I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

Album: Very (1993)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this upbeat dance-pop number, the normally reserved narrator openly shares his joy when he experiences the thrill of falling in love. Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant was inspired by a Jules Feiffer cartoon from London's Observer magazine that depicted a dancing lady. "I imagined myself as a Feiffer cartoon figure, going crazy with happiness," Tennant explained in his 2018 book, One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem. "Very mundane English expressions like, 'I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing,' are often a starting point for a lyric, in this song inspiring a contrast between high emotions and the reserved language used to express them."
  • Tennant came up with the title when he took an out-of-the-ordinary trip from London to Edinburgh and back again, all in one day. He thought, "I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing." When he couldn't get the phrase out of his mind, he brought the idea to Chris Lowe and they turned it into a song.
  • Tennant: "It's a funny song, but it's sincere. I'm so bored with people seeing us as ironic that I'm quite keen on being sincere at the moment."
  • The lovestruck Englishman claims, "I feel like taking all my clothes off, Dancing to the Rite of Spring." "The Rite of Spring" is an orchestral piece Russian composer Igor Stravinsky wrote for the 1910 Ballet Russes in Paris.
  • The simpler album version was remixed by the English electronic group The Beatmasters for the single release, giving it an energetic '60s vibe with more instrumentation in the mix. Aside from peaking at 13 in the UK, it hit #2 on the US dance chart.
  • Robbie Williams recorded this as the B-side to his 1998 single "Let Me Entertain You" from his debut album, Life Thru A Lens. His version was used on Friends when Monica and Ross try to get screen time on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and Joey tries to get away from his dancing partner. The song was also included on the show's 1999 soundtrack, Friends Again.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.