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Can You Forgive Her? (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Can You Forgive Her?
| cover = CanYouForgiveHerPSB.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Pet Shop Boys
| album = Very
| B-side =
| released = 31 May 1993
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Synth-pop
| length = 3:53
| label = Parlophone
| writer =
* Neil Tennant
* Chris Lowe
| producer = Pet Shop Boys
| prev_title = Was It Worth It?
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Go West
| next_year = 1993
| misc =
}}
"'Can You Forgive Her?'" is a 1993 song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, 'Very' (1993). The lyrics describe in the second person a young man's humiliation when his girlfriend accuses him of still being in love with a childhood friend; the woman is "not prepared to share you with a memory", and is "going to go and get herself a real man instead". The title of the song derives from the Anthony Trollope novel of the same name.
"Can You Forgive Her?" was released on 31 May 1993 as the lead single from 'Very', and became the duo's 13th top-10 single on the UK Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number seven. Despite failing to enter the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, it became a number-one single on the 'Billboard' Dance Club Songs chart. The song reached the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden.
The second B-side, "What Keeps Mankind Alive?", appears on the 2001 re-release of 'Introspective', having originally being recorded for a BBC Radio programme in 1988 narrated by Sting celebrating the 60th anniversary of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's musical 'The Threepenny Opera'.
Marketing
In marketing for the single, the Pet Shop Boys adopted a costume involving orange overalls and extremely tall pointy hats ("dunce caps"). The music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and depicted the duo wearing the costumes while wandering in a surreal (partly) computer-generated environment. Live action shots were filmed in a number of either well known or futuristic locations around London. They cross London Bridge in the rush hour crowd and also walk over the footbridge at Poplar station on the Docklands Light Railway. They are shown at the top of The Monument in the City of London. The park scenes were filmed in Battersea Park and one shot shows them standing in one of the remaining sculptures from the 1951 Festival of Britain fun fair.
The single cover and two inserts with small models depicted Pet Shop Boys costumes, and were both photographed by Marcus Leith.
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described the song as "quietly shocking". Larry Flick from 'Billboard' wrote, "First peek into PSB's new set, "'Very'", shows 'em hanging on the cutting edge of the trance/rave movementa logical progression from their synth/pop salad days. Neil Tennant's distinctive "chat" singing is still oozing with deadpan charm, and partner Chris Lowe's penchant for quirky keyboard effects also remains intact." The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith said it "make a strong impression right from the start". Caroline Sullivan from 'The Guardian' commented, "As ever, it takes several listens for it to resolve itself into a distinctive tune; when it finally does, it's pretty wonderful. Juicy lyric too, something about being rejected by a girl who preferred 'a real man'."Sullivan, Caroline (4 June 1993). "Music: Rock/pop". 'The Guardian'. Alan Jones from 'Music Week' wrote, "Typical sweeping orchestral stabs usher in the first Pet Shop Boys single in 18 months. Can You Forgive Her? is, equally typically, a highly mainstream and instant song, with oft-repeated and cheery chorus offsetting the usual mournful vocal from Neil Tennant." He added, "An obvious biggie." James Hamilton from the magazine's 'RM' Dance Update described it as a "bouncy thumping strong "disco" anthem". A reviewer from 'People Magazine' stated, "With his clipped "pass the Grey Poupon" elocution, Tennant talks/sings his way through a mid-tempo dance track about a man torn between his female lover and his closeted desire for a man."
Track listings
* '7-inch: Parlophone / R 6348 (UK)'
:A. "Can You Forgive Her?" 3:54
:B. "Hey, Headmaster" 3:06
* '12-inch: Parlophone / 12R 6348 (UK)'
:A1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix) 6:00
:A2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub) 4:51
:B1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) 7:26
:B2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) 5:53
* '12-inch: EMI / Y-56279 (US)'
:A1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix) 6:00
:A2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub) 4:51
:A3. "Can You Forgive Her?" 3:54
:B1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) 7:28
:B2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) 5:53
* 'CD 1: Parlophone / CDR 6348 (UK)'
# "Can You Forgive Her?" 3:54
# "Hey, Headmaster" 3:06
# "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix)
# "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub)
* 'CD 2: Parlophone / CDRS 6348 (UK)'
# "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) 7:26
# "I Want to Wake Up" (1993 Johnny Marr Remix) 5:25
# "What Keeps Mankind Alive?" 3:25
# "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) 5:53
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
Category:1993 singles
Category:1993 songs
Category:Finntroll songs
Category:LGBT-related songs
Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh
Category:Parlophone singles
Category:Pet Shop Boys songs
Category:Songs written by Chris Lowe
Category:Songs written by Neil Tennant
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