Go West (song)
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For other uses, see Go West.
| "Go West" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Village People | ||
| from the album Go West | ||
| Released | 1979 | |
| Format | 7", 12" | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Disco | |
| Length | 4:11 | |
| Label | Casablanca | |
| Writer(s) | Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo, Victor Willis | |
| Producer(s) | Morali | |
| Village People singles chronology | ||
| "YMCA" (1978) |
"Go West" (1979) |
"In the Navy" (1979) |
| "Go West" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| CD single cover | ||
| Single by Pet Shop Boys | ||
| from the album Very | ||
| B-side(s) | "Shameless" | |
| Released | September 6, 1993 | |
| Format | 7", 12", cassette, CD | |
| Recorded | 1992-1993 | |
| Genre | Pop, dance | |
| Length | 5:03 | |
| Label | Parlophone / EMI | |
| Writer(s) | Morali, Belolo, Willis, Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe | |
| Producer(s) | Pet Shop Boys, Brothers in Rhythm | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| Pet Shop Boys singles chronology | ||
| "Can You Forgive Her?" (1993) |
"Go West" (1993) |
"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" (1993) |
"Go West" is a song by the 1970s disco group Village People. The song eventually found greater success when it was covered in 1993 by the synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys.
Contents |
[edit] Village People version
Originally released as a single in 1979, it was not as popular as the group's other contemporary singles such as "YMCA" and "In the Navy".
The song's title is attributed to the 19th century quote "Go West, young man" commonly attributed to Horace Greeley, a rallying cry for the colonization of the American West; likewise, "Go West" is generally understood as an expression of the 1970s sentiment of San Francisco as a utopia for the Gay Liberation movement.[1]
The tune of the Christian song 'Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart', Henry Smith 1978, bears a remarkable similarity.
Both the 7" and 12" versions of the song were subsequently collected in various greatest hits collections, including a 1997 radio remix.
[edit] Pet Shop Boys version
[edit] History
In 1992, when Pet Shop Boys were asked by Derek Jarman to perform at an AIDS charity event at The Haçienda nightclub in Manchester, Chris Lowe of the duo selected "Go West" as the song they would perform. Though singer Neil Tennant was unable to remember the lyrics during that performance, the two decided to record it as a single.
The original single version of the song, set for an earlier release in 1992 as a non-album single, was never used; both it, and its similarly unreleased B-side "Forever in Love", were eventually released on the 2001 expanded reissue of Very. The final single release, in 1993, was the second single from Very, and included remixes by Brothers in Rhythm, Farley & Heller, Kevin Saunderson, and Mark Stent; the new B-side, "Shameless", went on to be included in the band's 2001 musical, Closer to Heaven. The 1993 single release went to number two in the United Kingdom and number one in Germany; in both countries, it was their biggest hit of the 1990s or the 2000s (so far).[citation needed] "Go West" has since become Pet Shop Boys' traditional concert closer.[citation needed]
[edit] Changes
Musically, the new version played up the basis of the original's chord progression in Pachelbel's Canon, bringing the theme to the forefront in the opening of the song. The song also underwent extensive reworkings of its instrumental tracks, with producers Stephen Hague and Mark Stent credited for the mixing, as well as an all-male Broadway choir (said by Tennant to be inspired by the song "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" from the Broadway musical South Pacific). In addition, Tennant and Lowe inserted a new section to the song, with the lyrics:
- There where the air is free
- we'll be what we want to be
- Now if we make a stand
- we'll find our promised land[2]
Where the original was sincerely idealistic in its depiction of an utopia, the Pet Shop Boys version, characteristic of the band, introduced a layer of subtext — here, sadness and a hopeless optimism, inspired by the aftermath of the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s and how it had affected the supposed utopia of the original version.
In addition, the music video of the new version introduced Soviet Union imagery (such as red stars), showing troops of identical men marching up a staircase stretching into the clouds, with the Statue of Liberty looming in the distance — seemingly towards a promised Western utopia. Directed by Howard Greenhaugh, the video relied heavily on computer-generated imagery, as was the case with his entire series of videos for the Very singles.
