When she woke up late she opened her eyes and saw the 21st of May 1993 edition of Top of the Pops!
Abba of base
21-5-93: Presenter: Tony Dortie
(29) FELIX – Stars
Getting the show underway but the song got no higher.
(4) UB40 – (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You (video) (and charts)
On their way to number one.
(28) LUTHER VANDROSS – Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)
Performing in the studio but the song got no higher.
(9) BON JOVI – In These Arms (via satellite)
Performing live in Glasgow but the song was now at its peak
(38) CHARLES & EDDIE – House Is Not A Home
In the studio tonight and the song peaked at number 29.
(36) RUNRIG – The Greatest Flame
Also here tonight but the song got no higher.
(31) DIRE STRAITS – Your Latest Trick (Live) (video) (Breakers)
Their 12th and final top 40 hit but it got no higher.
(19) THE SPIN DOCTORS – Two Princes (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 3.
(16) HOUSE OF PAIN – Jump Around (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 8.
(15) TINA TURNER – I Don’t Wanna Fight (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 7.
(27) SAINT ETIENNE – Who Do You Think You Are
The early Britpop frontrunners are in the studio and the song peaked at number 23.
(1) ACE OF BASE – All That She Wants
Here in the studio for their first of three weeks at number one.
27th of May 1993
Tony in a new agey waistcoat introduces an eclectic selection. Runrig and Luther Vandross. You didn't get that on 'The Word'.
ReplyDeleteFelix open and it's nice that they had a follow up hit but this is very forgettable. Maybe opening purely because it's dance. When a guitar pop band get to open a Totp edition it will feel really disorientating.
UB40 accompany a chart which I didn't look at that closely but must've comprised entirely of music far more up to the minute than this. Auto pilot cover which will be very successful.
A hero of Tony's appears in the studio and he does a nice, respectful introduction. Luther Vandross owning the stage as you'd expect and it's great to see a soul legend sing live though the song didn't really take off.
A welcome surge of power comes with a 2nd satellite appearance from Bon Jovi. They're another act to welcome a BBC camera to their live gig for a few minutes and it's predictably triumphant though Jon's voice is a little strained at times. Always liked this tune.
Charles and Eddie with another flop single though I enjoyed it. They look as cool as before but with an air of acceptance that they won't repeat their initial success.
Runrig brood heroically amidst a collection of great flames. The singer wasn't very near one I noticed.
Breakers piss takingly brief. Dire Straits a hilariously pointless inclusion where Tony makes some clever comment leaving time for a solitary grunt from Mark Knophler before going to the next item. Made my week!
The Spin Doctors; Hard to resist the hook then and now but still far too pleased with itself.
House of Pain; Not including the bit where they and us shout, "Jump, Jump..."?
Tina Turner; Didn't know that was a Lulu song.
A fantastic pop moment finally this evening with Saint Etienne in the studio for a 2nd time but on BBC4 for the first with a great cover of a hit for a '70s group. Paper Lace was it? Brilliant sound and image from a group who never disappointed in either with Viscount Pete Wiggs and a most stylish looking Bob Stanley either side of an equally regal looking Sarah. The guitarist I don't recognise but in a few years all students who didn't want to look like Liam wanted to have that hairstyle. Oh yes, the other woman looked and sang great too.
Ace of Base reach the top with a song that I still think is perhaps the most unfriendly regular party single ever recorded. Still sounds like a threat but an enjoyable one. I'll get it out of the way early. I fancied the dark haired one.
Oops gone anonymous again!
Delete"Who Do You Think You Are" was originally recorded by Jigsaw, whose main band songwriters composed it. Their version wasn't a hit, but it became the only chart entry for Liverpudlian band and "Opportunity Knocks" alumni Candlewick Green, whose sympathetic cover made number 21 in 1974.
DeleteI can shoehorn Paper Lace into this link as well. it turns out an American act called Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods had US hits with covers of both "Who Do You Think You Are" and the Paper Lace UK chart topper "Billy Don't Be A Hero".
