Minimal (song)

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"Minimal"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Fundamental
B-side(s)	"In private", "Blue on blue", "No time for tears"
Released	24 July 2006
Format	7", CD, Maxi-CD, DVD
Recorded	2003-2005
Genre	Synthpop
Length	4:21 (album version) 3:27 (radio edit)
Label	Parlophone
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn, Pet Shop Boys
Chart positions
#19 (UK Singles Chart)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"I'm with Stupid" (2006)	"Minimal" (2006)	"Numb" (2006)

"Minimal" is a song by British synthpop band Pet Shop Boys and is featured on their 2006 album Fundamental. It was released 24 July 2006 as the second single from that album in the UK, entering the UK Singles Chart at #19 in the first week of its release (see 2006 in British music). It was their 37th Top 20 hit in the UK.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Track listings 2.1 CD: Parlophone / CDR6708 (UK) 2.2 CD: Parlophone / CDRS6708 (UK) 2.3 DVD: Parlophone / DVDR6708 (UK) 2.4 Promos 2.5 CD: Parlophone / CDRDJ6708 (UK) 2.6 CD: Parlophone / 00946 371144 2 1 (UK) 2.7 12": Parlophone / MINIMAL001 (UK) 3 Chart performance 4 Cover images 5 Music video 6 Trivia 7 External links

[edit] Overview

The lyrics, built around a chant of "M-I-N-I-M-A-L", are an abstract description of expressions of minimalism, such as "more is less" and "an empty box, an open space". This is contradicted by the upbeat, busy instrumentation and production.

Originally planned as the first single from Fundamental, it was subsequently moved down the release schedule when "I'm with Stupid" was chosen instead.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] CD: Parlophone / CDR6708 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (radio edit) - 3:40
2. "In private" (7-inch mix) - 4:13

• also released on clear 7" vinyl (R6708) on 31 July)

[edit] CD: Parlophone / CDRS6708 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (radio edit) - 3:40
2. "Minimal" (Tocadisco's Sunday at Space Remix) - 8:04
3. "Minimal" (M Factor Remix) - 8:49
4. "Minimal" (U-MYX software)

[edit] DVD: Parlophone / DVDR6708 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (Telex Hell mix)- 6:19
2. "Blue on blue" - 3:15
3. "No time for tears" (7-inch mix) - 3:39
4. "Minimal" (video)

[edit] Promos

[edit] CD: Parlophone / CDRDJ6708 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (radio edit) - 3:27

• released June 2006

[edit] CD: Parlophone / 00946 371144 2 1 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (radio edit) - 3:40
2. "Minimal" (Tocadisco's Sunday at Space Remix) - 8:04
3. "Minimal" (M Factor Remix) - 8:49
4. "Minimal" (M Factor dub) - 7:44
5. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L remix) - 5:38
6. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L dub) - 5:38
7. "Minimal" (Superchumbo's Light and Shade dub) - 8:28
8. "Minimal" (Telex Hell remix) - 6:19
9. "Minimal" (Telex Heaven remix) - 4:29
10. "In private" (Tomcraft 7" mix) - 3:51

• Remix Promo

[edit] 12": Parlophone / MINIMAL001 (UK)

1. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L remix) - 5:38
2. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L dub) - 5:38
3. "Minimal" (Telex Hell remix) - 6:19
4. "Minimal" (Telex Heaven remix) - 4:29

• Remix Promo

Another remix of "Minimal" by Lobe appears on the limited edition bonus CD of Fundamental, Fundamentalism. The Tiga remix was included on the Japanese release.

Another remix of Minimal by Radio Slave appears on the b-side of a 12" promo with two remixes of Psychological on the a-side by Ewan Pearson. These are part of the Numb promotion.

In addition, the U-MYX software on the maxi-CD allows people to create their own version of the single. On 25 July, Chris Lowe himself created a new version of the track using the software and uploaded it onto the U-MYX website.

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (2006)	Peak position
UK singles chart	19
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 1	3

• ¹ Currently active on this chart

[edit] Cover images

UK (7" & 2-Track CD)

UK/EU (Maxi CD)

UK/EU (DVD)

[edit] Music video

On 5 June 2006, it was announced that the video, directed by Dan Cameron, was completed in Paris.

The video itself, complementing the theme, was kept visually minimal; it consists largely of shots of the band silhouetted against a backdrop of flashing white neon lamps. These are interjected with shots of a dancing couple, exhibiting a sexual tension that contrasts against the sparse, rigid performance scenes.

[edit] Trivia

• "Blue on Blue" is the British term for "Friendly fire", which was also the title of a Pet Shop Boys song in their musical Closer to Heaven.

• On tour, "Minimal" segued into "Shopping", which is the other Pet Shop Boys song where they spell out the chorus.

[edit] External links

• Official artist site
• PSB U-Myx microsite
• PSB at dead of night fan site

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

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