EN SE DE
  • If you had grown up, like Isabelle in the West End Girls did, in a jungle of yellow record crates stuffed with synth pop and disco vinyl from the eighties and nineties, then you would probably also have discovered the Pet Shop Boys when you were four. The unique sound and clear-cut images of those legendary Brits are alluring at first sight, whatever age you are. And then, if you meet your kindred spirit Rosanna when you’re eight, and go running down the old road at Årsta Havsbad singing Can You Forgive Her in pretend English, well, then the seed of something truly delightful has been sown.


  • The shortage of successful interpretations of the priceless PSB collection of tunes is probably due to a fear of failure. Most of those who have felt the urge have been painfully aware that it would be impossible to improve on the originals, to add anything or even to do them justice. The handful who have tried have proven that this fear was justified. For a Pet Shop Boys cover to work, it has to be done with an innocent approach. And naturally, with a love and respect for the originals, combined with a blatant disregard for their lofty status. I have a feeling the West End Girls haven’t even thought much about all that. And that’s why they succeeded. They simply think the Pet Shop Boys are a great pop group.
    And that shows good taste.


  • The Swedish tabloids immediately dubbed them the Pet Shop Girls from Haninge, and their guest book was filled with praise from PSB fans all over the world. The fact that the single shot right up to sixth position on the sales chart was perhaps sensational to those involved.But hardly a surprise.