Let it flow now mama, let it become the 16th of March 1995 edition of Top of the Pops!
Nose of the pops
And a big thanks to Anonymous for these editions of TOTP2:
16-3-95: Presenter: Lenny Henry
(2) ALEX PARTY – Don’t Give Me Your Life
A third time in the studio to get this red nose edition underway, but the song was now at its peak.
(18) THE HUMAN LEAGUE – One Man In My Heart
Susan takes the lead vocal for this second single from their top six album, Octopus, and it went up five more places.
(5) CHER, CHRISSIE HYNDE & NENEH CHERRY with ERIC CLAPTON – Love Can Build A Bridge (video) (and charts)
Will get to number one next week.
(9) THE OUTHERE BROTHERS – Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)
Performing what will become their first of two number one hits.
(22) TERRORVISION – Some People Say
Here tonight but this one got no higher.
(10) JANET JACKSON – Whoops Now (via satellite)
Went up one more place.
(3) FREAK POWER – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out
Performing their only top ten hit, and number 3 was its peak.
(NEW) THE NEW POWER GENERATION feat. TORA TORA – Get Wild
Prince (maybe?) making his studio debut, and the song peaked at number 19.
(1) CELINE DION – Think Twice (video)
Seventh and final week at number one.
(TOTP2) DURAN DURAN – Planet Earth (clip of TOTP 5-3-81) (and credits)
Number 12 in 1981.
23rd of March is next.
Alex Party - steady peak at No.2, but it seemed no-one could dislodge Celine Dion from the No.1 spot. Back with the sexy red nighties to kick off the show, it was fitting with this Red Nose Day edition of TOTP.
ReplyDeleteThe Human League - I don't remember this at the time, but boy was Susan Sully looking amazing on this new single, leading the group for the first time in a not-so- Human League style lyrics, it was more of the evolving girls now in their 30s and no-longer the disco-dancing teenagers found by Phil Oakey in a Sheffield nightclub in 1981 to change the fortunes of what once was an all male group between 1978-1980 doing very little in terms of chart impact. This new single in 1995 with Sully on lead still sounds very 80s though.
The Outhere Brothers - Good Lord, after Clock last week, we now get another American group, and what is it about people in uniform? I love this tune and the sexy cheerleader girls on stage. If the group are indeed from Chicago, then I want to go there!
Janet Jackson - ok, Satellite from Oslo, but not Live By Satellite, but I'll still take this any day, as Jackson was looking very good as always in her clothing choice on stage, and managing another Top 10 achievement.
The New Power Generation - No Angelo, I don't think the lead singer hiding his face was Prince as they would have called the group Prince & The New Power Generation, and we will still have to wait for Prince's debut in the TOTP studio if it ever comes, but this performance was very good having a Latina on lead female vocals, and check out the back of her pants!
I managed to see New Power Generation live at Koko in Camden Town last year, shortly after the opening up of nightclub venues after the two-year closures due to Covid, and NPG were very good, playing lots of Prince tunes as well as new tunes their own, so were really good live in 2022!
Two future number ones on the show is something we don't see very often.
ReplyDelete1995 keeps giving, even with the odd rubbish performance most weeks there's yet to be an overall terrible episode. I know there's going to be some eventually but for the most part it's as good a year as I remember.
Alex Party - great opener.
I always had a soft spot for One Man in My Heart. OK, it's not classic Human League but I like that it's a bit different to their usual.
And we're three for three on CD singles I own (though that run stops here). Much as I prefer comedy for Comic Relief, there's something undeniably powerful about this combination. On paper, Cher, Cherry, Hynde and Clapton is such a bizarre combo but it works. I wish more charity records had tried this approach of just putting three different acts together rather than a multitude, it makes a much more interesting blend of voices.
Ah the Outhere Brothers. This had been around for aaaaages on the club scene before it hit the charts. As a teenager this (censored) ode to cunnilingus was one of the 'nappy night' staples at the local dive so we all knew it well. The second single was basically the same thing though and therefore a bit pointless.
I always enjoy Terrorvision and they have strong performance values. not as immediate as their boppier numbers but enjoyable enough.