DeleteNot forgetting that The Spice Girls had their own song in 1997 called Who Do You Think You Are.
DeleteCandlewick Green did it? Thanks Arthur. Didn't know it was so high in the charts but I remember somewhere that it was a group who had some variety TV exposure. It is such a lovely tune.
DeleteFelix - legs are all out to open the show this week. Not one of Felix's best tunes, but the Moulin Rouge theme and theatre on stage somewhat saved this single.
ReplyDeleteUB40 - back after their longest hiatus yet, with their last Top 40 single way back in November 1990 collaborating successfully with Robert Palmer on I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, I was surprised to see them back in 1993 on their own again, but clearly this single had a huge impact on both sides of the Atlantic, getting to No1 in the UK and USA, they were clearly back with a bang in 1993!
Dire Straits - last ever single for them, well actually an EP called Encores, of which this live version of Your Latest Trick was the one chosen by TOTP for The Breakers. The curtain comes down for a supergroup who's chart career spanned for a rock-solid 15 years between 1978 to 1993, but clearly the last 5 years or so were a struggle for them to compete with the new dance and house generation for chart positions, and so this EP was a fitting farewell for the group.
Saint Etienne - love this group, largely due to Sarah Cracknell's presence and cuteness - big fan here - and this tune was their second single performing in the TOTP studio as Mic1,2,1,2 correctly points out, and first time on BBC4, as their first one in the studio was on the same show with Rolf Harris and omitted on these reruns. This new song for Etienne was a double A-Side with Hobart Paving which was the main single, so I wonder what they chose to perform Who Do You Think You are.
I'm guessing because Who Do You Think was a bit more poppy and upbeat than HP? Lord knows this episode needed all the pop it could get.
DeleteWhat a great EP 'Encores' was too. Initial copies of the 'On the Night' live album ('On Every Street' Tour) came with one of those CD housings where you could insert 'Encores' as a second disc. 'Encores' contained three tracks not on 'On the Night' which were 'The Bug', 'Solid Rock' and 'Local Hero - Wild Theme'. Great stuff, but what a slog those tours were judging by the excellent Autobiography written by bassist John Illsley.
DeleteI don't recall hearing 'Hobart Paving' at all on daytime Radio 1 though I assume the 'Evening Session' played it. 'Who Do You Think You Are' was definitely the main one of that double A side and the group's proper breakthrough. But so many double As only get one side featured. I'd never heard The Stones' 'Dandelion' until a special 30 years of Radio 1 'Pick of the Pops'. You only heard the other side 'We Love You'.
Delete40 years Potp in 2007 I should say. Hosted by Smashey and Nicely. A gobsmackingly good chart it was.
DeleteTwo of the worst episodes in ages this week. Some bizarre choices of low chart tracks and confining good stuff to the breakers. Le sigh.
ReplyDeleteI have no memory whatsoever of this Felix track. It needs a bit more oomph.
UB40 - it says something when this is one of the better tracks of the night. Mainly because it's a great song whoever is covering it .
Luther - zzzzz
Bon Jovi - bringing much needed oomph to proceedings Not their bets performance but stands out in a dull episode.
Charles and Eddie - god that album was so disappointing. It all sounds like this one - fine but unremarkable.
Runrig - also fine but unremarkable.
Breakers - half a second of Dire Straits, who cares. Two absolute bangers that absolutely should have been on here instead of most of what we did get. Then Tina who we saw last week.
Saint Etienne - probably my favourite of the night, they did the right thing sticking with Sarah as vocalist.
Ace of Base - I used up my Ace of Base anecdote last time But I do have a soft spot for this one.
Wasn't sure about this one on paper but in the end a decent show.
ReplyDeleteAmazed there was another Felix hit. "Stars" sounds and looks like it should have been an early 80s Disco hit. Would have been a big tune. This is OK, quite enjoyed it.
Another UB40 tune, another cover and it's a belter. No better version of "(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You" in my opinion. No studio performance for this one I believe which is probably why the video has stuck.
