Bilingual continues the heavily instrumented arrangements and backing vocals Pet Shop Boys began adding to their music with the album Very.
After the release of their Very album, Pet Shop Boys toured South America and were influenced by the beats and rhythms associated with Latin American music.
[12] Early in 1996, prior to the album's release, the Pet Shop Boys collaborated with David Bowie on the song "Hallo Spaceboy", which reached #12 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1996.
To promote the concerts they released a cover version of "Somewhere" from West Side Story and called their residency "Pet Shop Boys Somewhere".
The reissue was not only digitally remastered, but included a second disc of B-sides and previously unreleased material from around the time of the album's original release.
It was co-produced with Danny Tenaglia and featured Barbara Tucker, Carole Sylvan and Karen Bernod on backing vocals.
Several hundred clubs received import promotional 12" singles and the subsequent domestic 12" and CD maxi-single releases were focused entirely on remixes.
[13] The album's second single, "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)", was co-produced with Chris Porter and featured drums by Glasgow group SheBoom.
Produced by Pet Shop Boys with drums by SheBoom, the single included remixes of "Single-Bilingual" and a new mix of "Discoteca".
A new version of "A Red Letter Day", featuring additional production by Steve Rodway, was released as the fourth single from Bilingual.
It features Barbara Tucker, Carole Sylvan and Karen Bernod on backing vocals along with the Choral Academy of Moscow.
[12] Pet Shop Boys Additional musicians Technical Artwork Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bilingual/Further Listening 1995–1997.