I've Got Plans (Involving You)

Writers - Tennant/Lowe
First released - 2024
Original album - none
Producer - Pet Shop Boys
Subsequent albums - (none)
Other releases - bonus track with the single "A New Bohemia "

In Chris Heath's book Pet Shop Boys, Literally, he briefly quotes Neil (on page 116 of at least some editions) about this track: "When I was at Smash Hits, the one everyone liked… was one called 'I've Got Plans Involving You.'" So obviously this song dates back to the very early days of the Tennant-Lowe partnership. It's a pleasant surprise that it should finally turn up after all these years, but since the Boys are known to have pulled it from the shelf to work on it in September 2021, it's not wholly unexpected, either.

Although the song's structure and melody clearly adhere to the very early "PSB style," strongly influenced by Bobby 'O' Orlando, its production is totally up to date, even if that cowbell adds a decidedly eighties touch! The lyrics are fascinating for such an early Tennant-Lowe song, their somewhat "stalkerish" sentiments either charmingly innocent or disturbingly creepy depending on your perspective. . The narrator has latched onto (or at least wants to latch onto) someone new in town whom he obviously finds extremely appealing. He not only offers this new guy—and I'm going to assume it's another male, although there's little in the lyrics that would necessitate that without reading between the lines—a place to live (no doubt with him) but also suggests all sorts of other things to make him feel more welcome: see a movie, see a show, go out to dinner, introduce him to his “mob,” even help him find a job. Ulterior motives, anyone?

The unstated part of this equation, of course, is how the other person, the subject of the narrator's rapt attention, might feel about all this. If he finds the narrator equally appealing, so much the better. If, however, he doesn't, it sounds more than a bit scary. Again, perhaps it was just a more innocent time.

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