Before (song)

For other songs of the same name, see Before (disambiguation).

"Before" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 April 1996 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). Upon its release, the single peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Finland, and number one in Hungary. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

"Before"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Bilingual
B-side	"The Truck Driver and His Mate" "Hit and Miss" "In the Night '95"
Released	22 April 1996 (1996-04-22)
Genre	Disco[1]
Length	4:32
Label	Parlophone Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Neil Tennant Chris Lowe
Producer(s)	Pet Shop Boys Danny Tenaglia
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Paninaro '95" (1995) "Before" (1996) "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" (1996)
Music video
"Before" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a tasteful blend of electro-pop and retro-disco",^[2] and an "vigorous and appealing house shuffler". He also noted that it "rides the act's familiar flair for clever lyrics and smooth melodies".^[3] Victoria Segal of Melody Maker called it "steeped in standard Petties loser-in-love-and-therefore-in-life melancholy, all panpipes and high-pitched female vocals, a sort of thick sadness curdling Neil Tennant's voice". She noted that the B-side "The Truck Driver and His Mate" was the "killer track", with its "filthiest beat", "synthesised sighs" and Tennant's "voice all over it".^[4] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update noted its "gentle cooing".^[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Before" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

UK CD1 and Australian CD single[6][7] "Before" – 4:05 "The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33 "Hit and Miss" – 4:05 "In the Night 1995" – 4:17 UK CD2[8] "Before" (Classic Paradise mix) – 7:56 "Before" (Aphrodisiac mix) – 7:27 "Before" (Hed Boys mix) – 7:33 "Before" (extended mix) – 8:47 "Before" (Danny Tenaglia mix) – 7:17 UK and Australian cassette single; European CD single[9][10][11] "Before" – 4:05 "The Truck Driver and His Mate" – 3:33 UK 3×12-inch single[12] A1. "Before" (Underground mix) – 7:17 A2. "Before" (bonus dub) – 4:03 B1. "Before" (Underground instrumental) – 7:17 B2. "Before" (bonus beats) – 4:03 C1. "Before" (Classic Paradise mix) – 7:56 D1. "Before" (Aphrodisiac mix) – 7:27 E1. "Before" (Hed Boys mix) – 7:33 E2. "Before" (Hed Boys dub) – 4:55 F1. "Before" (Joey Negro extended mix) – 8:47

US CD single[13] "Before" (album version) – 4:05 "The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33 "Hit and Miss" – 4:05 "Before" (video) US maxi-CD single[14] "Before" (album version) – 4:05 "Before" (D.T.'s After mix) – 8:46 "Before" (Classic Paradise mix—Love to Infinity) – 7:56 "Before" (Joey Negro's Hed Boys mix) – 7:35 "Before" (Joey Negro's Before dub) – 4:55 "Before" (Tenaglia's Underground mix) – 7:17 "Before" (Tenaglia's bonus beats) – 4:03 "Before" (D.T.'s Twilo dub) – 8:57 "Before" (Tenaglia's Bonus dub) – 4:03 US 2×12-inch single[15] A1. "Before" (D.T.'s After mix) – 8:46 A2. "Before" (Tenaglia's Bonus dub) – 4:03 B1. "Before" (Classic Paradise mix—Love to Infinity) – 7:56 B2. "Before" (Tenaglia's bonus beats) – 4:03 C1. "Before" (Joey Negro's Hed Boys mix) – 7:35 C2. "Before" (Joey Negro's Before dub) – 4:55 D1. "Before" (Tenaglia's Underground mix) – 7:17 D2. "Before" (D.T.'s Twilo dub) – 8:57 US cassette single[16] "Before" (album version) – 4:05 "The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33 "Hit and Miss" – 4:05

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Before" Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 25 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 38 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 79 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[20] 19 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[21] 29 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 4 Germany (GfK)[23] 45 Hungary (MAHASZ)[24] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 38 Italy (Musica e dischi)[26] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[27] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[28] 4 Scotland (OCC)[29] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 31 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 7 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[33] 7 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[34] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[35] 7

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Before" Chart (1996) Position US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[36] 37

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Before"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	22 April 1996	CD cassette	Parlophone	[37]
	20 May 1996	3×12-inch vinyl		[38]
United States	17 June 1996	12-inch vinyl	Atlantic	[39]
	17 July 1996	Enhanced CD		[39]
	23 July 1996	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio		[40]

References

1. AllMusic Staff. Pet Shop Boys - Bilingual (1996) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
2. Flick, Larry (18 May 1996). "Dance Trax: Brutally Honest Ngedéocello Says A Mouthful" (PDF). Billboard. p. 26. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
3. Flick, Larry (29 June 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
4. Segal, Victoria (13 April 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 36. ISSN 0025-9012.
5. Hamilton, James (27 April 1996). "DJ Directory" (PDF). Music Week. p. 11. Retrieved 16 August 2021 – via Record Mirror.
6. Before (UK CD1 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. CDRS 6431, 7243 8 82809 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Before (Australian CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 8828352.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Before (UK CD2 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. CDR 6431, 7243 882810 2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Before (UK cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. TCR 6431, 7243 8 82809 4 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Before (Australian cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 8 82809 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Before (European CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 7243 8 82834 2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Before (UK 3×12-inch single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 12RX 6431, 7243 8 82899 6 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Before (US CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 87049-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Before (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 85489-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Before (US 2×12-inch single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 0-85489.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Before (US cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 4-87049.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. "Pet Shop Boys – Before". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
18. "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9911." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
20. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9931." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
21. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 19. 11 May 1996. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
22. "Pet Shop Boys: Before" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
23. "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
24. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 23. 8 June 1996. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
25. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 Nr. 170 (vikuna 18.5. – 24.5. '96)". DV (in Icelandic). 18 May 1996. p. 26. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
26. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
27. "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
28. "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
30. "Pet Shop Boys – Before". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
31. "Pet Shop Boys – Before". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
32. "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
33. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
34. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
35. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
36. "The Year in Music – Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. 28 December 1996. p. YE-44. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
37. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 20 April 1996. p. 27. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
38. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 May 1996. p. 25.
39. Mirkin, Steven (10 August 1996). "Pet Shop Boys Reopen on Atlantic With 'Bilingual'". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 32. pp. 14, 16.
40. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1155. 19 July 1996. pp. 44, 50. Retrieved 18 August 2021.