Left to My Own Devices

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

"Left to My Own Devices"
Lefttomyowndevices.jpg
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Introspective
B-side "The Sound of the Atom Splitting"
Released14 November 1988 (1988-11-14)
Genre
Length
  • 8:16 (album version)
  • 4:43 (7-inch)
Label Parlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Domino Dancing"
(1988)
"Left to My Own Devices"
(1988)
"It's Alright"
(1989)
Alternative cover
Lefttomyowndevicesuk.jpg
12-inch single cover

"Left to My Own Devices" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in November 1988 by Parlophone as the second single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). It is the first track of the album. The song fared better than the album's lead single, "Domino Dancing", charting three positions higher on the UK Singles Chart, at number four. [1] It was the first song that Pet Shop Boys recorded with an orchestra, arranged by Richard Niles. [2] Since its release, it has become a staple of Pet Shop Boys' live performances. [3] Eric Watson directed its music video. [4]

Contents

Background and composition

"Left to My Own Devices" was written because Pet Shop Boys wanted to work with producer Trevor Horn and they needed a song to record. [5] The day before their meeting with Horn, they made a demo at Abbey Road Studios of an instrumental by Chris Lowe, with a line Neil Tennant came up with, "left to my own devices I probably would". Tennant finished the lyrics a few days later, and explained his process:

That's when I realised what the song was about - that this person goes through life always doing what he wanted to do. I liked the idea of writing a really up pop song about being left alone. [6]

... The song is a day in the life of someone, so it starts off with getting out of bed and being on the phone and drinking tea and all the rest of it, and it ends up with coming home. ... By this time I was making the words very exaggerated and camp, though writing a book and going on stage were both things I had wanted to do when I was young. [7]

Tennant called the song an exaggerated autobiography. [8] [9] He included a childhood reminiscence of being "in a world of my own at the back of the garden" playing with toy soldiers at his family home in Newcastle, although he actually pretended to be a Cavalier instead of "a Roundhead general" as in the song. [10] The "party animal" on the phone was Tennant's friend Jon Savage. [6] The line "It's not a crime" is from a Pet Shop Boys song of that name written in 1982 [9] that was released in 2024. Trevor Horn was the source of the phrase "Debussy to a disco beat", which Tennant paired with Che Guevara "to combine revolution with beauty." [7]

Recording and release

"Left to My Own Devices" was produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson. Lipson took the Pet Shop Boys' demo, which had a Motown sound, and added the popular house music influence of the time. [2] The song opens with mezzo-soprano Sally Bradshaw singing the word "house". [11]

An orchestra was recorded at Abbey Road, arranged and conducted by Richard Niles. Pet Shop Boys had not worked with an orchestra before and they were initially taken aback by the arrangement; Lowe in particular felt it was too much. The arrangement was pared down, but they retained most of it on the track and continued to work with Niles on future projects. [11]

The album version includes a long outro in which fragments of the main song lyrics are cut into a different order, such as "Che Guevara's drinking tea".

As with the other tracks on Introspective, it has a longer version on the album and was edited down to become more radio-friendly when released as a single. This is mainly due to Pet Shop Boys wanting to be different from other artists at the time. Tennant stated:

It was quite exciting to plan the songs as long because we had been so disciplined at making four-minute pop singles, with the exception of "It's a Sin", which is five minutes. The idea also was to have an album where every track was a single. [12]

Super version

In April 2017, Pet Shop Boys released a new version of "Left to My Own Devices" as a bonus track on the single "Undertow" from their 2016 album Super . It was produced by Stuart Price and was based on the live performance of the song during their Super Tour, [13] featuring tour musicians Afrika Green, Christina Hizon, and Simon Tellier on backing vocals, keyboards, and percussion. [14]

Critical reception

Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits named "Left to My Own Devices" Single of the Fortnight, writing, "Pop perfection from the winsome twosome. Complete with swank orchestra, this massive stomper galumphs away at a breakneck pace into all sorts of dramatic twists and turns, over which Neil's deadpan vocals sound brilliantly menacing. [...] A storming chorus plus! — plus! — one of those superbly pretentious talking bits Neil does, rounded off with a breathtaking violin swoosh, must ensure that this soars to the top of the charts and stays there for weeks and weeks. A truly awe-inspiring Single of the Fortnight." [15]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Left to My Own Devices", directed by longtime Pet Shop Boys director Eric Watson, primarily consists of Tennant and Lowe dancing on an invisible glass floor, with the camera angle facing upwards. Tennant and Lowe are joined by several acrobats who are also seen from the same camera angle. At one point, balloons are also visible.

