Another heart has made the trade, who would have thought it of the 20th of October 1994 edition of Top of the Pops!
Pulp diction
20-10-94: Presenter: Jarvis Cocker
(6) MICHELLE GAYLE – Sweetness
Getting the 1600th show underway and the song went up two more places.
(15) LET LOOSE – Seventeen
In the studio and the song peaked at number 11.
(7) OASIS – Cigarettes And Alcohol (video) (and charts)
Got no higher.
(20) ULTIMATE KAOS – Some Girls
With what became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.
(31) INXS – Strangest Party
Back in the studio for a second time to perform this song and it peaked at number 15.
(10) R. KELLY – She’s Got That Vibe (video)
His first of thirteen top ten hits and it peaked at number 3.
(17) ELASTICA – Connection
Here tonight with this thumping britpop tune but somehow number 17 was its peak.
(NEW) TOM JONES – If I Only Knew
In the studio and the song peaked at number 11.
(1) TAKE THAT – Sure
Performing their second and final week at number one with this tune.
(TOTP2) THE PRETENDERS – Don’t Get Me Wrong (clip of TOTP 23-10-86) (and credits)
Peaked at number 10 in October 1986.
27th of October is next,
Michelle Gayle - nice opener to the show, and I've got used to this group of three every time they come into the TOTP studio to perform. I decided I would love to go on a picnic with them to add some more Sweetness, as they are just mwaaah!
ReplyDeleteChart rundown - over the Oasis video, I noticed three previous TOTP regulars not getting on the show despite being comfortably in the Top 40:
No.27 Shampoo - first follow-up to Trouble, with their new single Viva La Megababes at peak position this week, I would have loved to see them again in the studio.
No.34 2-In-A-Room - back in the Top 40 for the first time in nearly 4 years with El Trago (The Drink), after the brilliant Wiggle It got to No.3 in January 1991. This time the group go indoors for nightclub fun with the girls.
No.38 Status Quo - Sherrie Don't Fail Me Now
Second of three singles in 1994, and still looking for chart success nearly 30 years after their debut in 1968. Fell badly the following week to No.63.
Ultimate Kaos - average age of 14? Good Lord, must be another New Kids On The Block.
R-Kelly - sheez, did they edit him out this week before he could peak at No.3, and about 27 years before his conviction in 2021? He did manage a No.1 in the US a few months earlier in 1994 with his previous single Bump 'n' Grind.
TOTP2 22-10-94 https://we.tl/t-i0g0daWoKd?fbclid=IwAR1qiJYscTN2_lgfVjnItHKoPsemXIT2Mj9F4BH9dF8Ml4Cs7PSPOXKuI5k
ReplyDeleteThis episode of TOTP2 played the R Kelly video again after the main TOTP1 show featured it a couple of days earlier.
DeleteThe highlight of this show for me was the Recorded For Recall section with that week in 1976 with the superb Mississippi video at No.1 for Pussycat, when Britain was just recovering from the long hot summer of 1976.
Jarvis Cocker did a great presenting job though I was surprised that he was that well known by then. I know his appearance on 'Pop Quiz' that year was a bit of a talking point but even so. Anyway he was good value if occasionally a little amateurish and he'll be back at the helm in August '95.
ReplyDeleteI loved the first link where he suddenly rises dramatically above the audience.
Michelle Gayle; Another appearance for the one UK soap star with genuine pop star credentials and it's another mimed performance. I think she was good enough to do it live again. The set not quite as sumptuous as before, curtains and pillars. Walford AD 194 if you will.
Let Loose; I forgot this band had a follow up to 'Crazy For You' and this was another good tune. Sort of another Halo James, ie essentially a boyband who are actually a perfectly good actual band with some decent music.
Oasis; 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' probably the best Oasis single for me and definitely the best video. The one where they look genuinely like rock stars and that with the charts would've definitely given you a sense that things were getting exciting. The slightly woozy film throughout still looks really good and enjoyed Noel's sudden point to camera. Yes you've made it.
Ultimate KAOS; I suppose a various ages Boyz II Men was going to happen. Tune entirely unmemorable but the lead kid deserves some praise. Two basketball nets certainly make a change from the usual decor.
INXS; The flames come back in force for Michael Hutchence and co. Everywhere they are. No one, even Michael, is too extrovert with a virtual fire garden surrounding them but he of course is still the rock god here. They've brought along the kind of anarcho troupe you see at Glastonbury and one of their line-up has come from a Shangri-la stage, if that had existed in 1994. Stops resolutely pulled out then and a memorable performance of a pretty strong single.
Elastica; A very Jarvis introduction to another real pop moment with Elastica and for me their best tune 'Connection'. Never mind that the verses remind me so much of the tannoy girl during the theme to 'Are You Being Served', Justine's voice and the riffs and that acapella part makes for a brilliant few minutes. Annie Holland also as quietly cool a band member as Steve Mackey.
Tom Jones; God that was awful.
Take That; Very witty rundown from Jarvis particularly Cyndi Lauper and Whigfield. The No.1 which it had to be but I really don't like 'Sure'.
Something very good from 1986. Worth a mention.
