*SO SWAGGY!* 🎵 Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls REACTION

[@floorticket]

Pure, unadulterated 80s synthpop. The good stuff.

[@jeffreyriley8742]

The 80s is so far ahead of every decade musically that it's almost impossible to relate.

[@garethwilkinson3456]

Yea turns out it's pretty good.

[@micheler4120]

LOL

[@Thebadguymighty.]

Depeche Mode is better.

[@Kmurd2003]

​@@Thebadguymighty. no need to compare. both are amazing

[@simplesimon8586]

THE example of 80’s dance music. Played in every club on every night in every town across the western world. Lol

[@raisa_cherry35]

😂💜

[@SeaJayAudit]

The best pure Pop song ever written. Too bad these guys didn't watch the actual video.

[@richardgoddard37]

Pet Shop Boys hit on a formula that worked, clever lyrics and a banging tune. They've used it to carve out a long, creative, and VERY successful career.

[@isaackovitz4791]

This song is hypnotic - you guys didn't cut in to comment until almost the end of the song. Very cool! I loved just watching you listen! This is an 80's classic - very offbeat but GREAT song!

[@yakkodawakko9387]

you could tell they both were really taking it in

[@isaackovitz4791]

@@yakkodawakko9387 exactly

[@Johonnac]

Sometimes I wish Lex got to be the one who decides when to pause it tho

[@michaelasay8587]

@@Johonnac I wish they wouldn't pause at all. These two don't but everyone else!!!

[@deking43]

Hypnotic is correct. One of the best dance hall music back in that day Always enjoy what they were not there for Early 80's Almost like West Side Story , but Story of their block.

[@sira.scottascot8865]

I think this is one of the best radio hits of the 80's. Neil Tennant's delivery is so cool. With an air of smooth sophistication. The kinda incomplete flashes of trumpet. Cool ambience and awesome production.

[@noelhalton3248]

The lyrics refer to the different areas of London. People from the west end were generally wealthy and affluent whereas the east end was working class and rough. This has now changed, you can't live anywhere in London without plenty of money.

[@dopiaza2006]

You can if you are on benefits...

[@SirWrecksy]

@@dopiaza2006 quite roight

[@johnflett1626]

@@dopiaza2006 nonsense

[@dopiaza2006]

@@johnflett1626 What is nonsense? There are many poor people living in London on benefits. That is a fact. Go to the East End if you don't believe me.

[@jessepancamo8449]

Really?

[@keithjones6023]

What Have l Done To Deserve This, a song they recorded with Dusty Springfield, wonderful!

[@brentottoson6974]

What've I, what've I . . .

[@BIGBLOCK5022006]

@@brentottoson6974 What have I done to deserve this?

[@jamesbyersmusic]

I LOVE the Pet Shop Boys. I think there is a ton of 80s New Wave/Synth Pop stuff you would love! The 'East End' and 'West End' refers to London, my home town!! :-)

[@oreally8605]

East end is totally "Posh" I hear.

[@jamesbyersmusic]

@@oreally8605 That's the West. Though the East is gradually catching up and becoming more upmarket!

[@Ozzy_2014]

East end was working class boys meeting up with the posh uptown girls. Meet at the club. Worlds collide.

[@freda9809]

I understood the song when it came out, because I watched EastEnders.

[@lisakaz35]

I thought that, too, EXCEPT for the line "from Lake Geneva to the Finland Station." Sounds Cold War East/West, too. When I first heard it, I assumed it was about London. Now I'm not sure..

[@Tampahop]

Lex has a gift. She is able to see something in the music and compare it to something else totally different that you know but wouldn't think to compare, and when she explains, it makes perfect sense. Brad, she is one in a million, but I think you know that. Take care of each other and please keep explaining the music to me. 😄

[@alenfranjic3124]

Lex has Synesthesia, she must have great artistic capabilities

[@elih9700]

She's a babe.

[@psterud]

New Wave was the baby that Rock (including Glam), Punk, and Disco had together.

[@samuelgirard1407]

Lex, back in the 80's MTV had a host named Downtown Julie Brown. She was Black from London & she said this was her favorite song of all time! Seeing you react to it & enjoy it so much sort of reminded me of her and those days & bring back some really good memories.

