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Minimal (song)

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"Minimal"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Fundamental
B-side
Released24 July 2006 (2006-07-24)[1]
Length
  • 4:21 (album version)
  • 3:38 (radio edit)
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Trevor Horn
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"I'm with Stupid"
(2006) 		"Minimal"
(2006) 		"Numb"
(2006)
Music video
"Minimal" on YouTube

"Minimal" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their ninth studio album, Fundamental (2006). It was released on 24 July 2006 as the album's second single. "Minimal" reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the duo's 37th top-20 entry in the United Kingdom,[2] and it was the number five Hot Dance Club Play Track of 2007 on Billboard's year-end chart.[3] The B-side "In Private" is a new version of a song originally written for Dusty Springfield, this time recorded as a duet between Neil Tennant and Elton John and remixed by Stuart Crichton.[4]

Background

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"Minimal" was originally announced as the first single to precede the release of Fundamental.[5] It was Parlophone's preferred lead single after the Pet Shop Boys' suggestion of "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" was rejected. "I'm with Stupid" was ultimately chosen for the leadoff spot, with "Minimal" as the second single.[6]

The lyrics, built around a chant of "M-I-N-I-M-A-L", are an abstract description of expressions of minimalism, such as "more is less" and "an empty box, an open space". This is contradicted by the upbeat, busy instrumentation and production.[7]

Music video

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The music video for "Minimal" was directed by Don Cameron and filmed in Paris.[8][9] It features a pair of dancers (Keir and Thailai Knight)[10] manoeuvering to form the letters of the chorus, while Tennant and Lowe perform in front of a light display.

Track listings

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  • UK CD single (CDR 6708)
  1. "Minimal" (radio edit) – 3:38
  2. "In Private" (7-inch mix) – 4:13
  • UK CD maxi single (CDRS 6708)
  1. "Minimal" (radio edit) – 3:38
  2. "Minimal" (Tocadisco's Sunday at Space Remix) – 8:00
  3. "Minimal" (M Factor Remix) – 8:45
  4. "Minimal" (U-MYX software)
  • UK DVD single (DVDR 6708)
  1. "Minimal" (Telex Hell mix) – 6:18
  2. "Blue on Blue" – 3:13
  3. "No Time for Tears" (7-inch mix) – 3:38
  4. "Minimal" (music video)
  • UK 7-inch single (R 6708)'
A. "Minimal" (radio edit) – 3:38
B. "In Private" (7-inch mix) – 4:13
  • UK promotional CD maxi single (00946 371144 2 1)
  1. "Minimal" (radio edit) – 3:40
  2. "Minimal" (Tocadisco's Sunday at Space Mix) – 8:04
  3. "Minimal" (M Factor mix) – 8:49
  4. "Minimal" (M Factor dub) – 7:44
  5. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L remix) – 5:38
  6. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L dub) – 5:38
  7. "Minimal" (Superchumbo's Light & Shade dub) – 8:28
  8. "Minimal" (Telex Hell remix) – 6:19
  9. "Minimal" (Telex Heaven remix) – 4:29
  10. "In Private" (Tomcraft 7-inch mix) – 3:51

Additional remixes

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The maxi-CD of "Minimal" featured the U-MYX software which allowed people to create their own remixes. On 25 July, Chris Lowe created a new version of the track titled "Chris Lowe Summer Mix" using the software and uploaded it onto the U-MYX website.[11]

A remix of "Minimal" by Lobe is on the limited edition bonus CD of Fundamental, Fundamentalism.[12] A remix by Radio Slave appeared on the B-side of a promotional 12-inch with two remixes of "Psychological" on the A-side by Ewan Pearson.[13] These were part of the "Numb" promotion.[14]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Minimal"
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 7
Germany (GfK)[16] 63
Scotland (OCC)[17] 13
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[18] 66
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 19
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] 3

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 July 2006. p. 27.
  2. ^ "Pet Shop Boys Songs and Albums: Full Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Billboard Year-End Charts: Hot Dance Club Play Tracks". Billboard. 22 December 2007. p. 119.
  4. ^ "New single out now". petshopboys.co.uk. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  5. ^ "New album title and release". petshopboys.co.uk. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  6. ^ Heath, Chris (2017). Fundamental: Further Listening 2005-2007 (booklet). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone Records. p. 3. 0190295921170.
  7. ^ Heath 2017, pp. 2, 11.
  8. ^ "Minimal Video". petshopboys.co.uk. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. ^ Wilson, Emma-Kate (13 March 2024). "Profile: Don Cameron". Architecture, Au. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Pet Shop Boys: Minimal (Music Video - 2006)". IMDB. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Exclusive Chris Lowe Umyx". petshopboys.co.uk. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Fundamentalism track-listing". petshopboys.co.uk. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Pet Shop Boys - Psychological (Ewan Pearson remix)". Discogs. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Pet Shop Boys - Numb/Psychological". Discogs. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Minimal". Tracklisten. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Minimal" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  18. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200638 into search. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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