PopArt: The Hits

{{For|the album by Transvision Vamp|Pop Art (album){{!}}''Pop Art'' (album)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = PopArt: The Hits | type = greatest | artist = Pet Shop Boys | cover = PopArt Pet Shop Boys – The Hits.png | border = yes | alt = | released = {{start date|2003|11|24|df=yes}} | genre = | length = {{Duration|m=147|s=15}} | label = Parlophone | producer = Pet Shop Boys | prev_title = Disco 3 | prev_year = 2003 | next_title = Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = PopArt: The Hits | type = greatest | single1 = Miracles | single1date = 17 November 2003 | single2 = Flamboyant | single2date = 29 March 2004 }} }} '''''PopArt: The Hits''''' is a greatest hits album by the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was released on 24 November 2003 by Parlophone. The album consists of 33 hits from the first 18 years of their career, along with two new tracks, "Miracles" and "Flamboyant", which were released as singles.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |last=Bishop|first=Tom|date=17 November 2003|title=Pet Shop Boys look back to the future|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3264405.stm |website=BBC News|location=London|access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>

==Background and compilation== ''PopArt'' was the duo's second greatest hits compilation released in the UK, following ''Discography: The Complete Singles Collection'' (1991).{{efn|''Essential'' (1998) was compiled by EMI for the US market.<ref>{{cite web |author=|date=31 March 1998|title=Product: Essential |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/compilation/essential |website=petshopboys.co.uk|location=London|access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>}} The title reflects their work as pop music with artistic influences.<ref name="PSB History">{{cite web |author=|date=November 2003|title=History: 2003|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/history/2003 |website=petshopboys.co.uk|location=London|access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The songs were organised in two sections by theme instead of chronologically. The ''Pop'' section includes euphoric pop songs, such as "Go West" (1993) and "A Red Letter Day" (1996), while those in the ''Art'' section have more complicated narratives, like the autobiographical "Being Boring" (1990).<ref name="BBC"/>

Four singles from the period were not included on ''PopArt''. "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" (1991) had been half of a double A-sided single and was left off in favour of the more popular track, "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You)". "Was It Worth It?" (1991) was omitted because it had missed the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. "Absolutely Fabulous" (1994) was not considered a Pet Shop Boys release; and "London" (2002) was only released in Germany.<ref name="BBC"/>

The French edition of ''PopArt'' included a newly recorded version of "New York City Boy" (1999) called "Paris City Boy", with the chorus sung in French, which had been requested by EMI France to promote the album.<ref>{{cite web |author=|date=29 October 2003 |title=Paris City Boy|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2003-10-29/paris-city-boy |website=petshopboys.co.uk|location=London|access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref> On the US edition, the single versions of "Heart" (1988), "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" (1993), and "Flamboyant" (2004) were used.<ref name="US version">{{cite web |author=|date=30 September 2006|title=American tour/PopArt USA release|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2006-09-30/american-tourpopart-usa-release |website=petshopboys.co.uk|location=London|access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>

==Release== ''PopArt'' was released as a double album on CD, as well as a limited edition triple LP boxset. There was also a limited edition triple CD boxset, with an additional ''Mix'' disc featuring some of the duo's favourite remixes of their songs.<ref name="PSB History"/><ref name="catalogue">{{cite book |last1=Hoare|first1=Philip|last2=Heath|first2=Chris|year=2006|title=Pet Shop Boys, Catalogue|location=New York|publisher=Thames & Hudson|pages=296–97|isbn=9780500513071}}</ref> A DVD was released at the same time, with 41 music videos arranged chronologically, along with commentary by Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe, and Chris Heath.<ref name="Exclaim">{{cite magazine |last=Bidaye|first=Prasad|date=31 January 2004|title=Pet Shop Boys Pop Art|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/pet_shop_boys-pop_art |magazine=Exclaim!|location=Toronto|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{cite news |last=Dalton|first=Stephen|date=22 November 2003|title=Pet Shop Boys - PopArt|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/pet-shop-boys-popart-e-drxlr0zdqsc |work=The Times|location=London|access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> The album was re-issued on 26 November 2007{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} in the UK as a box set with the corresponding DVD included.

''PopArt'' reached number 30 on the UK Albums Chart on its original release in 2003. It did not achieve its highest position of 18 until 2009, when Pet Shop Boys received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and performed a medley of their hits at the televised ceremony. At that time, the album re-entered the chart at number 19, advancing to number 18 the following week.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones|first=Alan|date=28 February 2009|title=Brits crown Kings for a third time|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2009/2009-02-28-Music-Week.pdf |magazine=Music Week|page=32|location=London|access-date=5 June 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=|title=PopArt - The Hits by Pet Shop Boys|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/pet-shop-boys-popart-the-hits/ |website=Official Charts|location=London|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref> It was certified platinum by BPI in 2013, with at least 300,000 copies sold in the UK.<ref name="UK certification"/> In Germany, ''PopArt'' was certified gold in 2010 with sales of at least 100,000.<ref name="German certification"/>