One of the few real-life elements were Tennant and Lowe, dressed in blue and yellow bodysuits and round, domed helmets (among a series of costumes they adapted for promotion of the singles off of Very); one of the few real-life backdrops used was Red Square, Moscow, which the pair is seen walking through, wearing the costumes. (The costumes were parodied in the video for their later 2006 single, "I'm with Stupid".)[3] Adding to the Soviet theme, the song also drew comparisons to the National Anthem of the Soviet Union. The video was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1995, losing to "Love Is Strong" by The Rolling Stones.[4]
Years later, when Pet Shop Boys closed their set at the July 2, 2005 Moscow Live 8 concert in Red Square with the song, the Russian audience could be audibly heard singing along.
[edit] In culture
The tune of "Go West" has been adopted by football and hockey fans of some countries, including England, for various chants, such as the Arsenal supporters' chant "One-nil to the Arsenal" or the West Bromwich Albion chant "Go West Bromwich Albion". A famous chant version in the 1990's was "We Love Eric Cantona". An orchestral version of the song was adopted by FIFA as the official theme of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Entitled "Stand Up! (Champions Theme)", it was played inside stadia after every match of the tournament and is sung by Patrizio Buanne. When alleged serial killer Fred West committed suicide, some football fans turned the song into a send up of him.
In the 1994 Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the song is played on the soundtrack as the three main characters take to the road.
In the 2004 German film Summer Storm, the song is played during the rowing competition at the end of the film. It is performed by the Sound City Girls.
"Go West" is one of the songs in the North American home version of Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME, as well as its European counterpart, Dancing Stage Fusion.
In Western Australia throughout the 1990's "Go West" was the tune and face of Bank West used on their TV ads. It is also a common word in Australia when talking about WA or visiting there.
[edit] Notes
- ^ O'Donovan, Connell (June 1999). Go West - This is Our Destiny. Connell O'Donovan's Home Page. Retrieved on 2006-05-21.
- ^ Go West (lyrics). Pet Shop Boys official website. Retrieved on 2006-05-25.
- ^ The new video: exclusive tonight. Pet Shop Boys official website news (April 14, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-05-21.
- ^ Past Winners Database: 1994 37th Grammy Awards. The Envelope: The Ultimate Awards Site. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
[edit] References
- (2001). "Go West". Very / Further Listening 1992-1994 [CD liner notes].
- Gill, J (1997-2002). The History of Casablanca Records. The KISS FAQ. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
- Longmire, Ernie and Steffen Gärtner (1989-2006). Gardner's Pet Shop Boys Discography (TXT). Gardner Publishing Ltd. Retrieved on 2006-05-21.
| Pet Shop Boys |
| Neil Tennant | Chris Lowe |
| Discography |
| Albums: Please | Actually | Introspective | Behaviour | Very | Bilingual | Nightlife | Release | Fundamental |
| Soundtracks and scores: Closer to Heaven (Original Cast Recording) | Battleship Potemkin |
| Remix albums: Disco | Disco 2 | Disco 3 |
| Compilations: Discography: The Complete Singles Collection | Alternative | PopArt: The Hits | Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys |
| Live: Concrete |
| Singles: "West End girls" | "Love comes quickly" | "Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)" | "Suburbia" | "It's a Sin" | "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" | "Rent" | "Always On My Mind" | "Heart" | "Domino dancing" | "Left to my own devices" | "It's alright" | "So Hard" | "Being Boring" | "Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you)" | "How can you expect to be taken seriously?" | "Jealousy" | "DJ Culture" | "Was it worth it?" | "Can you forgive her?" | "Go West" | "I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing" | "Liberation" | "Yesterday, when I was mad" | "Paninaro '95" | "Before" | "Se a vida é (That’s the way life is)" | "Single-Bilingual" | "Somewhere" | "I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more" | "New York City boy" | "You only tell me you love me when you're drunk" | "Home and dry" | "I get along" | "London" | "Miracles" | "Flamboyant" | "I'm with Stupid" | "Minimal" | "Numb" | "She's Madonna" |
| Related Articles |
| Other projects: It Couldn't Happen Here | Reputation | Results | Spaghetti Records | Closer to Heaven |
