"The Night I Fell in Love" is a song on the Pet Shop Boys' 2002 album Release. The lyrics were written by Neil Tennant and the music co-written with Chris Lowe.
The song describes a homosexual encounter between a teenage boy (who is telling the story) and his rap music idol after a concert. The idol is never named, but references in the lyrics to Dr. Dre and homophobia in rap music make it possible to identify him as music superstar Eminem. The most obvious reference is when the musician refers to Eminem's song "Stan":
- Then he joked "hey man,
your name isn't Stan, is it?
We should be together!"
Tennant wrote the song after hearing Eminem defending his often homophobic lyrics saying he was representing other people's opinions, such as homophobia in society or rap music. Tennant saw a double meaning in this, and also took it to mean that there are gay rap stars. Eminem has not publicly commented on the song, although Dr. Dre said he was amused by hearing it, and that there might be a backlash.
Eminem responded to the track in his song "Canibitch", in which Eminem and Dr. Dre run over the Pet Shop Boys with their car:
(What was that?) Pet Shop Boys
The reference to "Stan" makes "The Night I Fell in Love" a double answer song, as Eminem's original song refers to "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.
Famous quotes containing the words night, fell and/or love:
“As in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear;”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)
“Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition,
By that sin fell the angels; how can man then,
The image of his maker, hope to win by it?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“those far-fet helps be such
As do bewray a want of inward touch,
and sure at length stolen goods do come to light.
But if, both for your love and skill, your name
You seek to nurse at fullest breasts of Fame,
Stella behold, and then begin to indite.”
—Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)