Liberation (Pet Shop Boys song)

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"Liberation"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Very
B-side
  • "Decadence"
  • "Young Offender"
Released4 April 1994 (1994-04-04)[1]
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:05
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing"
(1993) 		"Liberation"
(1994) 		"Absolutely Fabulous"
(1994)
Music video
"Liberation" on YouTube

"Liberation" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released by Parlophone as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the lowest-charting single from Very in the United Kingdom.[2] Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. The single's B-side, "Decadence", featuring Pat O'Brien was on the Further Listening: 1992–1994 re-release of Very, and the B-sides compilation Alternative.

Critical reception[edit]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "The single makes a strong showing, not least due to the fact that the gorgeous ballad is one of the best tracks from the album. What gives it an extra boost is the innovating virtual reality video, currently touring the country in a roadshow whereby punters can climb into a booth and experience the state of the art computer graphics at first hand. Even the standard 2D version is a wonder to behold, whatever happens to the single it is surely a candidate for video of the year."[3] Sarra Manning from Melody Maker felt it's "a bit limp and lifeless after the oomphing crescendoes of "Go West" and "Can You Forgive Her?" Still, it's harmless enough in a Chianti-grooved, falsetto kind of way."[4]

Alan Jones from Music Week rated the song four out of five, naming it Pick of the Week. He commented, "Sleek and sophisticated in its original mix, expensive strings underscore Neil Tennant's typically mournful vocals. [...] The fourth hit from the PSBs album Very, and a big one."[5] Johnny Cigarettes of NME wrote, "This single will witness few embarrassing tongue cavortings around youth club discos, because apart from a particularly divine chord change in the bridge, this is simply too laid-back and Sunday afternoon snooze-ish to reach the intended heart strings. The tune's hardly a gasser either."[6] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits also gave it four out of five, writing, "This is not the Pettoes at the absolute pinnacle of their powers, but "Liberation" still has more than enough going for it to merit mass swooning. [...] This is a touchingly tender tinkle through an achingly sad song, with Neil's vocals at their very wispiest, so may I suggest a smart top hat and tails, in day-glo lilac with matching feather dusters. The song's absolutely marvellous, by the way."[7] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin remarked its "sigh of surrender".[8]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for the song, directed by British director Howard Greenhalgh, is almost entirely CG, an early example of exclusively CG output. The only live-action footage the video features is Neil Tennant's face, seen singing on gold circles. Other features in the video are reminiscent of the duo, including several disembodied heads wearing tall pointy caps (like those seen in the video for "Can You Forgive Her?") and animated versions of the object on the cover, a 3D rendering of Neil and Chris's silhouettes. The video was used as part of CyberWorld, an early 3D cinema demonstration, on IMAX screens across the UK and elsewhere in 2000 and 2001.

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Liberation"
Chart (1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17][18] 63
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[19] 27
Europe (European AC Radio)[20] 13
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 8
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 51
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 22
Scotland (OCC)[24] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 14
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[25] 28

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Liberation". petshopboys.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  3. ^ Masterton, James (10 April 1994). "Week Ending April 16th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. ^ Manning, Sarra (16 April 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (9 April 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  6. ^ Cigarettes, Johnny (23 April 1994). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 43.
  7. ^ Sutherland, Mark (30 March 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (November 1993). "Spins". Spin. p. 130. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ Liberation (UK CD1 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. CDRS 6377, 7243 8 81305 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Liberation (Australian CD1 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. 8813082.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Liberation (UK CD2 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. CDR 6377, 7243 8 81306 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Liberation (Australian CD2 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. 8813062.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Liberation (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. R 6377, 7243 8 81305 7 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Liberation (UK cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. TCR 6377, 7243 8 81305 4 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Liberation (European CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. 7243 8 81307 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Liberation (UK 2×12-inch single vinyl discs). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1994. 12R 6377, 7243 8 81366 6 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 17 Jul 1994". The ARIA Report – via Imgur.
  18. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 216.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 18. 30 April 1994. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 June 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 233. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  22. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Liberation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Liberation". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  25. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 23 April 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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