Jealousy

Album: Behaviour (1990)
Charted: 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is written from the perspective of a jealous man who stays up all night, tormented, wondering where his lover is and why he's being ignored. Typical of a Pet Shop Boys song, the gender is not specified. Frontman Neil Tennant, who wrote the lyric, came out as gay in 1994.
  • "Jealousy" is the first song the Pet Shop Boys duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe wrote together. They composed it in 1982, a year after they met, but didn't record it until 1990, when they included it on their fourth album, Behaviour. Synthesizer wizard Harold Faltermeyer produced the album with the group.
  • The video is set in an elegant restaurant where a girl and a guy (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - Malko from Game of Thrones, Mr. Eko from Lost) leave their partners, meet in the bathroom, and get it on. When they return, the jilted guy goes into a jealous rage and starts a slow-motion brawl.

    It was directed by Eric Watson, who also did the Pet Shop Boys videos for "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" and "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.