Paninaro (song)

"Paninaro '95"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
A-side	"Suburbia"
B-side	"Girls & Boys" (live in Rio)
Released	24 July 1995
Format	12", CD
Genre	Synthpop
Length	4:40 (original 1986 version) 4:07 (1995 remix)
Label	Parlophone / EMI
Writer(s)	Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer(s)	Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Yesterday, When I Was Mad" (1994) "Paninaro '95" (1995) "Before" (1996)

The capitalization of song titles in this article may be disputed. Please see the centralized discussion on this subject before making changes.

"Paninaro" is a song by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys.^[1] Originally a B-side to the 1986 single "Suburbia", it was released as a limited-edition single in Italy during the same year.

In 1995, a re-recording titled "Paninaro '95" was released to a wider market, to promote the B-side compilation Alternative (though only the original version was included on the compilation).

Overview

The song is about the 1980s Italian youth subculture known as the paninari; derived from the word panino, Italian for sandwich, they were known for congregating in restaurants serving sandwiches and in the first US-style fast food restaurants, as well as their preference for designer clothing and 1980s pop music such as the New Romantic music of Duran Duran. Neil Tennant has said that they were drawn to the concept due to having shared those preferences.

Lyrics

"Paninaro" is one of the few Pet Shop Boys songs in which Chris Lowe provides the majority of the vocals. Tennant, meanwhile, only sings the title repeatedly in intervals.

The main lyrical motif consists of eight words:

Passion and love and sex and money

Violence, religion, injustice and death

These words are repeated at the end of the song in a soliloquy to the singer's "lover".

In reference to the fashion of the paninari, references to prestigious Italian fashion designers are repeated throughout the song:

Armani, Armani, ah-ah-Armani

Versace, cinque

(Although Versace was removed from the 7-inch B-side and from the 1995 version.)

In addition, the middle of the song contains a sample of a 1986 Entertainment Tonight interview with the band:

Release

The song was included on the 1998 compilation album Essential. A remixed version was included on the 1986 remix album Disco, and on the companion disc to the 2001 remastered re-release of their 1986 debut album Please, called Further Listening 1984–1986.

1995 version

The new recording included a rap in the middle of the song, newly written by Lowe; it laments the loss of the "lover" referred to in the pre-existing lyrics. The written lyrics in the final are also changed to "were" rather than "are" in referring to the lost love.

Release

The 1995 version received remixes from Angel Moraes, Tin Tin Out, and Tracy & Sharon. Tom Stephan of Tracy & Sharon would continue to remix for the Pet Shop Boys as his later alias Superchumbo.

The 1995 version is included on the 2003 compilation album PopArt and the 2001 2CD re-release of Bilingual.

1995 release track listing

CD 1 (UK)

1. "Paninaro '95" (Extended Mix) – 7:30
2. "Paninaro '95" (Tin Tin Out Mix) – 7:47
3. "Paninaro '95" (Tracy's 12' Mix) – 8:30
4. "Paninaro '95" (Sharon's Sexy Boyz Dub) – 5:47
5. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes' Deep Dance Mix) – 10:39

CD 2 (UK)

1. "Paninaro '95" – 4:10
2. "In the Night" – 4:24 (Arthur Baker Remix)
3. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys live in Rio) – 5:04

12" (UK)

A1. "Paninaro '95" (Tracy's 12" Mix) – 8:28 A2. "Paninaro '95" (Sharon's Sexy Boyz Dub) – 5:47

B1. "Paninaro '95" (Tin Tin Out Mix) – 7:47 B2. "Paninaro '95" (Pet Shop Boys Extended Mix) – 7:30

12" #2 (UK)

A. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes' Deep Dance Mix) – 10:39

B1. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes' Girls Boys in Dub) – 11:57 B2. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes' The Hot N Spycy Dub) – 9:35

Chart performance

Music videos

Original

A self-produced music video, filmed in Italy, was used for the original release; it consisted of footage of the duo singing the song alongside locals.

1995 version

The "Paninaro '95" video was directed by long-time Pet Shop Boys director Howard Greenhalgh. The Top of the Pops performance of "Paninaro '95" replicated the imagery of the music video, with the same costumes, lighting, and male dancers involved.

References