'84-'85 were odd years - there were some great singles and some terrible dross, and not much in between. George Michael replacing Black Lace at Number 1 is a jarring flip from one extreme to the other.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Thursday, 5 October 2017 19:24 (six years ago) link
It's not like 1984 and 1985 were short of great music... 1984 probably moreso than 1985, you wouldn't have thought it watching that, though!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 19:45 (six years ago) link
The transition from 1980-1981 to 1984-1985 both musically and aesthetically has always fascinated me, though... reading through the Smash Hits archive, you can feel things change with Duran Duran's mega success, then Frankie, then Live Aid happens and by 1986 the whole feel of the decade has changed entirely.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 19:52 (six years ago) link
haha Passenger what a wretched racket. DL called it one of the worst songs of the 80s in the Elton track-by-track thread.
― piscesx, Thursday, 5 October 2017 20:02 (six years ago) link
Well, "Deny the passenger, who want to get on" is a potentially good lyric, but hmmm where it went.
― Mark G, Thursday, 5 October 2017 20:56 (six years ago) link
Okay, here we go...
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:32 (six years ago) link
Actually, this Bucks Fizz doesn't have a bad riff - interesting mining on the guitar going on there, tho...
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:33 (six years ago) link
*miming, I mean.
Although we are in '84, so...
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:34 (six years ago) link
FFS. Spandau again? I mean, this is one of their better songs (IMO) but it wasn't a big hit. The riff in the verse is essentially Japan's 'Quiet Life' slowed down, too.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:35 (six years ago) link
Ooh... Heaven 17 and Kraftwerk are in this week...
and what do they show? Level fucking 42.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link
The young David Miliband on keyboards, there.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:43 (six years ago) link
The only Level 42 song that I can sort-of stand.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:46 (six years ago) link
lol Alphaville
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:47 (six years ago) link
The sight of Mark King jumping up and down while his thumb is going ten to the dozen on a bass that's worn chest-height is just cringe.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:50 (six years ago) link
John Peel: "Agadoo. What a gem." - loooooooooooool
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:51 (six years ago) link
Yeah even with their most tolerable song they still look terrible.Liked 'Big In Japan' but never could make out most of the lyrics. Reading them now they're bobbins. And the singer looks like Simon Amstell.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:51 (six years ago) link
Also I will never know how the fuck Black Lace ever became popular. I can only guess that the 'pissed up Brits on holiday' demographic is far larger than I thought.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:52 (six years ago) link
"Agadoo. What a gem."
Oh I'm watching the stream and it's ~20 seconds behind.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:53 (six years ago) link
Noel Edmonds: "Watch out for the flying bit of toast in Stevie's video!" he said to no audience applause or reaction whatsoever.
Okay, not Stevie Wonder's finest moment, but it coulda been so much worse... and 'I'll Fly For You' was really Top 10? I seem to remember it being somewhat of a relative flop for Spandau... huh.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:54 (six years ago) link
Oh wait that's a different version of the video. Also Stevie Wonder's laziest hit is still miles ahead of everything else this episode.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:55 (six years ago) link
Oh great, Tory bellend Bruno Brookes followed by that fucking Elton John track again - what a combo.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:56 (six years ago) link
Also the multiple key change is like *ugh*. Come on, Stevie "I wrote the 'Superstition' riff btw" Wonder sinks to this? Although it shows how great he is that his lows still beat most people's highs.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 6 October 2017 18:57 (six years ago) link
Also I will never know how the fuck Black Lace ever became popular. I can only guess that the 'pissed up Brits on holiday' demographic is far larger than I thought.― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, October 6, 2017 6:52 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, October 6, 2017 6:52 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
At least there's 'The Chicken Song' to look forward to when the inevitable backlash happens... didn't one half of Black Lace end up joining Smokie in a bid to be taken seriously?
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 6 October 2017 19:00 (six years ago) link
That'll be the Smokie of "Who the fuck is Alice" infamy..
