Axis (song)

2013 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Axis"

Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album  Electric
Released| 30 April 2013
Genre|

* Synth-pop[1]
* hi-NRG[2][3]
* Italo disco[4]

Length| 5:32
Label| x2
Songwriter(s)|

* Neil Tennant
* Chris Lowe

Producer(s)| Stuart Price
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
| "Memory of the Future"
(2012)  | "Axis"
(2013)  | "Vocal"
(2013)

|
|

Music video
"Axis" on YouTube

"Axis" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their twelfth studio album, Electric (2013). It was released on 30 April 2013 by x2 as a preview to the album.[5] The song was written by the duo and produced by Stuart Price.

## Background

[edit]

"Axis" was written during the writing sessions for the duo's previous album, Elysium (2012).[6] Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant were inspired after attending an Italo disco night in Berlin, and they composed a demo that same night. "Axis" did not suit Elysium, and Pet Shop Boys decided to make a separate dance album, Electric. The titles "Electric" and "Turn It On", from the lyrics, were considered for the album track, but the original demo name "Axis" was kept. The song was produced by Stuart Price, who used a VCS 3 to create some of the sounds on the track.[7]

## Release

[edit]

"Axis" was released digitally on 30 April 2013 and as a twelve-inch single on 15 July 2013.[5][8] The latter format includes a remix by Boys Noize,[8] which was also released as a digital download.[9]

## Music video

[edit]

In the music video for "Axis", released on 30 April 2013, "The raver-friendly visuals include Tron-like flashing lights, an elegant dancing couple, and what look to be the Boys themselves, hidden behind animal heads", according to Spin.[1]

## Live performances

[edit]

The song was performed as the opening track on the Electric Tour[3][10][4][11] in a slightly shorter and more up-tempo version.[citation needed]

## Track listings

[edit]

Digital download[5]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Axis"| 5:32

12-inch single[8]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Axis"| 5:32
2.| "Axis" (Boys Noize remix)| 4:10

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for "Axis"  Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[12] | 194
UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 196
UK Indie (OCC)[14] | 25

## External links

[edit]

Lyrics: Axis

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hogan, Marc (30 April 2013). "Pet Shop Boys Preview 'Pretty Banging' LP 'Electric' With Rave-y 'Axis' Video". Spin. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
2. ^ Haider, Arwa (5 July 2013). "Pet Shop Boys: We left major label Parlophone and now we're in control of our destiny". Metro. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
3. ^ a b Lee, Darren (25 June 2013). "LIVE REPORT: Pet Shop Boys". The Quietus. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
4. ^ a b Needham, Alex (8 June 2014). "Pet Shop Boys review - tightrope walking between folk and art". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
5. ^ a b c "Electric – the new album". PetShopBoys.co.uk. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
6. ^ Heath, Chris (2017). Elysium: Further Listening 2011–2012 (booklet). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone Records. p. 1\. 0190295852788.
7. ^ Pet Shop Boys and Stuart Price (3 January 2024). Album Track by Track (Band and Producer Commentary) (audio commentary). x2.
8. ^ a b c "Axis 12" single". PetShopBoys.co.uk. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
9. ^ "Axis Boys Noize Remix". petshopboys.co.uk. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
10. ^ "Pet Shop Boys inicia gira mundial en Cumbre Tajín" [Pet Shop Boys kick off world tour at Cumbre Tajín]. El Financiero (in Spanish). 23 March 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
11. ^ Collins, Robert (4 October 2013). "Pet Shop Boys deliver art attack in Vancouver". CTV News. Vancouver. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
12. ^ "Response from ARIA re: Pet Shop Boys ARIA chart history, received 29 May 2018". Retrieved 6 November 2020 – via Imgur. N.B. The "NAT" column displays the release's peak position on the national chart.
13. ^ "Chart Log UK – Weekly Updates Sales 2013". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
14. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

* 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"
* "Dancing Star"

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
* Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live

Related articles|

* CyberWorld
* Discography
* Songs
* x2
* Reputation
* Results
* Electronic
* Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys
* West End Girls

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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