Little Miracles (Happen Every Day) is an OK tune given lots of life by the voice of Luther Vandross. Was never going to be a big hit but nice it made it onto the show.
"In These Arms" gets the live in concert version from Bon Jovi. Record sounds better, wasn't blown away with this live version.
TOTP favourites Charles and Eddie with a very unmemorable number "House Is Not A Home" not gonna do it for them unfortunately. Great vocals as usual though.
Number 2 album but not really a singles band, it's Runrig and some flames. Not really "The Greatest Flame"(s) but I enjoyed listening to this one.
Breakers:
DIRE STRAITS – Dire is right as usual
THE SPIN DOCTORS – I hope we get this in the studio. Awesome tune.
HOUSE OF PAIN – I remember "Jump(ing) Around" in many a club to this tune. Fabulous stuff.
TINA TURNER – Well done Lulu, lovely tune.
I love Saint Etienne and I love "Who Do You Think You Are" but I was underwhelmed by this performance. Shame.
1993 me a bit obsessed with Ace of Base for a while and them at Number One was All That He Wanted. Sorry....
Four songs at peak position this week further down the charts, and missing out on a TOTP placing this time round:
ReplyDeleteNo.34 The Arsenal FA Cup Squad '93 - Shooting For The Gunners
Surprised that TOTP didn't give it a play this week, considering that they gave Runrig and Charles & Eddie a full slot on the show at No.36 & No.38, at lower positions in the chart than Arsenal this week. They could easily have invited Arsenal over from North London this week as the TOTP Elstree Studios is also in North London, so hardly any travel required!
No.44 Elton John - Simple Life
Actually Elton did get a TOTP slot as a new exclusive a couple of shows ago with his new wig for 1993 with this same single, but despite that, the song stalled at No.44 and got no higher.
No.45 Girl Clail - These Things Are Worth Fighting For
Too right, whatever he was fighting for, but this, two years after his first single Human Nature in 1991 which did very well, was now his last ever single after only two years, and thanks for very little on TOTP in that time.
No.66 Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe (1993)
Re-released 28 years after the original in 1965, and not sure why.
'I got you Babe' featured on the soundtrack of 'Groundhog Day'. Nice to feature this version with that prominent Oboe rather than the other one....
DeleteJust spotted spelling mistake - should be Gary Clail, not Girl Clail at No.45!
Delete‘Sick note’ time. I’ll be very late to the one-show party next week as, all being well, I’m in the States for a wedding and I won’t be able to critique until the working week’s started again. Try not to miss me. As if!
ReplyDeleteA Friday night TOTP due to Arsenal needing a replay (remember them?) to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the 1993 FA Cup final. Arsenal beat Wednesday in the League Cup final as well, notorious for the post-match celebrations where captain Tony Adams put Steve Morrow in a fireman’s lift and then dropped him over his shoulder, breaking one of Steve’s arms. God help whoever’s partnering Adams in “Strictly” this year. No lifts!
Felix, stars on his jacket but not the cat’s whiskas. See what I did there? Loved the two lads walking across the screen bored right at the end.
Shit! Help! UB40 do wafer thin cod reggae karaoke. Always hated this.
Luther Vandross, the voice of love, the body of Big Mac meals, and “God is love” lyrics channelling Cliff Richard. It isn’t Christmas, mate.
Bon Jovi, not a band to be abbreviated to BJ. Ahem. Wasn’t Broooce shown live from the same theatre in Glasgow recently? Oo, a doubleneck!
“House is Not a Home” sounds more like a bungalow. Well sung but nothing up top. Bye, lads. No ‘laters’ for you.
“Strike a light”, hahaha Dorky. Runrig with Irn Bru stadium rock and not a torch song. Sorry!
My favourite Dire Straits track. I actually only liked this and “Romeo And Juliet”. The rest were a snoozefest.
Two Princes, too smug for its own good.
Why did it take “Jump Around” a year to be a hit? Because the public saw sense previously, Dorky, that’s why.
