Paninaro (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Paninaro '95


Caption =
Artist = Pet Shop Boys
from Album =
B-side = "Girls & Boys" (live in Rio)
Released = July 24, 1995
Format = 12", CD
Recorded =
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 4:07
Label = Parlophone / EMI
Writer = Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer = Pet Shop Boys
Last single = "Yesterday, When I Was Mad"
(1994)
This single = "Paninaro '95"
(1995)
Next single = "Before"
(1996)

:"The capitalization of song titles in this article may be disputed. Please see the before making changes.

"Paninaro" is a song by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. Originally a B-side to the 1986 single "Suburbia", it was released as a limited-edition single in Italy during the same year; later, in 1995, a re-recording entitled "Paninaro '95" was released to a wider market, to promote the B-side compilation "Alternative" (though only the original version was included on the compilation).

Overview

The song is about the 1980s Italian youth subculture known as the paninari; derived from the word "panino", Italian for sandwich, they were known for congregating in restaurants serving sandwiches and in the first u.s.-style fast food, as well as their preference for designer clothing and 1980s pop music such as the New Wave of Duran Duran. Band singer Neil Tennant has said that they were drawn to the concept due to having shared those preferences.

Lyrics

"Paninaro" is one of the few Pet Shop Boys songs in which Chris Lowe provides the majority of the vocals. Tennant, meanwhile, only sings the title repeatedly in intervals.

The main lyrical motif consists of eight words:

:"Passion and love and sex and money":"Violence, religion, injustice and death"

These words are repeated at the end of the song in a soliloquy to the singer's "lover".

In reference to the fashion of the paninari, references to prestigious Italian fashion designers are repeated throughout the song:

:"Armani, Armani, ah-ah-Armani":"Versace, cinque"

(Though "Versace" was removed from the B-side and the 1995 version.)

In addition, the middle of the song contains a sample of a 1986 "Entertainment Tonight" interview with the band:

1995 version

The new recording included a rap in the middle of the song, newly-written by Lowe; it laments the loss of the "lover" referred to in the pre-existing lyrics. In addition, the lyrics of the soliloquy at the end are changed from "You're my lover..." to "You were my lover...". Fact|date=February 2007

Release

The 1995 version received remixes from Angel Moraes, Tin Tin Out, and Tracy & Sharon. Tom Stephan of Tracy & Sharon would continue to remix for the Pet Shop Boys as his later alias Superchumbo.

1995 Release Track listing

CD 1 (UK)

1. "Paninaro '95" (Extended Mix) (7:30)

2. "Paninaro '95" (Tin Tin Out Mix) (7:47)

3. "Paninaro '95" (Tracy's 12' Mix) (8:30)

4. "Paninaro '95" (Sharon's Sexy Boyz Dub) (5:47)

5. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes Deep Dance Mix) (10:39)

CD 2 (UK)

1. "Paninaro '95" (4:10)

2. "In the Night" (4:50)

3. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys Live In Rio) (5:04)

4. "Paninaro '95" (Extended Mix) (7:30)

12" (UK)

A1. "Paninaro '95" (Tracy's 12" Mix) (8:28)

A2. "Paninaro '95" (Sharon's Sexy Boyz Dub) (5:47)

B1. "Paninaro '95" (Tin Tin Out Mix) (7:47)

B2. "Paninaro '95" (Pet Shop Boys Extended Mix) (7:30)

12" #2 (UK)

A. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes Deep Dance Mix) (10:39)

B1. "Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes Girls Boys In Dub) (11:57)

B2. Paninaro '95" (Angel Moraes The Hot N Spycy Dub) (9:35)

Chart performance

Music videos

Original

A self-produced music video, filmed in Italy, was used for the original release; it consisted of footage of the duo singing the song alongside locals.

1995 version

The "Paninaro '95" video was directed by longtime Pet Shop Boys director Howard Greenhalgh. The "Top of the Pops" performance of "Paninaro '95" replicated the imagery of the music video, with the same costumes, lighting, and male dancers involved.

Pet Shop Boys