Did You See Me Coming?

Album: Yes (2009)
Charted: 21
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is a collaboration with the production team Xenomania, who are best known for their work with the British pop act Girls Aloud. It was the first song that the Pet Shop Boys played to Xenomania founder Brian Higgins after meeting him. He commented after listening to the demo that it was "80% there."
  • Singer Neil Tennant explained the song to The Big Issue: "My mother used to say: 'They must have seen you coming,' and it meant you were being hoodwinked or something. It's about a guy realising that the girl has seen him across the crowded room and realised that he's just going to fall in love with her immediately. It's a bit Cole Porter. It was actually the first song we wrote for this album and we realised then that the direction was going very poppy with very chirpy, happy harmonies."
  • The song was released as the second single from the Pet Shop Boys tenth studio album Yes, peaking at #21 on the UK singles chart. It was chosen as the follow-up to "Love Etc" due to the enthusiasm of their record label's radio promotion staff, who felt that it would get a lot of airplay. However it got little airplay anywhere, apart from on BBC Radio 2, hence the disappointing chart position.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.