West End Girls is the only song by PSB frustration

[Gabby]

I'm going to sound like a Points Of View letter writer (it's an old UK TV show for those who don't know)

"Why, oh why, oh why??? Do people (I'm guessing not fans) always pick West End Girls as their go-to track if they want to use a PSB track to exemplify something."

OK, for context, my work just released a Spotify playlist for Pride month, so I took a peek to see if they'd feature any PSB - there was lots of stuff in the list so I was "Yep, yes, good pick, yes, umm OK, GREAT pick...." and so on until we finally get to a PSB track and isn't it f***ing West End Girls!

No, no, no, no, no! I can think of myriad of stonecold PSB classics that say LGBTQ+ more than West End girls.
Obvious, but better "Go West", less obvious but on point "Can You Forgive Her?", deeper but very on point "To Speak is a Sin". Three right off the top and it'd be easy to go on without going near a West End town or a Dead End world.

I've emailed the appropriate people at my work (Social committee) and told them to change it out immediately.

Rant over, but anyone care to chime in on the narrowminded, hackneyed use of West End girls?

[tottenhammattspurs]

Because people are stupid. The same people cite Bohemian Rhapsody when asked about Queen or Dancing Queen when asked about Abba. Both of which aren't their best work by a long shot but....

[Gabby]

Because people are stupid. The same people cite Bohemian Rhapsody when asked about Queen or Dancing Queen when asked about Abba. Both of which aren't their best work by a long shot but....

Good point, and absolutely where I'm coming from too. The musical ignorance of some people is astonishing.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Rant over, but anyone care to chime in on the narrowminded, hackneyed use of West End girls?

I'll be honest. Nowadays, I haven't got any idea how anyone uses anything. I pay zero attention to normie culture and hope that in return that they'll pay zero attention to me.

But yes, West-End Girls hardly screams LGBTI+ pride, does it? Even one of the other "obvious" hits like It's A Sin would have made more sense.

If I had to add a track to the Spotify list it would probably be the 12" of Did You See Me Coming?

Retro.

[jasonjohn]

West End girls is quite a harsh track lyric-wise, too. Neil was acting out a persona, we know that, but he's never really returned to the "just you wait til get you home" brutishness.

I've always thought West End girls, although classic and popular, never actually represents them too well.

At the same time - I'm relieved they didn't choose Go West . (love it, but needs a rest!)

I'd probably choose Dreamland, if it were me.

[Lleonard Pler]

I think It's a sin was the obvious choice. The general public only remembers 4 PSB I'd say: West End girls, It's a sin, Always on my mind and Go West.

[Nickname]

I think there is a full version of West End Girls has never been listened to us the fans (the snipet of the song from "Smash" - Blue Ray game that feeling). Anyway and talking about the lyrics, you can really appreciate these things:

- Single/album version: it talks about what happens outside "the dive bar" which talks about straight sex.

- 10"/12" version: it talks about what happens outside (straight sex) and inside "the dive bar" (gay sex). Specially when Neil says "watch them play a different game and no-one knows your name".

[Gabby]

I've always thought West End girls, although classic and popular, never actually represents them too well.

I agree - we wouldn't be here 40 years later without it, but at the same time, that vibe hasn't really ever really been the heart and soul of PSB.

It's like saying "Blue Monday" is representative of everything by New Order.

[DopeFiend]

It's a good song, arguably the best PSB song.
There really isn't much else to it.

[Shopper]

As petheads we may find it frustrating, but frankly, their truly global smashes were singles from Please and Actually and West End girls was their biggest