Janet with another song I don't mind these days but disliked then. Nice performance.
Freak Power - remember thinking it weird that that bloke from the Housemartins was involved but look what happened next...
NPG - I dunno, Dory, it might well be actual Prince. Covering his face and not announcing his name is exactly what he would do, especially as he was in his The Artist Formerly Known As phase. Prince fans online seem to think it was the real deal. I also wouldn't put it past him to send a body double, but I guess the speculation is the point. Either way, the guessing game and performance are better than the actual song which is fine but not very memorable.
Ooh Celine on a railing before raging waters, do I see some foreshadowing? Somewhere James Cameron has a notepad out as he watches this.
(BTW the censoring of the Brothers was just on the telly and radio, obviously our under 18s clubs played allll the lyrics. Do clubs still do nights for teenagers? Probably not, right? By 16 we'd obviously graduated to the adult nights anyway but there was no challenge 18/25 back then, so we could .where do today's young people who can't legally drink go to dance? It can't all just be on TikTok right?)
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ReplyDeleteFour singles at peak position this week, with no TOTP for them on this chart run:
ReplyDeleteNo.15 The Prodigy - Poison
A new entry at No.15, but The Prodigy were used to having no play on TOTP over the last few years, even in the Top 10, except for a Breakers slot occasionally, but this was the pre-1996 Prodigy where Firestarter was still in the planning or not even conceived yet.
No.29 10CC - I'm Not In Love
Another new entry, and not sure why this popped up in 1995, except for the fact that it was the 20th Anniversary of the single's first release in 1975, but hopefully Sct353 will pop up back on here to shed some light on it.
No.33 Prince - Purple Medley
Interesting that this peaked on the same week as New Power Generation did a TOTP studio appearance with a mystery (or real?) Prince, but no or sight of Prince doing this Medley on TOTP this week!
No.84 Foreigner - Until The End Of Time
A recent new album release at the back end of 1994 must have spawned this new single, with Foreigner back now since the heady days of their British No.1 ten years earlier in 1985 with I Want To Know What Love Is.
It is 100% Prince performing with NPG! I don’t think it was ever in doubt.
ReplyDeleteTOTP 2
ReplyDeleteIn The First Time section, I liked the Sonny & Cher TOTP studio performance from 1965 in what was rare TOTP footage, and I think when the show was still in its original Manchester studios - this is a real classic of a tune.
In the Made In The USA section, the new video by Tom Petty had a funny moment when a well-chested girl in a glamorous gold colour evening dress came on to Petty's microphone to mime along with him to his own voice.
In the Chart Prediction section, I liked how the new East 17 video resembled dance routines much like those of Janet Jackson's team, so somewhat surprising to find East 17 with a similar style of dance in their video.
Not many strong songs on offer here but some very entertaining performances. It's the eve of Red Nose Day so Lenny Henry returns for another presenting stint and he's his usual ebullient self.
ReplyDeleteAlex Party; It seems that with every appearance the singer gets more cheerful and she's full of smiles for the third appearance of 'Don't Give Me Your Life'. Why not. She's at No.2.
Looking mildly Hendrix-like this time and it's been a pleasure to hear this again. Did anyone else notice the girl in the audience during the first chorus who drifts into the path of a camera which unfortunately clatters straight into her.
The Human League; A funny link from Lenny into The League though perhaps a little unfair. Phil Oakey has been partial to the odd smile when he's been in the studio including when the original Oakey/Ware/Craig-Marsh line-up appeared. He's in good spirits here getting to grips with something or other; A computer or the thing that Brian Eno wobbled with Roxy Music. Maybe a space age autoharp.
Susan looks very serious and intense and 'One Man In My Heart' is a gorgeous single, for me, way better than 'Tell Me When'.
Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton; They're coming up Celine! I hadn't really watched the video that closely before and I wonder if some of it was a first take. When each lady sings the same line at the end, Neneh starts to sing Chrissie's part then suddenly stops, possibly realising it's not her line. Gives it a real sense of naturalness and charm. Neneh got most of my attention throughout the video which is quite something considering who she's with. Nice soloing Eric.
