Song Stories: Pet Shop Boys: Being Boring

"Being Boring," released by the Pet Shop Boys in 1990, remains one of the duo's most poignant and deeply reflective songs.  The duo had become known for their synth pop hits and dancefloor fillers. However, this song saw Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe took a more introspective turn with this single, offering listeners an emotional exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time.

The song is not as commercially successful as their other hits, however for many fans it is their best and most profound works.

It's title is  drawn from a quote by iconic author Zelda Fitzgerald, who once said, "She refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn't boring.".  The quote struck a chord with Tennant, and he began to wrote the lyrics of the song, about the youthful optimism we have growing up, and then the complexity that life inevitability brings.

"Being Boring" is often interpreted as a meditation on Tennant's own experiences, particularly his youth and the sense of possibility he felt in the 1970s when he was growing up in Newcastle. Tennant has spoken about how the song is a reflection on friendship, loss, and the AIDS crisis, which claimed the lives of many of his close friends. 

For many listeners, "Being Boring" carries a deeply emotional weight due to its unspoken tribute to friends lost during the AIDS epidemic. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the AIDS crisis was ravaging communities, particularly within the LGBTQ+ population. Tennant has spoken in interviews about how the song reflects his grief over losing close friends to the disease, adding a layer of somber reflection to the lyrics.
Though the song doesn’t explicitly mention AIDS, lines like "All the people I was kissing / Some are here, and some are missing" take on a poignant, sorrowful meaning in this context. "Being Boring" is a remembrance of those who are no longer with us, and a recognition of how their absence has shaped the lives of those who remain.

It sees the duo at their most melancholic and shows fans a vulnerable side to Tennant especially, that we had not seen from Pet Shop Boys songs before. The songs restraint allows the listener to stop and take stock of what Tennant is saying. 

Though it wasn’t a major commercial hit when it was first released, "Being Boring" has earned a place as one of the most beloved songs in the Pet Shop Boys' catalog. Over the years, it has become a fan favorite, often cited as one of the duo's best and most meaningful works. The song's emotional depth, combined with its universal themes of growing up and dealing with loss, ensures that it continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release.

"Being Boring" stands out as a unique track in the Pet Shop Boys’ discography, marking a departure from the more upbeat, ironic tone of much of their earlier work. Known for hits like "West End Girls," "It’s a Sin," and "Go West," the Pet Shop Boys built their reputation on danceable synth-pop tracks with often ironic, witty lyrics. But "Being Boring" showcases their ability to craft a song of immense emotional depth and vulnerability.
While other songs in their catalog deal with themes of love, desire, and urban life, "Being Boring" is much more introspective and personal.

Thank you for reading x

Jack