Before (song)

Last updated

"Before"
Before-PetShopBoys.jpg
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Bilingual
B-side
  • "The Truck Driver and His Mate"
  • "Hit and Miss"
  • "In the Night '95"
Released22 April 1996 (1996-04-22)
Genre Disco [1]
Length4:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Paninaro '95"
(1995)
"Before"
(1996)
"Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)"
(1996)
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.

Contents

Critical reception

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]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Before" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.[ citation needed ]

Track listings

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Before"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom22 April 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
Parlophone [36]
20 May 19963×12-inch vinyl [37]
United States17 June 199612-inch vinyl Atlantic [38]
17 July 1996Enhanced CD [38]
23 July 1996 [39]

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References

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  3. Flick, Larry (29 June 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard . p. 80. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  4. Hamilton, James (27 April 1996). "DJ Directory" (PDF). Music Week . p. 11. Retrieved 16 August 2021 via Record Mirror.
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  10. Before (European CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 7243 8 82834 2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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