Topic: Top of the Pops on BBC Four - Thread Two.

[non capisco]

Sonia performing 'You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You' on the Christmas Day episode without her usual grinning male dancer accompanying her really brought home how much of a miserable unrequited stalker's anthem that is. "It doesn't really matter what you put me through." I started imagining Blue Tulip Rose Read singing it to Mike Read. Plenty more fish in the sea, Sonia mate.

[Non Stop Dancer]

Loving the extended version of The Wizard at the end there.

[Jockice]

Sonia performing 'You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You' on the Christmas Day episode without her usual grinning male dancer accompanying her really brought home how much of a miserable unrequited stalker's anthem that is. "It doesn't really matter what you put me through." I started imagining Blue Tulip Rose Read singing it to Mike Read. Plenty more fish in the sea, Sonia mate.

Is it only me who thinks the chorus of this is a direct rip-off of Get Over You by The Undertones? Which is of course one of the greatest singles of all time so I quite like this. I met Sonia at some Hitman And Her type event just before this single was released. Someone must have told her I was 'the press' because she rushed up to me incredibly enthusiastically going: "Hi, I'm Sonia and I'm going to be famous." She scared me quite frankly.

In a hilarious mix-up years later, my sister claimed that I'd once told her that I really fancied Sonia. It was of course Sonya from Echobelly I was referring to!!!!

[Spudgun]

Es-specially for yo-o-o-o-o-u :

17 December 1987 [off-air] + 31 December 1987 [off-air]

Thank you kindly, sir! Now restored to their former glory, for those who are interested.

[Pauline Walnuts]

You know what that Xmas special needed?

More Jason Donavan.

[Satchmo Distel]

There was a Pop Idol-type show for has-beens about 15 years ago and Sonia behaved really badly on it IIRC. Also featured David Van Day being a prick, unsurprisingly.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7OXWcHc5oM

[MiddleRabbit]

Is it only me who thinks the chorus of this is a direct rip-off of Get Over You by The Undertones? Which is of course one of the greatest singles of all time so I quite like this. I met Sonia at some Hitman And Her type event just before this single was released. Someone must have told her I was 'the press' because she rushed up to me incredibly enthusiastically going: "Hi, I'm Sonia and I'm going to be famous." She scared me quite frankly.

In a hilarious mix-up years later, my sister claimed that I'd once told her that I really fancied Sonia. It was of course Sonya from Echobelly I was referring to!!!!

It is a bit, isn't it?

I was at university with a girl who was at school with Sonia.  She said she was dead quiet.  That's the extent of my personal anecdotes about SAW pop stars.

[gilbertharding]

Does anyone know if that's it? Are we getting repeats of Top of the Pops 1990? I have a horrible feeling that's it...

[daf]

They've got The Story of 1990 documentary in the can & had started interviews for 1991 before lockdown - so it's coming . . .

It'll either be at the start of next year, or more likely in September (BBC4 are apparently showing live snooker during August).

[gilbertharding]

Ah, nice one Daf!

I was expecting The Story of 1990 this evening, which made me wonder.... actually I was beginning to wonder how they managed to make 1989 last all the way to the start of August, instead of finishing in June like it ought to have. I was always against the two-a-week thing anyway.

[daf]

One more from 1989 to go tonight : the 28 December 1989 edition - which is a "review of the 80s".

(like the Christmas show - it's an hour long edition with a mix of new studio performances & old clip montages)

[gilbertharding]

One more from 1989 to go tonight : the 28 December 1989 edition - which is a "review of the 80s".

(like the Christmas show - it's an hour long edition with a mix of new studio performances & old clip montages)

Oh - I saw that on the EPG, and assumed it was a new compilation, like the ones they show after "The Story of..."

[DrGreggles]

Looking forward to seeing FNM's performance again.

[Icehaven]

Bloody hell The Police look like triplets in the Don't Stand So Close To Me video. Couldn't tell which one was Sting.

[Icehaven]

One of Shakin Steven's singers wearing a Fido Dido Tshirt, maximum 80s.

[gilbertharding]

I wondered for a bit whether they'd actually have anyone under 40 on this show. I don't often say it, but thank goodness for Erasure.

[gilbertharding]

Chris de Burgh. You're spoiling us.

[rjd2]

Interesting I feel the urge for a cheeky wee wank after watching that Kim Wilde performance.

Their is minimum 3 class versions of that Wilde tune also.

[gilbertharding]

The captions are... something we're going to have to get used to, eh?