Three songs peaking outside the top 40 this week for previous 80s chart regulars, with no TOTP for them this time in the 90s:
ReplyDeleteNo.41 Amy Grant - Say You'll Be Mine
Fourth single in a row since 1991 to fail to make the Top 40, and time was running out, with only two more singles in 1995 to come, but at least one of them did get into the Top 40.
No.58 Foreigner - White Lie
First single since 1987, and last time in the Top 40 was in 1985, this new single seemed to coincide with a new album in late 1994, and was to be their final single release, as the curtain comes down on a legendary rock band.
No.59 Alison Moyet - Ode To Boy
Penultimate single before calling it a day in 1995 with one more single to come, which also didn't make it to the Top 40.
Mister Pop Quiz on the rise (especially at the start) and doing a very good job of presenting.
ReplyDeleteUnusual ‘bikini top’ under see-through vest thing’ for Michelle, whose fine tune was by this stage a pillar of the top ten. See what I did there?
Excellent fart gag into Let loose. This wasn’t a patch on “7Teen” by The Regents.
A moody black and white video for the next lot, in the days when Bonehead had hair on top.
Non-mugshots: “7 Seconds” still hanging in there, and the Letrasetter swapped round the positions of INXS’s name and song title.
Ultimate Kaos, probably four 15-year-olds and a boy of 10. Gave up quickly on this. All that bloody screaming.
Would’ve been interesting if Kylie had introduced this edition and her ex-beau instead. The lads having a massive barbi on the stage with some fruitloop mates.
A nice clean slice out of aRse Kelly into the peak of the week, Elastica’s track skipping along as much as Justine on that floor. “Ground floor perfurmerie, stationery and leather goods”. Good knock, Mic.
Tom Jones attempts down with the ‘hood M People and fails miserably.
Did I hate the chart topper? Sure.
We finish with the start of the third verse of one of my fave Pretenders tunes.
I'm sure I remember reading an interview with Ric Blaxill where he said that when Jarvis presented he introduced the Number one by saying 'Take That are Top of the Pops!' He thought this was so inspired that he made every presenter introduce the Number one in this way.
ReplyDeleteAngleo makes a good point about Elastica only reaching 17 - in fact every single song on this edition charts higher, yet I'd argue Connection still gets played on adverts and the radio more than any of them today.
ReplyDeleteThe rise and fall of Jarvis Cocker this week as he sails above the crowd to introduce the third coming of MICHELLE GAYLE and her mimed Sweetness, Looing rather fine as well this week,
ReplyDeleteLET LOOSE up next and thank god it's not Crazy For You again. Seventeen clearly the new sweet sixteen, sounding remarkably like another song I can't quite place. My BBC iplayer crashed during this so clearly not a fan. My thoughts on this one, pretty average.
Never liked "Cigarettes And Alcohol" and delighted Status Quo are in the charts and not on TOTP.
ULTIMATE SxxT next with "Some Girls". They may want to look hard but they just look like stage school brats. Thank you Simon Cowell for inflicting this lot on us. I bet the Take That audience on tour were thrilled this lot were the warm up act. Nothing dates a TOTP as much as an 10 year old singing about sex!
INXS again with a really cool stage presentation of "Strangest Party". 10/10 for the effort made here. Song a solid 7/10. I wonder if the girl from the Brut advert has a name?
Best in class tonight is ELASTICA. I wouldn't mind a "Connection" with the guitarist on the left. Absolutely awesome tune as well. Then TOM JONES shows what a class act he is with "If I Only Knew" which is a great tune. Great performance and if not for the previous act would be the best on this week. Loved that
Love that Jarvis said "TAKE THAT are TOTP" they should always do that! Fine hosting duties as well.
Slowly catching up after being away!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyable episode, Jarvis was a great host, what a star. I remember seeing Pulp on tour just after the Brits Jacko thing and that was an incredible night. Looking forward to seeing their latest reunion tour in a few weeks.
Gpod opener with Michelle G, ah that 90s thing of strappy/tight tops and enormous skirts with trainers ... we thought we looked good at the time, but with hindsight it's a bit odd.
Speaking of odd,middle aged boyband singing about 17 year old girls feels very icky. Though not as much as Travis's upcoming U16 Girls (and people think they were all Why Does It Always Rain on Me?). The 90s felt like a progressive era at the time but not really, looking back. I guess R Kelly being a big star despite his relationship with Aaliyah was an obvious example of that compared to him ruining our repeats three decades on. Anyway, queasy messaging aside, the song is alright, I guess.
Oasis - good Britpop showing tonight. Another example of the 90s being different though. I was in year 10 at the time and almost everyone I knew smoked and everyone drank (none of your challenge 25 or even 18 back then). The indoor smoking bans and vaping have really dramatically changed things.
Ultimate Kaos - ultimately dire. (Still better than Take That's Sure).
INXS - not their best.
Elastica - Best of the night. Absolutely adore this one (though Waking Up remains my favourite, not being a morning person).
Tom Jones - I like SOME of the TJ revival tracks of the 90s. This sucks though.
TT - be off with you already.
Pretenders - great. They're missing a trick not following these up with those TOTP2s for the proper time travel experience