Reviewed by Chris
Arnsby. Andy Peebles: "Good evening. Hello and a very warm welcome to
this week's edition of Top of the Pops." Steve Wright:"And we're
going to kick off tonight's show with those Bronski Beat boys. Here they are
with Why?!!"
[22] Bronski Beat: Why? Jimmy Somerville has taken a
course in being a pop star. He's learned a whole new set of moves since Bronski
Beat last appeared on the 07/06/1984 edition; he's mastered the art of
crouching slightly to play to the low angled camera; he spins on the spot; he
points; he pouts; he blows a kiss to the camera; and, perhaps sweetest of all,
he beams with delight when he pulls of a dance move that gets whoops of
approval from the audience.
It's just a shame he's decided to dress as blandly as
possible in a beige shirt, daringly offset with beige trousers. If you want
genuinely eighties style you'll need to point your eyes at the back of the
stage where abstract graffiti-style shapes have been airbrushed onto a
backcloth.
Bronkski Beat set tonight's trend. This edition of Top of
the Pops is full of first class groups presenting slightly second class
material. That said, the only reason to call Why? second class is because it's
not Smalltown Boy.
[17] David Bowie: Blue Jean. Speaking of people not
bringing along their best work here's David Bowie on film. (John- This is a hugely underrated Bowie song I’d say and the video is
excellent, though the full length half hour mini film not quite so. Love the
Screaming Lord Byron look too. Just thought I’d talk this one up a bit!)
[7] Sister Sledge: Lost In Music. Sister Sledge may
be the exception to tonight's rule. Lost In Music is great. (John applauds in agreement) Although their Pocahontas themed
costumes don’t work. Andy Peebles suggests Sister Sledge should re-release We
Are Family. Maybe they will Andy. Maybe they will. Who knows what Sister Sledge
will decide to release in far off 1985. Sister Sledge have had a productive few
weeks in the UK. Their two Top of the Pops appearances (this and
06/09/1984) neatly sandwich an outing on The Late Late Breakfast Show on
15/09/1984. Who's the Producer of that programme? Some bloke called Michaell
Hurll.
[19] Queen: Hammer To Fall. And here's Queen on film
with their contribution to tonight's second string theme. The band rock out in
generic concert footage from Brussels. The promo is a step down from those for
Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, and even the operatic and baroque look of
It's A Hard Life. Supposedly, the promo for I Want To Break Free didn't go down
well in America and I can't help wondering if this generic hard-rawk look is an
attempt to undo some of the damage. (John-
Actually lots of bands would get to the fourth single from the album and just
release a live or pretend live video)
[20] Nik Kershaw: Human Racing. Oh dear, Nik's far
too proud of the "let's go human racing line." It's the kind of lyric
that occurs at 3am in the morning and seems really deep and profound, but
isn't. The audience are subdued and about two-thirds of the way through Nik's
performance they are more interested in the movement of the cameras; which is
always a bad sign. Or maybe like me they can't believe Nik Kershaw's horrid
belt and braces combination.
[28] Adam Ant: Apollo 9. Top of the Pops continues
to use the nasty guitar heavy version of Yellow Pearl to accompany the chart
countdown. Fortunately they've turned down the volume a bit so it doesn't seem
so intrusive.
A hand-held camera operator in a blue shirt lurks at the
front of the stage to get some low angled shots of Adam Ant. He's got a big
piece of paper stuck right on the top of his camera. Is it he going shopping
later, or is it his to do list? Record Adam Ant for Top of the Pops;
tick. (Fact John- Apollo 9 was produced
by none other than Tony Visconti! And it’s brilliant! And in fact here’s the
video…)
[18] Level 42: Hot Water. Mark King cuts loose at one
point and as he dances a women right at the front of the stage raises her hands
and shakes them frantically. It's like watching someone at a religious revival.
Maybe she's been spontaneously healed. If the touch of a king can cure scrofula
then the presence of the lead singer and bassist of the band Level 42 can
probably do wonders for keratosis pilaris.
[1] Stevie Wonder: I Just Called To Say I Love You.
Why is there a piece of toast in this video. Does Stevie Wonder just really
love toast? Noel Edmonds has all the answers on The Late Late Breakfast Show
https://twitter.com/i/status/918914629887315968
[27] Freddie Mercury. Love Kills. Crowd dancing and
credits. What's this? Producer Brian Whitehouse? Michael Hurll is obviously off
tending to Noel Edmonds but where's his usual stand in Gordon Elsbury? He might
be off preparing for the new series of Entertainment USA which starts on
1st November. Gordon Elsbury is listed as Producer on Entertainment USA,
a nice promotion for him. And who's the Executive Producer? Michael Hurll, oh.
Performance of the week: Adam Ant, Apollo 9
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