"Before"

from the album Bilingual

B-side

"The Truck Driver and His Mate"
"Hit and Miss"
"In the Night '95"

Released

22 April 1996

Length

4:32

Label

Songwriter(s)

Producer(s)

Pet Shop Boys
Danny Tenaglia

Pet Shop Boys singles chronology

"Paninaro '95"
(1995)

"Before"
(1996)

"Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)"
(1996)

Music video

"Before" on YouTube

"Before" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 April 1996 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). Upon its release, the single peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Finland, and number one in Hungary. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a tasteful blend of electro-pop and retro-disco",^[1] and an "vigorous and appealing house shuffler". He also noted that it "rides the act's familiar flair for clever lyrics and smooth melodies".^[2] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update noted its "gentle cooing".^[3]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Before" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

UK CD1 and Australian CD single^[4]^[5]

"Before" – 4:05
"The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33
"Hit and Miss" – 4:05
"In the Night 1995" – 4:17

UK CD2^[6]

"Before" (Classic Paradise mix) – 7:56
"Before" (Aphrodisiac mix) – 7:27
"Before" (Hed Boys mix) – 7:33
"Before" (extended mix) – 8:47
"Before" (Danny Tenaglia mix) – 7:17

UK and Australian cassette single; European CD single^[7]^[8]^[9]

"Before" – 4:05
"The Truck Driver and His Mate" – 3:33

UK 3×12-inch single^[10]

A1. "Before" (Underground mix) – 7:17

A2. "Before" (bonus dub) – 4:03

B1. "Before" (Underground instrumental) – 7:17

B2. "Before" (bonus beats) – 4:03

C1. "Before" (Classic Paradise mix) – 7:56

D1. "Before" (Aphrodisiac mix) – 7:27

E1. "Before" (Hed Boys mix) – 7:33

E2. "Before" (Hed Boys dub) – 4:55

F1. "Before" (Joey Negro extended mix) – 8:47

US CD single^[11]

"Before" (album version) – 4:05
"The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33
"Hit and Miss" – 4:05
"Before" (video)

US maxi-CD single^[12]

"Before" (album version) – 4:05
"Before" (D.T.'s After mix) – 8:46
"Before" (Classic Paradise mix—Love to Infinity) – 7:56
"Before" (Joey Negro's Hed Boys mix) – 7:35
"Before" (Joey Negro's Before dub) – 4:55
"Before" (Tenaglia's Underground mix) – 7:17
"Before" (Tenaglia's bonus beats) – 4:03
"Before" (D.T.'s Twilo dub) – 8:57
"Before" (Tenaglia's Bonus dub) – 4:03

US 2×12-inch single^[13]

A1. "Before" (D.T.'s After mix) – 8:46

A2. "Before" (Tenaglia's Bonus dub) – 4:03

B1. "Before" (Classic Paradise mix—Love to Infinity) – 7:56

B2. "Before" (Tenaglia's bonus beats) – 4:03

C1. "Before" (Joey Negro's Hed Boys mix) – 7:35

C2. "Before" (Joey Negro's Before dub) – 4:55

D1. "Before" (Tenaglia's Underground mix) – 7:17

D2. "Before" (D.T.'s Twilo dub) – 8:57

US cassette single^[14]

"Before" (album version) – 4:05
"The Truck-Driver and His Mate" – 3:33
"Hit and Miss" – 4:05

Charts

Weekly charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Before"
Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[16]	38
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[17]	79
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[18]	19
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)^[19]	29
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[20]	4
Germany (Official German Charts)^[21]	45
Hungary (MAHASZ)^[22]	1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[23]	38
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[24]	16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[25]	2
Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)^[26]	4
Scotland (OCC)^[27]	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[28]	10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[29]	31
UK Singles (OCC)^[30]	7
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[31]	7
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[32]	1
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[33]	7

Year-end charts[edit]

Year-end chart performance for "Before"
Chart (1996)	Position
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)^[34]	37

