Pets (song)

Pets is a song by alternative rock band Porno for Pyros and the second single from their 1993 self-titled album Porno for Pyros. The Cursed Female / Cursed Male single preceded Pets, but saw only a limited radio station and promotional release making Pets the first widely available commercial single from the album.^[1]

The song became a #1 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.^[2] The song's success was aided, in part, by a unique video directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (they would later direct the critically acclaimed film Little Miss Sunshine) which received heavy rotation on MTV.

Music

"Pets" deals with dissatisfaction with the human race ("Adults are even more fucked up") and how the human race is on the brink of destruction ("My friend says we're like the dinosaurs only we are doing ourselves in much faster than they ever did"). The song then describes how maybe aliens will be able to take over for us, and then states that we would make great pets to our overlords.

A single/radio edit that was included on all versions of the single censors the profanity to make the song acceptable for radio play. No material was cut; the edit has virtually the same running length as the album version.

Most versions of the single include the non-album track "Tonight," recorded during the Porno for Pyros album sessions. "Tonight" is a cover of a song written in 1956 from the Broadway musical West Side Story. The song was written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. "Tonight" was previously unreleased.

The non-album b-side "Cursed Female / Cursed Male (Medley)" found on some versions of the single was previously released on Porno for Pyros' first single, Cursed Female / Cursed Male.^[3]

Packaging

There were several different versions of the Pets single released in 1993. The standard (and most common) version, released on both CD and 7" vinyl, includes only the radio edit of the title track and the b-side "Tonight."^[1]

The second, and possibly most sought-after, version dubbed "Limited Edition" features two additional tracks as well as three full-panel band photos. Like the standard edition, the "Limited Edition" is also available on CD and vinyl (this time 12"). The 12" vinyl version is a picture disc that features the cover art from the album Porno for Pyros embossed on the A-side of the vinyl itself, while the B-side features the band's red "Devil" logo. The additional tracks found on this version are the standard album version of "Pets" and "Cursed Female / Cursed Male (Medley)."^[1]

Various other import and promotional versions were released, all containing some combination of these four tracks.

Track listing (Standard Edition)

All songs written and composed by Porno for Pyros (Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Martyn LeNoble and Peter DiStefano) except where noted..

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Pets" (Radio edit)		3:37
2.	"Tonight" (previously unreleased)	Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim	3:35
Total length:			7:12

Track listing (Limited Edition)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Pets" (Radio edit)		3:37
2.	"Pets" (Album version)		3:36
3.	"Tonight" (previously unreleased)	Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim	3:35
4.	"Cursed Female / Cursed Male" (Medley)		7:08
Total length:			17:56

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Porno for Pyros Discography: Pets". JanesAddiction.org. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
↑ Alternative Songs, Billboard.com, June 19, 1993
↑ "Porno for Pyros Discography: Cursed Female / Cursed Male". JanesAddiction.org. Retrieved 11 Jun 2013.