Delusions

Artist: Pet Shop Boys
Label: Atlantic / Wea
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: LP Record
Number Of Discs: 2

UPC: 075678403309
EAN: 0075678403309
ASIN: B000002JFX

Release Date: 1997-10-28

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Tracks:

Somewhere
Somewhere [Trouser Enthusiasts Mix]
Red Letter Day
Red Letter Day [Trouser Autoerotic Decapitation Mix]
View from Your Balcony [*]
Delusions of Grandeur [*]

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Home and Dry, Pt. 1
Was It Worth It?
Minimal, Pt. 2
Megamix

Customer Reviews:

Get it for #6.......2006-06-23

It's hard to believe that "Delusions of Grandeur" was never put on a regular Pet Shop Boys album, because it's among their very best songs. But then, these guys have made a career out of great throwaway B-siders. This is among the best, with that full-scale, up-tempo Pet Shops Boys sound. A fun song, and a must-have for fans.

Magnanimous and Charming.......2006-04-25

Here we find the Pet Shop Boys inbetween album snack for 1997. Instead of relying on the usual string pad backing, the boys bring actual lush strings, a more complex arrangement than can be found on the orchestration heavy "Left To My Own Devices", a heavy house beat which drops out occasionally leaving orchestral only enclaves, and a mostly continuous 16th note synth voice underlying everything, somewhat analogous to that used in "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When Your Drunk" and "Flamboyant". Neils voice, perhaps far from perfection, is interestingly at his most insidious of any Pet Shop Boy song in the last 10 years, yet the actual number itself emotes the gooey sentiment of a "Liberation" and the escapist bravado of a "Go West". After all the starts and stops, the song finally climaxes into a post-coital haze, described by a friend of mine as better than the song itself. It's quite overproduced, really, which I personally love. However, it doesn't really have the soul of some of the Pet Shop Boys finest work. I think the song sounds better on the remastered PopArt, however, this single has much else to offer. Though most Pet Shop boys dance mixes unfortunately tend towards all beat (and a boring one at that) and little vocal, the two dance mixes on this disk sound like they would be a blast in a club. Truly dark hard house. They get a bit tedious for just general listening though. Red Letter Day, though available elsewhere fits the whole mood of the disk well, which I imagine is why it was included. The production is a bit to clip-cloppy, but it's still some decent inspirational Pet Shop Boys gospel music. Nothing sounds overly dated on this disk, surprisingly, nor does it really sound like other pop from 1997. The real winners here are the two b sides. The durge "View From Your Balcony". It's perfection as a B-side to Somewhere, a very musical-like track. This is just a preface for the boys later work on the Closer To Heaven musical, where they truely unleashed their musical skills. The song glistens with simmering synths a spanish guitar and dreamscape lyrics. "Delusions of Grandeur" is a fun romp, a perfect compliment of "Red Letter Day", "Shameless", and "Go West". As some have noted in the past, the vocals could have been turned up a bit more in the mix, but it's still a fun sparkling inventive song. Overall, perhaps the songs on this single don't have the listenability of tracks from earlier Pet Shop Boys eras, but are enjoyable nonetheless.

Bernstein to a disco beat..........2003-10-19

The Pet Shop Boys have developed the tradition of releasing a single, then an album, then a few more singles, and then, releasing a remake after the album sales have died down. They did this first after the album Actually, with their variously lauded and panned remake of Always on my mind. They did this again after the album Behaviour with an innovative combination of Where the streets have no name (a U2 hit) and Can't take my eyes off of you.

Somewhere is much better known as the wonderful aria from Leonard Bernstein's (and let us not forget the Sondheim contribution) West Side Story; as much as I cringed at hearing the idea of a disco version of this (or any) song taken from the score, I have to admit I was impressed. The Pet Shop Boys put their classic sample-heavy treatment to the song, weaving into the song samples of urban turmoil and conversation that gives a 'city' feel to it (which is in keeping with West Side Story); the lyrics are preserved and don't seem that strange coming from the flat vocal interpretation of Neil Tennant. It has strong electronic instrumental crescendos which lead to a hopefulness and yet ends back in the mixture of smaller sounds and urban samples. Life in the city goes on.

This CD has two versions, one a 'radio edit' and one a longer-remixed dance version. Alas, like most dance versions, it is barely recognisable as having come from the first version. The CD also has two remixes of a song from Bilingual, Red Letter Day, one of the better songs off of a poorly-received CD.

The CD also contains two new songs (B-sides) which are interesting--A view from your balcony, a short, melancholy little song that perhaps relates back to the Romeo & Juliet motif of Somewhere. The other song, Delusions of Grandeur, is a satirical romp through the mind of a Walter Mitty-type, with delightfully funny lyrics like

In audience I receive
the media's pleas
they kiss my ring in interviews
on bended knee
In victory I'm magnanimous

and charming when
I speak exclusively
at length to CNN

The delusions go on and on...

A nice little CD, definitely worth the cost.

Hold their hand and they'll take you there........2000-07-11

This is a must for all Pet Shop Boys fans to have. This is also a must for the newcomer who might be curious to see what is so appealing about these two men. This is one of the best singles I have heard in a long time. Not just the song itself, but the many different songs that accompany it, including the several mixes that only these guys can create. The song "Somewhere" is quite simply, classic Pet Shop Boys. Orchestrations, intense sensual rhythms...it is beautiful to hear the song open with an orchestra playing. I would not be surprised to hear that this song is on the charts in other countries, since it is known that they have fans all over the world. This is another hit single by them, which some fans might have been a bit leery about checking out when hearing it was a remake of the song from the musical, West Side Story. It is, surprisingly extraordinary. And how fast it all goes! Like one big rush of adrenaline, and then its gone. Ah, the little things in life. But hearing the mix of this song, one can't help but wonder that they must have offers to do soundtracks to films. They are currently working on a musical and it is known that they produced such soundtracks as "The Crying Game" and "It Couldn't Happen Here", but it seems more and more of their music is less singing lately, and more of experimenting with your emotions; seeing what affects people the most with their changes in tempo, how they all of the sudden just stop!...and calm you down...and then gently begin again. Dare I say this mix is too precious to be played in clubs next to a hip-hop mix of a Backstreet Boys or Mariah Carey song? In a sinister way, I sincerely hope not. The other songs follow their pattern of one being unlike the other...but check out the last two tracks. "View from your balcony" and "Delusions of Grandeur". The first one is more of a romantic yearning for wanting someone; a common theme with their love poetry. A steady beat and gentle words, but one couldn't help feeling in London when hearing this. References to the city and lights bring you there from the beginning. And it's another nice song to listen to when having a glass of wine with that special someone. Delusions of Grandeur focuses more on serious issues in England; the historical rise of power and the representation of how it can be seen at times. And they seem to have the gift of making it more than just a history lesson; showing not only are the facts important but the way it's told. With as many different subjects as they have covered, they have, and always will associate emotions with music. As if each phrase that was spoken has it's own meaning, and it's own sound. If one wanted to analyze just one chord in one of their songs, one would have to associate it with a feeling of fervor, especially with the mixes on this single. Remakes of older songs usually never sound as good as the original. I wouldn't go as far as to say this can't be said with these two...but let's just say this: if there will ever be consideration for an electronic, futuristic musical to West Side Story, I hope these men are still around.

Amazing.......1999-12-05

This single EP is incredible. It cheers me up and relaxes me. I have been playing this record constantly since I have been studying for exams and I just love the song Somewhere. Any Pet Shop Boys fan will love all the songs on this CD.

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