The Outhere Brothers; Never understood how this got so successful. Just anonymous hip-hop to my ears.
Terrorvision; Another memorable spot from them. The other band members in funeral cortege outfits and a drum riser with 'TV' in flowers. A comment on music TV or TV in general. If it's the former, come and visit 2023 lads.
Janet Jackson; Janet at her most cutesy but for me that's fine. Ridiculously happy and addictive and a wonderfully Loose, chaotic satellite performance with every member seemingly doing something completely separate.
Freak Power; Another reissue which I bought but I would've heard on video dozens of times by then. It was used as a soundtrack for an overview of Glastonbury '94 when it first aired on Channel 4. From memory the first thing to be shown. Either that or St.Etienne on stage. This should sound dated and a little smug but it's such a good tune and bass line. The front man dressed flamboyantly though Norman Cook surprisingly dressed down.
The New Power Generation feat Tora Tora; Lenny excitedly links to this act with its leader covered up though most definitely present. Aside from the voice the way he plays the bass is unmistakable. This could be any old rubbish therefore and would still be a blast. It's actually a fine single and some great theatrics going on in the solo. A keytar emitting smoke and even his co-singer attempting a mild crowd surf before the man puts the neck of his bass between her legs! Blimey who needs to see a face.
Celine Dion; A touchingly overjoyed Lenny then a great top 10 then....for the final time. Tellingly TOTP doesn't even bother to tell us where this performance is from, instead just informing us it's been in the charts since November. You can almost see the words "pleased with yourselves?" in brackets underneath.
Not a very interesting coastal scene but does tell me that she's far more comfortable around large birds than I am. A huge, intimidating Pelican suddenly lands in front of the camera but Celine and her hair stay unruffled. Incredibly in all the times I've heard this I've loved it.
Play out with Duran Duran. For some reason I vividly remember the first time I saw them doing I'm pretty sure 'Planet Earth' on I think 'Cheggars Plays Pop'. I thought they had the same name as a recent single by Bad Manners which was actually called 'Lorraine'.
Missed a weekend. Bugger (bloody head cold). Now where was I.....oh yes.....March 1995. Let's get this month done.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see ALEX PARTY all the way up to Number 2 and it's an identikit performance of "Don’t Give Me Your Life". Proper mid-90s dance classic.
Looking and sounding gorgeous it's THE HUMAN LEAGUE with a forgotten gem "One Man In My Heart". Lovely tune. A band that myself and Mrs Morgie both like as well.
Next weeks deserved chart topper from CHER, CHRISSIE HYNDE & NENEH CHERRY with ERIC CLAPTON. It's the Spotify dodging "Love Can Build A Bridge" They have finally slowed the chart graphics back down so you read them and enjoy the video. Well done team.
Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) I could happily never hear again (especially this call and response live version). THE OUTHERE BROTHERS one of the big shakers of 1995 so we will see much more of them I'm sure. Loved the Lenny "giggle, giggle" gag. A good presenting job from Mr Henry.
Dressed for haloween it's TERRORVISION. "Some People Say" they weren't all about Tequila but their other hits are not landing with me at the moment.
JANET JACKSON and her dancer, backing singer friends next making us feel all wonderful through the annoyingly infectious "Whoops Now". It's not really her best work is it. I do wonder if Janet and her "friends" on stage all hated each other really? This must be about the time her Design of a Decade CD came out as I recall this was one of the new songs on that CD. One of my most played CDS of the 90s.
FREAK POWER tickled the Top 40 in 1993 (when I bought the single) and now Norman Cook is properly back with a well deserved Top 3 hit. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" just oozes class and this is the performance of the night for me
A talented bunch of musicians were THE NEW POWER GENERATION. "Get Wild" has plenty going for it but it does seem the same as a lot of Prince's other upbeat sexy songs. I doubt we will ever know if Prince was in the house.
So long to CELINE DION as we sign off with the Home & Away video. Has there ever been a single quite like it in the sales version of the Top 40. "Think Twice" been around over 5 months now and still shifting serious units.
Top show.