DJ Culture is probably mid level PSBs for me (a 6) but I’m not really a fan of Somewhere, certainly low down on their best cover versions. I gave a 5

An excellent version of Somewhere, that's my highest score from the songs that have appeared so far.

I love West Side Story, one of the great movie musicals and some of the great musical songs in America - what an iconic segment that is! - Somewhere and Maria, songs I grew up knowing, so appreciated the choice of song, but it was a bit by-the-numbers for me and lacked the sheer drama and widescreen sonic landscape of Go West. I you are going for camp, then OTT is the way to do it properly. This was a good B side for me.

#47

BEFORE

 

YEAR: 1996

PEAK POSITION: 7

 

Coincidence and patience

Will mend this fatal flaw

 

An attempt to write a US hit so Tennant stated, the original plan was to get this produced by David Morales but the plan fell through and Danny Tenaglia ended up doing an emergency remix for them.  It served as the first release from the “Bilingual” album and was their first top 10 single in 2 years.

 

The line around “a man who loved too much- he ended up in a prison cell” was popularly thought to be about Oscar Wilde but Tenant confirmed that it really referred to OJ Siimpson

 

AI: The song’s central idea is simple: you should have loved me before it was too late. But the delivery is so restrained that the accusation feels like a sigh rather than a scream. It’s a breakup song built on regret rather than blame.

 

The repeated insistence on before becomes a kind of emotional timestamp — a reminder that love is not just about feeling but about timing, readiness, and courage.  There’s also a classic PSB subtext: the narrator has been patient to the point of self-erasure. The song quietly critiques the idea of waiting for someone who never quite arrives.

Highest Score: 8.5 @AH Gold

Lowest Score: 2.5 @chartjack2

Until now I'm the only person to lose a 10, tomorrow our next will exit!

Before is a bit wishy washy, I gave it 3.5

Certainly not lead single material

A completely forgotten/overlooked single in their discography but I really quite like it.

I like the "it's happened before, before, before..." bit

Before is probably among the weakest on a very strong album for me.

Not fussed on the Somewhere cover either much.

I basically agree with all the above posts - wishy washy, not lead single material, but still an OK song!

“Before” doesn’t really feel very PSB and it doesn’t have lead single impact, but I do quite like it all the same - gave it 6.

Good album, and another low-key lead single for it, oddly. It has a great melody hook for the chorus and the harmonies are a welcome add-on, but the verses are mostly treading water, something with a bit more oomph in between would have made it a much better record. It still topped my chart for one week, but CD1 was a fabulous release with 4 tracks, The Truck Driver And His Mate a total banger (and amusing) that I entered into BJSC, and one they did in the recent set of Obscurities concerts, and Hit And Miss is a fab ballad, while a remix of the Clothes Show theme In The Night rounded off the set - the PSB record liked by people who didnt realise it was PSB's and so liked it where the usual comment was "they all sound the same" as I occasionally enjoyed pointing out. I treated it as if it were an EP, as it should have been formally, a quality package no padding. As an EP I would have given it 9.5.

#46

I’M WITH STUPID

 

YEAR: 2006

PEAK POSITION: 8

 

Is stupid really stupid

Or a different kind of smart?

 

Arriving back in the charts with a splash, this single explored the relationship between then Prime Minister Tony Blair and George W Bush (stupid) and became their final top 10 single as an act.  Matt Lucas and David Walliams starred in the promo which naturally helped, and proved the boys were right in their single choice after Parlophone wanted “Minimal” as the lead single from the album “Fundamental”.

 

It also marked the final time the duo appeared on Top Of The Pops as the show was axed later in 2006, the performance on the show was originally going to include dancers with masks of Blair and Bush on, however the BBC intervened and said there had to be balanced politically so in addition to Blair and Bush other masks included were of Cameron, Putin, and Menzies Campbell.  Good old BBC.

 

AI: Released in 2006 as the lead single from Fundamental, the song is a masterclass in PSB’s favourite trick: using pop as a Trojan horse for political commentary. On the surface, it’s a lover’s quarrel. Underneath, it’s a satire of the Blair–Bush alliance during the Iraq War.  By framing political obedience as a toxic relationship, the song becomes both funnier and more damning. Lines about trust, manipulation, and blind loyalty land with double force. PSB usually excel at ambiguity; here, the target is clear enough that the song risks becoming a political cartoon.

Highest score: 10 @chartjack2

Lowest score: 3- @Julian_

More overtly political than usual for the lads here, but it was fun and it was catchy, the video mildly amusing. The song is melodically good though, and lyrically not so politically obvious, it can be taken other ways. A good 'un.

Well let's enjoy the video while we can if current Internet rumours are true about the injunction.....

12 hours ago, gooddelta said:

Before is probably among the weakest on a very strong album for me.

Same feeling, but replace Before with I'm With Stupid.

Tinters tells me that they also wanted "Sodom and gomorrah show" as a single but that was also stopped by the record company. That would have made a cracking single, not sure about radio play though😁

Killer comeback single, and I would honestly rank Fundamental among their best albums.

I'm With Stupid was my BJSC entry

I'm With Stupid is alright, I gave it 4.5