Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on May 31, 2017 20:17:19 GMT
Hello pop fans and happy new year !!!! The start the new year is broadcast this Friday 2nd June at 9pm Click Here >>>> The Story Of 1984 <<<<
Taken from the above link from BBC 4 "Top of the Pops-The Story of 1984"1984 sees Top of the Pops at the height of its 80s pomp - the year of big hair and big tunes. A BBC ban on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax in January leads to an embarrassing Frankie-shaped hole on the show when it reaches No 1. One of the sounds of 1984 is Hi-NRG, that goes overground from the gay club scene into the mainstream charts. And 1984 is perhaps the gayest year in pop, with a trail blazed by Bronski Beat, who are out and proud and on Top of the Pops.
The rise of the one-man acts such as Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones. And jazz pop's soaraway star is Sade, who brings a stripped-back soulful vibe to Top of the Pops. Yet 1984 isn't all about smooth sounds. German singer Nena hits the top spot with 99 Red Balloons - shocking Brits with her hairy armpits. And The Special AKA's Free Nelson Mandela combines a political message with an irresistible tune.
And the year ends on a landmark moment when many of the stars of the chart-topping Band Aid single appear in the studio as the climax to the Christmas show. It's a moment that reaffirms Top of the Pops's place at the heart of British pop culture.Featuring original interviews with Trevor Horn, members of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Hazell Dean, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, Paul Young, Nigel Planer, Nena, Jerry Dammers and Midge Ure.*********************************************As ever The Story of is followed up with Big Hits of 1984 10pm Friday 2nd June Enjoy
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Jun 2, 2017 10:13:12 GMT
Frankie goes to Hollywood were one of those acts I just never liked. Nik Kershaw was OK though, he looked like he was set to be very big at one point, then stalled.
Top of the Pops has, by now, reached the point where I would shortly stop watching it.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Jun 2, 2017 14:59:04 GMT
Kershaw found a lot of success in collaborating with other artists after his flurry of 8 top 40 hits in the early 80's. Elton John was once quoted as saying Kershaw was the best songwriter of his generation.
Never a fan of FGTH as I could never stand Johnson's voice, though I don't mind listening to some of their stuff now, purely for nostalgic reasons.
I hated The Special AKA offering at the time and the passing years has not seen any mellowing towards it what so ever. Sade though - I do still listen to the brilliant Diamond Life album from time to time.
Gene.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Jun 2, 2017 21:17:00 GMT
Some good posts Cartman & Gene. Just watched the programme and it was alright but like most of these things take it with a pinch of salt as there was much more going on around the time than what they featured. Electro-funk/Hip Hop (like it or not) being one such thing for example which IIRC was massive at the time that they ignored. Suppose being more into the alternative scene suppose the poppier acts of that time seem a bit alien to me. Quite liked Frankie but in retrospect their hype machine was key to their success and Holly is a bit of Marmite character. Suppose Howard Jones/Nik Kershaw were alright IMHO too but not really imterested in much else around that period. Speaking of Nik Kershaw here's a retro tinged collaboration with Les Rhythmes Digitales (aka producer Stuart Price) from 1999 you might like.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Jun 5, 2017 9:21:47 GMT
Here's the TOTP performances for this week. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00704hgwww.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08t16dmSuppose the most notable performances are FGTH's one and only TOTP for Relax and for the Auf Pet fans Joe Fagin's That's Livin' Alright too. Also noticed Frank Kelly's 'Christmas Countdown' on the Thursday episode too. Probably one to skip but I take it it's the same Frank Kelly of Father Jack fame from Father Ted? Let's hope it's not a load of old FECK! LOL!
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Jun 5, 2017 11:01:05 GMT
Frank Kelly is, or rather, was Jack from Father Ted. It is actually very funny. It ends with "STOP SENDING FECKING BIRDS!!!"
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Post by Dirty Epic on Jun 5, 2017 11:13:58 GMT
Frank Kelly is, or rather, was Jack from Father Ted. It is actually very funny. It ends with "STOP SENDING FECKING BIRDS!!!" He sure is Cartman.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Jun 6, 2017 15:05:59 GMT
The Story of 1984 whilst interesting certainly seemed to concentrate too much on Frankie Goes To Hollywood and similar sounding artists. As was briefly mentioned other acts such were continuing to shift a lot of units and the following were big hits that year : Van Halen- Jump ,Grandmaster Flash- White Lines, Prince- When Doves Cry, Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey Together In Electric Dreams, U2 Pride (In The Name Of Love). One of the films of the year Ghostbusters spawned a hit for Ray Parker Jr. Not a mention of any of them in the Story Of 1984 which was disappointing.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Jun 6, 2017 15:30:59 GMT
The Story of 1984 whilst interesting certainly seemed to concentrate too much on Frankie Goes To Hollywood and similar sounding artists. As was briefly mentioned other acts such as Duran Duran were continuing to shift a lot of units and the following were big hits that year: Van Halen- Jump ,Grandmaster Flash- White Lines, Prince- When Doves Cry, Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey- Together In Electric Dreams, U2- Pride (In The Name Of Love). And One of the films of the year Ghostbusters spawned a hit for Ray Parker Jr . Not a mention of any of them which was disappointing. Good post mate. Kind of saw it that way myself too and the one downside with these BBC music docs is they sometimes follow a cosy truth (agenda) rather than the actual truth. Hopefully the episode repeats over the next few months will resolve that. Interesting the BBC/R1 extended the chart to the Top 40 as late as 84. I knew it was the '80's but thought they did this around say 1981-82.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Jun 6, 2017 15:51:45 GMT
I'd go with that but also think that the one hour time slot wasn't enough this time out. Hence why a lot of the above were not mentioned. Did Mike Reid try to make an excuse for banning Relax .... I think so Frankie were a mega success thanks in a large part to Trevor Horn. I like them, they get the thumbs up from me
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