Pet Shop Boys - The sound of the atom splitting video free download


20,966
Duration: 05:13
Uploaded: 2008/10/09

"The Sound Of The Atom Splitting" was created on the spot as a compliment to the a-side of the single "Left To My Own Devices", specifically the line "Debussy to a disco beat".

Trevor Horn provided the inspiration for the line, so they took the best part of an hour and used the drum pattern from 'Left To My Own Devices' with Neil playing Debussy-esque chords over top of the chaos. The vocals were added later, and were inspired by a line from a film by Derek Jarman called "The Last of England": "A man says, 'What's that sound? It's the sound of the atom splitting'.

Neil Tennant: "I thought, 'That's a good line'. I thought the sound of the atom splitting was the sound of a nuclear explosion; the sound of the end of the world...The lyric is a dialogue between a fascist and a wet liberal. The right wing person is rather amused by the liberal because he's obviously so feeble he's never going to do anything."

Comments

9 years ago

Michal Szymula

Maddening, genius of highest order, their nuttiest tune ever, I'd say. love it!

10 years ago

Ray Lehto

My internal dialogue towards people who annoy me......

11 years ago

Imran Troncelliti

fuck commercial spots and all that bores me . when I do nothing nor give a shite of pence over a tithe or two pittance in pence un dense cloth oft cut cut cut dry dry dry wal wal wall . . .. . . that's why , Tube !!! YouTube ?

11 years ago

Imran Troncelliti

YouTube ? Look sometimes I just wanna say . . . something mean . . . to . . . you .TUBE !!!

11 years ago

friskyfans

I HATE YOU!!!! Look, over there..

11 years ago

BatHunterofDevon

this is so wierd. I hope I don't hear this song when a nuclear bomb goes off...

11 years ago

Tracey Mills

love it :)

12 years ago

Colum Rogers

Who's side are you on anyway? :D

12 years ago

Julio Muñoz

¡¡ACID!! #IndieKaesar 

12 years ago

Luis Albelaez

WOW! Not even the U2 cover that was a huge hit? The B-Sides were always something to look forward to.

12 years ago

Luis Albelaez

I hate you! I hate you! Quiet at the back please! No hissing! It's the sound, the sound.. the sound of the atom splitting!

14 years ago

sflachuck

This video would have been amazing had the lyrics popped up on screen...

14 years ago

lesscunning

completely brilliant. i'd only known them for "West End Girls" as a child...

14 years ago

pɹɐʇsnW qoq

hahaha found this on a cassette we found in a charity shop because all our ipods had ran out of batteries

14 years ago

3kliksphilip

Kill it. KILL IT

14 years ago

K Edmodson

Often unknown or ignored. But listen to it - this has to be one of their finest moments. Roland 303 Acid Goodness!

15 years ago

PSBelectronica

Odd PSB track,but its music is very good and I love Neil's accent here!

15 years ago

sarahlouisev

I remember that concert very well!

15 years ago

ProjectFlashlight612

An obscure PSB classic. "I told you it was all a game."

15 years ago

nickystickycrud

Sh#t I haven't heard this since I last played my original vinyl single.Forgot how much I liked it.

Related Videos