Before (song)

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a tasteful blend of electro-pop and retro-disco",{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Dance Trax: Brutally Honest Ngedéocello Says A Mouthful|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-05-18.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=18 May 1996|page=26|accessdate=27 November 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}} and an "vigorous and appealing house shuffler". He also noted that it "rides the act's familiar flair for clever lyrics and smooth melodies".{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-06-29.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=29 June 1996|page=80|accessdate=28 November 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}} Victoria Segal of Melody Maker called it "steeped in standard Petties loser-in-love-and-therefore-in-life melancholy, all panpipes and high-pitched female vocals, a sort of thick sadness curdling Neil Tennant's voice". She noted that the B-side "The Truck Driver and His Mate" was the "killer track", with its "filthiest beat", "synthesised sighs" and Tennant's "voice all over it".{{cite magazine |last=Segal |first=Victoria |title=Singles |magazine=Melody Maker |date=13 April 1996 |page=36 |issn=0025-9012}} James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update noted its "gentle cooing".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-04-27.pdf|title=DJ Directory|last=Hamilton|first=James|magazine=Music Week|via=Record Mirror|page=11|date=27 April 1996|access-date=16 August 2021|author-link=James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}

The accompanying music video for "Before" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

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• UK CD1 and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDRS 6431, 7243 8 82809 2 1}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=8828352}}

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

• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDR 6431, 7243 882810 2 7}}

1. "Before" (Classic Paradise mix) – 7:56
2. "Before" (Aphrodisiac mix) – 7:27
3. "Before" (Hed Boys mix) – 7:33
4. "Before" (extended mix) – 8:47
5. "Before" (Danny Tenaglia mix) – 7:17

• UK and Australian cassette single; European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=TCR 6431, 7243 8 82809 4 5}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=8 82809 4}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=7243 8 82834 2 7}}

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

• UK 3×12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=UK 3×12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=12RX 6431, 7243 8 82899 6 2}}

: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

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• US CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=87049-2}}

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

• US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=85489-2}}

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

• US 2×12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=US 2×12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=0-85489}}

: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{{cite AV media notes|title=Before|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1996|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=4-87049}}

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

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{{Reflist}}

{{Pet Shop Boys singles}}

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Category:1996 singles

Category:1996 songs

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:House music songs

Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh

Category:Number-one singles in Hungary

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Pet Shop Boys songs

Category:Songs written by Chris Lowe

Category:Songs written by Neil Tennant