Top of the Pops 6th June 1991

 

Words: Chris Arnsby

Mark Goodier: “Good evening and welcome to Top of the Pops, featuring the world’s most exciting chart the BBC UK Top Forty. There’s lots of variety on the show tonight from Harry Connick Jnr. to the brilliant Northside with their brand new single. This is Take Five.”

 [A quick note for posterity. As I write this, Film is Fabulous have announced the recovery of two lost Beatles performances from the 23/03/1964 edition. It’s 35mm film of them miming to Can’t Buy Me Love and You Can’t Do That; their first appearance on Top of the Pops. If you can afford it, please donate to Film is Fabulous so they can continue their good work https://filmisfabulous.org.uk/the-film-is-fabulous-trust/ ]

 

[41] NORTHSIDE: TAKE 5. All the way down to [41] in the chart. It’s been a while since Top of the Pops fished outside the Top 40.

Back in February (28/02/1991), It’s Too Late, by Quartz and Dina Carroll, featured as a Breaker when the song was at [40]. But that doesn’t count. Neither does Caron Wheeler’s song UK Blak (15/11/1990) which just squeaked in to the charts at [40].

For a studio performance shown when the single was outside the Top 40 you have to go all the way back to 24/09/1987 and Mick Jagger’s Let’s Work at [41]; which I suspect only featured because it was used to launch Top of the Pops USA.

[17] PET SHOP BOYS: JEALOUSY. What the? Mark Goodier is on CSO for the link into the Jealousy Promo VT.

It’s really odd. The camera pulls back at the end of the Northside performance and then there’s a Quantel transition to a CSO shot of Mark Goodier matted onto a different higher camera angle of the studio. You can see the rear of the camera which recorded the first pull back. The studio background then wipes to a PR still of the Pet Shop Boys, and Mark Goodier is beamed out Star Trek style before a more standard Quantel transition into the video. What was that all about?

[42] MARILLION: “COVER MY EYES”. Mark Goodier is back from CSO-land to introduce Marillion at [42]. Blimey. This is a low scoring edition. Why do Marillion get their song title in quote marks?

[25] SALT N’PEPA. Mark Goodier is back on CSO to introduce Salt N’ Pepa. It’s exactly the same sequence of shots as used for Jealousy except the PR still is for Salt N’ Pepa; obviously.

The lighting in the studio is different second time round and it’s easier to see the crowd milling around. The view is exactly the same high-angle shot as before, with the camera looking at the space between the Stonehenge stage and the Main Stage. Is this how videos are going to be introduced from now on? [reaches tentatively for the FORMAT CHANGE alarm].

CHARTS FROM 40 TO 11. Hmm. Mr Goodier is still on CSO, although this time the matte lines are less prominent. The background is a different high angle to the previous two. This time showing one corner of the Neon stage with a view of the studio bridge which links to the Stonehenge stage.

[12] MADONNA: HOLIDAY. Where’s Mark Goodier? He’s now up on the studio bridge linking the Neon stage to the Stonehenge stage. It’s a beaut of a shot. Mark Goodier is facing the wall and this allows the viewer to the length of the studio behind him. The lighting makes the picture look like CSO but there’s a slight wobble which gives away this is being recorded by a handheld camera operator who is also up on the bridge.

Madonna appears courtesy of BBC VT, from the 26/01/1984 edition. This was not shown on BBC4 to comply with the late Mike Smith's wishes.

[22] KENNY THOMAS: THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE. Mark Goodier is on the studio bridge linking the Film Strip and Neon stages. Check out the lovely camera move at the end of his link as the handheld operator moves to the rail and points the camera down at the stage.

BREAKERS: And we’re back on CSO for the introduction to the Breakers. I think I’m beginning to see what’s going on. The virtual introductions are for the bits of the show which are not studio performances. It’s seems to be part of a conscious effort to separate the live and non-live the elements of Top of the Pops. I’m not sure I really see why there’s a need to do this but I guess when you are thrashing around trying to make changes to a 27 year old programme you’ll give anything a try.

[40] LIVING COLOUR: SOLACE OF YOU

[38] GLORIA ESTEFAN: REMEMBER ME WITH LOVE

[35] HARRY CONNICK JNR: RECEPIE FOR LOVE/IT HAD TO BE YOU. Top of the Pops are not sure how to abbreviate Harry Connick’s junior suffix. The charts went with JR. The Breakers with JNR.

[34] DIVINYLS: I TOUCH MYSELF

[30] KIRSTY McCOLL: WALKING DOWN MADISON. Kirsty McColl has packed the Main stage with so many people even Mark Goodier notices. Twelve in total, I think. Kirsty McColl herself, a keyboard player, two guitarists, a drummer, five dancers, rapper Aniff Akinola, and Roland Rivron on the bongos. It’s a glorious performance. (John- The song was co-written with Johnny Marr who also plays guitar.)

TOP 10 (CSO time)

[1] COLOR ME BADD: I WANNA SEX YOU UP. Promo VT. Barely four years ago Top of the Pops was coyly referring to George Michael’s single as “I Want…” and now Mark Goodier (on CSO) can look me square in the eye and say “I Wanna Sex You Up,” to introduce a promo video featuring four men competing to see who can look the most sleazy. What a time to be alive.

[8] R.E.M. : SHINEY HAPPY PEOPLE. Promo VT. Jakki Brambles next week. The goodbye presents a problem for Michael Hurll.

Mark Goodier is introducing a video, so not a “real” performance. According to the new rules he should be on CSO, but this would make the end of the programme look a bit weedy. Michael Hurll’s solution, ignore the rules and record Mark Goodier live in the middle of the audience as normal.

 Countdown to Year Zero revamp: 17

Ratings: Top of the Pops wasn’t in the Top 30 so Walking Down Madison was seen by fewer people than the 6.43 million who watched the 9 O’Clock News on Wednesday. In 1990 the equivalent show got an audience of 7.16 million, enough to sneak in to the chart at [30].

 Performance of the week: Kirsty McColl, Walking Down Madison. Obviously