[@Ozzy_2014]

Damn, I am not American but I do remember her

[@Johonnac]

I think Lex (& Brad lol) would get a kick out of seeing some Downtown Julie Brown vintage footage for sure

[@willybubba]

Dude, she was so freaking hot too!!

[@jeffreekoch9298]

'90s, too. But, yes, she's very pretty. 😍

[@docj72]

Lex’s use of food analogies is what I’m here for 😀

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Ah yeah, it's a two-way street. "Donuts make me wanna dance."

[@Madman6505]

I was a teenager in the 80's. Even the music that I didn't like back then seems magical now, just because it reminds me of that time.

[@ShaunHensley]

Same. Hated this when it came out

[@Blisteryn]

That's how i feel about the early 2000's songs now.😅

[@Madman6505]

@@Blisteryn you young punks today with your noise. 😆 Just kidding. I think it's something about your state of mind when you're younger that latches on to the music of that time.

[@Ozzy_2014]

Born at the end of the 70s. Clear memories start mid 80s. This music burned into my life. A high point we have yet to climb back to sadly.

[@deusexaethera]

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

[@donstuard2546]

80s techno-pop. This song dezctibes the stigma of London at the time. The east end has always been considered the more industrial/blue collar area of London. The west end is considered the more posh/ high end of London. Boys would go to the wedt end to meet girls and try to hide their east end roots. My mom always love Pet Shop Boys. I always enjoyed this song.

[@willrichardson519]

Music, non-stop...

[@hdufort]

Pet Shop Boys are incredibly talented. They use the same techniques and instruments as other 80s band but manage to innovate and make it incredibly catchy yet deep. This is the soundtrack of my youth. "Being Boring" is another gem, multi layered, deep and melancholic. Plus, the black and white video is gorgeous.

[@jeremygray1331]

“Opportunities” An anthem for influencers. I've got the brains You've got the looks Let's make lots of money

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, want more techno? try Yazoo "Situation" or "Don't Go"

[@Comrade_mommy]

Omg I was obsessed with the pet shop boys as a little kid. None of my friends got it bc they were not huge in the US & an older group (I’m sure they were still making music but it was long past their US hits). I don’t even know how I found them, maybe my babysitter, she had really eclectic music tastes. But I became single mindedly obsessed and collected their albums. It’s similar to how I watched labyrinth and become obsessed with David Bowie. He wasn’t big amongst kids at that point but I didn’t care. I thought he was so cool. I was like 8 and in love with a dude in his idk, late 40’s, early 50’s. I 100% wanted to marry the goblin king when Sarah made the mistake of ghosting him.

[@Johnny_Socko]

You can't help it if you're rad! 🤜

[@kd8199]

They were huge in the gay bars.

[@Comrade_mommy]

@@kd8199 maybe that’s where I heard them, not gay bars, I didn’t got to my 1st gay club till I was 16, but I was raised in the gay community.

[@Comrade_mommy]

@@Johnny_Socko other kids tended to say weird, but I prefer rad.

[@kd8199]

@@Comrade_mommy - Pet Shop Boys were big in all of the dance clubs. My friends and I danced to their music many times over the years.

[@gordonarnott6628]

"Here today, built to last"... for more than 35 years. Absolute tune. Rap from Newcastle, bassline from Blackpool. Global number one courtesy of the Pet Shop Boys.

[@willrichardson519]

Plenty of northern soul

[@richard_n]

Brad and Lex, you guys have listened to a lot of music at this point. I hope you now realize why people say that music today isn't anywhere near as good as the 70s, 80s, and 90s. By the way, PLEASE do an 80s Hip Hop Stream. I know Lex is gonna love old school.

[@TheCornishCockney]

60’s !!

[@rogersmith434]

100 bc!

[@Karlifornication]

Plenty of good music around today, just as there was plenty of trash music back then. Just do the work to find it and you will be rewarded. David Dean Burkhart is a great channel that keeps me listening to good new stuff. Keeps me young at 37 years old.

[@uptownjay]

@@Karlifornication Agreed! I’m 55! I love every era! Sooo much good music today!

