"Pet Shop Boys" - "Go West" (1993) - song history, video shoot in Russia, awards, football fans' anthem

Single "Go West." groups "Pet Shop Boys" was released in 1993 and went straight to the top of the charts. The dance rhythm and colourful music video appealed to music lovers. Some music lovers noticed the similarity with the USSR anthemand those in the know immediately realised that the hit was an interpretation of a late 70's disco band composition. "Village People.". However, the Pet Shop Boys greatly improved the song, after which it was sung not only at British concerts, but also in sports stadiums.

The story of the original version

American group "Village People." is renowned for her simple, easy catchy tunes and extraordinary stage costumes: images of a cowboy, policeman, marine, Indian, labourer and biker. The founder of the musical group Jacques MoraliIn setting up the group, he planned to communicate the basics of culture in a humorous way LGBT communities. Despite the obvious custom imageThe group was popular among almost all categories of the population: people were proud of the spread of the American valuesand LGBT people have praised them for their work. determinationwhich they themselves lacked to speak frankly about their peculiarities.

Single "Go West." was released in 1979. The title of the song uses famous phrase of a 19th century American publisher John B. L. Saul: "Go West, young man" as an appeal set out in search of a better life. Expression also attributed to a journalist and politician, a presidential candidate in 1872. Horace Greeleyin his speeches supporting the idea westernisation and published farewells word of mouth "New York Tribune.

In spite of historical The song was perceived by the audience as an ode dedicated to the LGBT communities. At the same time. creators songs (producers Jacques Morali и Henri Beloloas well as American singer and actor Victor Willis) claimed that their desire was beat in the text, the famous slogan of the 19th century, encouraging the people of America master western territories.

The Pet Shop Boys version

Thanks to the members of the duo. "Pet Shop Boys" Neil Tennant и To Chris Lowe the song had second life and ended up getting world fame. The musicians first performed it in one of the nightclubs of Manchester at a charity concert in aid of HIV-positive to patients where they were invited to fulfilments popular songs of yesteryear. Originally for speeches they chose a song from the band's repertoire "The Beatles"but then, after much hesitation, they decided on "Go West.". Neil Tennant later said that at the time. song he thought it was just awful.

Release were planning on signing up holiday of the Nativity of Christ, there was a special reason for this: starting from the 1985 the popular duo's songs have made it to the ten of the UK chart, and in 1992. the band didn't have suitable a hit. Although the musicians hurried with the recording of the single, it eventually had to be released for a while postpone. But the one that came out in the autumn 1993 it's become much more more successfulthan original version. The original lyrics of the song have been changed hue: slightly modified text, added one coupletand as a result, the song took on a new meaning.

Trek has been taken as a narrative of the collapse Soviet Union. However, listening to the song, Hungarian the fans are going wild frightened: they've decided that "Go. West." - appeal to invade Russians to Eastern Europe. Despite this, song became popular and favourite not only in the West but also in Russia. The listeners were afflicteddistinguishing the motifs in the single's melody. hymn USSR. Even myself Chris Lowewhen I heard it, I was surprised by the resemblance to the beginning their songs. I'd like to point out that at that time, everything globally really wanted to look parallels with the new Russia.

Clip shoot

In 1993, in the Moscow by a British film director by Howard Greenhalgh has been withdrawn video clip to this song. The footage was recorded in three locations of the capital: on Red squares, у of the Space Museum and on Yuri Gagarin Square. The clip shows footage of a dystopian dystopian of the communist world. On the screen, we see the symbol of America first "Statue of Liberty"and then the entire sky is coloured red colour, and identical men wearing red. caps and holding flags formation marchers to the West. Soloists "Pet Shop Boys" is also in the clip, they're wearing overalls yellow and blue, with yellow and blue on their heads. helmets.

Video initially caused a lot of disputes in the West, it was seen as a dubious implication in the form of an offer to go and "party" at the San Franciscoa city that was considered capital LGBT communities in the United States. Soloists refuted this point of view, claiming that their commercials. no adverts "a city where anything is possible," they just wanted to show the world story about the collapse of the old idealswhich symbolised the grey Soviet Union. monumentsand the emergence of new ones in the form of a colourful. Statues of Liberty.

Football supporters' anthem

В global of the football championship, a version of "Go West" was first played on the French stadium, in the semi-finals. Cup of Cupswhen we met English. "Arsenal." and French "Paris Saint-Germain.". The song was well received by the footballers. fansand soon the stadiums will literally. explode shouting to the tune "Go West." Since then, the melody has often been played on sports grounds around the world. The hospitable hosts of the Mundial, which took place in South Korea и Japan in 2002, performed it for the arriving guests. The song was gaining popularityand four years later at the world championships in Germany. "Go West." was played after every match played. At the World Cup 2018 Swedish fans actively performed hit on Russian stadiums. Thus, the cover became hymn football fans. And although the musicians themselves have never not reckoned as football fans, they were experiencing a real. pride from having their song played in huge stadiums all over the world.

Awards

Work "Pet Shop Boys" has been universally recognition and has been honoured with several honours: at the annual music festival "East Award." в 1994-м the year she won an award in the category "Best British Video Clip."and at the 37th award ceremony. "Grammys."held in Los Angeles in March 1995. "Go West" was among the nominees in the category. "Best Short Music Video".