"Domino Dancing" is a song by English
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s ...
duo
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
, released as the lead single from their third studio album, ''
Introspective
''Introspective'' is the third studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 10 October 1988 by Parlophone. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Background
The album was unusual in that it reversed the typi ...
'' (1988). It reached number seven on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
and topped the charts in Finland and Spain.
Background
Written by
Chris Lowe
Christopher Sean Lowe (born 4 October 1959) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Neil Tennant in 1981.
Biography
Lowe attended Arnold School, an independent ...
and
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and music journalist, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He was a journalist for ''Smash Hits'', and a ...
, and influenced by
Latin pop
Latin pop (in Spanish and in Portuguese: Pop latino) is a pop music subgenre that is a fusion of US–style music production with Latin music genres from anywhere in Latin America and Spain. Originating in Spanish-speaking musicians, Latin po ...
, the song was produced by
Lewis A. Martinée, the Miami-based producer behind 1980s
freestyle groups such as
Exposé
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:
News sources
* Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism
* '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website
Film and TV Film
* ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film
* ''Exposed'' (1932 ...
. The song was recorded at Martinée's studio in Miami, resulting in a considerably large number of studio musicians being featured on it for a Pet Shop Boys song.
The duo had achieved three number ones in 1987 and 1988, and ''Domino Dancing'' was expected to continue this success. However, the public reception to the duo's new Latin sound proved disappointing. Tennant remembers: "...it entered the charts at number nine and I thought, 'that's that, then – it's all over'. I knew then that our
imperial phase of number one hits was over."
The single missed the top 10 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 18, and was the duo's sixth and, to date, last top-20 entry in the United States. (In fact, they have not made the top 60 since "Domino Dancing".) The song did reach number five on the ''Billboard''
Hot Dance Club Play
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
chart, where the duo has seen more consistent success.
Critical reception
Pan-European magazine ''
Music & Media
''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...
'' wrote, "Their knack of creating irresistible synthesizer-driven pop songs never seems to diminish. Not their best, but still better than most of the competition."
Music video
The
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for "Domino Dancing" was directed by
Eric Watson and was his sixth of eleven collaborations with the band.
The storyline is about a love triangle between two handsome young men who are fighting over a beautiful woman. ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' magazine calls the video "probably the most homoerotic pop video ever made", citing the slow-motion shots of the boys wrestling on the beach:
The video was taped in about four days in the old
colonial district of
San Juan,
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
, in 1988. One of the locations that was featured in the music video is the
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
__NOTOC__
The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863 under ...
.
All the lead actors were Puerto Rican; the two boys were David Boira and Adalberto Martinez Mojica and the girl was Donna Bottman, who was an aspiring actress and model. All of them were cast by the Pet Shop Boys.
''Domino Dancing'' (extended version) is a seven-minute dance song, combined with Lowe's synth melodies, Cuban brass and
hip hop beats.
Versions
* ''Domino Dancing'' (short video 7″) – 4:18
* ''Domino Dancing'' (extended version 12″ remix) – 7:41
Cast
*
Chris Lowe
Christopher Sean Lowe (born 4 October 1959) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Neil Tennant in 1981.
Biography
Lowe attended Arnold School, an independent ...
as Himself
*
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and music journalist, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He was a journalist for ''Smash Hits'', and a ...
as Himself
* David Boira as Boy
* Adalberto Martinez Mojica as Boy
* Donna Bottman as Girl
Track listings
* 7": Parlophone / R 6190 (UK)
# "Domino Dancing" – 4:17
# "Don Juan" – 3:53
* 12": Parlophone / 12 R 6190 (UK)
# "Domino Dancing" (Disco mix) – 7:41
# "Don Juan" (Disco mix) – 7:32
# "Domino Dancing" (Alternative mix) – 4:42
* also released on MC (TCR 6190) and CD (CDR 6190)
* 12": Parlophone / 12 RX 6190 (UK)
# "Domino Dancing" (Base mix) – 5:53
# "Don Juan" (Demo) – 4:19
# "Domino Dancing" (Instrumental demo) – 4:45
* 12": EMI-Manhattan / V-56116 (US)
# "Domino Dancing" (Disco mix) – 7:41
# "Domino Dancing" (Single version) – 4:17
# "Don Juan" (Disco mix) – 7:32
# "Domino Dancing" (Alternative mix) – 4:48
(Longer outro)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Cover versions
The Swedish Pet Shop Boys
tribute band
A tribute act, tribute band or tribute group is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the songs and style of an artist, such as Elvi ...
West End Girls
"West End Girls" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. The song's lyrics are concerned with class and the pressures of inner-city life which were in ...
released a cover version of "Domino Dancing" in 2005 as a single from their album ''
Goes Petshopping
''Goes Petshopping'' is the first album by West End Girls, the Pet Shop Boys tribute band. In Japan, the album is titled ''We Love Pet Shop Boys!'', and features an exclusive bonus track.
Track listing
# "I'm Not Scared"
# "Domino Dancing"
# "S ...
'', peaking at number three on the Swedish Singles Chart.
References
{{authority control
1988 singles
1988 songs
Freestyle music songs
Latin pop songs
Number-one singles in Finland
Number-one singles in Spain
Parlophone singles
Pet Shop Boys songs
Songs written by Chris Lowe
Songs written by Neil Tennant
Works based on the Don Juan legend