"Go West" is a song by American disco group Village People, released in June 1979 by Casablanca Records as the second single from their fourth studio album of the same name (1979). The song was written by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis, while Morali produced it. It was successful in the disco scene during the late 1970s and a top-20 hit in Belgium, Ireland and the UK.
"Go West" found further success when it was covered in 1993 by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, with their version reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 1 in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. It has since become a successful sport chant, especially in European football.
Village People version The song's title is attributed to the 19th-century quote "Go West, young man" commonly attributed to the American newspaper editor Horace Greeley, a rallying cry for the settlement and colonization of the American West, but also an invitation to pursue one's own dreams and individuality. The melody resembles that of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union (and later national anthem of Russia) composed by Alexander Alexandrov, and also shares some melodic elements with the Christian worship song "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" written by Henry Smith, and recorded by Don Moen.
Billboard said that "Having turned tongue-in-cheek plugs for the YMCA and the Navy into top three singles, pop's top jinglesmiths here wax enthusiastic about the wide open spaces of the West." Record World said that "the disco-pop hook is surrounded by a resounding harmony chorus accentuated by full-bodied production". Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it the Village People's 6th greatest song.
In a landmark ruling in U.S. copyright law, on May 7, 2012, Victor Willis was awarded 33% of the copyright to "Go West" and other Village People hits, in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976.
Charts + Chart (1979) Peakposition
Pet Shop Boys version
In 1992, when Pet Shop Boys were asked by Derek Jarman to perform at an AIDS charity event at the Haçienda nightclub in Manchester, Chris Lowe of the duo selected "Go West" as the song they would perform. Though singer Neil Tennant was unable to remember the lyrics during that performance, the two decided to record it as a single.
Release The original recording of "Go West", intended for release in 1992 as a non-album single, was never used. Instead, a different version was released on September 6, 1993, as the second single from Very, featuring the B-side "Shameless". Bonus tracks included remixes of "Go West" by Brothers in Rhythm, Farley & Heller, Kevin Saunderson, and Mark Stent. The album track of "Go West" on Very is 5:03 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of silence and the brief hidden track "Postscript", for a total of 8:21 minutes. The 12-inch mix of the 1992 version, and its intended B-side "Forever in Love", were released in 2001 on Very: Further Listening 1992–1994.
The single peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one in Finland, Germany and Iceland. The single also reached number one in Ireland, becoming the last of the duo's four Irish number-one singles to date, and topped the US Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.
Changes The new version enhances the basis of the original's chord progression in Pachelbel's Canon, bringing the theme to the forefront at the opening of the song. In addition to the Canon elements, it included a new introduction which Lowe later said "does sound surprisingly like the former Soviet anthem". The song also underwent extensive reworking of its instrumental tracks, with producers Stephen Hague and Mark Stent credited for the mixing, as well as an all-male Broadway choir arranged by Richard Niles (said by Tennant to be inspired by the song "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" from the Broadway musical South Pacific). In addition, Tennant and Lowe wrote a new coda and a bridge for the song, with the lyrics:
Critical reception Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic felt the song is a "bizarrely moving" cover. Larry Flick from Billboard magazine commented, "Nothing better captures the tone of bittersweet joy and drama that permeates Very than PSB's cover of the Village People nugget, 'Go West'. Covered with thick layers of pillowy synths, the track swaps the male-bonding vibe of the original with a wistful demeanor that's lined with a pensive subtext of loss". In the single review, he described it as a "gorgeous reading", adding that Neil Tennant "gives the happy, male-bonding lyrics a wistful, almost melancholy edge—an odd but successful contrast to the fist-waving chants at the chorus". Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report deemed it an "uptempo, melodic pop winner". Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote that "Can You Forgive Her?" and "Go West" "are among the best singles of the year, the latter distinguishing itself by making the Village People original seem flagrantly heterosexual."Sullivan, Caroline (September 24, 1993). "Rock/pop: Heavy Petting". The Guardian.
A reviewer from Lennox Herald declared it as a "90s update" of the disco anthem, and an "outside bet for the top spot".Lennox Herald. September 10, 1993. p. 30. Liverpool Echo felt it's the "funniest thing they've done for ages", noting that it "comes complete with butch male chorus contrasting with the Pet Shop Boys' sweet and innocent vocals.""Laugh-along with the Boys". Liverpool Echo. September 10, 1993. p. 31. In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton remarked that the duo's cover "is affectionate rather than mocking but no less brilliant for it with Male Voice Choirs and Gospel Singers adding to what has to be one of the singles of the year." Everett True from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, saying, "'Go West' is pure essence of Pet Shop Boys; an astoundingly immoderate cover [...] which manages the almost unbelievable feat of being camper than the original." Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "The emperors of synth pop are backed by a Cossack choir. Blue helmets replace the Indian head dress and stetson, worn by the original singers of the song, the Village People." John Harris of NME named it "Complete Genius Single of the Week", and considered it a song that "combines the ostentatious playfulness last mastered by the KLF with the Pet Shop Boys' velvet-lined sumptuousness and an immeasurable poignancy".
