Post-modern ironists cloaked behind a veil of buoyantly melodic and lushly romantic synth pop confections, Pet Shop Boys offer wry yet strangely affecting cultural commentary communicated by the Morse code of synth washes and drum machine rhythms. After first emerging in the mid-'80s with "West End Girls" and "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)," Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe quickly established themselves as hitmaking singles artists who were also able to craft emotionally resonant albums, like 1988's Introspective and 1990's Behaviour. The duo navigated the constantly shifting landscape of modern dance-pop with grace and intelligence, moving easily from disco to house music to thoughtful synth pop without losing their distinctive style in the process. Continuing to evolve artistically, Pet Shop Boys incorporated Latin music on 1996's Bilingual, expanded into theater and ballet, and morphed into elder statesmen of electronic pop, still able to release interesting albums after more than 30 years, as evidenced by highlights like 2016's Super and 2020's Hotspot.
Pet Shop Boys formed in London in August 1981, when vocalist Tennant (a former editor at Marvel Comics who later gained recognition as a journalist for Smash Hits magazine) first met keyboardist Lowe (a onetime architecture student) at an electronics shop. Discovering a shared passion for dance music and synthesizers, they immediately decided to start a band. After dubbing themselves Pet Shop Boys in honor of friends who worked in such an establishment -- while also obliquely nodding to the sort of names prevalent among the New York City hip-hop culture of the early '80s -- the duo's career first took flight in 1983, when Tennant met producer Bobby "O" Orlando while on a writing assignment. Orlando produced their first single, 1984's "West End Girls." The song was a minor hit in the U.S. but went nowhere in Britain, and its follow-up, "One More Chance," was also unsuccessful.
Upon signing to EMI, Pet Shop Boys issued 1985's biting "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)." When it too failed to attract attention, the duo's future appeared grim, but Tennant and Lowe then released an evocative new Stephen Hague production of "West End Girls," which became an international chart-topper. Its massive success propelled Pet Shop Boys' 1986 debut LP, Please, into the Top Ten, and when "Opportunities" was subsequently reissued, it too became a hit. Disco, a collection of dance remixes, was quickly rushed into stores, and in 1987 the duo resurfaced with the superb Actually, which launched two more Top Ten smashes -- "It's a Sin" and "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," a duet between Tennant and the great Dusty Springfield. Later that year, "Always on My Mind," a lovely cover of the perennial Elvis Presley standard, reached number one in several countries and the Top Ten in the U.S. A documentary film titled It Couldn't Happen Here was released one year later.
In October 1988, Pet Shop Boys issued their third studio LP, the eclectic Introspective. "Domino Dancing" and "Left to My Own Devices" both reached the Top Ten in Great Britain. The following year, Pet Shop Boys collaborated with a variety of performers, most notably Liza Minnelli, for whom they produced the 1989 LP Results. They also produced material for Springfield, and Tennant joined New Order frontman Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr in the group Electronic, scoring a hit with the single "Getting Away with It." Tennant and Lowe reconvened in 1990 for the muted, downcast Behavior, produced by Harold Faltermeyer. Their hit medley of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was released in 1991, and was followed in 1993 by Very, lauded as one of the duo's finest efforts.
After a three-year absence, Pet Shop Boys resurfaced with Bilingual, a fluid expansion into Latin rhythms. Nightlife followed in 1999 and sparked the dance club hit "New York City Boy," whose success allowed the group to tour the U.S. for the first time in eight years. While on tour, the pair also collaborated with playwright Jonathan Harvey on a musical surrounding gay life and societal criticisms, which the three had been planning since 1997. Closer to Heaven made its West End debut in 2001 and had a successful run for most of the year; Pet Shop Boys' score of the original cast recording was also a hit in the U.K. They still had time to make a record for themselves, too: In April 2002, Tennant and Lowe issued Release and Disco 3 was compiled for release the following year.
Pet Shop Boys continued releasing material throughout the decade's latter half. In 2005, they put together a volume of the Back to Mine series and released their music designed to accompany the 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin, a soundtrack they'd performed a year earlier at a free concert/screening in Trafalgar Square. A year later, they issued Fundamental, a mature, sometimes political album produced by Trevor Horn. The live album Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre appeared at the end of the year, and Yes -- a collaborative effort with the production crew Xenomania -- marked the band's tenth studio effort in March 2009. While playing shows in support of that album, Pet Shop Boys also released a hits compilation, Party, to coincide with the Brazilian leg of their tour. In 2010, the tour was documented on the CD/DVD release Pandemonium, and another greatest-hits compilation, Ultimate, arrived.
