Pet Shop Boys blast Trump ‘bigotry’ on new single
Musician Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys performs onstage at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016 in New York City. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty)
The Pet Shop Boys have released a new single that takes aim at President Donald Trump and Brexit, calling out “bigotry.”
The pop duo, comprised of out singer Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, are hardly newcomers to pointedly political lyrics—many of their 1980s songs were inspired by the AIDS crisis, while the band have also released a musical tribute to Alan Turing and set a speech about gay equality to music.
However, their latest track “Give Stupidity a Chance” is more avowedly political than ever, putting leaders on blast on both sides of the Atlantic.
Pet Shop Boys: Let’s shock and awe the world with idiotic bigotry
A thoroughly sarcastic response to political populism, the song includes the lyrics: “Forget political correctness/I mean W-T-F/I don’t wanna think about the world/I wanna talk about myself.
“Instead of governing with thoughtful sensitivity/Let’s shock and awe the world with idiotic bigotry/Let’s lead this world a merry dance/And give stupidity a chance.”
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Shop Boys perform as part of HM Tower Of London Festival Of Music’s inaugural jazz and opera festival at HM Tower of London on June 28, 2006 in London, England. (MJ Kim/Getty)
The track from upcoming EP Agenda calls out US President Donald Trump and references his infamous “Grab them by the pussy” quote, adding: “Forget political correctness/Let’s talk man to man/Chicks are always up for it/You gotta grab whatever you can.
“We need a leader who knows that money means class/With an eye for a peach-perfect piece of ass/Not a total dumb-cluck, just one of the guys/Let’s give stupidity a prize.”
The song also takes aim at Brexit, lampooning UK government minister Michael Gove’s infamous claim that “the people of this country have had enough of experts.”
The Pet Shop Boys sardonically agree: “We’ve heard quite enough of experts and their dealings/Why face the facts when you can just feel the feelings?”
Pet Shop Boys aren’t the first to put Trump to music
While it may be the first time anyone’s quoted Michael Gove in a pop song, there’s plenty of competition for the pair when it comes to songs about Donald Trump.
Gay internet comic Randy Rainbow has reached millions with his musical theatre send-ups to the president, with frequent releases taking inspiration from the day-to-day news agenda surrounding Trump.
Rainbow recently released a parody of Chicago‘s “Cell Block Tango,” featuring the Trump-affiliated officials who have pleaded guilty to crimes as a result of the investigation carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