[@annaparsons4788]

Yeah, but... LOL! 😏 Music is a universal, beautiful art, I feel partly because everybodys' experience is unique, & not static (fluidity rocks). Brad & Lex: I've been enjoying yr music reactions for a year or so now & appreciate your openness to such a wide range! 🤗😁

[@catman2629]

Pet shop boys are excellent , other great bands of this era Soft Cell , Frankie goes to Hollywood , Style Councl , Swing out Sister, Tears for Fears . I reckon Bred and Lex would love Style Council Shout it to the Top

[@jbranum3087]

Shout to the top is the shit. I also really like my ever changing moods

[@dougman23]

Tears for Fears is criminally overlooked and underrated. New Order, OMD, Squeeze...some others

[@buckhowa2074]

This song always takes me back in time, 1984, 18 years old stationed in the UK an hour train ride from London. Being able to hit the clubs, chatting up and falling in love with British girls. Watch the video, it syncs with the song.

[@briansredd]

When this came out, it stopped me in my tracks. I had never heard anything like this before. Back then, like I've mentioned before, we had no idea what they were saying & didn't much care. It was just a "Vibe" :)

[@toddedwards5144]

I’m a hard rock/metal head at my core, but I definitely have a pop side. Stuff like this is absolute genius. 80’s pop like this was pure gold.

[@willrichardson519]

Good music is good, regardless of genre...I was a bit snobby about this as a teen, at the time, but class tells, in time :-)

[@RyanJacksonElectrical]

30 years ago you would have found me in a Slayer shirt...listening to Depeche Mode.

[@siskothekid4620]

It feels like when you listen to 80’s music you have to watch it with the video. It was the decade of the birth of the music video and a lot of songs were constructed around the video. The music is inherently and strongly connected with the video. Like this one, Bronski Beat, New Order, Dire Straits, Culture Club, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Pat Benatar, U2, A-Ha, ZZ top, the list is endless for this blended style of music/visuals

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

Oh man! I remember this banger from childhood. Such a catchy beat to it.

[@P90XGetRipped]

This song is so nostalgic for me. It was always on the radio on GTA Online. I’d just drive around the map and listen to this song

[@richardgonzales4815]

Opportunities : by PET SHOP BOYS

[@Claimjumper55]

Pet Shop Boys had a lot of hits but my favorite by far is "It's a Sin".

[@meowteeth1369]

agree wholeheartedly

[@livingasitisinheaven]

Domino dancing

[@kyliemcallister4473]

100% the best

[@rebeltvr6046]

What I have I done to deserve it

[@OneAndOnlyMe]

The Pet Shop Boys greatest track (they had many good songs, but this is timeless hit)

[@moorek1967]

East End - where the poor people lived West End - where the upper class lived The East End - Jack the Ripper The East End - known in Victorian times as the section of London's prostitution The East End - The Cray Brothers It is the juxtaposition of good and bad, poor and rich, cultured and non-cultured, cockney and proper, dark and light, pollution and clean. How far have you been? Lake Geneva is in Switzerland, where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein Finland Station is in Russia where Vladimir Lenin returned from exile. (From the songwriter Neil Tennant)

[@walterleonard2489]

This is a song where the video is the best way to listen to it. The video adds a lot more context.

[@stecumo6459]

folks listen to talk talk "life's what you make it" one of the best songs to come out the 80s

[@lovedc4ever678]

Another 80s band who just is so great they defy words. They broke all the rules and have so many great songs that the list is endless.

[@OaktownPirate510]

The song is referring to the geography on London; the West End is really wealthy, really expensive, similar to midtown Manhattan. The East End is the traditional working class end, with some of the highest poverty rates, but stong sense of community. The longest running soap opera in the UK is “EastEnders”. So the rich girls from uptown are hanging out with the boys with rough part of town, but it’s a dead end to bring them home.

[@cornovii934]

Longest running Soap is Coranation Street , beats Eastenders by around 20 years , The Archers on radio 4 beats it by about 50 .

[@free1855]

Best comparison with Manahattan would be Upper East Side.

[@mksch7642]

Check out Thomas Dolby: She blinded me with Science. Herbie Hancock: Rocket

[@I.am.Iain-81]

It's a good song and the pet shop boys have such a unique sound. Their best by far ( in my opinion) is Its a Sin 👍

[@pauljansen1137]

definitely top 3!

