The Timeless Appeal of the Pet Shop Boys
The allure of the Pet Shop Boys is timeless, something I was vividly reminded of during a laid-back evening with Rick, my other half and the ultimate Pethead in our house. While he worked his magic in the kitchen, I queued up a Pet Shop Boys dance mix I originally created back in 2007. As the familiar synths and club beats filled the room, it was impossible not to appreciate Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s lasting influence on synth-pop, new wave, disco, and dance music.
Blending songs recorded across several decades—each with different BPMs, production styles, and arrangements—is no easy feat. But that versatility is precisely what makes the Pet Shop Boys so unique. Their music has always moved effortlessly between pop, electronic music, house, disco, and the underground club scene. To make this mega-mix flow more naturally on the dancefloor, I leaned heavily on classic Hot Tracks and Razormaid remixes that gave many of these songs a more club-friendly edge.
From “Opportunities” to “Go West”
As we settled in with dinner and drinks, “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” came through the speakers, showcasing the biting irony and social commentary that became one of the duo’s trademarks. “Love Comes Quickly” followed with its melancholy take on the fleeting nature of affection before a Sasha remix of “West End Girls” transported us straight back to the streets of 1980s London.
The mix continued with one of my personal favorites, “Being Boring,” a beautifully understated reflection on youth, friendship, and the passage of time. Then came “Go West,” one of the Pet Shop Boys’ most enduring gay anthems—a sweeping celebration of freedom, community, and the promise of somewhere better, whether that destination is San Francisco, Key West, or wherever you choose to call home.
Four Decades of Synth-Pop and Dance Music
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe formed the Pet Shop Boys in London in 1981 and broke internationally with their debut album Please. From there, they built one of the most distinctive catalogs in pop music history, combining intelligent, often ironic lyrics with groundbreaking electronic production. Their influence stretches well beyond the charts into club culture, fashion, theater, and generations of electronic and dance artists.
I’m sure everyone has a Pet Shop Boys story—where they were when they first heard a particular song, what they were doing, or perhaps even who they shared their first gay kiss with while PSB played in the background.
The Essential Gay CD Collection
Years ago, I came across one of those humorous “ten ways to tell if your boyfriend is gay” lists. Among the giveaways was supposedly finding Madonna’s “Immaculate Collection”, Erasure’s “Pop! 20 Hits”, or the Pet Shop Boys’ Discography: The Complete Singles Collection sitting proudly in his CD collection. Frankly, that sounds less like a warning sign and more like excellent taste.
Why the Pet Shop Boys Still Matter
Whether it’s the hypnotic pulse of “Paninaro ’95,” the bittersweet elegance of “Being Boring,” or the full-throttle disco of “New York City Boy,” the Pet Shop Boys have always understood how to pair irresistible dance music with something deeper. Their greatest songs capture ambition, loneliness, love, irony, desire, and the search for belonging—all wrapped in immaculate electronic production.
That combination is why their music continues to connect across generations and why this Pet Shop Boys mega-mix from Party Favorz still sounds as relevant today as it did when I first put it together in 2007.
Until the next time… ENJOY!
Album : Pet Shop Boys | Mixed-UP I & II
Genre : Dance, Disco, Electronica, House
Total Time : 2:36:47
- Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money) (Original 12” Mix)
- Love Comes Quickly (Dance Mix)
- West End Girls (Sasha Mix)
- One More Chance (Hot Tracks Remix)
- Left To My Own Devices (Razormaid Mix)
- Heart (Hot Tracks Mix)
- What Have I Done To Deserve This (Shep Pettibone Mix)
- Domino Dancing (Disco Mix)
- Always On My Mind (Hot Tracks Mix)
- Losing My Mind (Hot Tracks Remix)
- Was It Worth It (12” Remix)
- Discoteca (Trouser Enthusiasts Mix)
- Go West (Ming’s Gone West First & Second Movement)
- Before (D.T.’s After Mix)
- Being Boring (Hot Tracks Remix)
- Where The Streets Have No Name (Hot Tracks Remix)
- I Don’t Know What You Want But… (David Morales Remix)
- Break 4 Love (Friburn & Urik Hi-Pass Mix)
- It’s A Sin (Technopop Remix)
- Minimal (M-Factor Mix)
- So Hard (David Morales Red Zone Vocal Mix)
- Paninaro ’95 (Angel Moraes Deep Dance Mix)
- I’m With Stupid (PSB Maxi-Mix)
- New York City Boy (The Almighty Definitive Mix)
- It’s Alright (Razormaid Mix)
Enjoy the Mix?
Your Support Keeps Party Favorz Alive!
- ★★★★★Leave a Review
- ♥Chip In
