tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post6674834177283036932..comments2024-03-28T23:09:18.798+00:00Comments on Never Forget ~ Top of the Pops 1995: Top of the Pops Where We BelongAngelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090709386124664912noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-9005048012996260092017-01-29T17:51:22.426+00:002017-01-29T17:51:22.426+00:00Ah, thought so. I have vague memories of something...Ah, thought so. I have vague memories of something called Girls, Girls, Girls. Not my sort of music, really.teaurnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567246659179603874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-77156336698527016242017-01-29T00:24:36.321+00:002017-01-29T00:24:36.321+00:00in a word: noin a word: nowilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-48251684448957177252017-01-27T18:50:20.957+00:002017-01-27T18:50:20.957+00:00Let's put this in perspective. Dire Straits pu...Let's put this in perspective. Dire Straits put out a fantastic video with Twisting By The Pool. The video was played regularly in the 90s by VH1 and MTV Classic, and is still a regular video on Vintage TV since its brilliant launch in 2010, something must be good about it, don't you think?Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-46501000164521434482017-01-27T17:40:08.139+00:002017-01-27T17:40:08.139+00:00Level 42 - Chinese way - never heard it before. Wo...Level 42 - Chinese way - never heard it before. Won't be upset if I never hear it again...<br /><br />Central Line - ditto! (Was that Barry White on keyboards :-) )<br /><br />Please Please Me - Being out of country for 1983, I completely missed this Beatles reissue campaign - be interesting to see how long they continue to chart. That video wasn't on the recent 1+ DVD, so presumably it was a BBC special... <br /><br />Christians - oh dear, that makes 3...<br /><br />Even the Wham track is not one of their best<br /><br />Bauhaus - I've got a compilation with this on, but again it hasn't stuck in my head.<br /><br />Dire Straits - I was wondering why people were complaining about the video, enjoying the aerobics, then the ice lolly came on... Oh dear.<br /><br />Well overall it's a pity this wasn't a Mike Smith show!...<br /><br />charlie cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09051342047720711857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-59723879843177497722017-01-25T09:16:35.010+00:002017-01-25T09:16:35.010+00:00mark king's exhuberant and larger-than-life pe...mark king's exhuberant and larger-than-life personality (he was apparently nicknamed "joe king" at school) served his band well as a live draw, especially in their late-80's heyday when they could easily fill wembley arena (i saw them there two or three times). but it also created friction between him and the much-more-reserved but equally-strong-minded drummer (and king's songwriter partner) phil gould, which was a factor in the latter leaving the band at the height of their successwilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-89288283884019666222017-01-24T17:15:44.709+00:002017-01-24T17:15:44.709+00:00i'm just joking teaurn - they were the kind of...i'm just joking teaurn - they were the kind of band that went out of their way to feature gratuitous titilation in their videos!wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-27332834812214784992017-01-24T15:03:25.576+00:002017-01-24T15:03:25.576+00:00'The Aphrodite Inheritance' is one of my f...'The Aphrodite Inheritance' is one of my favourite dramas ever. Just love the mood and scenery and the late Alexandra Bastedo looked wonderful as she flitted in and out of the plot. <br /><br />Wliberforce - You must splash out and watch it again (or put it on your Birthday/Christmas list). It features Jean-Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene Part 3' in one of the later episodes (uncredited). Took me ages to work out where I'd heard the music before.sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-78499956165552653152017-01-24T14:30:52.105+00:002017-01-24T14:30:52.105+00:00I don’t think anything could live up to the previo...I don’t think anything could live up to the previous week’s edition but this was pretty good. The Richard and Simon double act worked well also.<br /><br />Level 42 – The Chinese Way – Relatively unknown at the time and more of a cult band really, the Level 42 hallmarks are all here to see on this lively opener. The contrasting double vocals of Mark and Mike work well as they did on many of the later smashes.<br /><br />Belle Stars – Sign of the Times – ‘On tour’ and ‘lasers’ had me expecting stage effects a la 70s rock bands but it’s quite tame really. Another outing for the white suits. <br />Central Line – Nature Boy – Don’t recall this. Quite pleasant really. <br /><br />Beatles - Please please me – Some more timeless archive footage for this timeless track. Did it get to no1 or not? Certainly not in the ‘Guinness books’. Nice to see that the chart rundown synched up with a ‘Sgt Pepper’ photo!<br /><br />China Crisis – Christian – Who was the girl that was beside Simon for the intro and then waltzed off for dance? Looks very familiar. Great smooch track which I first heard on ‘Pebble Mill at One’ although I can’t find that performance on YT. <br /><br />Wham – Wham Rap – Prefer ‘Wham Rap 86’ which contains the immortal line “Hey everybody don’t need this crap”. Great showing from the boys and girls nonetheless.