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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@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.

[@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. 😍

[@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

[@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..

[@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.

[@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

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@stecumo6459]

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

[@mattwatts1217]

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

[@jeremygray1331]

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

[@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! 🤗😁

[@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

[@ericgrinstead52]

Ok. You're the kind of people I could just hang out with. Not being weird at all. You guys are just plain likeable. A beer, some barbecue and lively conversation. Thanks for the smile yet again.

[@MasterJohnMoss]

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

[@deboragill4756]

Always loved this good vibing song. A mood lifter.

[@trentsevern2866]

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

[@d-law868]

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

[@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.

[@rabrab3]

Geniuses still making great music. Met them in London when I was there on a semester abroad in the 80's. Beautiful people!

[@jungleking7835]

One of those bands that back in the day you wouldn't admit that you liked but as I grew up I would be like let's hear some Pet Shop Boys.

[@landreaulover]

Lex's comments always bring a chuckle, but they also very insightful.

[@titools4375]

Aaaaaaah!! the 80's will never die... so glad you guys decided to take on a trip through that long long road, is like traveling back in time and the best era for all music genres back in the day. There will never be anything like it ever again, not even close to being that good, ever and if you allow me to make a suggestion I'd say go for "Owner for a lonely heart" by YES. A very interesting fact about YES (only if you love Rush) is that this band was very influential, at least for Rush's Geddy Lee (Rush's vocals, bass and keyboards) since he attended all of their concerts in his town because the bassist of YES, Chris Squire (R.I.P.) "had a very aggressive tone," and of course that would transform in a very difficult way to play too, said Geddy Lee, can you Imagine Geddy Lee saying that about him being as good as he is? and that insprired him to play music that was not easy to play, yes, he also said that. So if you want to get to know YES, that's a good starter, then you can try "Love will find a way" Amazing song, and way underrated. So thank you for taking the time to read, if you got to this point, I tend to make extended comments always or most of the times. Greetings from Guatemala.

[@steveyoung2317]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@technomikelyons]

Pet shop Boys had so many great tracks... "It's A Sin", "Opportunities", "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", "Heart", "Always On My Mind" (a cover of the classic), "Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (another cover, of U2 and Four Seasons songs). Also, worth checking out sometime is a group called Electronic, featuring Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, Bernard Sumner of New Order, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, with the song "Getting Away With It".

[@anthonyv1719]

Many, many hits from these two....

[@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.

[@reallife7235]

New wave is about sound. Good one Lex. We never paid any attention to the words back in the day but we had a good time. That synth and the synth on "Cruel Summer" - Banarama are very similar.

[@DNDViLLAN]

Another f**kin classic!! Just found this channel and I love it!! Keep reacting to great music.

[@SA-oy9pn]

I love the way Lex feels the music right to her soul , while Brad is to busy analysing the music

[@ymrabc]

Ooh that takes me back! Clubs in London in the 80s, yeah I was a West End girl! 😂

[@kf9346]

First, I love Lex! You gotta understand this was early days for techno (it didn't exist yet) and for rap. A lot of non-rap artists were experimenting with spoken-word/rap in their music at this time. This song is about class and that sexy timeless attraction between poorer, rougher boys (East End London) and posh girls (West End London).

[@klzuniga9216]

When this song hit, almost every Fashion Designer used this on the Runway to Showcase their Collections it was Awesome and the Models LOVED walking and strutting to this Beat. FYI

[@truefirstmagic]

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

[@alexcguitar]

Once again, it's nice to see you react to songs you're not used to listening to, great reaction!

[@relevantbrother8964]

Love this song..such a legendary song and band. Also this is now my favourite reaction channel of this type by far . The music choices are ace with such variety and the reactors complement each other perfectly.

[@k1hasard]

I gotta listen to that again..... Lex says "Right now?" I agree, it's a great song, catchy, interesting, complex yet, simple at the same time.

[@phillipavalon9659]

These 80s bands....so darn creative...light it up dudes.

[@aquablushgirl]

I heard this song for the first time in the 80s when an older sister of a friend of mine who was soooo cool played it for us. Mind blown. I felt cool just hearing it.

[@dennisbrown9635]

Love the channel and your guys reactions. Your guys takes and analogies blow me away. Your love of music shines through.

[@ericorbit]

6:00 you nailed it. new wave is sounds, words as sounds, not always worrying about the meaning. perfect observation.

[@AW-yj6md]

Awesome,!, this was a mega hit,.the 80's were just the second British Invasion,..we were all hooked on everything coming from over there,..Modern English, Spandau Ballet, Kajagoogoo, Ultravox,..UB40, Madness, The Clash, The Culture Club, Simply Red, Devo, t just seemed endless march of English bands,..again, it was kismet,.just when MTV was born,,,.here was this perfect medium, for them to be seen, to get the exposure, and to see them any time of day or night, without going to a concert (although seeing them on tv, only made you want to go see them live all the more,..do keep going,..this was funky wasn't it!,..Godspeed, Peace ✌

[@robinmeltzer9024]

Brad is not the first person to be bewildered by the Pet Shop Boys tbf but my god this song is a BANGER.

[@andyd5492]

Your reactions didn''t disappoint.

[@g-muni5855]

Listened to this song playin overhead speakers in highschool in mid 80's. Sweet memories!

[@3anaurv2]

It's one among hundred of gems they made during their career and it's not over.

[@greenskiis]

Love this song, thanks for the vid! The first 10 seconds or so are pure magic, listening to what sounds like cars driving across wet roads at night, just the right bit of ambience to set the stage for an unforgettable song.

[@dougfa3515]

Lex, I have been sent here from the 80's. I'm here to take you back with me... you're going to love it!

