Pet Shop Boys

Interview, Sept, 1996 by Andrew Sullivan

AS: That reminds me of one of my favorite Pet Shop Boys songs, a B-side called "Jack the Lad." What was that song about, if you don't mind me asking?

NT: "Jack the Lad" is about being an individual, daring to do what you want to do. The song refers to Lawrence of Arabia, Oscar Wilde, and Kim Philby. It's also about the application of the idea of individuality to masculinity and not worrying too much about falling down. When you're a Jack the Lad type, you can be the fool, too.

AS: Does that apply to you, as well? It seems that the way you sing is rebellious enough. It's like listening to Churchill give speeches. It's a preposterous way to sing.

NT: Well, it's just the way I sing. And I try to do it so the words can be heard. Also, I have this thin little voice, but as we've gone on, I've gotten more into the sound of it. When I sing quietly, I call it my choir-boy voice. It has a sweetness that I like. It sounds very unrock.

AS: And frankly, It sounds as if you don't give a damn about the notions of masculinity and femininity.

NT: It was always meant to do that. I have occasionally written songs from the point of view of being a woman. For example, I always imagined the song "Rent" was meant to be about a kept woman. And it was great when Liza Minnelli sang it on the album we did with her, because she made it sound like it was in a Broadway show or something.

AS: She sang with all sorts of emotions, but that's not what you do. You distance yourself.

NT: Well, I think restraint gives pathos, which I like, depending on the song. To me there's something affecting about a restrained-sounding voice singing of deep emotions or passions.

AS: All your music is, in fact, one tension working against another. You have the beat working against the melody, the lyrics working against the mood, your voice working against the words -

NT: And of course you also have Nell Tennant working against Chris Lowe. [laughs] I mean, Chris likes very simple, repetitive dance music, with a single uplifting phrase. He loves that "Take Me Higher" kind of thing. Then I come along and put a complicated middle bit in and make the words sound a bit depressing.

AS: How have you gotten along so well for so long?

NT: We give each other space and we understand each other. And though we have completely opposite qualities, we do actually share a sense of humor. Plus, we are the only people who have ever been in the Pet Shop Boys, so we're in a little club of two there.

AS: At so many times in my life, your music has truly uplifted me at Important moments.

NT: Well, in many ways we've written it to uplift ourselves. Sometimes when I'm depressed, I actually will play one of our songs. There's a line in one of our new tracks, "Red Letter Day," on the new album, that says, "For all of those who don't fit in / Who follow their instincts and are told they sin / This is a prayer." I've always seen our songs as misfits, and at the same time, that's their strength.