Top of the Pops Memories

**OwlsFan** · 28/07/2006, 8:12 AM

So one of my favourite programmes of all times dies this weekend. During my teenage years and through my twenties it was a must see event and was discussed in the office the next day or with my mates.

Pan's People. DeeDee was my favourite.

Blondie - ohhh the outfits Debbie Harry used to wear

Slade - first record I bought was Come on Feel the Noise.

The Sweet and Gary Glitter - yes I am from the glam rock era.

I believe the Batchelors were the first Irish group on the propgramme and I remember the Dubliners with "Seven Drunken Nights".

Queen with Bohemian Rhapsody.

Great memories.

**BohsPartisan** · 28/07/2006, 8:49 AM

From a later generation myself, baggy/madchester and all that. I remember seeing Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream singing "Come Together" (the scream song off screamadellica not the beatles song) in 1990 and thinking he was the coolest f'kr on the planet. I do not exaggerate when I say, that and seeing the video for Fools Gold by the Stone Roses for the first time were life altering moments. As for chicks, I remember seeing Donna from Elastica on it in a very very short skirt. Oh and Louise Weener from Sleeper smuggling peanuts!!!At F�ile 95 I hollared Donna give us a wave and she did. My heart stopped. (luckily the paramedics had me back in working condition by the time Paul Weller took the stage).
Haven't watched TOTP in years though.

**Magicme** · 28/07/2006, 9:18 AM

Like yourself BohsPartisan I came of age during the early 90's and Blur doing "There's no other way" will always b one of my fav totp moments....Damon was so wasted that he just swung the microphone round and round and danced away without hardly singing a word yet magically the words were sung....first real realisation that even "cool" bands mime sometimes!

It was essential viewing from bout age 6 to 20. Some ****e and cringe worthy moments on it but also some great great memories. I went through a stage when I was bout 17 where I videoed every number 1 for bout 2 years....Still have the tapes but think they are damp so mite not play....

I also remember we had this kick ass tv which had a tape recorder, radio and record player built into the same unit and week after week sitting watchin totp with one finger on the record button of the cassette recorder part of the tv so that I could tape my fav songs.

God bless u top of the pops and may u rest in peace!

**Lionel Ritchie** · 28/07/2006, 9:27 AM

TOTP was my life clock til the rise PWL/SAW filled the charts with garbage that wasn't even ironicly funny.

I'm a few years earlier than Bohs so my abiding memories would include ...

Frankie Goes To Hollywood having to appear 3 times on the 1984 Christmas special where they play the years No.1s. (It'd be common enough these days I suppose but quite a feat back then)

The Housemartins appearing for the 1st time doing Happy Hour.

Possibly the same episode -Doctor & The Medics keeping Whams farewell single from debuting at the No.1 spot - a feat the good Doctor described as akin to "S****horpe* beating Liverpool in the FA Cup Final"

Ah Louise Wieners diddys. must have a quick rummage in the w@nk bag and see where they got to. Saw her on telly recently -heavily pregnant and still delicious.

Finally respectful nods to all who, deliberatley or not, took the p1ss out of the miming policy ...such as the Housemartins up above, Manics drummer -who just put his sticks down and sat there through You Love Us ...and All About Eve who's monitors weren't switched on.

*Don't you just love the way that happens when you type the word S****horpe? Ha Ha George Michael you fcuking S****horpe!!!

**paul_oshea** · 28/07/2006, 9:30 AM

Like yourself BohsPartisan I came of age during the early 90's and Blur doing "There's no other way" will always b one of my fav totp moments....Damon was so wasted that he just swung the microphone round and round and danced away without hardly singing a word yet magically the words were sung....first real realisation that even "cool" bands mime sometimes!

NO IT WASNT!!!!! Nirvana when they did smells like teen spirit took the **** out of it. BLUR JUST COPIED IT.

that smells like teen spirit **** take was quality...

**Magicme** · 28/07/2006, 9:59 AM

Forgot bout seeing Nirvana on TOTP but just the way Damon was so off his head was very funny. I was growing up in a small town with little or no knowledge of drugs and this was like a bit of an awakening.

Have to say tho Fine Young Cannibals doing "She Drives Me Crazy" was my first full on falling in love with a Pop Star moment. I still love Roland & was delighted a few years ago when met him and got photos and kisses from him.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 28/07/2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

NO IT WASNT!!!!! Nirvana when they did smells like teen spirit took the **** out of it. BLUR JUST COPIED IT.

that smells like teen spirit **** take was quality...