[@pdog547]

Lex grooving to a song I first heard in 1985 or so really put a smile on my face :)

[@Torrente70]

one of the top five 80s song

[@audreycumby1075]

Another great song from this group: " What have I done to deserve this?"

[@chemtrooper]

This was popular in the roller skating rink I frequented back in the 80’s.

[@danielmendez4452]

Lex I love your vibe! You feel the music and just go! 😂 Love y'all!

[@James-wj8eq]

As an Eastend lad back in 1981-85, i was often met by wealthier young ladies who were happy to have a token street lad to show off or piss their parents off. Worked for me cos got into places id never had a chance otherwise, all expense paid, clothes, free booze, free drugs. Great at the time, This song always the memories relate.

[@ARJ11569]

I’m glad you guys got to experience music I grew up on.

[@harrisonspencer46]

Heard this first time I cruise thru Hollywood Blvd at sunset when the night lights came on. The music video was like similar to the experience. But so much more colorful at the time.

[@andreo]

Sigh, I was in my junior year of high school. I owned a 78 Camero. I'd sit in the neighborhood vacant lot with my girlfriend at the time (later to be my first wife) and my best friend at the time listing to this on one of the first cassette tapes I bought.

[@hilarywilkes7853]

In my top 3 80s songs!!!Yes!❤

[@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.

[@scottsoltani3203]

Great song, the 80s has some cool music.

[@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.

[@arithefinnishmusiclover]

A Timeless 80's Classic ! ! 🥰💞 Great Choice ! ! 😀👍

[@dej1971]

80s were the best! this song and some others of the Pet Shop Boys take me back to the middle 80s (I am 51 now, but hearing this songs, ...makes me 16 again haha :D ;) )

[@7rollface]

Spoken word over techno music is actually a great description of the Pet Shop Boys’ aesthetic. Lead singer Neil Tennant saw himself as being in the tradition of people like Rex Harrison (“Why Can’t A Woman Be Like A Man?”), but he and the other member of the group, Chris Lowe, both also loved dance music. If you want a tune that’s the episome of this listen to “Left To My Own Devices” (and for the best experience listen to the album version from “Introspective”, which is longer than the single version), which combines disco and classical music. But they’ve got so many great songs, particularly off their first three non-remix albums - “Please”, “Actually”, and “Introspective”. I’d particularly recommend “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” - , “Love Comes Quickly”, “Suburbia” (the single version, not the album version), “One More Chance”, “Rent”, “It’s A Sin”, “It Couldn’t Happen Here”, “Left To My Own Devices” (as mentioned above), “”Always On My Mind/In My House” (again, the version from “Introspective”, not the single), and “It’s Alright” (once more, the album version not the single). But even that’s leaving out a tonne of good tracks from those albums.

[@robertkenneth6517]

Watching Lex react makes me happy. I've never seen anyone so openly enjoying music. And both your guys' comments are awesome. (Seafood boil sounds icky.)

[@Sweep_The_Leg_Johnny]

Neil Tennant also did a project w/ the guitarist (and musical genius) of The Smiths, Johnny Marr, in an electronic project aptly named Electronic. They had 2 or so hits, one featuring frontman & vocalist for New Order (Bernard Sumner). That one is "Getting Away With It". The song, apparently, is a satirical take on Johnny Marr's former musical partner & frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey, and his morose attitude towards life in general.

[@numberphive]

I always had to rollerskate to this when it came on at the roller rink. Still a good song

[@j4m352]

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

[@rossmacintosh5652]

Seafood Boil = Pet Shop Boys. I'd bet the Boys would likely enjoy that unique description.

[@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.

[@stickem721]

Lex naturally understands early 80's alternative.

[@annettespradlin4945]

Im glad you reacted to it.

[@123idolfan]

Amazing, You guys have my entire playlist.

[@kevindowd31021]

In England the Eastern Boys are East of the line of London (poor) and the Western girls are west of London (rich). The line demarcates the rich and the poor of London.

[@GuillermoQuezada]

80's New Wave Rules!

[@happymethehappyone8300]

The Dead Milkmen "Punk Rock Girl"

[@happyaf490]

Also The English Beat have a lot of good songs, you guys are great!

[@scanau1]

Great reaction! This song has such a cool beat. Their cover of "Always on My Mind" is a another good one. (Among others in the comments)

[@StonefieldJim4]

Neil Tennant is a British national treasure. An erudite, sophisticated man, I had the pleasure of meeting him once. He was as polite as I'd imagined. TPB toy with pop music. They cleverly tease it, then show you they can do it better than anyone else. It's wry and sly, a clever endeavour. See also: Prefab Sprout and Scritti Politti.

[@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.

[@annettespradlin4945]

It also reminds me of the "good" girls going for the "bad boys".

[@craigthornton1971]

The 12 inch version of that sold out so quickly, took me weeks to get it at the time

[@pauljansen1137]

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

[@Isleofskye]

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO missed...

[@Whizzinby777]

80’s banger

[@ambrosewhite1359]

Early 80's magic... still a great song

[@carlossalazar3917]

Finally Pet Shop Boys!!!!! there are more songs to react to

[@krisa990]

One of their classic songs, I hope you can do their best one too, called What have I done to deserve this.. Going back to this song,the lyrics makes no sense,but its a grovy,good melody tune with good vocals,good enough to make this a great hit.

[@OliverMoore1973]

That's a classic 80's track guys... glad to see you enjoyed it!... You'll pull it out every once and a while...😉👍

[@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)

[@nanaappiah7077]

Yep Pet Shop Boys Pop 1986 CLASSIC!