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"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.
[edit] Village People versionOriginally released as a single in 1979, it was not as popular as the group's other contemporary singles such as "Y.M.C.A." 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] Both the 7" and 12" versions of the song were subsequently collected in various greatest hits collections, including a 1997 radio remix which was made in the wake of the success of Pet Shop Boys' 1993 version. [edit] Pet Shop Boys version[edit] HistoryIn 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. It also was mistakedly placed on the 2009 compilation Party. 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] The single also reached #1 in Ireland, the last of the duo's four Irish #1 singles to date. "Go West" has since become Pet Shop Boys' traditional concert closer.[2] The Swedish PSB cover band West End Girls released their version of the song in January 2006. In 2007, Rhydian performed the song on The X Factor, surrounded by men in sailor outfits. [edit] ChangesMusically, 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. In addition to the Canon elements, the new version also includes thematic elements from the old Soviet Union anthem. 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[citation needed] 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:
Where the original was sincerely idealistic in its depiction of a 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 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 Greenhalgh, 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 from Very); one of the few real-life backdrops used was Red Square, Moscow, which the pair are seen walking through, while wearing the costumes. (The costumes were parodied in the video for their later 2006 single, "I'm with Stupid".)[4] 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.[5] 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 heard singing along. [edit] Music videoThe original music video for the Pet Shop Boys version of the song prominently features Communist iconography, especially the red star and red flags selectively obliterating scenes. The Statue of Liberty is also shown, frequently with a red crown, and at least once is seen to appear to crumble as the red-crowned troops dressed in white advance across the landscape of the video. The music video was directed by Simon J. Smith. [edit] Track listing[edit] 7": Parlophone / R 6356 (UK)A. "Go West (5:03) B. Shameless (5:04) [edit] 12": Parlophone / 12R 6356 (UK)A. "Go West" (Mings Gone West: First And Second Movement) (10:12) B1. "Go West" (Farley And Heller Disco Mix) (6:01) B2. "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson Tribe Mix) (6:50) [edit] CD: Parlophone / CDR 6356 (UK)
[edit] CD: EMI / E2-58084 (US)
[edit] Chart performance
[edit] In culture
Pet Shop Boys' version of "Go West" has been adopted by football and hockey fans of some countries, including the United Kingdom, for various chants. Manchester United fans were the first to begin chanting this shortly after winning the inaugural Premiership[citation needed]. After United took the lead the chant would go up "1-0 to the champions" or at any time during a game the fans would sing "Stand up, for the champions" with all fans rising and clapping. Consequently, when United went away from home rival fans would respond by chanting "Stand Up, if you hate Man U". The United fans also used the song to idolize Eric Cantona singing "Ohh Ahh, Eric Cantona" although this was not as popular as other Cantona songs. It is also used by fans of many clubs such as the Arsenal supporters' chant "One-nil to the Arsenal", against Arsenal itself, as in "Nayim from the half-way line", the West Bromwich Albion chant "Go West Bromwich Albion" and the Liverpool F.C "Gérard Houllier" song. 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 stadiums after every match of the tournament and is sung by Patrizio Buanne. The music for the song has also been adapted for a chant for South Korea's national football team and could often be heard when Korea played during the 2002 and 2006 World Cup games. In some Dutch and Belgium stadiums, the song is sung by supporters of the winning side, with lyrics: "'t is stil aan de overkant" (it's quiet on the other side). When suspected serial killer Fred West committed suicide, some football fans turned the song into a send up of him. The song is also used to taunt supporters of teams from the west country such as Torquay United, Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town where the words are changed to 'Go west where the football's crap'. In the 1994 Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the Village People recording is played on the soundtrack as the three main characters take to the road. It also features as a musical number in the film's musical adaptation Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical. 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 1990s "Go West" was the tune and face of BankWest used on their TV ads. To the tune of "Go West", Sharwoods, a brand of curry sauces made a tune called "Go East" with the most memorable lyrics of "Go east... Chinese, Indian, Thai." The tune was also used in an advertising campaign during in 1998-99 for Ambrosia Creamed Rice to the lyrics "Oooh Arghhh, it's Ambrosia" - sung by a man with a west country accent whilst riding a cow. On April 15 2009, during the memorial service at Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium for the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, Liverpool fans used this tune to chant 'Justice for the 96', a reference to the unresolved controversy surrounding the policing of the football match where 96 Liverpool fans died. On October 15, 2009, That Guy With The Glasses put some of his first videos he ever made calling them Flashbacks and the first one had this song for background music in the video Go West Redux. [edit] Notes
[edit] References
Categories: 1979 singles | 1993 singles | Songs written by Jacques Morali | Songs written by Henri Belolo | Songs written by Victor Willis | Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number-one singles | Number-one singles in Germany | Village People songs | Football songs and chants | Pet Shop Boys songs | LGBT-related songs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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