Domino Dancing
Encyclopedia
"Domino Dancing" is a song
recorded by the British synthpop
duo Pet Shop Boys
which reached #7 on the UK Singles Chart
. It was released as the lead single
from their 1988 album, Introspective.
and Neil Tennant
, and influenced by Latin pop
, the song was produced by Lewis A. Martinée
, the Miami-based producer behind 1980s freestyle
groups like Exposé. The song was also recorded at Martinée's studio in Miami, resulting in a considerably large number of studio musicians for a Pet Shop Boys song being featured on it.
The duo had achieved three number ones in 1987–1988 and "Domino Dancing" was expected to continue this success. But the public reception to the duo's new Latin sound proved disappointing. Tennant remembers: "...it entered the charts at number nine and I thought, 'that's that, then - it's all over'. I knew then that our imperial phase of number one hits was over."
The single missed the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at #18, and was the duo's sixth and, to date, last Top 20 pop hit in the USA. The song did reach #5 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where the duo have seen more consistent success.
was directed by Eric Watson
and was director's sixth of the 11 collaborations he had with the band.
The storyline is about a love triangle between two attractive young men who are fighting over one girl. Rolling Stone magazine calls the video "probably the most homoerotic pop video ever made," citing the slo-motion shots of the boys wrestling on the beach:
The video was filmed in about four days in the old colonial district
of San Juan, Puerto Rico
in 1988. One of the locations that was featured in the music video is the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
.
All the actors were Puerto Rican
, the two boys were David Boira, Adalberto Martinez Mojica and the girl was Donna Bottman who was an aspiring actress and model. All of them were cast by the Pet Shop Boys.
"Domino Dancing" (extended version) is a seven-minute dance song, combined with Lowe's synth melodies, Cuban brass and early hip hop
beats.
Version
Cast
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
recorded by the British synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
duo Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
which reached #7 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It was released as the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from their 1988 album, Introspective.
Song
Written by Chris LoweChris Lowe
Chris Lowe is an English musician, who, with colleague Neil Tennant, makes up the pop duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
and Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
, and influenced by Latin pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
, the song was produced by Lewis A. Martinée
Lewis Martineé
Lewis Antonio Martineé is a freestyle music producer and former DJ based in Miami, Florida. In addition to founding the girl group Exposé in 1984, he also wrote and produced all of the songs on its first two albums, Exposure and What You Don't Know . He also contributed to the group's third...
, the Miami-based producer behind 1980s freestyle
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
groups like Exposé. The song was also recorded at Martinée's studio in Miami, resulting in a considerably large number of studio musicians for a Pet Shop Boys song being featured on it.
The duo had achieved three number ones in 1987–1988 and "Domino Dancing" was expected to continue this success. But the public reception to the duo's new Latin sound proved disappointing. Tennant remembers: "...it entered the charts at number nine and I thought, 'that's that, then - it's all over'. I knew then that our imperial phase of number one hits was over."
The single missed the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at #18, and was the duo's sixth and, to date, last Top 20 pop hit in the USA. The song did reach #5 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where the duo have seen more consistent success.
12": Parlophone / 12 R 6190 (UK)
- "Domino Dancing" (Disco mix) – 7:41
- "Don Juan" (Disco mix) – 7:32
- "Domino Dancing" (Alternative mix) – 4:42
- also released on MC (TCR 6190) and CD (CDR 6190)
12": Parlophone / 12 RX 6190 (UK)
- "Domino Dancing" (Base mix) – 5:53
- "Don Juan" (Demo) – 4:19
- "Domino Dancing" (Demo) – 4:45
12": Capitol / V-56116 (US)
- "Domino Dancing" (Disco mix) – 7:41
- "Domino dancing" (Single version) – 4:17
- "Domino Dancing" (Alternative mix) – 4:48 (Longer outro)
- "Don Juan" (Disco mix) – 7:32
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK | 7 |
| Australia | 36 |
| Austria | 19 |
| France | 40 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Italy | 4 |
| Norway | 5 |
| Sweden | 6 |
| Switzerland | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
| US Billboard Club Play | 5 |
Music video
The "Domino Dancing" music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Eric Watson
Eric Watson (photographer)
Eric Watson is an English photographer.Watson moved to London in 1974 to study fine art at Hornsey Art College, where his contemporaries included Adam Ant and became an assistant to the photographer Red Saunders in 1980 and soon branched out as a photographer in his own right, primarily in the pop...
and was director's sixth of the 11 collaborations he had with the band.
The storyline is about a love triangle between two attractive young men who are fighting over one girl. Rolling Stone magazine calls the video "probably the most homoerotic pop video ever made," citing the slo-motion shots of the boys wrestling on the beach:
The video was filmed in about four days in the old colonial district
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and it is the historic colonial section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Location:...
of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in 1988. One of the locations that was featured in the music video is the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863 under the auspices of Ignacio Mascaro. The cemetery is located outside...
.
All the actors were Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the two boys were David Boira, Adalberto Martinez Mojica and the girl was Donna Bottman who was an aspiring actress and model. All of them were cast by the Pet Shop Boys.
"Domino Dancing" (extended version) is a seven-minute dance song, combined with Lowe's synth melodies, Cuban brass and early hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
beats.
Version
- "Domino Dancing" (Short video 7") – 4:18
- "Domino Dancing" (Extended version 12" remix) – 7:41
Cast
- Chris LoweChris LoweChris Lowe is an English musician, who, with colleague Neil Tennant, makes up the pop duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
as Himself - Neil TennantNeil TennantNeil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
as Himself - David Boira as Boy
- Adalberto Martinez Mojica as Boy
- Donna Bottman as Girl
Cover versions
- The SwedishSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Pet Shop Boys tribute band West End Girls released a cover versionCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Domino DancingGoes PetshoppingGoes Petshopping is the first album by West End Girls, the Pet Shop Boys tribute band. In Japan, the album is entitled We Love Pet Shop Boys!, and it features an exclusive bonus track.-Goes Petshopping:# "I'm not scared"# "Domino Dancing"...
" in 2005, reaching a peak position of number 3 in the Swedish singles chart.