Soft Cell & The Pet Shop Boys – Purple Zone

More news !

Anybody want to hear about a future UK Number one? Before its even released?

Hope Im right, because my tunespotting gene fired up big time on this, and as formulas go for number ones, this song IMO has a mighty head start. Its got two 80`s legends of Synthpop on the same record for starters. In the video, you have Marc Almond in an Ice Cream Van (English Standard “Whippy” even) and the PSB`s pulling pints of bitter and playing dominoes in a typical English pub. Fun film. Should be subtitled “A Typical English Life circa 1980”. And the tune is good too, luckily enough.

What is not to like?

“The song was originally intended to be remixed by Pet Shop Boys until it morphed into a full collaboration, which Soft Cell’s David Ball has labelled as “probably our finest pop moment since the early 1980s”.“Working with the Pet Shop Boys was a pleasure, and this track is the perfect combination of us and them,” Soft Cell’s Marc Almond added, while Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with such an inspirational duo as Soft Cell on this gorgeous song.”

I can see it now… UK breakfast TV will be all over this. ! “So guys, nice to have you here on the sofa this morning. How does it feel to have a brand new number 1 after all these years?” Lets play the video. “oh there`s an album coming out too???” and a tour you say? ect. Then there`s going to be all those 80`s revival events where both Soft Cell & the PSB`s happen to be on the same line up..

You can bet our lords and masters would have been rubbing their hands when they heard this, and I`ll guarantee “lets make this a single” was mentioned more than once in hushed tones. Probably followed by a someone smoking a rather large Cuban cigar.

One worrying thing I did find (it cant be ALL good news can it)? was info regarding the release date:

Purple Zone is released on 11 November 2022, six months after the album which is out on 6 May!

hmmmm.. that makes lots of sense. maybe a rethink needed there lol. Isnt the M/O the strongest track from the album as a single to promote the album? I must be getting old.

Got me thinking tho, what a great 80`s hook up this actually is. Even better if they get Purple Disco Machine to remix it !

So, for funsies, going to throw this out to anyone reading:

Which two 80`s groups/artists/duo`s would you want to see get together & record ? Answers on a seaside postcard !

Me, after a little change of mind from something way too cheesy, I`m going for The Human League & Heaven 17. A match made in Sheffield and weren`t they once all The Human League anyway? I`d buy that. Reckon it`d be hit record too.

It was going to be Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones for the cheese thing, A new song from them.. Wouldnt that be good?

Further reading here and here

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