Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

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telys
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Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#1 Post by telys »

I read 100 lyrics & a poem and is struck by the comment to ICHH on page 87 "my friend was beaten up by the homophobic occupants of the flat below him".
We're talking about an AIDS-struck man near his death beaten up by his own neighbours. Truly horrifying times we've lived through.
And at the same time strange that this anger and grief haven't made more of an explicit impact in Neil's lyrics.
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DopeFiend
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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#2 Post by DopeFiend »

Haven't made an impact? Sorrow is a big part of PSB. (Though I'm convinced Chris is the driving force of that style)
As for "anger", different people process things in their own way. Me too I don't really get aggressive as much as I get disappointed.

You're basically complaining that It Couldn't Happen Here the song isn't heavy enough, I think it's plenty heavy and subtlety works wonders.

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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#3 Post by Drico One »

I agree. The genius of Chris lies in his subversion. People think the "stompers" are all his, that he specialises in dance-oriented bangers when, in fact, the gentle, but profoundly melancholic sweep that underpins his unique sound is bathed in loneliness, outsiderdom, and grief. He continues his deliberate contrariness in his image: he's the only pop star who puts on his "pop star costume" - shades and a cap - to "hide", yet there he is in plain sight, almost unseen, fading into the background....right in front of our eyes.

Pet Shop Boys have continued this approach in their songs of loss. While Neil speaks of pain, bereavement, and regret in his inimitably literate manner, Chris creates a soundscape that appears to be entirely contradictory - one of energy and excitement. Yet, beneath that ecstatic sheen, behind the shiny surface, lurks despair, sadness, and acceptance washing over and between the beats and bombast.

What results is effortlessly greater than the sum of its parts. Genius.

Drico.
The pale kid that hides in the attic behind his PC...

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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#4 Post by telys »

DopeFiend wrote: Sat 17 Apr 2021, 3:44 am Haven't made an impact? Sorrow is a big part of PSB. (Though I'm convinced Chris is the driving force of that style)
As for "anger", different people process things in their own way. Me too I don't really get aggressive as much as I get disappointed.

You're basically complaining that It Couldn't Happen Here the song isn't heavy enough, I think it's plenty heavy and subtlety works wonders.
No complaint. Just an observation that one could've expected something more explicit. But then again it wouldn't perhaps have been the PSB we know.
The lyrics of ICHH and other songs of grief are mysteries, shrouded. It took me years to figure out what it's all about.
Is there any song in the PSB catalogue which deals with violent homophobia?
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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#5 Post by telys »

DopeFiend wrote: Sat 17 Apr 2021, 3:44 am Haven't made an impact? Sorrow is a big part of PSB. (Though I'm convinced Chris is the driving force of that style)
As for "anger", different people process things in their own way. Me too I don't really get aggressive as much as I get disappointed.

You're basically complaining that It Couldn't Happen Here the song isn't heavy enough, I think it's plenty heavy and subtlety works wonders.
No complaint. Just an observation that one could've expected something more explicit. But then again it wouldn't perhaps have been the PSB we know.
The lyrics of ICHH and other songs of grief are mysteries, shrouded. It took me years to figure out what it's all about.
Is there any song in the PSB catalogue which deals with violent homophobia?
----
You've got me all wrong

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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#6 Post by Spittingcat »

Birthday Boy

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telys
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Re: Homophobia, beaten up in 1988

#7 Post by telys »

Spittingcat wrote: Sat 17 Apr 2021, 10:38 am Birthday Boy
True, but you need interviews and long rows of explanations to get the meaning of it. I didn't have a clue what that song was about when it came out.
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