Watson had used a similar technique, filming through layers of perspex, on the video for "Breakaway" by the Australian band Big Pig, but Pet Shop Boys were not happy with the result. Watson recalled, "I thought I'd pulled it off, but they were furious because it was so dark". [16] MTV declined to show the video due to the dim lighting.[ citation needed ]

Usage in other media

Turkey's longest-running weekly video-music programme Pop Saati (lit. Pop Hour) on TRT begins with the intro of the song. [17]

In 2024, the song was used in a television commercial titled "Clocking Off" for the British telecommunications company EE, depicting people leaving a drab workplace for a vibrant home life. [18]

Track listings

"Left to My Own Devices" is written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant; "The Sound of the Atom Splitting" is credited to Lowe/Tennant/Lipson/Horn.

UK 7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."Left to My Own Devices"4:43
2."The Sound of the Atom Splitting" (extended version)5:13
Total length:9:56
UK 12-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."Left to My Own Devices" (Disco mix)11:28
2."Left to My Own Devices"4:43
3."The Sound of the Atom Splitting"3:37
Total length:19:48
UK CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Left to My Own Devices"4:43
2."Left to My Own Devices" (Disco mix)11:28
3."The Sound of the Atom Splitting"3:37
Total length:19:48

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes for Introspective: Further Listening 1988–1989 [19] and "Left to My Own Devices". [20] [21]

Pet Shop Boys

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Left to My Own Devices"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United Kingdom14 November 1988
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
Parlophone [42] [43]
21 November 1988
  • CD
  • cassette
[44]
Japan25 January 1989Mini-CD EMI [45]

Lyrics: Left to My Own Devices

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pet Shop Boys</span> English synth-pop duo

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 100 million records worldwide and were listed as the most successful duo in UK music history in the 1999 edition of The Guinness Book of Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Tennant</span> English singer, songwriter and music journalist (born 1954)

Neil Francis Tennant is an English singer, songwriter and music journalist, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He was a journalist for Smash Hits, and assistant editor for the magazine in the mid-1980s.

<i>Actually</i> 1987 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

Actually is the second studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 7 September 1987 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom and by EMI Manhattan in North America.

<i>Introspective</i> 1988 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

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.

<i>Behaviour</i> (Pet Shop Boys album) 1990 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

Behaviour is the fourth studio album by the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 October 1990 by Parlophone. A Japanese special edition included a bonus mini CD, exclusive artwork and printed lyrics in a white velvet-like box.

<i>Discography: The Complete Singles Collection</i> 1991 greatest hits album by Pet Shop Boys

Discography: The Complete Singles Collection is the first greatest hits album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 4 November 1991 by Parlophone.

<i>PopArt: The Hits</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Pet Shop Boys

PopArt: The Hits is a greatest hits album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was released on 24 November 2003 by Parlophone. The album consists of Pet Shop Boys' top 20 UK singles along with two new tracks, "Miracles" and "Flamboyant", which were also released as singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)</span> 1986 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their debut studio album, Please (1986). It was released as a single in 1985 and re-recorded and reissued in 1986, gaining greater popularity in both the United Kingdom and United States with its second release, reaching number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. After the song was featured in a Super Bowl ad in February 2021, it re-entered the charts, claiming the number one spot on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suburbia (song)</span> 1986 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Suburbia" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their debut album, Please (1986). It was re-recorded with producer Julian Mendelsohn for release as the fourth single from the album. Peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, "Suburbia" was the band's second top 10 hit after "West End Girls", and in their view it saved them from becoming a one-hit wonder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Sin</span> 1987 single by Pet Shop Boys

"It's a Sin" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, the song was released on 15 June 1987 as the album's lead single. It became the duo's second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks atop the chart. Additionally, the single topped the charts in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, while reaching number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100. It remains one of Pet Shop Boys' most popular songs with 40 million streams in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Numb (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 2006 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Numb" is a song by Diane Warren recorded by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys on their ninth studio album, Fundamental (2006). It was released on 16 October 2006 as the album's third and final single, peaking at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. Up to that point, it was only the duo's second single in 39 releases to miss the UK top 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1988 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Heart" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on 21 March 1988 by Parlophone. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988, becoming the duo's fourth and final chart-topper to date in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Jack Bond and filmed in Yugoslavia. The group had initially written the song for Madonna, though they never asked her to record it, instead keeping it for themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jealousy (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1991 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Jealousy" is a song originally written in 1982 by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, recorded for their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990). It was released on 28 May 1991 as the album's fourth and final single in a slightly remixed form, which appears on the Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits albums. It reached number 12 on the UK singles chart. The song was performed by Robbie Williams at the Pet Shop Boys' 2006 BBC Radio 2 concert at the Mermaid Theatre, a recording of which was released on the Pet Shop Boys' live album Concrete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino Dancing</span> 1988 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Domino Dancing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1988 by Parlophone as the lead single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Finland and Spain. Its music video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing Has Been Proved</span> 1989 single by Dusty Springfield

