"Numb" is a song recorded by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys on their ninth studio album, Fundamental (2006). It was released on 16 October 2006 as the album's third and final single, peaking at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. Up to that point, it was only the duo's second single in 39 releases to miss the UK top 20 (the other being "Was It Worth It?" from 1991, which peaked at number 24).

Composition

Composed by American songwriter Diane Warren, known for many commercial radio-friendly hits, "Numb" was originally procured by the Pet Shop Boys to be one of the new singles on the 2003 compilation PopArt: The Hits. The song was previously offered to Aerosmith, whose song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was written by Warren, but they turned it down. The Pet Shop Boys recorded a demo of "Numb" in 2003 but decided to save it for Fundamental. The album version, produced by Trevor Horn, opens with a dramatic orchestral intro, arranged by Steve Sidwell. Warren wrote the song about the death of her mother. The Pet Shop Boys' interpretation alludes to the desire to sequester oneself from distressing news in the modern world. Within the context of Fundamental, the song has been interpreted as a reaction to terrorism after 9/11.

Cover art

The cover photo was taken by Sam Taylor-Wood at the Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell, London. It shows Pet Shop Boys wearing plague doctor masks that were bought in Venice.

Music video

The music video for "Numb" was directed by Julian Gibbs, Julian House, and Chris Sayer, who, as reported by the band's official site, describe it as inspired by "Russian constructivist cinema". Gibbs had previously directed a 2005 BBC television adaptation of The Snow Queen, which Sayer worked on as animation director. In addition, the Gibbs and House pair have previously directed music videos for Primal Scream, Luke Slater, and Doves.

Release

The Pet Shop Boys website announced the release of a new radio edit of "Numb" as the third single from Fundamental, accompanied by new songs "Party Song" and "Bright Young Things" as B-sides. "Bright Young Things" was written and recorded in 2003 with co-production by Chris Zippel. It was originally intended for a film of the same title made by Stephen Fry but film producers turned down the track. A new remix of "Psychological" by Ewan Pearson was included on the limited-edition 12-inch release, and the two-track CD1 single included a live version of "West End Girls", which was recorded by BBC Radio 2 at the Mermaid Theatre in May 2006. This live track is also featured on the Pet Shop Boys' first live album, Concrete which was released the week following this single in October 2006. The single peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the duo's second most unsuccessful single at the time in terms of chart placement, after "Was It Worth It?" (#24 in 1991).

Usage in other media

BBC used the song as the closing montage following England's defeat to Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final.

Track listings

Charts