are, Joe Stalin?”; this line was removed for the 1985 version. Neil Tennant has a degree in history and his interest in Russian history is evident in many other Pet Shop Boys projects, such as their soundtrack to the silent film The Battleship Potemkin.
The single was first released in April 1984 through writer/producer Bobby Orlando’s label, and although not a hit in the United Kingdom, it was a minor dance hit in The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the USA. This initial release, on Epic in the UK, featured a mainly instrumental B-side called “Pet Shop Boys”. There have been numerous reissues and remixes of Orlando’s version as he still owns the original recordings.
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Shouts
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TheLoveGuru wrote:
not a very good mix, just ok. imo. cheers to all!
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Smithslover1 wrote:
i knew there was something wrong about this, i love the original!!!
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saltylerjoel wrote:
Yuk, don't like this at all. A really good track has been ruined by this rubbish remix.
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b1u1rner wrote:
: ))
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thinwhitedukeM wrote:
studio 54esque!
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luisa20051972 wrote:
stupid remix
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CoconutWarrior wrote:
wow.... it took me a few listens to really get into this song... but wow... the more I LOVE the atmosphere to it.. and his voice is just amazing!! the synth... lyrics... magical.. wish I had grown up on it!
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Foxxie-Kittsune wrote:
... I love this song. But this is false advertising. This should state it's a remix and not make it seem like it's the original.
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SWP267 wrote:
one of the top 5 best ever from the 80s ... man, instant zap! pow! zam! back to the 80s ... love it ... and the 80s ... " got no future, got no past... " awesome!
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ktotammm wrote:
absolutely timeless!
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Shemeha wrote:
I love this song its a classic hit The Pet Shop Boys:)
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Madonna4life wrote:
crap remix
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ROCKPOPCLASSIC wrote:
G****
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Dizzy58 wrote:
Ты прав - так нельзя дальше жить Ты бежишь в никуда - хочешь всё изменить Ты ужасно зол и, наверно, пьян Ты швыряешь стулья, ты уже устал И кто-то взади кричит, как всегда: «Вот ещё один! Он сошёл с ума!» Убегаешь вновь, вновь эта кровь Нелегко найти счастье и любовь В этом мире нет свободных мест Кто сильнее, тот и съест Так много вопросов, ещё больше ответов Цветных обёрток и пустых советов Как, что, когда и где А сколько для счастья надо ТЕБЕ? И если так много, то тогда как долго? Это трудный вопрос и ты знаешь насколько (Ты не находишь ответ) Твоё сердце - камень или там стекло? Лишь дай мне знать, когда разбить его У нас НЕТ судьбы, её нам негде взять Мы сегодня строим, чтобы вновь сломать И так повсюду, тоже самое везде В соседнем городе и любой стране (И где бы ты ни был) (Тебя никто не хочет знать) (c)_Dizzy
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frogphobia wrote:
Can't say I like this remix too well...
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Mousuke wrote:
I love this song, but can't help but think of Flight of the Conchords whenever I hear it now! I keep waiting for the "you want to sit down but you sold your chair" line to come around and it never does.
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HitsForever wrote:
Aah Pet Shop Boys - Einer meiner Lieblingssongs: West End Girls. Für mich ein HitForever !!!
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luisa20051972 wrote:
great song, a classic.
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SP1984 wrote:
bener
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retroguy wrote:
I remember playing the original bootleg version of this at parties and people freaking out - it was just so fresh for the time (yea, I used the word fresh and probably dated myself - like I care) This still holds up well - these guys were and are innovators. Check out my blog for all things retro: http://retroguyswonderland.blogspot.com/
Pet Shop Boys
West End Girls
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Recent Activity
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jman72, A87B, MACPHISTO5064 and 5 other people loved Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls. 2 hours ago
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MapsMan added West End Girls to the playlist A.N.T.H.E.M.. yesterday evening
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pilerra, Wlfmn, Camaro1979 and 4 other people loved Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls. yesterday evening
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EclectiXXX tagged West End Girls with ‘dance pop’. yesterday evening
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Gaverx added West End Girls to the playlist stuff. yesterday evening
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TheLoveGuru, sdefabriziis, KewlSpyder and 2 other people loved Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls. yesterday evening
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apuswebsite added West End Girls to apuswebsite’s library. yesterday afternoon
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apuswebsite added West End Girls to the playlist Clásicos Rock 01. yesterday afternoon
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rufus_ireland, tusg2010, spb34 and 1 other person loved Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls. yesterday afternoon
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amber_rae added West End Girls to the playlist 1-7-09. yesterday afternoon
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