What's New? – Recent Updates & Additions
December 7, 2019
As if all the tasks and responsibilities on my plate in the wake of moving to a new home weren't enough, fate dealt me the added challenge yesterday of my computer dying on me—probably a delayed reaction to the rigors of the move. Fortunately, my most vital files were backed up, so I was able to head out to buy a new computer and get back in business, so to speak, after spending the afternoon getting the new machine up to snuff. Most of my old emails are lost, however, which I sorely regret.
That being said, thanks so much to John M. from SoCal for offering a few suggestions related to my page for "Birthday Boy." I've adopted one of them (removing the reference to it being a "latter-day" triumph for the Pet Shop Boys) and softened another reference (the fact that it's disliked by many fans) somewhat.
December 4, 2019
As promised, I've now posted a new placeholder page for the soon-to-be-released "b-side" of the "Burning the Heather" single, "Decide." I'll provide additional information there as it becomes available.
Thanks once again (two days in a row) to Jules Chance for noticing that I was off by one day for the Pet Shop Boys' November 23, 1994 concert in San José, Costa Rica. I've now corrected the date both on my "On This Day in PSB History" page and on my PSB Tours page.
My website home page has just passed the 2 million mark for page hits. I know that's small potatoes for a site that's been around for more than 18 years, but I'm still proud of it. Thanks to all of my site visitors for helping me reach this milestone!
December 3, 2019
I've listed the Pet Shop Boys concert scheduled for July 2020 in Bilbao, Spain (as recently announced on their official website) on my page devoted to PSB tours.
By the way, I've noticed that the Boys have announced the pending release of a new song, "Decide," as the "b-side" (so to speak) of the new single "Burning the Heather," which will apparently not be released in CD-single format. But I simply haven't had time yet to create a new "placeholder" page for it. I'll try to get to it in the next few days—and, of course, by the time of its scheduled December 13 release.
Meanwhile, thanks to Jules Chance for letting me know that on November 25, 2019, the BBC Quiz show Only Connect offered a snippet of "Heart" as part of a question asking what it had in common with "Gold" by Spandau Ballet and "Magic" by Pilot. (Answer: they are all names of U.K. radio stations.) I've made note of this in the entry for that song at #53 in my list of PSB songs used in non-musical films and TV shows.
December 2, 2019
I'm finally back after nearly two weeks without internet access, but I'm not yet ready to assume my full website duties. That will probably require another week or two. Nevertheless, as we get ensconsed in our new home, I can spend some time now and then on routine updates. The first of these comes courtesy of longtime site visitor Jeff Bartini, who let me know that, during my absence, the November 21 episode of the U.S. sitcom Young Sheldon featured a sizable chunk of "It's a Sin" during a segment in which Sheldon's very religious mom strives to rid her home of evil influence. I've noted this instance in the entry for that song at #21 in my list of Pet Shop Boys songs used in non-musical films and TV shows. Thanks, Jeff!
November 19, 2019
I suspect this will be the final update I can make to my website for at least two weeks. We are moving to our new town in just a couple days, and we won't be able to move into our new home for another week. (We'll be staying with friends in the intervening period.) Even after we move in, it may be several days before we have internet access established in our new home, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday looming, during which cable internet customer service may be adversely impacted. So no matter what happens in the "PSB universe"—even the possible release of brand new music—I won't be able to report or comment on it here. During this period I may have occasional but only limited access to email.
Incidentally, some of you have written to me recently about "non-pressing" concerns, but I've had no choice but to set your messages aside without responding. I'm afraid I've simply way too busy to deal with anything but comparatively urgent matters. (So much to do; sometimes I wish there were 48 hours in a day.)
In short, I'll be back as soon as I'm able. In the meantime, stay tuned, and thank you for your patience and understanding!
November 18, 2019
I've posted a couple of new "placeholder" pages for two of the still-unreleased tracks from the upcoming album Hotspot about which I do have some information—but not much: "Monkey Business" and "Wedding in Berlin." And thanks to Hans-Marten for alerting me to a typo on my Hotspot page.
November 17, 2019
For more than two decades, the precise source of the "gypsy samples" in "To Step Aside" has remained mystery. But it's a mystery no longer! Site visitor Xavier RIOU has reported to me his discovery that these samples were drawn from a 1995 sample CD titled World Colours published by the German company Best Service. Xavier has pinpointed the precise samples and has illustrated his observations in a fascinating YouTube video of his own creation. I've noted this discovery both on the page for "To Step Aside" (in a newly expanded fourth bullet-point annotation) and on my page that lists major Pet Shop Boys "musical mysteries." I'll leave it on the latter page for a month or so before removing it there, at which time I may simply retire that particular list since two of its biggest mysteries—these "To Step Aside" samples and the previously discovered source of the infamous voice samples in "Electricity"—have now been solved. Meanwhile, I've added Xavier to my Thank You page. Thanks again, Xavier!
I've finally found the time (and inspiration) to attempt an initial lyrical analysis of "Burning the Heather." Mind you, this is just my first pass, but considering my current circumstances (more about that in the next paragraph), it may need to be my only pass for a while. If I'm able to, however, I may expand on it at some point later on.
Speaking of all that, in just two days I'll need to enter "radio silence," so to speak, on account of my move to a new home. Until I can get set up again and can re-establish full internet access on my desktop computer (which I use to maintain my website)—a period that will probably last anywhere from one to three weeks (let's hope closer to the former than to the latter)—I won't be able to make any site updates whatsoever, and even my ability to read and respond to emails will be extremely limited. Besides, I'll be extremely busy with moving and getting our new home in order.
November 16, 2019
I've updated my Pet Shop Boys Tours page with the recently announced dates and venues on the European leg of their 2020 Dreamworld Tour.
November 15, 2019
I'm not yet ready to attempt an in-depth analysis of the new song "Burning the Heather"—a very lyrically rich and somewhat challenging work, in my opinion, and with the other things going on in my life at this time I'm not sure when my head will be at a place where I'm able to devote to it the attention that it merits. But I am now able to do something much simpler: namely, to offer a few annotations that explain some of the words and phrases used in the song. Mere explanation is a far less demanding and time-consuming thing to do than full-fledged lyrical analysis.
November 14, 2019
The Pet Shop Boys have just announced the title of their next album, scheduled for release January 24: Hotspot. I've also created a "placeholder" page for the newly streaming song from the album, "Burning the Heather." Unfortunately, other very pressing personal demands prevent me from conducting at this time the lyrical analysis that this song deserves.
Because my husband and I are deep in the throes of packing and moving to a new home, I've fallen somewhat behind on addressing and responding to various emails I've received from site visitors lately. I'll try to catch up over the next day or two, but I'm extremely limited. In fact, in less than a week I'll need to go on complete "radio silence," so to speak, unable to make any site updates whatsoever or respond to emails, a period that will last at least a week or two, perhaps longer. I'll keep you posted as I am able.
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