Behind the Resurgence: How Pet Shop Boys became a cultural touchstone
In Andrew Haigh‘s newest film, All Of Us Strangers, a poignant moment unfolds as Andrew Scott’s character, Adam, and his mother share a connection while decorating a Christmas tree. In the midst of unspoken words and eyes brimming with ghostly tears, his mother conveys her feelings by singing along to Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Always On My Mind’.
“Maybe I didn’t hold you all those lonely, lonely times,” she says, peering over at Adam with eyes that speak of utter heartbreak. “And I guess I never told you, I am so happy that you’re mine,” she continues. “If I made you feel second best, I’m so sorry I was blind. You were always on my mind.”
In this juncture of Haigh’s masterpiece, Pet Shop Boys play a pivotal role, providing a significant backdrop to the profound blend of emotions – loss, grief, love, dissociation, and the passage of time -that both Adam and his mother are experiencing. The song serves as an anchor for the film, and, being a quintessential piece of 1980s music, the poignant lyrics by Neil Tennant speak a thousand words.
However, the perception of the band as somewhat of a gimmick hasn’t escaped the notice of certain filmmakers. In a tongue-in-cheek Saltburn scene, Emerald Fennell incorporates their hit ‘Rent’ as Archie Madekwe’s Farleigh endeavours to mock Barry Keoghan’s Oliver during karaoke. In a movie marked by its eccentricity and brilliance, it’s only fitting that a song about a financially imbalanced relationship is employed as Farleigh attempts, albeit unsuccessfully, to unravel Oliver’s sadistic layers.
In All Of Us Strangers, the inclusion of Pet Shop Boys’ hit song complements the broader theme of grappling with grief and loss in every aspect of the word. It serves as a fitting backdrop to the film’s exploration of 1980s paranoia, with Adam confronting past traumas related to the AIDS crisis of the decade alongside a contemporary loss of self. The film channels the atmosphere of clubbing, resonant with its historical significance in gay culture during the 1980s, utilising Pet Shop Boys’ songs as a conduit for this unsettling mix of emotions.
In Saltburn, ‘Rent’ encapsulates a seemingly lighthearted moment imbued with an undertone of characteristically darker and more complex occurrences. “I come from an era when people didn’t talk about sex at home, where a lot of things were unsaid,” Tennant said in 2013, discussing the song’s amalgamation of hilarity and scrutiny. “So you sort of had to read between the lines, to the extent that one could even, oneself, not know what the songs were about.” Hence, the song playfully satirises manipulation the same way Farleigh’s jests at Oliver.
In recent times, Pet Shop Boys’ music, similar to its role in All Of Us Strangers, has been employed to underscore moments of tragedy. The series It’s A Sin, with Olly Alexander from Years & Years, not only takes its title from one of the band’s major hits but also chronicles the narrative surrounding the AIDS crisis in London from 1981 to 1991. The show poignantly depicts the devastating consequences of AIDS on the gay community, not just in terms of endangering lives but also fuelling widespread homophobia across the country.
Of course, Pet Shop Boys’ songs have been used time and time again across various formats, but what makes it feel particularly poignant right now is how many diverse stories are being told with Pet Shop Boys as a worthy companion. We’re finally seeing queer stories being told on the silver screen, with members of the LGBTQ+ community being awarded with the same accolades as their heterosexual peers.
It seems fitting, too, that Pet Shop Boys’ music can be enlisted at any juncture. Their musical repertoire possesses the remarkable quality to transcend both eras and genres, eliciting emotions of heartbreak in one instance and celebration in the next. Perhaps what truly anchors Pet Shop Boys’ resurgence in contemporary times isn’t its ability to speak to any emotion but the nostalgia that it hooks into our minds.
Synth-pop tracks from the 1980s can transport audiences to a specific time and place, adding authenticity and atmosphere to a range of moods and environments. For instance, ‘Always On My Mind’ manages to retain a tragic undertone while also hearkening back to earlier renditions, such as Elvis Presley’s. Similarly, ‘It’s A Sin’ carries an insidious quality despite its status as a popular club classic.
In the realm of storytelling and cinema, the power of good narratives lies in their ability to challenge perceptions and exist beyond the conventional. Pet Shop Boys, with their music, contribute to this by conveying layers of emotion and meaning, serving as effective tools to underscore or enhance specific scenes or themes.
