THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

871-Pet Shop Boys-A Red Letter Day.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 3.47. A red letter day, is a day of special significance, it dates back to Roman times (509-27 BC) when important dates were indicated in red, in their calendar.

‘A Red Letter Day’ was the fourth of five singles released from the Pet Shop Boys (see also best songs 378) sixth studio Album ‘Bilingual,’ from September 1996, with the songs writing, and it’s production credited to Neil Tennant, and Chris Lowe, the two members of the Pet Shop Boys. At the time ‘A Red Letter Day’ held the unenviable record of the biggest weekly fall in UK chart history, having entered the top 40 at Number 9, and a week later dropping to Number 42. This was beaten the following year by the English Rock band ‘Embrace,’ whose single ‘My Weakness Is None of Your Business,’ fell from Number 9 to Number 44 the following week. As with the majority of Pet Shop Boys singles there are many commissioned remixes, and Neil Tennant was so impressed with the ‘Motiv8’ remix, that he incorporated the synth line into the official single, the original version of the song is track 7 on ‘Bilingual.’

‘Motiv8’ is the alias of the British Electronic Dance Music producer, songwriter, remixer and sound engineer Steve Rodway, who has been a go to remixer for artists including the ‘Spice Girls,’ ‘Pulp,’ and ‘Erasure.’ Rodway’s most high profile success was co-writing and producing ‘Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit,’ which became a UK Number 1 hit for Gina G, in 1996, the song was also that years entry for the UK in the ‘Eurovision Song Contest. Steve Rodway has also released eight singles between 1982-2005, of which three have made the UK top 40, with ‘Rockin’ for Myself,’ featuring Angie Brown, charting the highest at Number 18.

Neil Francis Tennant was born on July 10th, 1954, in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, it was in 1981 that he formed the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe. Prior to the Pet Shop Boys, Tennant had been a journalist, working his way up to being the assistant editor of the influential British music magazine ‘Smash Hits,’ which was aimed at young adults. Tennant got his big breakthrough in music when as a journalist for ‘Smash Hits’ he went to New York to interview ‘The Police’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727.) While there, Tennant arranged to meet Bobby Orlando, a producer whom he and Chris Lowe had long admired. Tennant mentioned he was writing songs in his spare time, and Orlando agreed to record some tracks with him and Lowe at a later date. Orlando subsequently produced the Pet Shop Boys’ first single, ‘West End Girls,’ which went on to become a UK and American Billboard Number 1 single in 1986. Away from the Pet Shop Boys, Tennant has sung lead vocals on ‘Disappointed,’ (UK-Number 6, 1992) and backing vocals on ‘Getting Away With It,’ (UK-Number 12, and Billboard Number 38 single in 1989) with the English Alternative Dance ‘supergroup’ ‘Electronic,’ formed by Bernard Sumner, (see also best songs 885 and 619) and Johnny Marr (see also best songs 673-222-167 and 42.) Tennant has also sang backing vocals on many other artists tracks, including for Boy George, (The Crying Game-1992 UK Number 22, and Billboard Number 15)) and Robbie Williams (No Regrets-1998 UK Number 4.)

‘A Red Letter Day’ tells us that being loved is far more important than having material things. The song has become somewhat of a ‘Gay Pride’ anthem, as it also tells us that being accepted for the person you are, is something you should always strive to achieve. The song also is (probably) highly political, with subtle lyrical messages telling us to vote for the ‘Labour Party,’ in the 1997 general election. There are also clues to the Pet Shop Boys political leanings in the songs video, of an endless queue of people waiting at an unemployment office. ‘Red Letter Day’ was released on March 17th, which was the final date that year on which the current Prime Minister John Major could call a general election. In 1998 Neil Tennant was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the Labour Party, however, in the 2005 general election he voted for the Liberal Democrats, citing disillusionment with Labour’s ‘Identity Card’ scheme.

‘Go to work and take your calls, hang the fruits of your labour on the walls. Such precision and care, what does it matter if there’s no one here to share.’