''PopArt'' achieved its best chart position in Norway, peaking at number two in March 2004, following an appearance by Pet Shop Boys to promote the album on the popular Norwegian chat show ''Først & sist''.<ref>{{cite web |author=|date=28 February 2004|title=In Norway|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2004-02-28/in-norway |website=petshopboys.co.uk|location=London|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref> It entered the chart at number five and rose to the second spot the next week, spending eight weeks in the top 40.<ref name="Norway chart"/>

''PopArt'' was finally made available in the United States on 3 October 2006 by Capitol Records. The double album came out on CD, and the ''Mix'' tracks were issued as a digital download. The release coincided with the North American leg of the Fundamental Tour.<ref name="US version"/>

===Artwork=== The album cover (pictured) was designed by Gary Stillwell of Farrow Design. The word "Pop" has orange and white stripes, representing the pointy hats used to promote "Can You Forgive Her?" (1993), and the word "Art" has black and white stripes like the sunglasses worn by Chris Lowe on a cover of "Suburbia" (1986). A montage of photos from the duo's career appeared on the inner sleeves of the vinyl and the concertina CD booklet.<ref name="catalogue"/> The artwork won a D&AD Wood Pencil award.<ref>{{cite web |author= |year=2004|title=Pet Shop Boys PopArt|url=https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2004/graphic-design/13869/pet-shop-boys-popart/ |website=D&AD|location=London|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref>

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Jeffries |first=David |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/popart-the-hits-1985-2003-mw0000469733 |title=PopArt: The Hits – Pet Shop Boys |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Guardian'' | rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last=Sweeting|first=Adam|date=27 November 2003|title=Pet Shop Boys: PopArt - The Hits|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/nov/28/popandrock.shopping1 |work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev4Score = 8.1/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9487-popart-the-hits/ |title=Pet Shop Boys: ''PopArt: The Hits'' |first=Nitsuh |last=Abebe |date=6 October 2006 |work=Pitchfork |access-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Release Magazine'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|9|10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.releasemagazine.net/Onrecord/orpetshopboyspa.htm |title=Pet Shop Boys: PopArt |first=Johan |last=Carlsson |date=8 December 2003 |work=Release Magazine |access-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> }} Several reviewers compared ''PopArt'' to its predecessor, ''Discography''. David Jeffries of AllMusic called ''PopArt'', "an excellent, hang-together listen and a better representation of the duo's career than ''Discography''".<ref name="AllMusic"/> Nitsuh Abebe of ''Pitchfork'' wrote: "The collection certainly doesn't make the Pet Shop Boys look as good as ''Discography'' did... At the same time, that makes this collection much more than an update of ''Discography'': It's no longer just a string of pop hits to throw on when people are around, but something you can spend time digging your way through and coming to grips with — less a greatest-hits package, and more a Portable Pet Shop Boys, in something approaching their totality".<ref name="Pitchfork"/>

Adam Sweeting of ''The Guardian'' commented that dividing the album into ''Pop'' and ''Art'' sections "appears to be purely arbitrary".<ref name="Guardian"/> Likewise, Stephen Dalton of ''The Times'' observed in a review of the DVD, "It’s a moot point where the "pop" on ''PopArt'' ends and the "art" begins — Tennant and Lowe certainly seem unclear on their audio commentary". He called the music video compilation, "a feast of brainy disco, sly social commentary and homoerotic subtext. Two decades of obliquely mapping trends in fashion, media, music and politics through bittersweet lyrics and opulent electro-pop".<ref name="Times"/> Both Dalton and Prasad Bidaye of ''Exclaim!'' found the DVD audio commentary by the duo to be primarily focused on their fashions. Bidaye concluded, "It is more fun watching these clips with Tennant playing pop culture critic, but it's unlikely that ''PopArt'' will convert first-time viewers. This one's really for the die-hard fans".<ref name="Exclaim"/>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = Pop | extra_column = Original album | total_length = 73:39 | all_writing = Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, except where noted

| title1 = Go West | note1 = | writer1 = {{hlist|Jacques Morali|Henri Belolo|Victor Willis|Tennant|Lowe}} | extra1 = ''Very'' (1993) | length1 = 5:04

| title3 = Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is) | note3 = | writer3 = {{hlist|Ademario|Wellington Epiderme Negra|Nego do Barbalho|Tennant|Lowe}} | extra3 = ''Bilingual'' (1996) | length3 = 4:01

| title4 = What Have I Done to Deserve This? | note4 = | writer4 = {{hlist|Lowe|Tennant|Allee Willis}} | extra4 = ''Actually'' (1987) | length4 = 4:19

| title5 = Always on My Mind | note5 = 7" version | writer5 = {{hlist|Wayne Carson|Johnny Christopher|Mark James}} | extra5 = non-album single (1987) | length5 = 4:01

| title6 = I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing | note6 = Beatmasters mix | writer6 = | extra6 = ''Very'' (1993) | length6 = 4:45{{efn|4:28 on US release}}

| title8 = Heart | note8 = album version | writer8 = | extra8 = ''Actually'' (1987) | length8 = 3:58{{efn|4:16 on US release}}

| title9 = Miracles | note9 = | writer9 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|Adam F|Dan Fresh Stein}} | extra9 = previously unreleased | length9 = 3:55

