Can You Forgive Her? (song)

"Can You Forgive Her?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). The lyrics describe in the second person a young man's humiliation when his girlfriend accuses him of still being in love with a childhood friend; the woman is "not prepared to share you with a memory", and is "going to go and get herself a real man instead". The title of the song derives from the Anthony Trollope novel of the same name.

"Can You Forgive Her?"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Very
B-side
  • "Hey, Headmaster"
  • "What Keeps Mankind Alive?"
Released31 May 1993
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:53
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Was It Worth It?"
(1991)		 "Can You Forgive Her?"
(1993)		 "Go West"
(1993)
Music video
"Can You Forgive Her?" on YouTube

"Can You Forgive Her?" was released on 31 May 1993 as the lead single from Very, and became the duo's 13th top-10 single on the UK Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number seven. Despite failing to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, it became a number-one single on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The song reached the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden.

The second B-side, "What Keeps Mankind Alive?", appears on the 2001 re-release of Introspective, having originally being recorded for a BBC Radio programme in 1988 narrated by Sting celebrating the 60th anniversary of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's musical The Threepenny Opera.

Marketing

In marketing for the single, the Pet Shop Boys adopted a costume involving orange overalls and extremely tall pointy hats ("dunce caps"). The music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and depicted the duo wearing the costumes while wandering in a surreal (partly) computer-generated environment. Live action shots were filmed in a number of either well known or futuristic locations around London. They cross London Bridge in the rush hour crowd and also walk over the footbridge at Poplar station on the Docklands Light Railway. They are shown at the top of The Monument in the City of London. The park scenes were filmed in Battersea Park and one shot shows them standing in one of the remaining sculptures from the 1951 Festival of Britain fun fair.

The single cover and two inserts with small models depicted Pet Shop Boys costumes, and were both photographed by Marcus Leith.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described the song as "quietly shocking".[1] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "First peek into PSB's new set, "Very", shows 'em hanging on the cutting edge of the trance/rave movement—a logical progression from their synth/pop salad days. Neil Tennant's distinctive "chat" singing is still oozing with deadpan charm, and partner Chris Lowe's penchant for quirky keyboard effects also remains intact."[2] The Daily Vaults Michael R. Smith said it "make a strong impression right from the start".[3] People stated, "With his clipped "pass the Grey Poupon" elocution, Tennant talks/sings his way through a mid-tempo dance track about a man torn between his female lover and his closeted desire for a man."[4]

Track listings
  • 7-inch: Parlophone / R 6348 (UK)
A. "Can You Forgive Her?" – 3:54
B. "Hey, Headmaster" – 3:06
  • 12-inch: Parlophone / 12R 6348 (UK)
A1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix) – 6:00
A2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub) – 4:51
B1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) – 7:26
B2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) – 5:53
  • 12-inch: EMI / Y-56279 (US)
A1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix) – 6:00
A2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub) – 4:51
A3. "Can You Forgive Her?" – 3:54
B1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) – 7:28
B2. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) – 5:53
  • CD 1: Parlophone / CDR 6348 (UK)
  1. "Can You Forgive Her?" – 3:54
  2. "Hey, Headmaster" – 3:06
  3. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix)
  4. "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Dub)
  • CD 2: Parlophone / CDRS 6348 (UK)
  1. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Remix) – 7:26
  2. "I Want to Wake Up" (1993 Johnny Marr Remix) – 5:25
  3. "What Keeps Mankind Alive?" – 3:25
  4. "Can You Forgive Her?" (MK Dub) – 5:53

Charts

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pet Shop Boys – Very". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. Flick, Larry (24 July 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 81. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. Smith, Michael R. (17 June 2007). "Very – Pet Shop Boys". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  4. "Picks and Pans Review: Very". People. 15 November 1993. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. "Australian-charts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. "Austriancharts.at – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  7. "Ultratop.be – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2256." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  9. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2251." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  10. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 29. 17 July 1993. p. 24. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 233. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  14. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 – Vikan 8.–14. júlí". DV (in Icelandic). 15 July 1993. p. 20. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Can You Forgive Her?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  16. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 20. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  19. "Charts.nz – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  20. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  23. "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  24. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  25. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  26. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  27. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  28. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  29. "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58 no. 23. 18 December 1993. p. 23. ISSN 0315-5994 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  30. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  31. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1993" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  32. "The Year in Music – Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105 no. 52. 25 December 1993. p. YE-52. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
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