Nightlife feels very much like a continuation of what the Pet
Shop Boys were doing on Bilingual, though the nights these
songs depict now seem more cool New York than hot Barcelona. The best
tunes on this album are sophisticated dance-pop disco updates, such as
the opening track "For Your Own Good," which is really just a plea for
the phone to ring with a booty call. "I Don't Know What You Want But
I Can't Give It Any More" starts out upbeat but quickly sinks into
that seductive feeling of longing and regret I know so well, while
"Radiophonic" contains all of the euphoria of love glimpsed on the
dance floor. I'm sure "New York City Boy" has been moving the feet of
many a Pride parade marcher. I've been a fan of Neil Tennant's nasal,
mannered delivery ever since I rocked out to "West End Girls" in
junior high, and I'm glad he and Chris Lowe are still making music.
For your own good
call me tonight
Don't you think you should
call me tonight?
Life isn't easy
so why don't you stay
with the lover you need
and not the devil you pay?
For your own good
call me tonight
—"For Your Own Good"
Did you get what you want?
Do you know what it is?
Do you care?
Is he better than me?
Was it your place or his?
Who was there?
Did you think it was wrong?
Do you find that it's worse
than it was?
Has it gone on too long?
Do you mind that it hurts me?
Because
You're breaking my heart
—"I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More"
The night was long
Now the crowd has gone
there's sunlight on my bed
Feels like a radiophonic
workshop's
beaming straight into my head
It could make you weep
I can't get to sleep
There's ringing in my ears
like a radiophonic workshop
orchestrating all my
stupid fears
—"Radiophonic"
When you're a boy
some days are tough
lying on your bed
playing punk rock and stuff
Home is a boot camp
you gotta escape
Wanna go and wander
in the ticker-tape
You feel the deal is real
You're a New York City boy
So young, so run
into New York City
—"New York City Boy"
| 
Heidi J. De Vries