Reading Evening Post remarked that "Seagulls and strings usher" in this version, adding that "it's insistent and instantly catchy, and brings to mind the song "YMCA" even without knowing who originally sang this track." They concluded that "Go West" "will obviously be a hit".Reading Evening Post. September 10, 1993. p. 43. Stuart Maconie from Select wrote, "Even 'Go West' succeeds by sheer force of personality when it could have been a camp bridge too far — PSBs in silly hats singing an old Village People song." Gavin Reeve from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, commenting, "Neil and Chris have dug up an old Village People hit from the '70s and changed it from a singalong disco number to a... singalong disco number." Jonathan Bernstein from Spin wrote, "It should be camp, ridiculous, and overblown. It is. But it's also curiously affecting. Tennant's wistful reading of the song's yearning for acceptance turns laughter at the surrounding bombast into a lump in the throat. You can only keep it bottled up for so long." David Petrilla from The Weekender said it "sounds like the Village People meet Al Stewart", adding, "expect to start marching in place and finding your arms up in the air when you hear it."Petrilla, David (November 11, 1993). "Record Review and New Releases". p. 14. The Weekender.
Music video The accompanying music video for "Go West" was directed by British director Howard Greenhalgh and relies heavily on computer-generated imagery, like all of his videos for the Very singles. It begins with a red Statue of Liberty, and then depicts a grey city where the communist domination is evident on the basis of Soviet imagery such as red stars and red flags, the Yuri Gagarin Monument (a spaceman on a column) and the Monument to the Conquerors of Space (a rocket on a spire-like pedestal). Troops of identical Soviet men march up a staircase stretching into the clouds, seemingly toward a Western society, with the Statue of Liberty, now appearing as a black diva looming in the distance (played by backing-vocalist Sylvia Mason-James). Tennant and Lowe appear throughout; Tennant carries a blue-and-yellow striped arrow staff, and Lowe travels on a flying surfboard. Occasional live action shots of Soviet iconography appear; in one Tennant and Lowe appear in their costumes, walking across Red Square.
Bernstein from Spin commented on the video, "Purloining images from such fertile sources as Blade Runner, Devo, Metropolis, and the Powell and Pressburger 1946 classic Stairway to Heaven, the video is a computer-generated fantastic voyage. The at-all-times deadpan Boys march up endless white staircases and sail the skyline on silver surfboards from the West Coast to Red Square." The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in November 1993 and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1995, losing to "Love Is Strong" by The Rolling Stones. The "Go West" costumes were parodied in the video for their later 2006 single, "I'm with Stupid".
Track listings
UK 7-inch and cassette single Australian cassette single Japanese mini-CD single "Go West" – 5:03 "Shameless" – 5:04
UK 12-inch single A1. "Go West" (Mings Gone West: First and Second Movement) – 10:12 B1. "Go West" (Farley and Heller disco mix) – 6:01 B2. "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson Tribe mix) – 6:50
UK and Australian CD single "Go West" – 5:03 "Shameless" – 5:04 "Go West" (Ming's Gone West: First and Second Movement) – 10:12
European maxi-CD single "Go West" (edit) – 5:03 "Go West" (Ming's Gone West: First and Second Movement) – 10:12 "Go West" (Farley and Heller Fire Island mix) – 7:42 "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson Tribe mix) – 6:49
US maxi-CD single "Go West" (album version) – 5:01 "Shameless" – 5:04 "Go West" (Ming's Gone West: First and Second Movement) – 10:12 "Go West" (Farley and Heller disco mix) – 5:58 "Go West" (Farley and Heller Fire Island mix) – 7:42 "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson Tribe mix) – 6:49 "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson trance mix) – 6:53
US 12-inch single A1. "Go West" (Ming's Gone West: First and Second Movement) – 10:12 A2. "Go West" (album version) – 5:01 B1. "Go West" (Farley and Heller disco mix) – 5:58 B2. "Go West" (Kevin Saunderson Tribe mix) – 6:49
US cassette single "Go West" (radio version) – 4:09 "Go West" (album version) – 5:01
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart (1993) Peakposition Denmark (Tracklisten) 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 2 Europe (European Hit Radio) 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 1 Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "Go West" for Israeli chart history. 1 Italy (Musica e dischi) Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca". 13 Japan (Oricon) 91 Spain (AFYVE) 4UK Airplay (Music Week) 2UK Club Chart (Music Week) 44
Year-end charts + Chart (1993) Position Australia (ARIA) 71 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 22 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 25 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 19 Europe (European Hit Radio) 27 Germany (Media Control) 12 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 16 Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 51 Sweden (Topplistan) 6 UK Singles (OCC) 46 UK Airplay (Music Week) 32
+ Chart (1994) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 55 Germany (Media Control) 70
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format(s) Label(s) United Kingdom September 6, 1993 Parlophone Japan September 22, 1993 Mini-CD EMI Australia October 11, 1993 Parlophone
As a sports chant