Pet Shop Boys
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Pet Shop Boys are a British synthpop/pop music/electronic music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant who provides main vocals, keyboards and very occasionally guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards and occasionally on vocals. The duo write the vast majority of their songs and have also written songs for other artists.
Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records worldwide. The longevity of their career is generally attributed to their ability to create melodic and interesting pop/dance music. Since 1986, they have had thirty-nine Top 30 singles and twenty-two Top 10 hits in the UK, including four number ones: "West End Girls", "It's a Sin", "Always On My Mind" and "Heart".
Pet Shop Boys were very successful in the United States in the mid-1980s, with "West End Girls" reaching number one. Their last Top 40 single, "Domino Dancing", reached number 18 on the US pop chart in 1988. Since then, they have continued to enjoy cult and club success in the USA and are the fourth-most successful dance artists ever in the USA Billboard dance charts, behind Madonna, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson with eight Billboard Dance number ones. Pet Shop Boys have undertaken four world tours in 1991, 1999-2000, 2002 and 2006-2007. During each tour they performed a long series of concerts in the USA.
Pet Shop Boys' most recent studio album, Fundamental, was released on the Parlophone label on 22 May 2006. The album peaked at number five in the UK and in the rest of Europe at number two, marking a strong return to the charts. The album's first single, "I'm with Stupid" was released in the UK on 8 May 2006, reaching number eight in the UK Singles Chart. In December 2006, the duo was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording ("I'm with Stupid") and Best Electronic/Dance Album (Fundamental).
In July 2007, Pet Shop Boys signed a new deal with Parlophone Records. They originally signed to the label in 1985 followed by a renegotiation in 1990. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe commented: “It’s over 20 years since we originally signed to EMI and we’re very happy to be continuing our relationship with them”. Miles Leonard, Parlophone’s MD says: “What Pet Shop Boys are doing is unique. They continue to be at the vanguard of pop culture, constantly surprising and thrilling us with their every move. We are extremely pleased to have them on the label.”
In October 2007, a new compilation album of their remixes titled Disco Four was released.