[Icehaven]

THE FUCKING BUNNY

[Icehaven]

Why did Collins do one potato two potato at the start?

[Icehaven]

Geldof wiping a tired eye there, fucking fraud.

[buzby]

One more from 1989 to go tonight : the 28 December 1989 edition - which is a "review of the 80s".

(like the Christmas show - it's an hour long edition with a mix of new studio performances & old clip montages)

I was rather hoping they might get round to showing the Eighties BBC2 New Years Eve 1989 review of the decade that featured perforances from OGWT, ORS and other BBC programmes as well as TOTP. I recorded it on VHS at the time but I'd love to see it again in decent picture quality.

They messed up the aspect ratio again tonight - broadcast a 4:3 show in 16:9. They have been getting very slapdash on that front lately. Still, nice to see Gambo on one of his rare TOTP appearances. Less so to see Mike Read.

Interesting I feel the urge for a cheeky wee wank after watching that Kim Wilde performance.

Their is minimum 3 class versions of that Wilde tune also.

Always good to see Kim again. Not a fan of that hairstyle though. It also reminded me what an accurate pastihe of S/A/w's production of the time Ricky had made on that track.

The captions are... something we're going to have to get used to, eh?

I think they were a one-off for this review show, thankfully, They made the entire episode look like an advert for a K-Tel compilation album.

Why did Collins do one potato two potato at the start?

He really couldn't be arsed to be there, by the looks of it. As soon as the track faded out you could see him start to get up. It felt odd seeing slicked-back hair, power-jacketed late 80s Phil playing a period Prophet V and CR78 (with paint pot on top of it, natch) though. Overall the episode was a bit of nostalgia for the by then bygone era of analogue synth porn.

[DrGreggles]

The captions are... something we're going to have to get used to, eh?

Wait until the 1991 'relaunch'!

[DrGreggles]

Bloody hell The Police look like triplets in the Don't Stand So Close To Me video. Couldn't tell which one was Sting.

If in doubt, always opt for the biggest cunt.

[DrGreggles]

As we've reached that point in the TOTP re-runs, thought it would be an appropriate time to link to this:

'Eighties' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0jH24oeXc

A 3 hour compilation of clips of assorted acts' performances on various TV shows which was broadcast on BBC2 from late on NYE 1989 into the new decade.

[Gulftastic]

Watched that the next day. First Nanci Griffith performance I'd ever seen. Been a fan ever since.

[daf]

28 December 1989: Presenters: Paul Gambaccini & Mike Read (Review of the '80s)

STATUS QUO – Burning Bridges (On & Off & On Again)
Dad's Army
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1980) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket (17/01/80)
BLONDIE – The Tide Is High  (video)
THE POLICE – Don't Stand So Close To Me  (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (IDOLS) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HAIRCUT 100 – Love Plus One  (28/01/82)
DURAN DURAN – Is There Something I Should Know?  (23/03/83)
KYLIE MINOGUE – I Should Be So Lucky  (video)
BROS – I Owe You Nothing (16/06/88)
JASON DONOVAN – Too Many Broken Hearts  (video)
A-HA – The Sun Always Shines On TV  (16/01/86)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1981) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE SPECIALS – Ghost Town  (2/07/81)
JOHN LENNON – Woman  (video)
ADAM & THE ANTS – Prince Charming (video)
BUCKS FIZZ – Making Your Mind Up (19/03/81)
SOFT CELL – Tainted Love (3/09/81)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SHAKIN' STEVENS – This Ole House
Rising Damp
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1982) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE JAM – Beat Surrender (2/12/82)
MADNESS – House Of Fun (video)
WHAM! – Young Guns (Go For It)  (4/11/82)
EDDY GRANT – I Don't Wanna Dance (video)
DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS – Come On Eileen (25/12/82)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DAVID ESSEX – A Winter's Tale
Last of The Summer Wine
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (CLASSICS) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE BEE GEES – You Win Again (1/10/87)
ABBA – Super Trouper (video)
ROD STEWART – Baby Jane  (video)
ELTON JOHN – Nikita  (17/10/85)
QUEEN – Radio Ga Ga  (video)
DAVID BOWIE & MICK JAGGER – Dancing In The Street (video)
DIANA ROSS – Chain Reaction (video)
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – One Love/People Get Ready  (video)
STEVIE WONDER – I Just Called To Say I Love You  (video)
CLIFF RICHARD – Daddy's Home  (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1983) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
EURYTHMICS – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (25/12/83)
BONNIE TYLER – Total Eclipse Of The Heart (video)
UB40 – Red Red Wine  (25/12/83)
HOWARD JONES – New Song (22/09/83)
CULTURE CLUB – Karma Chameleon (29/12/83)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (SYNTH) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PET SHOP BOYS – West End Girls  (5/12/85)
DEPECHE MODE – Just Can't Get Enough (24/09/81)
OMD – Souvenir (3/09/81)
NEW ORDER – Blue Monday  (31/03/83)
THE HUMAN LEAGUE – Don't You Want Me (video)
ULTRAVOX – Vienna (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ERASURE – Sometimes
George and Mildred
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1984) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
U2 – Pride (In The Name Of Love)  (video)
PAUL MCCARTNEY – Pipes Of Peace (video)
TINA TURNER – What's Love Got To Do With It  (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (LOVE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BARBRA STREISANDS – Woman In Love (video)
SPANDAU BALLET – True  (29/12/83)
ELAINE PAIGE & BARBARA DICKSON – I Know Him So Well  (10/01/85)
GEORGE MICHAEL – Careless Whisper  (23/8/84)
FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION – Perfect (28/04/88)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