"Nothing Has Been Proved" is a song and a single release by British singer Dusty Springfield, written and produced by the Pet Shop Boys. The song was the second collaboration between Springfield and the Pet Shop Boys, following their UK #2 and US #2 hit duet "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" in 1987. "Nothing Has Been Proved" prominently features an orchestral arrangement by Angelo Badalamenti and a soprano saxophone solo, as the song fades, by Courtney Pine. Marshall Jefferson provided a dance mix which appeared on the 12" and CD singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Alright (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1989 single by Pet Shop Boys

"It's Alright" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 26 June 1989 as the third and final single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. Originally performed by Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge, the song came to the attention of Pet Shop Boys on a house compilation issued by DJ International Records in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yesterday, When I Was Mad</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Yesterday, When I Was Mad" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the fifth and final single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993), on 29 August 1994 by Parlophone. The single, both written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song was remixed by Jam & Spoon for its single release, among other things removing a compression effect applied to Tennant's voice during the verses. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. One of the B-sides is a cover of the Noël Coward song "If Love Were All".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)</span> 1991 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. The song is a medley of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", a 1967 song by Frankie Valli, though in an arrangement informed by the 1982 disco version of the song by the Boys Town Gang rather than the original. The song accompanied "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?", the third single from their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990), as a double A-side in the United Kingdom (both singles were released separately in the United States). Released in March 1991 by Parlophone, the song became the duo's 15th consecutive top-20 entry in the UK, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Ultimate</i> (Pet Shop Boys album) 2010 greatest hits album by Pet Shop Boys

Ultimate is a greatest hits compilation album by the British electronic music band Pet Shop Boys. It is their third greatest hits album, released on 1 November 2010 by their long-time label Parlophone. The album contains 18 previously released singles, in chronological order, and one new song ("Together"). Ultimate was released to celebrate 25 years since the band's first single release "West End Girls" in standard single-CD and expanded CD/DVD configurations. It charted at number 27 on the UK Albums Chart on 7 November 2010, with first-week sales of 8,886 copies. On the European Top 100 Albums it reached number 50 on 20 November 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaving (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 2012 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Leaving" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their eleventh studio album, Elysium (2012). It was released as the album's second single on 12 October 2012. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 44.

References

  1. "Pet Shop Boys Songs and Albums: Full Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 Kay, Vernon (host) (24 February 2024). Piano Room: Pet Shop Boys (radio programme). BBC Radio 2.
  3. "Left to My Own Devices performed by Pet Shop Boys". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. Perrone, Pierre (5 April 2012). "Eric Watson: Photographer who worked with the Pet Shop Boys and for pop bible Smash Hits". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. Heath, Chris (2018). Introspective: Further Listening 1988-1989 (booklet). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone Records. p. 3. 0190295826178.
  6. 1 2 Heath 2018, p. 4.
  7. 1 2 Heath 2018, p. 6.
  8. "Pet Shop Boys: Why is their new LP called ... Introspective ????". Smash Hits. 21 September 1988.
  9. 1 2 Tennant, Neil (2018). One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem: 1979–2016. London: Faber & Faber. p. 110. ISBN   9780571348916.
  10. "Pet Shop Boys interview". This Is Not Retro. March 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  11. 1 2 Heath 2018, p. 7.
  12. Heath 2018, p. 1.
  13. Sinclair, Paul (15 March 2017). "Pet Shop Boys / Undertow vinyl EP". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  14. "Pet Shop Boys - Undertow". Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  15. Sawyer, Miranda (16 November 1988). "Singles: Single of the Fortnight". Smash Hits . p. 77. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  16. Pet Shop Boys. (May 1992) "Interview with Eric Watson". Literally, issue 8, p. 2
  17. "'Pop Saati' rekora koşuyor". www.milliyet.com.tr. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  18. "EE Wi-Fi 7 'Clocking Off': Orwell would've been up for it". Decision Marketing. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. Pet Shop Boys (2018). Introspective: Further Listening 1988–1989 (liner notes). Parlophone. 0190295826178.
  20. Pet Shop Boys (1988). Left to My Own Devices (liner notes). Parlophone. R 6198.
  21. Pet Shop Boys (1988). Left to My Own Devices (liner notes). Parlophone. 12R 6198.
  22. "Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  23. "Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  24. "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 18. 27 February – 4 March 1989. p. 6. ISSN   0033-7064 via World Radio History.
  25. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 50. 10 December 1988. p. 22. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  26. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 233. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  27. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 4. 28 January 1989. p. 32. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  28. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Left to My Own Devices". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  29. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022.Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Pet Shop Boys" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  31. "Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  32. "Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  33. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  34. "Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  35. "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  36. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  37. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  38. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  39. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 4, 1989". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  40. "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  41. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  42. Smith, Robin (12 November 1988). "News: Nuclear Device". Record Mirror . p. 4. ISSN   0144-5804.
  43. "New Singles". Music Week . 12 November 1988. p. 31.
  44. "New Singles". Music Week. 19 November 1988. p. 36.
  45. "レフト・トゥ・マイ・オウン・ディバイセズ | ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ" [Left to My Own Devices | Pet Shop Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 22 January 2024.