Product Description

The DVD A Life In Pop is an expanded version of the Channel 4 Pet Shop Boys documentary with a total running time of 140 minutes, including some amazing extra footage, like the duos first ever TV performance West End Girls filmed on a 1984 show called Hit

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38444 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-21
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Import, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 175 minutes

Customer Reviews

Simply Pop: A Pet Shop Boys Tale
A Life in Pop details the life of our reluctant 80s Brit-pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys. From their now-infamous chance meeting at a local record store in the early 1980s, the Boys in their infancy managed to survive the stigma of being labeled a "one-hit wonder" with the likes of their breakout radio hit single "West End Girls", churning out a chain of hits including their now-groundbreaking "It's a Sin" and "Rent". Starting in their respective home towns in the north of England, singer Neil Tennant and enigmatic sidekick Chris Lowe retrace their remarkable 20-year journey in their own words. The film features some previously unseen live performances, rare television appearances (including their first ever from Belgium in 1984), and interviews with famous fans, collaborators and colleagues including Robbie Williams, Brandon Flowers, Tim Rice-Oxley, Jake Shears and Bruce Weber. Featuring 140 minutes of documentary as well as 8 bonus music videos, the disc includes their first ever TV performance and "What Have I Done to Deserve This" Brit Awards performance with the legendary Dusty Springfield. Overall, A Life in Pop is a fascinating in-depth documentary film chronicling the Pet Shop Boys' enduring and endearing success.

Comprehensive and carefully considered
This rich documentary, Pet Shop Boys: Life in Pop (2006), begins with Chris Lowe playing a Wurlitzer organ at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. From this auspicious and somewhat whimsical beginning, we hear about the duo that would eventually become the Pet Shop Boys. Alternating between Chris Lowe's suburban English childhood in Blackpool to Neil Tennant's early adventures in Newcastle, Tennant dreamt of rushing off to London all the while reading and gallivanting with friends at the local Literary and Philosophical Society. Running 140 minutes, this documentary, directed by George Scott, never meanders into pointless discussion.

Scott arranges carefully, the lengthy and ongoing career of these two highly talented pop musicians who would make history with their seminal hit, West End Girls. We are treated to anecdotes concerning their academic aspirations which influenced both of them, their careful and specific focus on their image, and the history behind their wide-ranging songs. Most of all, we get a sense of their enormous creative talent which distinguished them from other musicians because they never ceased "re-inventing" themselves in new ways. As a result, some of their work would be dismissed by critics only to be heralded in hindsight.

In addition to Tennant and Lowe, various interviews include: Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Los Angeles disc-jockey, Richard Blade, Robbie Williams (Take That), and other musicians and critics. There is footage of PSB working closely with Liza Minnelli and some thoughtful reflections from photographer, Bruce Weber, who would eventually direct two of PSB's videos, (e.g. Being Boring). The DVD includes a generous heaping of extras including a complete music clip of "What Have I Done to Deserve This" in concert with the unflappable Dusty Springfield performing with Tennant and Lowe. Life in Pop, given its nearly comprehensive treatment of its subject matter, may be of greater viewing advantage to seasoned Pet Shop Boys fans.

Completey informative and interesting
Watched it three times in the course of the first week I owned it. What can I say? We follow Neil and Chris through their childhoods, into the period when they met each other, and follow them through each album.
Inciteful and fun, we see the concepts behind each PSB release, including projects they did for other artists like Liza MInnelli and Dusty Springfield.
The film takes us right through their musical "Closer to heaven", the performance of "Battleship Potemkin", and their latest album "Fundamental"... right up to today basically!
Includes commentary by Liza Minnelli, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, Bruce Weber, and of course, a lengthy interview with both Boys.
Fabulous for any Petheads collection.