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Daily Song Discussion #27 – Being Boring

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First track from their fourth studio album Behaviour, released as the album's second single on November 1990. This marks their first album where all songs were written and produced by them (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe), with additional production by Harold Faltermeyer.

'Cause we were never being boring

We had too much time to find for ourselves

And we were never being boring

We dressed up and fought, then thought: ‘Make amends’

And we were never holding back

or worried that

time would come to an end.

Widely considered one of the Boys' magnum opus, and as I said before they have many, its title originated from a Japanese critic who wrote: "The Pet Shop Boys are often accused of being boring.”

Those words made Neil reminisce about an invitation he received to a party in Newcastle, England in the early 70s from his beloved friend Chris Dowell, who would be a source of inspiration for other songs like “It Couldn't Happen Here”, “Your Funny Uncle”, “Jealousy” and “An Open Mind”, in which he would paraphrase a quote by Zelda Fitzgerald, a novelist and socialite who married the famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

She was never bored because she was never boring.

Here's the original quote, taken from “Eulogy On the Flapper”:

... she refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn’t boring. She was conscious that the things she did were the things she had always wanted to do.

“Being Boring” expresses the complexities about growing up, having to face reality in spite of dreams and making tough choices. All of this being inspired by the death of Chris Dowell after his battle with AIDS. What makes this song especially poignant, bittersweet but also deeply introspective is the historical context of when it was released.

The first time I listened to this song, all I could picture were snapshots of different imaginary people coming and going throughout many periods and decades, long before researching and finding out sbout the whole back story. It feels like a strange timeless soundtrack someone would play as they go through pivotal moments of your own life.

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this song? Is the album version the best song from Behaviour to you? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements? What are your favorite remixes and live versions?

1-4: Not good/Skip

5-6: Average, but wouldn't skip

7-8: Good song, quite enjoyable

9: Amazing song, among the highest of the album

10: Masterpiece/Magnum opus

Single cover

Video stills and intro message taken from the official music video of “Being Boring”

I came from Newcastle in the North of England. We used to have lots of parties where everyone got dressed up. And on one party invitation was the quote “she was never bored because she was never boring.” The song is about growing up—the ideals that you have when you’re young and how they turn out.

Any thoughts or memories you have about the official music video?

B-SIDE #1

WE ALL FEEL BETTER IN THE DARK

Written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

Another one of Chris' songs in which he primarily performs, it got inspired "from a tape I bought from a health food shop round the corner from the studio: The Secrets of Sexual Attraction. The words are terrible. Awful. Embarrassing."

Probably one of their most sexually charged songs, and I'm not sure if it's a popular opinion but the "I'm feeling really horny" lyric is definitely a career highlight 😅 I absolutely love the boldness. Techno music and sex? We all need more of it, please!!

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this b-side? Do you have any favorite lyrics or production elements? What are your favorite remixes?

TRACKLIST

  1. Being Boring -
  2. This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave -
  3. To Face the Truth -
  4. How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? -
  5. Only the Wind -
  6. My October Symphony -
  7. So Hard -
  8. Nervously -
  9. The End of the World -
  10. Jealousy -

BONUS

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You) -
  2. DJ Culture -
  3. Was It Worth It? -

B-SIDES

  1. It Must Be Obvious -
  2. We All Feel Better in the Dark -
  3. Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend -
  4. Losing My Mind -
  5. Music for Boys -
  6. Miserablism -

Posted Feb 20, 2026, 4:35 PM UTC

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