Pet Shop Boys

Lyrics

[Intro: The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)

[Interlude]

[Verse 1: Neil Tennant]
I don't know why, I don't know how
I thought I loved you, but I'm not sure now
I've seen you look at strangers too many times
The love you want is of a different kind

[Verse 2: Neil Tennant]
Remember when we felt the sun?
A love like paradise, how hot it burned
A threat of distant thunder, the sky was red
And when you walked, you always turned every head

[Chorus: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
Domino dancing
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)
[Interlude]

[Verse 3: Neil Tennant]
I thought that when we fought, I was to blame
But now I know you play a different game
I've watched you dance with danger, still wanting more
Add another number to the score

[Chorus: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
Domino dancing
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)

[Bridge: Neil Tennant]
When you look around, you wonder
Do you play to win?
Or are you just a bad loser?

[Interlude]

[Refrain: The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
(All day, all day)
[Interlude]

[Chorus: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)
(All day, all day)
(All day, all day)

[Verse 4: Neil Tennant]
I don't know why, I don't know how
I thought I loved you, but I'm not sure now
I hear the thunder crashing, the sky is dark
And now a storm is breaking within my heart

[Chorus: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
Domino dancing
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)
[Refrain: The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
(All day, all day)

[Interlude]

[Refrain: The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)
(All day, all day)
(All day, all day)

[Chorus: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
(Domino dancing)
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)
Domino dancing

[Outro: Neil Tennant & The Voice in Fashion]
(All day, all day)
Watch them all fall down
(All day, all day)

Domino Dancing by Pet Shop Boys is a song that was inspired by a personal experience of Neil when he stayed on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. He observed a friend of theirs, Pete Andreas, who was their personal assistant and Chris's roommate, beating them at dominoes and doing a celebratory dance. The idea of "domino dancing" formed in Neil's mind as a metaphor for a love relationship breaking down due to jealousy. He created a scenario of a man going out with a beautiful girl, and all the guys are looking at her on the beach in her bikini and dropping dead before her because of her beauty. The man eventually gets jealous, and the relationship falls apart. Domino Dancing is one of the most popular songs of the famous Electro-Pop duo, Pet Shop Boys.

About the song

Domino Dancing was recorded in Miami with the help of Exposé producer Lewis A. Martineé, who the duo admired. The song exemplifies the popular Latino subgenre of the '80s, "freestyle." The accompanying video of the song is another storyline in its own. The video was directed by Eric Watson and set in Puerto Rico. It became notorious for its thinly veiled homoeroticism and was an attempt by Neil and Chris to attract a wide range of audiences and create an inclusive community for all. The story in the music video portrays two men competing for the love and attention of a girl on a beach. The competition intensifies, ultimately ending with the two men fighting and tumbling in the surf. Neil and Chris wanted to depict the story that love can come in many forms and does not have to conform to society's gender expectations.

The song Domino Dancing is greatly influenced by '80s pop music, and it offers a unique mixture of vibrant synthesizers, fast-paced rhythms, and sentimental lyrics. The song has an upbeat tempo that complements the strong, dramatic voices of Neil and Chris. This mixture of powerful melody, vocals, and lyrics has earned Pet Shop Boys several Grammy Awards and those interested in learning the history of pop music must get themselves acquainted with North's description of "domino dancing" and the electro-pop music of the 1980s.

In the United States, Domino Dancing was Pet Shop Boys' final top 40 hit, and the music video led to some speculations on the reasons behind the declining U.S. popularity of Pet Shop Boys. Experts attribute this to homophobic attitudes of the mainstream audience towards the homoeroticism portrayed in the music video. Despite this setback in the United States, the song is an international hit that fiercely retains its massive popularity to this day.

The success of Domino Dancing

The song Domino Dancing turned out to be a huge success since its release. The song went on to top the charts in multiple countries globally, including South Africa, Israel, and Spain. It also reached the second position on the UK Singles Chart. Domino Dancing is regarded as one of the memorable tracks of the Electro-Pop genre, and fans worldwide recognize and value its significance. Furthermore, the music video is regarded as a landmark in the representation of non-heteronormative ideals in the mainstream media.

Domino Dancing has inspired a diverse range of artists since its release, and it remains a constant influence in pop music. The song brilliantly conveys the theme of love, jealousy, and the intense emotions that come with it. The melody is catchy, and the rhythm is pulsating, making the song a firm fan favorite that is still played at parties and on the radio.

The significance of Domino Dancing

In retrospect, Domino Dancing marks the dawn of a new era and a new sound that has shaped the current pop music. The song demonstrates that pop music can be a powerful tool of representation, capable of conveying important themes and ideas that can change societal attitudes towards different groups. It is a great example of how music can be used by artists to create awareness about non-heteronormative ideals and pitch the idea of inclusion and diversity in the society. Given its status as a classic catchy pop anthem, Domino Dancing is a timeless masterpiece that has cemented Pet Shop Boys' legacy in the world of pop music forever.

Lastly, Pet Shop Boys' Domino Dancing continues to inspire a broad range of audiences and remains relevant even after three decades of its release. The song is a testament to the power of music as a universal language capable of transcending borders and uniting diverse audiences with its unique blend of emotion, rhythm, and melody.

• Release Date: September 12, 1988
• Artist: Pet Shop Boys