<br /><br />Bauhaus – Lagaritja Nick – Hmmm….never that keen on Bauhaus.<br /><br />Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up where we belong – Didn’t they do well? Great live rendition which stayed largely faithful to the original but contained a few nuances in the vocals. 15 years since Joe Cocker was last on TOTP…must have seen a long time then….but 15 years now? Nah, still recall 2002 pretty clearly. “Time goes by…” indeed.<br /><br />Dire Straits – Twisting by the Pool – ‘Extended Dance EP’ was the title. A bit like Genesis’s ‘Paperlate’ which was always referred to rather than ‘3x3’, the EP title. In fact most EPs lost their names apart from (say) Tom Robinson Band’s ‘Rising Free’. I bet loads of folks rushed out and slapped this on their turntable only to hear Mickey Mouse rather than Mark Knopfler as they forgot to change the speed to 33! I believe ‘Twisting by the Pool’ was an old track that was rerecorded by this line up to release alongside the excellent ‘Two Young Lovers’ and the not so excellent ‘If I had you’ on this EP offering which, given the lack of single material on the ‘Love over Gold’ masterpiece, was a shrewd move. Not seen the video before actually, so quite enjoyed all the underwater stuff.<br /><br />Men at Work – Down Under – So we’ve just beaten the Aussies at cricket then had we? I don’t recall us winning much on that tour (save the Melbourne Test by a narrow 3 runs) but a quick check and yes, Mr Bates is right, a fairly hefty One Day win in Sydney with Botham scoring a two ball duck!<br /><br />Eddie Grant – Electric Avenue (playout) – Don’t recall a video being used on a playout other than for a number one (E.g. Pussycat, Smokey Robinson) but the crowd seem to enjoy a boogie to Eddie.<br />sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-57412657449413328952017-01-24T01:31:19.336+00:002017-01-24T01:31:19.336+00:00No. It was Sonic Youth. Can't remember any Mot...No. It was Sonic Youth. Can't remember any Motley Crue videos offhand. Did they have the same stance? If so, unusual for a band of that type from that era.teaurnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567246659179603874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-13929071983220064712017-01-23T17:52:02.800+00:002017-01-23T17:52:02.800+00:00Quite a fun edition this, despite the horror of Ba...Quite a fun edition this, despite the horror of Bates and the presenter who single-handedly turned me away from the Top 40, Dickie S.<br /><br />Level 42 - I'm no fan of their early stuff really but time for me to roll out my anecdote once again of the time I interviewed Mark King for my radio show (by phone sadly, not in person) and he was so cheeky and rude that I had to edit half of it out! He was great fun.<br /><br />The Belle Stars - So I've found out that it's Miranda who is the one I like. She looks good here!<br /><br />Central Line - Hmmm...I'm no fan of this kind of 'sound' (as the presenters like to say) but it's OK. Nothing can beat the Nat King Cole version really.<br /><br />The Beatles - Good song that obviously wasn't given as much of a push on re-release as 'Love Me Do'.<br /><br />China Crisis - A little slow and meandering perhaps, but I love it. This is partly - as with other songs from this period - because it was included on the 'Chart Runners' compo that I got for my birthday!<br /><br />Wham! - Utterly ridiculous but great fun! I still can't get my head around the fact that George is no longer with us.<br /><br />Bauhaus - Ermm, no thanks.<br /><br />Cocker & Warnes - Awful sludge. I too remember the Three Of A Kind parody, weren't they billed as 'Joe Cock-Up and Jennifer Prawn'?<br /><br />Dire Straits - Chalk me up as another who actually quite likes this, probably because I'm not a big fan of their more credible stuff. Noaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790474836630218113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-91834998201460778782017-01-23T16:31:32.016+00:002017-01-23T16:31:32.016+00:00was the band in question motley crue?was the band in question motley crue?wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-75455110801687505572017-01-23T11:21:01.028+00:002017-01-23T11:21:01.028+00:00pete wylie was well-known for being a loudmouth, s...pete wylie was well-known for being a loudmouth, so probably no surprise that he fell foul of the totp powers-that-be...wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-32011422962045519542017-01-23T10:26:32.466+00:002017-01-23T10:26:32.466+00:00Julie - I saw your original post and see what you ...Julie - I saw your original post and see what you mean. Whether the video makers intended it or not, I do wonder whether the way women were sometimes presented in some music videos of that time contributed to an air of misogyny and sexism around women. I'm reminded of a band I would listen to a little later in the decade, whose stance on music videos was 'no girls will appear who aren't in the band'. When they eventually broke their own rule, it was not to titillate or demean.teaurnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567246659179603874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-44310439878060415662017-01-23T10:18:07.679+00:002017-01-23T10:18:07.679+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.teaurnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567246659179603874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-29807546929616805772017-01-23T00:23:23.355+00:002017-01-23T00:23:23.355+00:00Right