Ah, so. The jeans are Tina’s look for this single. Listen to what the title is and learn, Bumfluff Franklin.
Saint Etienne with a fine cover but not as good as candlewick greens’ in my book, The first bloke dressed like a king on the show since Dave Gahan’s appearance in the Depeche Mode video for “Enjoy the Silence” if I’m right.
Ace of Base say “It’s a day for catching tan”, lyrics that Bjorn and Benny would have shuddered at. Why not let the brunette sing the second verse?
Catcha in a week and a half. ‘Taters!
Yes indeed, only one TOTP show coming up this week, with the last May 1993 episode, and only on after 10pm. Hope they go back to the 7 till 8 slot on BBC4 for the two shows per Friday, as momentarily for a couple of weeks they did it.
DeleteOk, so the Arsenal FA Cup Squad at peak position of No.34 this week with no TOTP for them, did manage to win the FA Cup after all without the song seen by anyone. Was there a video for the single release?
Dory, I can't find a video for the Arsenal song. YouTube gives the info that Tippa Irie and lovers rock artist Peter Hunnigale (aka Mr Honey Vibes... ahem) also featured on the single.
DeletePete Wiggs I think is the first person in Kingly regalia since the 'Enjoy the Silence' video Arthur. The only other person I know of who dressed like a monarch in the studio was Buster Bloodvessel singing 'Lorraine' dressed as Henry VIII though I'm sure someone else would've done it in early '70s
DeleteAh yes. Good old Luther Vandross. It was a huge “closet” he hid in that’s for sure.
DeleteThere is a rare 'video' for Lorraine that I don't recall being shown at the time cos Bad Manners were always available for performing it on TV shows, but the video which was acceptable in the 80s, also has the Henry VIII attire:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzkTTA0YQe4
Blimey, now Darius has gone, aged 41. Went from a laughing stock early doors to a number one artist and popular West End actor. Probaly on my own here, but "Colourbrind" was a very cleverly written single.
ReplyDeleteNot on your own. "Colourblind" is indeed a great tune. Darius probably the most "real" person on any of those Pop-Idol shows and deserved his success. RIP
DeleteI've just spotted the song 'Who do you think you are?' which of course is the theme song for the popular genealogy TV Series.....just kidding (does anyone happen to know the title of the music that they do use?).
ReplyDeleteAnyway the original by Candlewick Green was always a favourite of mine in the mid 70s (this St Etienne version isn't bad actually). The band name was a pun on a popular children's puppet series 'Camberwick Green'. One, two; Hugh, Pugh, Barney, McGrew.....ooops that was probably from 'Trumpton' !!
I remember the big three in the 70s on the same theme were Camberwick Green, Trumpton, and Chigley. Anyone remember Chigley?
DeleteI was always a Bagpuss, Bod and Magic Roundabout kid...
DeleteChigley, with the steam train which inspired a Half Man Half Biscuit song, and the after hours factory dance!
DeleteYeah, that's the one. I remember the signature tune on it:
Delete"Time flies by when I'm a driver of a train........."
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Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-hQ6-biWoo
DeleteI had actually forgotten what the Chigley recurring scene was until this! Not heard this for soooo many years but remembered the words! I think every episode they fired up the engine and Winnie Farthing, Lord Belborough and butler Brackett went off on a trip down the line accompanied by the dulcet tones of Brian Cant.
"under bridges over bridges to our destination..."
Good Lord the memories come flooding back. The 70s was a much simpler life than what we are in now. Brian Cant passed away in 2017 at the age of 83, and his voice was on all three - Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley - as they were produced in that order in the late 60s, with Chigley being the last in 1969. Play School and Play Away were his most famous work.
DeleteYes, wonderful stuff. I'm pretty sure that 'Chigley' is far back as my TV memory can go so it must've had a repeat showing sometime in '78. Butler Bracket walking in close up down the passageway is what's always stuck with me. Wouldn't every employee like to gather for a dance around a bandstand when their day's work is over!
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