[Introspective] Re: Introspective Digest, Vol 22, Issue 12

[Hugh James Sharpe]

On Oct 15, 2004, at 3:00 PM, psbfan at earthlink.net wrote:

> Hey there! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last full day of my current Pet 
> Shop
> Boys poll, which asks which song's staging or "visualization" in the
> Performance show/tape/DVD is your favorite? If you haven't voted yet,
> please take a moment to visit my "Commentary" site at
> http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and make your choice right there 
> on the
> home page. (And if you haven't seen Performance or aren't sufficiently
> familiar with it to choose, there's an option where you can indicate 
> that
> at the end of the selection menu.)
>
> On Sunday I will end this poll, post the final results, and kick off a 
> new
> survey for the week ahead.
>
> Thanks to everyone who has already voted! And here's wishing you all a
> wonderful weekend!
>
> Wayne
> http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm
>

Hello, all.  I have been a long-time lurker for many years, seldom 
posting but often reading the threads and frequently voting in Wayne's 
polls.  I just replied to this week's and noticed that the largest 
single number of respondents- 27 people so far- have replied that they 
hadn't yet seen the splendor that is Performance. Let me repeat that 
for emphasis.   27 visitors HAD NOT YET SEEN PERFORMANCE.   That's 
nearly one in every five people who responded to the poll.

To all of these sadly deprived people I say go hence and GET THIS DVD.  
No DVD player?  Buy one.  Find a copy of the VHS tape-- it's been out 
for years, man.  For goodness sake, see this show!

Performance is, in my opinion, the finest example of their genius and 
originality.  See this film to enjoy so many of their finest hits 
represented not in a simple concert format but in a narrative tale so 
elaborately staged and costumed as to rival any Broadway show.   To see 
Katie Puckrik dressed in a schoolboy's outfit.  To see Chris drop his 
trousers and dance across the stage in his boxers.  To see our 
mustachioed heroes clad in primary-coloured suits, bowler hats, and 
umbrellas .  And now in full 5.1 surround sound!  What in Dog's name 
are you waiting for??
With all the crap in the news to drag you down, seek comfort and recall 
those bucolic days when you might actually hear new PSB singles on 
mainstream US radio.

If this survey is really representative of the PSB fan base, then it's 
pretty sad that nearly 20% of them haven't even seen this concert video 
by now.   Nightlife and Somewhere don't even touch this show.  The 1989 
concert (MCMXL-whatever) shows hints of what Performance would be, only 
a bit less refined and a less complicated stage.

I only hope they release the Discovery on DVD for us Region 1/NTSC 
fans, or better yet, a complete version of that 1989 show featured in 
snippets on Highlights.

Cheers,

-Hugh