To say The PSB have had an effect on my life, is a bit of an understatement really. Their lyrics have made me laugh, made me cry.
Neil Tennant is the people's poet of my generation. A master of his art. Who unfortunately, does not get the wider recognition I feel he deserves. In fact, there are a whole lot of people out there who actively hate The Pet Shop Boys, something I can't imagine, but it's true.
They remain my favourite band of all time. I adore most of their efforts, but my heart remains true to them.
Do you remember where you were when you heard your first PSB song? I mean really remember. I do, It was the mid 80s's, i was at a party at my friend’s house. I'd just finished dancing to 'Take on Me' by A-ha, I was hot and thirsty and heading off the dance floor when 'West End Girls' by the PSB came on. I stopped in my tracks, literally. i was mesmerised. That voice, that tune, work. I asked my friend who the band was and she said 'Pet Shop Boys'.
The next day i picked up a copy of 'The PSB' album (yes it was vinyl heaven back then), I kept playing West End Girls and skipping the other songs. My friend came to visit, and i was replaying West End Girls again and again. Finally, she said...hey just listen to the other songs, they're great. I thank him from the bottom of my heart, because i fell in love with just about all the other songs. How could I have ignored great songs like Love Comes Quickly, ...
I also fell madly in love with one and only Neil Tennant, not only because of his voice (imagine, a singer who can actually SING) but also because of his lyrics. To me the lyrics have to mean something or it's a waste of time. It was a few years later that i actually came face to face with Neil on television, and i was pleased to discover that the voice and mind belonged to a very attractive man (all wrapped up in a nice little package...so to speak).
So, the choice of what to write about here is “obvious”. It just had to be The Pet Shop Boys. I like heaps of different types of music apart from them, I like classical music, horn pipes, even irish folk music. I like heaps of different bands, New Order, Suede, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure, Blur, The Cramps, The Smiths, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Tea Party, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds to name just a few. But as good as they are, not one of these bands has made a difference in my life or effected me like Pet Shop Boys have.

So, I say proudly and positively, thank you Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, thanks for everything!