[@luciusmalou4906]

Well, beautiful people, since you've been hitting the '80s grooves you'll want to hear Spandau Ballet's "True" and another, "Gold". Great stuff

[@rogersmith434]

Don’t know spandau but love pm dawn set adrift a memory bliss song

[@happybunny8704]

Through the Barricades ..by Spandau Ballet for me their bestx

[@sarahjane8146]

Spandau Ballet’s best single is their first, Chant No. 1.

[@jamesthomas3962]

Y'all might like the earlier and original version of this song. It's more danceable. I like both versions tho. This sounds kinda "dreamy" while the earlier version sounds like "wake up and dance !"

[@Wolverines77]

I wish I could give you two 10 thumbs up for this review. Pet Shop Boys ruled my life from late 85 to about 89 whenever we would hit the clubs. I graduated in 86 and went straight into the Marine Corps. This was the smash version that was actually their remake of the original which hit #1 in Belguim in 84. There are numerous spectacular songs by these two, but my all-time favorite of theirs is their cover of "Always On My Mind" off their first hit album... Check it out, I promise you it is worth the effort.

[@rhill49849]

This song used to be on the radio constantly when it came out. I was never a fan but every time I hear it it I get hit over the head with a big old nostalgia stick. Flashes of memories of people and places.

[@MasterJohnMoss]

Amazing song, amazing group!! Worth doing a deep dive on. They have an amazing library of songs.

[@deusexaethera]

She's cool. I liked watching her jam. He seemed much more serious and thoughtful in contrast. If Lex likes the sound of words more than the meaning of words, she should listen to "Juanita/Kiteless" by the British electronic band Underworld. There's a live version from their 2000 live album "Everything Everything" that fits the bill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJDWooaigtV1eM0

[@AndyHarrisGoogle]

Yes! More Underworld! Moaner, Eightball, Jumbo!

[@Weyland_Yutani_Corp]

It's simple: Guys from the rough end of east London head over to the posh West End to see how the other half lives.

[@ginblanco6648]

Now you’ve got to react to “it’s a sin” which I think is they’re best hit ever 😁😁

[@Frank216S]

Indeed!

[@frankpentangeli7945]

Yes, New Wave evolved from Punk. And yet they are so different. Punk is RAW and immediate while New Wave is in large part smooth, richly produced and nuanced. But both forms were in a sense rebelling against the pretention and excess of 70s rock music, particularly Progressive Rock. I like ALL of the genre for different reasons. No matter what, it's all rock music. There's good and bad to be found in all of it.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

one of those quintessential 80s tunes ♥

[@mattwatts1217]

Love how Lex just gets down to every song but Brad is always deep in thought...love your reactions, hi from UK 👍

[@larryhammond5907]

The 60's and 70's sound was this "wall of sound" where they would try to fill every possible frequency with a sound/instrument. New wave and modern production is more about isolation. Where sounds live in a frequency range, but are also buffered by silence so they don't interfere with eachother. PSP and this song were very influential in showing how this can work and be powerful

[@willrichardson519]

PSB?

[@geoffn54]

This refers to the West End and East End of London... in the past chique and stylish West End compared to the docklands East End area.

[@JennVix]

The original version was a 12" single, on Bobcat Records. It's a very different thing, but also still very good. He has an incredibly unique voice! It was Punk, then Post-Punk, and then New Wave. All of this music is still so popular today.

[@johnstjohn6658]

Yeah,... I prefer the original "broken glass" mix to this overly produced hit. By the time this hit the radio or clubs I'd change the station or go do something else.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Pet Shop Boys brought a necessary grown-up cynicism to the 80s. It was obviously different, and an instant hit.

[@JasonSum1979]

The Pet Shop Boys is this amazing due that really don’t get nearly enough respect in North America (There back catalog is fantastic) they deserve a second look by music fans especially in America (the Pet Shop Boys Hits Medley live at Brit Awards 2009 (KZbin) is a great example these two gentlemen put out a lot of hits

[@MySherry10]

This song just pulls you in , its such a great melody and the story is clear they are the rough town boys and they aim for the higher class girls

[@j4m352]

“Suburbia” or “Always On My Mind” next please

[@coreyz.2800]

Absolutely ABSOLUTELY have to check out their song "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)." better still to see the music video but I know that's not always an option for reaction channels but with or without the music video you HAVE to check out that song. I think it's one of PSB's best songs, if not THE best song they've done. But that's just one man's opinion.

