Blair Trilogy (Music)
The Blair Trilogy is a series of three songs by the Pet Shop Boys charting the premiership of Tony Blair. The Pet Shop Boys were originally supporters of New Labour, but withdrew their support, citing restrictions of civil liberties as their reason.
I Get Along[edit | edit source]
A mid-tempo ballad from their 2002 album, Release. It is ostensibly about dealing with upset after breaking up with a lover, but beneath the surface, it is a commentary on the relationship between Tony and Peter Mandelson after the latter was forced to resign from Cabinet for the second time. It is sung from Peter's POV, and the political edge is notable in the bridge:
'I've been trying not to cry
when I'm in the public eye
Stuck here with the shame
and taking my share of the blame
while making sudden plans that don't include you
It can be heard here
I'm With Stupid[edit | edit source]
A synthpop song from their 2006 album, Fundamental. It is ostensibly about a man in a relationship with an idiot, but it refers to the Special Relationship between Tony and George W. Bush, mocking Bush for his lack of intelligence and Tony for his poodleism towards the President. It is sung from Tony's POV and there are several explicit references to the Special Relationship, including "power can give a man / much more than anybody knows" and "do we really have a relationship / so special in your heart?"
Before we ever met
I thought like everybody did
You were just a moron
A billion-dollar kid
You flew up all the way
Like a hawk chasing a dove
I never thought that I would be
A sacrifice in love
It can be heard here
Legacy[edit | edit source]
A slow, synthesised song featuring on their 2008 album, Yes. It is the only one in the trilogy to have not been released as a single. It is not sung from any politician's POV, and is addressed to Blair after he leaves office. The lyrics talk about adjusting to the trivialities of a normal life after flying on the high of power after a long time. It was censored in China, due to the lyric "time will pass, governments fall".
It can be heard here