| title10 = Love Comes Quickly | note10 = | writer10 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|Stephen Hague}} | extra10 = ''Please'' (1986) | length10 = 4:18

| title14 = New York City Boy | note14 = US radio edit | writer14 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|David Morales}} | extra14 = ''Nightlife'' (1999) | length14 = 3:21

| title15 = It's Alright | note15 = 7" version | writer15 = {{hlist|Sterling Void|Marshall Jefferson|Paris Brightledge}} | extra15 = ''Introspective'' (1988) | length15 = 4:20

| title16 = Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You) | note16 = 7" version | writer16 = {{hlist|Paul Hewson|David Evans|Larry Mullen|Adam Clayton|Bob Crewe|Bob Gaudio}} | extra16 = non-album single (1991) | length16 = 4:30

| title17 = A Red Letter Day | note17 = single version | writer17 = | extra17 = ''Bilingual'' (1996) | length17 = 4:34 }}

{{Track listing | headline = Art | extra_column = Original album | total_length = 73:36

| title3 = Flamboyant | note3 = | writer3 = | extra3 = previously unreleased | length3 = 3:50{{efn|3:40 on US release}}

| title18 = Somewhere | note18 = single version | writer18 = {{hlist|Leonard Bernstein|Stephen Sondheim}} | extra18 = non-album single (1997) | length18 = 4:42 }} '''Limited edition''' {{Track listing | headline = Mix

| title1 = Can You Forgive Her? | note1 = Rollo remix | length1 = 6:02

| title2 = So Hard | note2 = David Morales Red Zone mix | length2 = 7:44

| title3 = What Have I Done to Deserve This? | note3 = Shep Pettibone mix | length3 = 8:10

| title4 = West End Girls | note4 = Sasha mix | length4 = 7:45

| title5 = Miserablism | note5 = Moby Electro mix | length5 = 5:35

| title6 = Before | note6 = Classic Paradise mix{{efn|The Classic Paradise mix is misattributed to producer Danny Tenaglia on the original ''PopArt'' track list but is credited to Love to Infinity on subsequent releases.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Pet Shop Boys (performers)|date=13 March 2017|title=Before (Love to Infinity Classic Paradise mix)|type=music video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uGW-UKYFo0 |publisher=Parlophone UK}}</ref>}} | length6 = 7:58

| title7 = I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More | note7 = Peter Rauhofer New York mix | length7 = 10:28

| title8 = New York City Boy | note8 = Lange mix | length8 = 7:07

| title9 = Young Offender | note9 = Jam & Spoon Trip-o-matic Fairy Tale mix | length9 = 7:20

| title10 = Love Comes Quickly | note10 = Blank & Jones mix | length10 = 5:00 }}

==DVD== # "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" (original version) # "West End Girls" # "Love Comes Quickly" # "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" (second version) # "Suburbia" # "Paninaro" # "It's a Sin" # "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" # "Rent" # "Always on My Mind" # "Heart" # "Domino Dancing" # "Left to My Own Devices" # "It's Alright" # "So Hard" # "Being Boring" # "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" # "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)" # "Jealousy" # "DJ Culture" # "Was It Worth It?" # "Can You Forgive Her?" # "Go West" # "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" # "Liberation" # "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" # "Paninaro '95" # "Before" # "Se a Vida É (That's the Way Life Is)" # "Single-Bilingual" # "A Red Letter Day" # "Somewhere" # "I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More" # "New York City Boy" # "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" # "Home and Dry" # "I Get Along/E-mail" # "London" # "Domino Dancing" (extended version) [The 12" and ''Introspective'' Mix] # "So Hard" (extended version) [The "Extended Dance Mix"] # "Go West" (extended version) [The Mings Gone West: First and Second Movement Video Mix]

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2003–2004) ! scope="col"| Peak<br>position |- {{album chart|Flanders|89|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|42|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |- {{album chart|Denmark|29|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |- {{album chart|Germany|24|artist=Pet Shop Boys|id=4802|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |- {{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017|refname="Norway chart"}} |- ! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> | 36 |- {{album chart|Sweden|20|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|99|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=PopArt - The Hits|rowheader=true|access-date=11 August 2017}} |}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2006) ! scope="col"| Peak<br>position |- {{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|19|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=6 November 2020}} |}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Peak<br>position |- {{album chart|Scotland|25|date=20090301|rowheader=true|access-date=7 May 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK2|18|date=20090301|rowheader=true|access-date=7 May 2020}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2003) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2003.pdf|title=The Official UK Albums Chart 2003|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref> | 174 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''PopArt: The Hits''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=PopArt|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2003|certyear=2010|refname="German certification"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=PopArt|award=Platinum|number=1|type=album|relyear=2003|certyear=2013|id=12118-2148-2|date=22 July 2013|access-date=6 June 2025|refname="UK certification"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popart: The Hits}} Category:2003 greatest hits albums Category:Capitol Records compilation albums Category:Capitol Records remix albums Category:Capitol Records video albums Category:Parlophone compilation albums Category:Parlophone remix albums Category:Parlophone video albums Category:Pet Shop Boys compilation albums Category:Pet Shop Boys video albums