[@d-law868]

Lex transcends what we all feel hearing Neil Tennants soft voice and Chris Lowes amazing background...

[@cwillece3128]

The song's lyrics are about class, and inner-city pressure. I LOVE the sea food boil reference...Lex should be a music critic

[@pauljansen1137]

Nice...their breakthrough song...perhaps "Being Boring" next?

[@kendalton2115]

Brad never knows what any song is ever about. Ever. It is what it is. Geez!

[@dr4782]

The lyrics seem applicable to social media "thots" these days, though I might be misinterpreting them. Anyway, this was another monster hit of the 1980s, spending a week at #1 in 1986. Their second-biggest hit is called "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" It was a #2 hit in 1988, and it features Dusty Springfield, who had several pop hits in the 1960s.

[@judaychop]

Y’all should be the first music reaction channel to really give EDM a chance(if you’re not already familiar with it), theres so much good music in this essentially, group, of genres but they all get dismissed and written off as dubstep, dupstep is basically the heavy metal/screamo of this realm of music. Dubstep is loud, aggressive, and headache inducing. EDM(electronic dance music) can touch on that but a lot of it is more calm and melodic, which is what id recommend you check out. Maybe start with one of these: Strobe - Deadmau5(no vocals but its one of if not the most iconic edm song) Steal Your Heart - BRKLYN(Culture Code Remix) Worlds Apart - Seven Lions Sideways - Illenium Drive - Glades(Mt. Eden Remix) Gold - Koven Flatline - Blanke and if you don’t like it you probably wont like much of what id recommend but if you do i can make a condensed list that would still be long, its decent sized rabbit hole to delve into.

[@smittybenzo4693]

In this episode of Brad & Lex, hi hats, synths and kicks oh my!..Thats all it takes to wake Brad's signature "side to side sway" before the descending bass line and pop snare bring a smile to his face transferring good vibes to his couch companion during the chorus where the percussionist will activate Lex's "pop bop" equipped with hand and shoulder work.

[@robrhyno9572]

Ahhhhhh! Always good for a laugh when I need one. Thanks Smitty!😁🦏🇨🇦

[@metalmark1214]

Brad was born for New Wave music, lol.

[@ronparsons8786]

🙃

[@KoRnBaKo]

One of the best songs of all time. This coming from a metalhead.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

Cool song. It's in one of my playlists.

[@anthonyv1719]

Many, many hits from these two....

[@tomcoyle7676]

Pet Shop Boys - best singles band of the 80s? Rent, Opportunities (let's make lots of money), It's A Sin, Being Boring, Suburbia, Heart, What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Always On My Mind...

[@davebiggers3150]

Lex it is nice to see you really get into the music ☺️

[@bassbugyt]

London Boys from the working class East End & London Girls from the more upper class West End. An eternal theme.

[@deedoublejay]

New wave is a catch-all term for almost everything pop in the early 80s. A lot of it was derived from the punk scene, but was polished up and eliminated most of the sociopolitical commentary.

[@julienielsen4462]

This song was so big in Montreal. I think they still play it on French radio.

[@cornovii934]

Lots of New Wave bands were influenced by Punks anyone can do it attitude , if you were some nerdy bloke pratting around with first generation synths in your bedroom , hearing loads of enthusiastic but limited talent oiks releasing their own records on independent labels meant you to could do it .

[@deboragill4756]

Always loved this good vibing song. A mood lifter.

[@maha77]

I was a teenager, just moved out, and hitting up the dance clubs when this came out. Just hearing this I am suddenly in the club again and the smell of clove cigarettes is in the air

[@onsesejoo2605]

East End and West End are the working class and the posh sides of London respectively. Posh girls going slumming to have a go with rough boys, perhaps. There is the wordplay on East End dead end world. East 17 did a cover on this some ten years later. Emulator E-mu II sampler in full flight providing almost every sound on this. However, the "aaa- ooo" sound for Inner City's song "Good Life" was an Ensoniq Mirage sampler.

