Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin 12”

On June 15, 1987, “It’s A Sin”, a song that originally appeared on the demo Neil had in his pocket when he took Bobby O’ out to lunch, was released. “It’s about being brought up as a Catholic. When I went to school you were taught that everything was a sin”. It reached #1 and caused several notable rumpuses. Jonathan King accused them of plagiarism (he later apologized and paid damages to a charity at their request). A teacher at Neil’s old school, St. Cuthbert’s Grammar School, Newcastle, got very steamed up about the picture Neil painted of his education and castigated Neil in the press. The Salvation Army magazine, War Cry, put the Pet Shop Boys on the front page and noted, approvingly, “It’s interesting that someone’s raised the concept of sin in our modern life again”. Neil was also asked to appear with Cardinal Hume in a press advert for CAFOD; he politely declined the offer, explaining that he wasn’t a practising Catholic. The song’s video, a sombre tale of guilt and punishment featuring the seven deadly sins, was the first time the Pet Shop Boys worked with Derek Jarman.

This melodramatic diatribe against Neil Tennant's Catholic education apparently was meant as a bit of a joke, but it's become related to the struggle for gay rights in the eighties and beyond, even being used as the title for Russell T. Davies' 2021 drama. And it's great! It's defiant, powerful and feels like a searing rebuke to the guild of the church. I mean, even that intro kicks it into high gear, starting us off in style with some grand pounding drums and even a thunderclap. It feels like Tennant's on trial, which I suppose is what the video was going for. The lyrics of guilt, accusation and frustration are wonderful, really communicating a sense of fightback as it's mixed in with that imagery of atonement and lines such as 'Father forgive me'. It's a bit overblown at time yes, but emmm, it's hard not to like. Although it gets so very close, it’s a Sin doesn't quite manage to topple West End Girls as the band's best song. True enough, they're very difficult to compare. The latter is relatively relaxed - for boys around town, slouching insolently in darkened doorways, content to watch the night life crawl out to play. But It's a Sin is high drama indeed - an argument waiting to happen. The facts, reasons and evidence are all to hand - and god helps the unwitting fool that might try to make a half-baked response. Panic not. We're in safe hands. Neil's presence instantly restores our faith (if I can put it like that while talking about what basically amounts to an atheist hymn), as he strolls confidently into the verse and states his case with compelling authority. He owns these lines - all of them, every last damned word. His ice cool delivery almost completely disguises his vehemence and levels of heartfelt conviction. He knows he's right, we know it too - and in any case who can possibly take on a tune this strong?

Ripped to MP3

01 - It’s A Sin (Phil Harding Latin Vocal Mix)

02 - It’s A Sin (Phil Harding Latin Dub Mix)

03 - It’s A Sin (Remix)

04 - It’s A Sin (Disco Mix)

05 - You Know Where You Went Wrong