Their 2011 effort, The Most Incredible Thing, was a two-disc ballet score composed for the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, while 2012's Format rounded up the duo's B-sides and bonus tracks from the years 1996-2009. Also in 2012, Pet Shop Boys released the sports-themed single "Winner" and performed the track at the 2012 Olympics Summer Games, held that year in their hometown of London. The track landed on that year's album Elysium, which was produced by Kanye West affiliate Andrew Dawson. Stuart Price (Madonna, Seal, Kylie Minogue) was the producer of 2013's Electric, an album that featured no ballads, just dance tracks.
In May 2014, the duo announced more original music, this time with a concert piece scheduled for a July date at Royal Albert Hall commemorating British code breaker Alan Turing and including the BBC Concert Orchestra. Price returned as producer of 2016's Super, the second album in a row where Pet Shop Boys were "electronic purists," meaning no guitars, no orchestral support, and no organic instruments. The following year saw the band issue the Undertow EP, which featured two remixes of Super's "Undertow," a remix of "Burn," and a new version of "Left to My Own Devices," produced by Stuart Price. They were also awarded the Godlike Genius Award by NME.
The duo issued the Agenda EP in early 2019, and the live album CD/DVD/Blu-ray release Inner Sanctum appeared in April; it was recorded during Pet Shop Boys' four-day residency in July 2018 at the Royal Opera House in London. Later in the year, they started issuing songs from their next long-player, including "Dreamland," a collaboration with Years & Years, and "Burning the Heather," which featured Suede's Bernard Butler on guitar. The album, titled Hotspot, arrived in January 2020 and was their third LP to be produced by Price. Discovery (Live in Rio), a concert originally issued on video in 1995, was issued on DVD and CD for the first time in 2021. The duo also released a nearly ten-minute classical-inspired single titled "Cricket Wife."
In May 2022 Pet Shop and British pop duo Soft Cell released the album *Happiness Not Included - Soft Cell first studio album in nearly two decades. The colab included the song “Purple Zone”, blending the best of both Soft Cell and Pet Shop Boys, layering a dazzling synth riff and dance floor-ready beat with anthemic vocals. Appropriately for the pandemics, the track laments feeling stuck in the monotony of everyday mundanities: “Let’s get out of this life/ I’m afraid and alone,” goes the chorus. Paralyzed in the purple zone.”
Their much-anticipated “Unity Tour” of North America alongside New Order, rescheduled twice following pandemics delays, kicked off in Fall 2022 and included several venues in Canada and the United States, featuring Paul Oakenfold as special guest DJ.
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Nothing Has Been Proved
Pet Shop Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll soon be in the dock, and in the papers once again
Vicki's got her story about the mirror and the cane
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
Stephen's in his dressing-gown now, breakfasting alone
Too sick to eat, he's on his feet and to the telephone
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
In the House a resignation, guilty faces everyone
Christine's fallen out with Lucky, Johnny's got a gun
"Please, please me"'s number one
(It's a scandal, it's a scandal, such a scandal)
Now Stephen's in the dock for spending money that was earned
By Christine, and the prosecution says that money burned
A hole in Stephen's pocket, for expensive sins he yearned
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
In the news a suicide note, in the court an empty space
Even Mandy's looking worried, Christine's pale and drawn
"Please, please me"'s number one
(It's a scandal, it's a scandal, such a scandal)
Last night he wrote these words to his friend:
"Sorry about the mess"
"I'm guilty 'til proved innocent in the public eye and press"
The funeral's very quiet, because all his friends have fled
They may be false, they may be true
They've all got better things to do
They may be false, they may be true
But nothing has been proved, ooh
Nothing
Nothing has been proved
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
The song "Nothing Has Been Proved" by Pet Shop Boys is a commentary on the political, social, and cultural scandals of 1960s England, particularly the famous "Profumo Affair." The song tells the story of several characters, including Mandy, a call girl who tried to go to Spain and is now facing charges; Stephen, who is accused of spending money that was earned by his friend Christine; and Vicki, who has a story about a mirror and a cane that may or may not be true. The lyrics suggest that the truth is often elusive in situations like these, and that people are quick to judge and condemn without all the facts.
