Suburbia

Album: Please (1986)
Charted: 8 70
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the 1984 movie Suburbia, directed by Penelope Spheeris. The film is about young people growing up in the Los Angeles suburbs amid abuse and decay. Spheeris is very rock and roll: she directed the landmark 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, which chronicles the LA punk scene. She also directed the 1992 movie Wayne's World.

    Another musical connection to Suburbia: Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers appears in the film.
  • "Suburbia" was the fifth and final single from the Pet Shop Boys debut album, Please. The group had released "West End Girls" as a single in 1984, but it wasn't until they signed with EMI in 1985 and released a new version of the song that their career took off. In America, they had a steady stream of modest hits after "West End Girls," but in their native UK, they went gangbusters, landing four #1 by 1989.

    Club play had a lot to do with their success; unlike rock bands that built of fanbases by touring, they synth-based Pet Shop Boys stayed off the road.
  • Eric Watson, who also directed the videos for "West End Girls" and "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)," helmed the "Suburbia" video. It was shot in both Los Angeles and London.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."