Best cover by the Pet Shop Boys

Inspired by discovering that 'Try It (I'm in Love With a Married Man)' is an old Bobby O written track.

Should be 'I Started a Joke' of course.

Tough call between "Always on My Mind" and "Go West," but I went with the former.

"It's Alright" because as a teenager I thought it was the weak link on Discography - wrong! - and now it's the only Imperial phase PSB song that still surprises me whenever I hear it again. (Not that I don't still love the others.)

I'm very fond of "We're the Pet Shop Boys" - the production is so fun

Try it try it

Went with "Always on My Mind" but "It's Alright" is close for me.

I love "It's Alright" and U2/Frankie Valli, but "Always on My Mind." Don't like "Go West," haven't heard most of these.

I think I've heard ... 11 of these? But several I had no idea about.

So many choices. I may not voite for it, but watching their performance of "Vida La Vida" at Glastonbury in 2010 you'd think their imperial phase continued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3oToTpCy4o&list=RDj3oToTpCy4o#t=138

I want to say that performance actually sparked a renewed interest in the band as an "imperial" act, at least on that side of the Atlantic.

The three on Performance are the ones I have listened to the most.

Kinda wanted to vote for the U2/Frankie Valli one, but Go West is just too GOAT

Does the Always in my...... HOUSE remix count?

It's Alright. But second choice would be Somewhere -love both the versions they did, especially the orchestral one. It's a kissing cousin to Go West as their take on a big empowerment anthem.

I want to say that performance actually sparked a renewed interest in the band as an "imperial" act, at least on that side of the Atlantic.

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, August 13, 201

really??

Huh, had no idea they'd covered "My Girl".

"Losing My Mind"'s a lovely Sondheim cover, and slots in neatly with "Left To My Own Devices".

As a fan of My Robot Friend, was delighted when they chose to cover "We're The Pet Shop Boys" - the Ramones covering Motörhead's "R.A.M.O.N.E.S" is the only equivalent that springs to mind.

Hard to argue with "It's Alright" and "Always On My Mind", and I've renewed appreciation for "Go West" after Mountains May Depart, but going to vote for the Bobby 'O' cover - what a transmutation.

Come on...... Always On My Mind

Damn, just realised I left off 'Sail Away' which is rather lovely. You can always vote for the other Noel Coward track instead.

Considered adding this to the poll as it's more or less a PSB track. See also Liza Minelli's version of 'Twist In My Sobriety'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EPGhjxm0G0

If Love Were All is incredible, one of Neil's best vocals too

really??

Well, obvious the PSB need no jump start, but that was at Coldplay's peak of sorts, too, so when they did that they were taking an already ubiquitous song and turned it into their own, which caught a lot of ears, imo. Another spark I think would be that other British awards show performance. I have no idea if either of these performances sparked any sort of UK chart spike, but certainly my vibe was that things like the Coldplay cover made the PSB feel very contemporary. Of course, I have no idea!

want to say that performance actually sparked a renewed interest in the band as an "imperial" act, at least on that side of the Atlantic.

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, August 13, 2017

really??

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, August 14, 2017 1:46 AM (nine hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It didn't.

I guess I'm intentionally misapplying the word "imperial." I didn't mean transform them back into some pop juggernaut, I just meant assert themselves not as has-beens or retro or old people music but as a beloved by many institution.

Well, maybe. Their 2013 album was their biggest seller in years.

Huh, yeah, highest chart performance since Very.

So I take it I'm the only one here who thinks the album version of "Always on My Mind" is one of the worst songs of all time. That attempt at rap :(

ahahaha "We're the Pet Shop Boys" is a cover?? awesome

I definitely count The Crying Game as a PSB cover (it was even on Spaghetti!), and one of their best.

When given the option, I will usually vote for Weill/Brecht and this poll is no exception.

Glastonbury yeah, they were a perfect 2nd-stage-headliner-on-a-Saturday-night, especially for the ageing ravemums and popdads but i think maybe this was just as significant in its own way (all the hits plus Lady Gaga etc) from the year before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3K-TIg__TI

"We're The Pet Shop Boys" is good but the Robbie Williams version is even better, IMO.

the Brit perf above is a bit slapdash but that 2009 show was prob the best live show I've ever seen - saw it in Montreal and London, both amazing.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I saw the Montréal show too, it WAS the best.

"Always On My Mind" is hard to beat, but I'm voting for "We're The Pet Shop Boys". It's even better than the original and I just love that they covered it. So good.

Either "Where the Streets Have No Name/I Can't Take My eyes Off You" because it annoyed U2 (and the mash-up is inspired) or "It's Alright", if only because it was the best of these songs in the first place!

Pretty much the only thing I would change about Introspective is that I wish the version of 'It's Alright' was an extended version of the single, because the album version isn't as good.

I love 'Always On My Mind/In My House', though!

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

I probably would've voted "It's Alright" but I missed it. Had no idea that one was a cover.

results otm

For those wanting to just enjoy all those covers, hyperfan Ian Wade put together a nice playlist called Posters:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2IXxlYZSwR8bNZe5QVHmOw

I guess their cover of ‘All the Young Dudes’ is ok, but wish they were a bit less respectful of it.