[@rian202003]

East end = rough West end = posh

[@nonplayerzealot4]

I remember a fave songs list/show w/ TLC before Lisa Lopes died and they had this as their top song, iirc. They had a more eclectic taste in music than I expected. Genre fluid.

[@andyd5492]

Your reactions didn''t disappoint.

[@sandramorris893]

David Bowie featured Pet Shop Boys on his remix of Hallo Spaceboy in 96 I think, prefer this remix version to his original to be fair. Love Neil's voice, so eerie, which is probably why Bowie used them in the remix, perfect for this song.

[@3DJapan]

If you're going to listen again watch the video is cool.

[@michazmic1]

Curiosity is relentless !!! I would very much like to see what’s on the back of that TOOL t-shirt

[@JayHennigan]

Only just realised after decades that the lead singer prononces his W’ like Stuey Griffin pronounces Cool wkhhhipppp 😹 cool sounds though

[@MetalMonkey]

I miss the 80's

[@Alpha_7227]

Fantastic duo from the late 80's, you should check out Left to my own devices. They have helped out many other bands with remixes check out their remix of Boys and Girls by Blur. Just thinking if you like this you might like Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry or Unfinished Symphony by Massive Attack. Cheers.

[@MarkTitus420]

PSB,s had a huge chain of hits back in the day. -New Wave definitely has Punk roots. New Wave was created in order for Punk to acceptable for radio airplay with a tamer pop-ier sound, and the Punks hated it with a passion.

[@steveyoung2317]

When rap was starting to get popular. Songs from other bands started using that formula in thier music. 80s what a time

[@truefirstmagic]

Lex should’ve grown up in the 80’s. This is one of my favorite 80’s new wave pop songs.

[@wolverine4ever38]

West end/ east end of London. Tale of two cities.

[@maureenwagg5305]

You had me at cowbell.

[@JayHennigan]

Good 80s sound

[@dennisbarnes806]

Brad says he loves punk. Do yourselves a favor and react to The Ruts - Staring At The Rude Boys. Few Americans know who they were (Henry Rollins excepted) but I think that if the lead singer hadn't od'd they could have been bigger than The Clash. Awesome British punk/new wave

[@mlrussell1]

She gets it. He, not so much. First time watching you two and I really enjoyed / subbed. Can't wait to see see the rest of your videos. I see you've done mostly music that I grew up and loved in the '80s - some called it the second Brit Invasion, New Wave, Progressive, Synth, BritPop, Early Techno, etc. Watching your previous and upcoming reactions will be an interesting ride.

[@trentsevern2866]

Song brings back memories going to the clubs. This would come on and all the lovely ladies would be on the dance floor.

[@EdPawley]

I just watched the history of this song a few days before you did this video, on a youtube channel called "Professor of Rock." Brad, your ear was right, the lyrical delivery was influenced by rapper Grandmaster Flash's "The Message." Now that you've heard many songs from rock, the Professor might be a channel that would interest you, as he reviews how songs and albums came about, including interviews with the original artists, and reviews top 10 lists from "this week in history" from the 1970's, '80's, and 90's. A great way to find past hits, and he only has tiny snippets of songs, so it wouldn't ruin a reaction, just letting you get a taste. Other Pet Shop Boys hits: Opportunity, It's a Sin, and Always on My Mind.

[@Martini3inc]

NEW WAVE. Lex would of loved the late 80’s early 90’s.

[@paulfromt.o.7384]

Synths and electronic drums (lots of MIDI back then) were a staple of dance music in the 80's. Not my thing but reminds me of high school and many good times.

[@kharma7755]

Pet Shop Boys is one of the best from the 80s... Check out "It's a Sin", "What Have I Done to Deserve This", and their remixes of "Where the Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Always On My Mind"

[@da_blade5040]

Go West?? ❤️😁

[@petemckenna1664]

Lex is a New Waver. You like the electronic music. In another video you mentioned Germany. Military? Do tell

[@happymethehappyone8300]

The Romantics "What I Like About You"

[@jkbezo1]

New wave! Downtown Julie Brown from MTV. She was a hottie, like Lex :-P