"Before" | ||||
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Single by Pet Shop Boys | ||||
from the album Bilingual | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 22 April 1996 | |||
Genre | Disco [1] | |||
Length | 4:32 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Pet Shop Boys singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Before" on YouTube |
"Before" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 April 1996 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). Upon its release, the single peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Finland, and number one in Hungary. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a tasteful blend of electro-pop and retro-disco", [2] and an "vigorous and appealing house shuffler". He also noted that it "rides the act's familiar flair for clever lyrics and smooth melodies". [3] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update noted its "gentle cooing". [4]
The accompanying music video for "Before" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.[ citation needed ]
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 22 April 1996 |
| Parlophone | [36] |
20 May 1996 | 3×12-inch vinyl | [37] | ||
United States | 17 June 1996 | 12-inch vinyl | Atlantic | [38] |
17 July 1996 | Enhanced CD | [38] | ||
23 July 1996 | [39] |
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