The references to popular songs of the time, such as "Please, Please Me," highlight the way scandal and gossip were intertwined with the music and culture of the era. The lyrics also touch on themes of guilt, innocence, and the power of the media to shape public perception.
Overall, "Nothing Has Been Proved" is a complex and compelling commentary on a turbulent time in English history, and a reminder that the truth is rarely simple.
Line by Line Meaning
Mandy's in the papers, 'cause she tried to go to Spain
Mandy is featured in the newspapers because of her attempt to go to Spain
She'll soon be in the dock, and in the papers once again
Mandy will soon be on trial and featured in the newspapers again
Vicki's got her story about the mirror and the cane
Vicki has her own tale to tell, potentially involving a mirror and a cane
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
There is no evidence to support or refute Vicki's story
Stephen's in his dressing-gown now, breakfasting alone
Stephen is at home, wearing his dressing gown, eating breakfast alone
Too sick to eat, he's on his feet and to the telephone
Stephen is not feeling well, but he gets up to answer the phone
The police inspector soothes him with his sympathetic tone
The police inspector calms Stephen down by speaking to him with empathy
In the House a resignation, guilty faces everyone
A resignation has occurred in the House of Commons, and everyone looks guilty or ashamed
Christine's fallen out with Lucky, Johnny's got a gun
Christine and Lucky have had an argument, and Johnny has acquired a gun
"Please, please me"'s number one
(It's a scandal, it's a scandal, such a scandal)
The Beatles' "Please, please me" is at the top of the charts, amidst all this controversy
Now Stephen's in the dock for spending money that was earned
By Christine, and the prosecution says that money burned
A hole in Stephen's pocket, for expensive sins he yearned
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
Stephen is now on trial for spending money that belonged to Christine, and the prosecution alleges that this money was used for sinful and costly purposes, however, there is no solid evidence to demonstrate whether these allegations are true or not.
In the news a suicide note, in the court an empty space
Even Mandy's looking worried, Christine's pale and drawn
"Please, please me"'s number one
(It's a scandal, it's a scandal, such a scandal)
In the news, there is talk of a suicide note, and in court, there is an empty seat. Mandy wears a concerned expression, while Christine looks sickly white. Despite everything, the Beatles still hold onto their hit record.
Last night he wrote these words to his friend:
"Sorry about the mess"
"I'm guilty 'til proved innocent in the public eye and press"
The previous night, he made amends with a friend and apologized for the chaos. He acknowledges that in the public eye and press, one is considered guilty until proven innocent.
The funeral's very quiet, because all his friends have fled
The funeral is a solemn occasion because his friends have abandoned him, leaving him with hardly anyone to mourn his passing.
They may be false, they may be true
They've all got better things to do
They may be false, they may be true
But nothing has been proved, ooh
Nothing
Nothing has been proved
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
Nothing
No, nothing
The various allegations and rumors regarding the characters could either be true or false, but ultimately everyone has their own priorities and goals to attend to. With the absence of concrete evidence, nothing can be confirmed or denied.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER LOWE, NEIL TENNANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lesmartinsings
Fabulous...and credit to the Pet Shop Boys for resurrecting Dustys career.She was one of the very best best, sadly missed.
@roconnor01
It goes without saying that Dusty Springfield is brilliant, but Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe's orchestration is wonderful also.
@josenigro2333
Totalmente de acuerdo!
@Schwanenwerder
What an amazing Pet Shop Boys masterpiece, interpreted by a fascinating woman.
@robertclatworthy1857
Such a wonderful track for Dusty. Thank you PetShop Boys for bringing her back to us ♥️♥️
@notreallydavid
Secondeded. It's a monstrous shame she didn't get to live a long life with peace of mind - but the boys gave her a chance to do wonderful, widely appreciated work again. This was a fine, fine thing - they should be proud.
@jujubees5855
Dusty was a true queen. A perfectionist with her craft. Beauty.
@KowalskyLeon
Colaboration between the Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield brought wonderful fruits. I love the 3 songs they made together:
1. What have I done to deserve it
2. In privite
3. Nothing has been proved
What a nostalgia for those beautiful times. This song is my favourite among these 3.
@starshiptrouper
RIP Dusty, you’ll live forever in our ears and our hearts, a fabulous professional lady with attitude! !
@MsHolmi
This song is a masterpiece! What more can I say - I loved it then and I love it now!☀️👍🙏❣️