New wave deadpan duo The Pet Shop Boys recently released a new “lockdown version” of their early hit single West End Girls.

They recorded the new version of the track for the Smithsonian Pride online event. On his laptop at home, Chris Lowe played and programmed a new backing track, which he forwarded to bandmate Neil Tennant who then recorded his vocals.

Pete Gleadall then mixed the track and Luke Halls, who creates much of the video content for their live shows, made the finished video by editing footage shot by Chris and Neil at the homes where they have been self-isolating. Teamwork, as they say, makes the dream work…

Although the lyrics are unchanged the lockdown version contains new synths, a funky bassline, and an atmospheric chorus that harnesses the power of the original but also brings some modern melancholy to the track during these uncertain times.

The duo first released West End Girls as a single in 1984 but it wasn’t until they re-recorded the track for their debut album Please in 1985 that it became a No. 1 hit in both the U.S. and U.K.

We've got no future
We've got no past
Here today
Built to last…

Let’s hope so…