Longing for Youth: Neil Tennant picks his favourite lyric of all time
Neil Tennant entered the music scene from a somewhat unique angle as a writer for Smash Hits. Pedalling music reviews, interviews, and quirky commentary, Tennant was often an outsider looking in, observing the talents and mannerisms of others before he became the subject himself. After forming Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe, Tennant quickly became an active participant in the 1980s synth-pop wave.
If the cultural importance of Pet Shop Boys is ever up for debate, look no further than Andrew Haigh’s poignant romance All Of Us Strangers, in which the music of Tennant’s electronic partnership features as a heavy emotional anchor. During one scene in particular, the main character experiences familial dissonance soundtracked to ‘Always On My Mind’, proving the quintessential power of their music in categorising ’80s-specific struggles.
In this context, Pet Shop Boys were utilised as a musical conduit for the decade’s paranoia, specifically with the convergence of the AIDs crisis and gay nightclubbing culture, which together were scapegoated to further the media and society’s homophobic attitudes. But, like many synth acts during that time, Pet Shop Boys emerged in defiance, with versatility that elicited emotions of heartbreak in one instance and celebration in the next.
From ‘West End Girls’, Pet Shop Boys was categorised from Tennant’s distinctive vocals and lyricism, which often tapped into the thriving subcultures of the night with cleverly suggestive lyrics that often appeared playful yet poignant all the same. Even their covers have been heavily celebrated since their release, which is an immense achievement, considering they tried their hand at covering coveted classics by huge names, including Elvis Presley.
Even back then, it seemed Tennant had a knack for playing on nostalgia—perhaps the most powerful facet of music a musician could tap into—making their songs feel decades old while holding on to a timeless edge. Perhaps it was his years studying others for Smash Hits that immediately gave him this ability, but no matter the roots of his prowess, he always knew how to bridge the gap between past, present, and future.
This constant awareness of nostalgia and contemporary resonance seemed to always be at the fore of his mind, which was also evidenced by the many influences he held close. In 2013, the musician took part in a one-off flash campaign for HMV, in which a handful of stars were required to disclose the lyric they found the most inspirational of all time. Tennant’s proved to be the most telling.
For the initiative, Tennant opted for the opening lyric from Dusty Springfield’s ‘Goin’ Back’: “I think I’m goin’ back / To the things I learned so well in my youth / I think I’m returning to / Those days when I was young enough to know the truth.” Originally written by songwriting pair Carole King and Gerry Goffin, ‘Goin’ Back’ was inspired by the disillusionment of growing older and the longing for youthful innocence.
In many ways, no one seems more acquainted with despair than Tennant, which makes his particular choice wholly suited to his broader musical disposition and Pet Shop Boys’ ability to transform feelings of loneliness and loss into something cathartic and poignant. Many of their songs might adopt rhythmic charm, but very few aren’t soundtracked to the unavoidable perils of youth.