I'd be keen for anyone with info on release dates to post it - I'll put the the farm on Blurs There's No Other Way having been released as a single anything up to 15 months before Nirvana released Smells Like Teen Spirit (which was released in UK/Ireland in October 1991)

UPDATE: According to Wikipedia Blurs There's No Other Way was released on April 15th 1991 -some six months before Nirvana would've appeared on TOTP

**paul_oshea** · 28/07/2006, 10:15 AM

Lionel you are older ( *cough* way older *cough* )than me so maybe i have to concede defeat in this one, but I do remember reading something from metal hammer or kerrang saying it was the first time someone made a farce of the miming on TOTP, cos ppl always wondered what teh story was.

I was growing up in a small town with little or no knowledge of drugs and this was like a bit of an awakening.

I konw someone in the same position but they had more than knowledge of the drugs!!!

**Lionel Ritchie** · 28/07/2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Lionel you are older ( *cough* way older *cough* )than me so maybe i have to concede defeat in this one, but I do remember reading something from metal hammer or kerrang saying it was the first time someone made a farce of the miming on TOTP, cos ppl always wondered what teh story was.

...and the moral of the story? Believe nothing you read or hear and only half of what you see.

**BohsPartisan** · 28/07/2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

I'd be keen for anyone with info on release dates to post it - I'll put the the farm on Blurs There's No Other Way having been released as a single anything up to 15 months before Nirvana released Smells Like Teen Spirit (which was released in UK/Ireland in October 1991)

UPDATE: According to Wikipedia Blurs There's No Other Way was released on April 15th 1991 -some six months before Nirvana would've appeared on TOTP

Beat me too it. Indeed There's No Other way was a long before SLTS.

I also remember Flowered Up! a baggy indie/dance group from London (touted as London's answer to the Happy Mondays but IMO better than that) doing a song called Its ON which was about dealing E at a rave. Classic stuff. "Did you to 40? Have you got a rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrather large Pock-It?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowered_Up

**BohsPartisan** · 28/07/2006, 11:11 AM

Anyone remember when the Blur Vs. Oasis farce reached its culmination with Blur reaching number one and Oasis reaching number two with two of their worst songs (in Oasis's case their worst up till that point but they've had many more since)? Liam took Noels guitar and pretended to play while Noel mimed to Liam's vocals. Quite funny.

First band to appear on TOTP before they released a single - Menswear with I'll manage somehow. They were probably the most hyped new band of the 90's for about 5 minutes and then they disapeared without a trace because they were rubbish.

Manic Street Preachers (before they were cr@ptastic) appearing on TOTP dressed as paramilitaries inducing the ire of the readership of the Daily Mail.

**Macy** · 28/07/2006, 11:47 AM

Most memorable one for me was the Mondays and Roses on the same night (also not bothering to mime, but I'm sure they weren't the first

)

Actually speaking of not miming, probably the best was Oasis doing "Cum on feel the noize" and the line "so you think my singings out of time". Liam could be funny occasionally. (Seems like an age since they were good and I suppose it's well over a decade since they were in fairness)

**paul_oshea** · 28/07/2006, 12:20 PM

in this case I dont think it has anything to do with me being in my early to mid 20's( and being too young to remember ) but I cant remember when oasis were good?!?!?

over-hyped, simple but effective beatles-esque type music.

**BohsPartisan** · 28/07/2006, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

in this case I dont think it has anything to do with me being in my early to mid 20's( and being too young to remember ) but I cant remember when oasis were good?!?!?

over-hyped, simple but effective beatles-esque type music.

Definitely Maybe while unoriginal and overhyped is a bloody great album to listen to when you're 18 years old and full of Gin, as I was prone to be in 1994.

**paul_oshea** · 28/07/2006, 1:01 PM

jees yer old partisan

**BohsPartisan** · 28/07/2006, 1:06 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

jees yer old partisan

30 is the new 20!

**drinkfeckarse** · 28/07/2006, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Definitely Maybe while unoriginal and overhyped is a bloody great album to listen to when you're 18 years old and full of Gin, as I was prone to be in 1994.

So while everybody else was drinking vodka, whisky and cheap cider, Partisan was tipping Gin down his neck with his pinky raised