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Before"
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	22 April 1996	CD cassette	Parlophone	^[35]
United Kingdom	20 May 1996	3×12-inch vinyl	Parlophone	^[36]
United States	17 June 1996	12-inch vinyl	Atlantic	^[37]
	17 July 1996	Enhanced CD		^[37]
	23 July 1996	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio		^[38]

References

^ Flick, Larry (18 May 1996). "Dance Trax: Brutally Honest Ngedéocello Says A Mouthful" (PDF). Billboard. p. 26. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
^ Flick, Larry (29 June 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
^ Hamilton, James (27 April 1996). "DJ Directory" (PDF). Music Week. p. 11. Retrieved 16 August 2021 – via Record Mirror.
^ Before (UK CD1 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. CDRS 6431, 7243 8 82809 2 1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (Australian CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 8828352.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (UK CD2 liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. CDR 6431, 7243 882810 2 7.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (UK cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. TCR 6431, 7243 8 82809 4 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (Australian cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 8 82809 4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (European CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 7243 8 82834 2 7.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (UK 3×12-inch single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1996. 12RX 6431, 7243 8 82899 6 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (US CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 87049-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 85489-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (US 2×12-inch single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 0-85489.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Before (US cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Atlantic Records. 1996. 4-87049.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9911." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9931." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 19. 11 May 1996. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Pet Shop Boys: Before" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 23. 8 June 1996. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 Nr. 170 (vikuna 18.5. – 24.5. '96)". DV (in Icelandic). 18 May 1996. p. 26. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys – Before". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
^ "The Year in Music – Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. 28 December 1996. p. YE-44. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 20 April 1996. p. 27. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 May 1996. p. 25.
^ ^a ^b Mirkin, Steven (10 August 1996). "Pet Shop Boys Reopen on Atlantic With 'Bilingual'". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 32. pp. 14, 16.
^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1155. 19 July 1996. pp. 44, 50. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

v t e Pet Shop Boys
Chris Lowe Neil Tennant
Studio albums	Please Actually Introspective Behaviour Very Bilingual Nightlife Release Fundamental Yes Elysium Electric Super Hotspot Nonetheless
Compilation albums	Discography: The Complete Singles Collection Alternative Essential PopArt: The Hits Story: 25 Years of Hits Party Ultimate Format Smash: The Singles 1985–2020
Remix albums	Disco Disco 2 Disco 3 Disco 4
Live albums	Concrete Pandemonium Inner Sanctum Discovery: Live in Rio 1994
Extended plays	Christmas Agenda Lost
Singles	"West End Girls" "One More Chance" "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" "Love Comes Quickly" "Suburbia" "Paninaro" "It's a Sin" "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" "Rent" "Heart" "Always on My Mind" "Domino Dancing" "Left to My Own Devices" "It's Alright" "So Hard" "Being Boring" "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)" / "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" "Jealousy" "DJ Culture" "Was It Worth It?" "Can You Forgive Her?" "Go West" "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" "Liberation" "Absolutely Fabulous" "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" "Paninaro '95" "Before" "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" / "To Step Aside" "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" "London" "Miracles" "Flamboyant" "I'm with Stupid" "Minimal" "Numb" "Integral" "Love Etc." "Did You See Me Coming?" "Beautiful People" "Love Life" "Together" "Winner" "Leaving" "Memory of the Future" "Axis" "Vocal" "Love Is a Bourgeois Construct" "Thursday" "The Pop Kids" "Say It to Me" "Dreamland"
Featured singles	"Hallo Spaceboy" "Break 4 Love" "She's Madonna"
Other songs	"King's Cross" "The Loving Kind" "The Night I Fell in Love" "I'm Not Scared" "In Private" "Nothing Has Been Proved" "So Sorry, I Said" "Don't Drop Bombs" "Losing My Mind"
Video albums	Cubism
Soundtracks and scores	The Crying Game Closer to Heaven Battleship Potemkin The Most Incredible Thing
Film, stage and television	It Couldn't Happen Here Closer to Heaven Pet Shop Boys: A Life in Pop
Tours and concerts	Fundamental Tour Pandemonium Tour Electric Tour Super Tour
Related articles	CyberWorld Discography Songs x2 Reputation Results Electronic Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys West End Girls