CHRIS DE BURGH – The Lady In Red
Love Thy Neighbour
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1985) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
USA FOR AFRICA – We Are The World (video)
KATE BUSH – Running Up That Hill (22/8/85)
SIMPLE MINDS – Don't You (Forget About Me) (video)
ALISON MOYET – That Ole Devil Called Love (14/03/85)
DIRE STRAITS – Money For Nothing  (video)
TEARS FOR FEARS – Everybody Wants To Rule The World (28/03/85)
JENNIFER RUSH – The Power Of Love (26/09/85)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (METAL) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IRON MAIDEN – Run To The Hills (video)
BON JOVI – Livin' On A Prayer (6/11/86)
MARILLION – Kayleigh (13/06/85)
EUROPE – The Final Countdown (4/12/86)
ZZ TOP – Gimme All Your Lovin' (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1986) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BILLY OCEAN – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going (30/01/86)
FIVE STAR – System Addict (video)
SIMPLY RED – Holding Back The Years (22/05/86)
PETER GABRIEL – Sledgehammer (video)
THE COMMUNARDS – Don't Leave Me This Way (4/09/86)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
KIM WILDE – You Keep Me Hangin' On
Absolutely Fabulous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (USA) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Dancing In The Dark (video)
LIONEL RICHIE – Hello (video)
MADONNA – Into The Groove  (video)
KOOL & THE GANG – Ooh La La La (Let's Go Dancin') (21/10/82)
PRINCE – 1999 (video)
MICHAEL JACKSON – Billie Jean (video clip)
WHITNEY HOUSTON – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (21/05/87)
BILLY JOEL – Uptown Girl (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1987) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE SMITHS – Sheila Take A Bow (23/04/87)
BOY GEORGE – Everything I Own (12/03/87)
T'PAU – China In Your Hand (5/11/87)
MEL & KIM – Respectable (19/03/87)
RICK ASTLEY – Never Gonna Give You Up  (19/03/87)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (TECHNO) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – Relax (25/12/84)
PAUL HARDCASTLE – 19 (video)
STEVE 'SILK' HURLEY – Jack Your Body (video)
M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume (video)
BLACK BOX – Ride On Time  (31/08/89)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1988) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY – Sign Your Name (14/01/88)
WET WET WET – With A Little Help From My Friends (12/05/88)
YAZZ & THE PLASTIC POPULATION – The Only Way Is Up (28/07/88)
CLIFF RICHARD – Mistletoe & Wine  (8/12/88)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ASWAD – Don't Turn Around
The Likely Lads
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (1989) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS – She Drives Me Crazy (19/01/89)
SOUL II SOUL FEAT CARON WHEELER – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) (video)
BANGLES – Eternal Flame (video)
JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – Swing The Mood (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PHIL COLLINS – In The Air Tonight
Brush Strokes
BAND AID – Do They Know It's Christmas? (25/12/84 + credits)
Men Behaving Badly
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Jockice]

As we've reached that point in the TOTP re-runs, thought it would be an appropriate time to link to this:

'Eighties' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0jH24oeXc

A 3 hour compilation of clips of assorted acts' performances on various TV shows which was broadcast on BBC2 from late on NYE 1989 into the new decade.

Ah yes, the glum rock bit was my favourite. I remember my folks recording it for me (I spent New Year's Eve in Nottingham) and my dad being particularly appalled by Tenpole Tudor.

[daf]

'Eighties'

Ta - that's my afternoon sorted!