― Mark G, Saturday, 7 October 2017 09:10 (six years ago) link
I did buy "Agadoo" on 45. I was 7 tbf
― Well bissogled trotters (Michael B), Saturday, 7 October 2017 13:20 (six years ago) link
Oh god, I hated Careless Whisper at the time. Too adult, too slow. I've revised that opinion now of course
― Well bissogled trotters (Michael B), Saturday, 7 October 2017 13:23 (six years ago) link
xxpost:
Well, it clearly didn't have the desired effect!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Saturday, 7 October 2017 14:03 (six years ago) link
Did we work out why Pete Wylie was dressed like Dave Vanian that one time?
― koogs, Saturday, 7 October 2017 16:37 (six years ago) link
This is my favourite podcast at the moment. Various ex-Melody Maker journos dissect a random episode of TOTP. Its hilarious
https://chartmusiccouk.wordpress.com/
― Well bissogled trotters (Michael B), Saturday, 7 October 2017 17:26 (six years ago) link
yeah he joined Smokie then died in a tour bus crash in the mid 90s.
speaking of the 'pissed up Brits on holiday' demographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMGNiAD-tMA
― piscesx, Sunday, 8 October 2017 15:45 (six years ago) link
Did I mention I bought their first single?
Bohemian Rhapsody.
― Mark G, Monday, 9 October 2017 06:34 (six years ago) link
Weren't here also smutty versions of a lot of their songs so while they might be singing Agadoo one TOTP, 'Ave A Screw was maybe what a lot of people were singing in their heads? So kind of subversive but in a really gross and rapey sort of way
― plp will eat itself (NickB), Monday, 9 October 2017 07:19 (six years ago) link
Having a Gangbang has sort of eclipsed Agadoo as their legacy song I thought.
― everything, Monday, 9 October 2017 07:39 (six years ago) link
Rugby songs on a package holiday basically, summer anthems for aspiring sex offenders
― plp will eat itself (NickB), Monday, 9 October 2017 08:33 (six years ago) link
'Superman' somehow manages to be more annoying than 'Agadoo' ... it's still infuriating that when people think "'80s", they think of shit like Black Lace.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 9 October 2017 12:46 (six years ago) link
Thank fuck they're not showing the long format version of 'Blue Jean' as it's fuck awful.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 13 October 2017 18:37 (six years ago) link
Steve Wright, chimp par excellence for this sea of shit.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 13 October 2017 18:59 (six years ago) link
Now this is the version of the Stevie Wonder with the flying toast.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 13 October 2017 19:00 (six years ago) link
Aww fuck, I missed it!
Second part of the Nile doc and a funk doc on later will make up for it, though.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 13 October 2017 19:14 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXvAaNcXNzI
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 13 October 2017 19:17 (six years ago) link
Tuning in now and... *groans* ... Matt Bianco.
― Gholdfish Killah (Turrican), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:34 (six years ago) link
Huh, that looks like Lord Voldemort in the video to Duran Duran's Wild Boys. That vocal remains utterly horrible. I like the video, though!
― Gholdfish Killah (Turrican), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:39 (six years ago) link
xp a bunch of wankers
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:43 (six years ago) link
Bruno Brookes being asked if he's been eating magic mushrooms!?!
― Gholdfish Killah (Turrican), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:43 (six years ago) link
Dave Stewart waa enjoying himself a lot in that Eurythmics vid, eh?
― Gholdfish Killah (Turrican), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:44 (six years ago) link
*was
Alvin Stardust not really sure what to do with his arms here.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:47 (six years ago) link
Someone in my year at school looked like Nick Kershaw and always got really pissed off when anyone mentioned it.
― Zings Can Only Get Better (snoball), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link
Every time I see a Nik Kershaw performance on this show he always looks either confused or mildly annoyed... the lyrics to this are utter bollocks!
― Gholdfish Killah (Turrican), Friday, 3 November 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link