hand Saxophone Spice was the best Belle Star...Right hand Saxophone Spice was the best Belle Star, I'd say. She seems to be a bit shy, though.THXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-24102766508002756482017-01-22T16:11:33.505+00:002017-01-22T16:11:33.505+00:00I think Pepsi came on board by the end of '83,...I think Pepsi came on board by the end of '83, but we might not see her on TOTP until Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-41936707573014688032017-01-22T16:07:53.972+00:002017-01-22T16:07:53.972+00:00My source didn't specify what the issue was, s...My source didn't specify what the issue was, so I can't help with that one either, I'm afraid.John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-10468207390481613192017-01-22T15:57:26.285+00:002017-01-22T15:57:26.285+00:00So am I. No idea. I assume they were awkward in re...So am I. No idea. I assume they were awkward in rehearsals and / or probably got drunk and / or had a bad attitude.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-20640109417267422692017-01-22T14:34:59.446+00:002017-01-22T14:34:59.446+00:00I'm firmly in your camp TimT on Dire Straits, ...I'm firmly in your camp TimT on Dire Straits, and although it was agreeably a diversion from the mood in Private Investigations late in 1982, it was the new video for Twisting By The Pool that made me like the song more. <br /><br />I mean those lovely girls in swimsuits getting wet and sporty. Just love it, and the other girls in bikinis doing those wiggles in between. Good Lord, in my opinion I think we were being spoiled this week by TOTP, and definitely the highlight of this week's show, along with the brilliant Wham Rap featuring Shirlie Holliman, erm, I mean George & Andrew.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-25588999932933781162017-01-22T14:20:59.772+00:002017-01-22T14:20:59.772+00:00Arthur, what was it exactly that made Wah! naughty...Arthur, what was it exactly that made Wah! naughty and told to get lost by Michael Hurl, hence not getting a slot on this week's show at No.3 while still climbing the charts? I'm still in suspense on this one.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-31265602988194891012017-01-22T12:29:40.722+00:002017-01-22T12:29:40.722+00:00I would agree that the 12 inch of Wham Rap is very...I would agree that the 12 inch of Wham Rap is very good, and through the years I have preferred it to the 7 inch. In fact, on the radio, they generally play the 12-inch more often I think, as it was quite a stir at the time as to just how good it was. Certainly DJs at discos seem to also prefer it.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-66684740050580907032017-01-22T12:11:40.897+00:002017-01-22T12:11:40.897+00:00It seems like I'm the only person on here who ...It seems like I'm the only person on here who actually likes that Dire Straits track. I saw them live in 1983 and 'Twisting by the pool' was one of the highlights.<br /><br />I've always assumed they released it to prove they weren't as humourless as songs like 'Private investigations' might suggest. (In fact, most Dire Straits albums include a novelty/comedy song, eg 'Les boys' on Making Movies, and of course 'Money for nothing' on Brothers In Arms.)<br /><br />When Wham released 'Wham rap', it occurred to me that they presumably signed on at the same dole office where I went to claim my Supplementary Benefit (available to students during holidays at the time, provided you claimed to be looking for a job). It was at the top of Water Lane in Watford, on the ring road - but don't go looking for it now, as it's long since been demolished and replaced by flats.TimThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953081013855148796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-15472367707049521652017-01-22T12:04:11.622+00:002017-01-22T12:04:11.622+00:00I rarely disagree with you Julie, but there was no...I rarely disagree with you Julie, but there was no sexism in my opinion on Dire Straits. I had another watch of this, and it is merely some sexy girls in bikinis and swimsuits enjoying life and enjoying their bodies and being young. I'm sure that these girls now in their fifties are delighted to show their children this video, and how much fun life was in the 80s. Did anyone call Rod Stewart sexist when his video for Tonight I'm I'm yours had a similar pool/bikini environment a couple of years earlier, or is only OK for Rod? For one thing, Twisting By The Pool was one of my favourite videos of the 80s, and would watch again.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-65320110087975132542017-01-22T11:49:10.790+00:002017-01-22T11:49:10.790+00:00never mind did andrew ridgeley ever sing lead on a...never mind did andrew ridgeley ever sing lead on any wham tracks - did he ever sing on them period? or even play any instruments? to give him some credit, you could say he was years ahead of his time in that he was a sleb who became famous without actually doing anything of note to merit that status...wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-37614739139633000302017-01-22T11:43:02.256+00:002017-01-22T11:43:02.256+00:00i remember when i first signed-on as a a dolie/dol...i remember when i first signed-on as a a dolie/doley, i received the princely sum of £11... £9 of which was taken off me by my parents - not only to "make me pay my way", but also to act as an "incentive" to make me find a job!wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.com