West End Girls
West End Girls is a 1984 song written by the band Pet Shop Boys. It appeared on the album Please. It was performed by Pet Shop Boys at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Reception
In general, the song received very good reviews. For example, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote a review of the album "Please", calling the song hypnotic. Rob Hoerburger of Rolling Stone rated the hit as catchy and the synth riffs as laughable. A Guardian critics' poll ranked the song number one in the top 100 number one hits in the UK charts in 2020.
A Swedish girl group cover band of the Pet Shop Boys calls themselves "West End Girls" after the song.
In episode #20 "Friendship Connects" of American Dad, Steve plays part of the song.
Music video
The music video, directed by Eric Watson, was shot in London. It consists of many scenes cut together: in one you see the underground, in the other a double-decker bus and also Tower Bridge. In the plot, the Pet Shop Boys perform the song in London.
Questions and Answers
Q: Who wrote and performed "West End Girls"?
A: "West End Girls" was written and performed by the British duo Pet Shop Boys.
Q: What is the genre of the song "West End Girls"?
A: The genre of "West End Girls" is pop with hip-hop influences.
Q: What are the lyrics of the song about?
A: The lyrics of the song are about inner-city life and class.
Q: When was the first version of the song released?
A: The first version of the song was released in April 1984.
Q: When was the new version of the song released?
A: The new version of the song was released in October 1985.
Q: Did the song become successful?
A: Yes, the song became a club hit in the United States and some European countries. It also hit #1 in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1986.
Q: Has the song received any awards?
A: Yes, the song won Best Single at the BRIT Awards in 1987, and in 2005 it was awarded Song of the Decade between 1985 and 1994 by British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
