Pet Shop Boys: Chart

Thankfully it's on the radio etc etc.

Haven't kept up with the interviews in the current media blitz, so don't know if Chris Lowe has come out yet.

PS Each man kills the thing he loves...

The People's Songs: Smalltown Boy

Today BBC Radio 2 broadcast a documentary by Stuart Maconie, Smalltown Boy: Mother Will Never Understand, part of a series The People's Songs: The Story Of Modern Britain in 50 Records.
Obviously, I'm gagging to hear it, it's my specialist subject and I'm a big fan of Mr Maconie, but my computer's playing silly buggers and I can't access iPlayer.
Here's the puff though, which was presumably written by Stuart...

"British pop has had a long and colourful history of powerful and visionary movers and shakers who just happened to be gay..."  

Erm, saying they "just happened to be gay", as well as being a laughable cliche, implies that you think their sexuality was of no significance.
If so why write a documentary about them, then?

"Openly gay pop music only arrived in the UK in the early '80s with the likes of The Pet Shop Boys and Bronski Beat..."

BZZT! Neither Chris Lowe or Neil Tennant were out in the 80s.
Also, it's a, it's a, it's a cardinal sin to call Pet Shop Boys "the Pet Shop Boys."
I could go on, but I'll probably start boring myself, but this doesn't bode well.
I know, picky picky...

PS And if you're interested in the subject of Pop music and The Gays in the 80s why not go to this talk in that London next month, Poofters, Pop & Pandemics? Sounds unmissable!

They Write The Songs: Barry Manilow

Listen to this! Barry Manilow on the great composers.
Amazing radio..

Radio 2: 2 Many Gay DJs

More shocking news!
The ever observant Daily Star has noticed that a couple of homosexuals are currently presenting shows on BBC Radio 2.
Under the brilliantly punning headline 'Radio 2 Gay' it reveals that; "Radio 2 was blasted last night for being too camp."
Really?
The only person the Star could find to comment was Andrew Harrison ("of trade body The Radio Centre" - actually an umbrella group for commercial radio stations).
And all he said was; 'instead of “camping it up” Radio 2 should return to more “worthy” public service programming.'
Oh, and apparently he added: “It is end-of-the-pier stuff.”
Hardly a blast, is it?
At least The Star dutifully pretended to be aghast at all this gayness; "Its weekend schedule is full of gay TV comedians. Paul O’Grady, 54, Dale Winton, 55, and Alan Carr, 33, all host shows. And now Graham Norton, 47, is replacing Jonathan Ross, 49, on Saturdays."
I don't mind them being gay, but I do wish the Star wouldn't keep ramming their ages down our throats.