Suburbia (song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Suburbia


Caption =
Artist = Pet Shop Boys
from Album = Please
B-side = "Paninaro", "Jack the Lad"
Released = September 22, 1986
Format = 7", 12", cassette
Recorded =
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 3:59 (7")
8:55 (12" ("The Full Horror"))
Label = Parlophone / EMI
Writer = Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer = Julian Mendelsohn
Chart position =
* #8 (UK Singles Chart)
* #2 (Germany)
Last single = "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"
(second release)
(1986)
This single = "Suburbia"
(1986)
Next single = "It's a Sin"
(1987)

"Suburbia" is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was remixed and released as the fourth single from the album "Please" in 1986 and became the band's second UK Top 10 hit, peaking at #8.

The song's horrific depiction of its subject has made it an often-quoted piece of musical commentary on the nature of suburbs.cite web | author = Barton, Laura | date = March 20, 2006 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1734681,00.html | title = Save our boring 'burbs | format = | work = | publisher = The Guardian | accessdate = 2006-06-29 | accessyear = ] cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.geographypages.co.uk/suburbs.htm | title = Suburbs | format = | work = Settlement Links and Resources | publisher = GeographyPages | accessdate = 2006-06-29 | accessyear = ]

Overview

The song's primary inspiration is the 1984 Penelope Spheeris film "Suburbia", and its depiction of violence and squalor in the suburbs of Los Angeles; in addition, the tension of the Brixton riots of 1981 and of 1985 hanging in recent memory led Neil Tennant of the duo to thinking about the boredom of suburbia and the underlying tension among disaffected youth that sparked off the riots at the least provocation.

The various versions of the song are punctuated by sounds of suburban violence: rioting noises and smashing glass, as well as snarling dogs on the re-recorded single version (extended even further on the music video), which were derived from scenes in "Suburbia". The Please version of the song sounds very sparse in comparison.

The bassline of the song is based on "Into the Groove" by Madonna.

The main musical theme of the song is greatly influenced by Chuck Mangione's 1977 jazz-pop track Feels So Good.

The video was directed by Eric Watson, and features footage of the Pet Shop Boys in a Los Angeles' suburb, as they happened to be there for that year's MTV Music Awards.

The b-sides to the single were Jack the Lad" and "Paninaro". The Full Horror mix of "Suburbia" and the Italian Mix of "Paninaro" both appeared on the Pet Shop Boys album "Disco" as well as the "Suburbia" 12", and would later be collected on the 2001 2-disc rerelease of "Please".

Track listing

7": Parlophone / R 6140 (UK)

# "Suburbia" (New version) (3:59)
# "Paninaro" (4:37)

2x7": Parlophone / RD 6140 (UK)

# "Suburbia" (New version) - 3:59
# "Paninaro" - 4:37
# "Love comes quickly" (Shep Pettibone mastermix - early fade) - 6:20
# "Jack the lad" - 4:30
# "Suburbia Pt. Two" - 2:20

MC: Parlophone / TC R 6140 (UK)

# "Suburbia [New version] " (3:59)
# "Paninaro" (4:37)
# "Jack The Lad" (4:30)
# "Love Comes Quickly [Shep Pettibone Remix] " (7:34)

12": Parlophone / 12 R 6140 (UK)

# "Suburbia [The Full Horror] " (8:55)
# "Paninaro" (4:37)
# "Jack The Lad" (4:30)

12": EMI Manhattan / V-19226 (US)

# "Suburbia [The Full Horror] " (8:55)
# "Suburbia [New version] " (3:59)
# "Jack The Lad" (4:30)

12": EMI Manhattan / SPRO-9925/9926 (US)

# "Suburbia [Club Vocal] " (7:10)
# "Suburbia [Arthur Baker Dub] " (7:58)

* Promo only Arthur Baker remixes

* "Suburbia" "New version", "The Full Horror" and "Part Two" remixed by Julian Mendelsohn

Chart performance

Notes

References

* Heath, Chris (2001). " [http://www.petshopboys.net/html/interviews/pleasse005.shtml Suburbia] ". In "Please / Further Listening 1984-1986" [CD liner notes] . London: Pet Shop Boys Partnership.
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