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. Plus Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Hi-NRG, one-man acts, jazz pop and Band Aid.
1984 sees Top of the Pops at the height of its 80s pomp - the year of big hair and big tunes. A 91热爆 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.
1984 sees 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.
Last on
Clips
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Sandie Shaw
Duration: 03:40
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Alexei Sayle
Duration: 03:54
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Geoff Deane
Duration: 03:21
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
10:00
Scritti Politti
Absolute
- Cupid & Psyche 85.
- Virgin.
-
10:02
Tina Turner
1984
- Private Dancer.
- Capitol Records.
-
10:03
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Relax
- Welcome To The Pleasuredome.
- ZTT.
-
10:08
Miquel Brown
So Many Men So Little Time
- The Best of Miquel Brown.
- Record Shack Records.
-
10:09
The Weather Girls
It's Raining Men
- Success.
- Columbia.
-
10:09
Evelyn Thomas
High Energy
- The Best of Evelyn Thomas.
- Record Shack Records.
-
10:11
Village People
In the Navy
- Go West.
- Casablanca.
-
10:11
Hazell Dean
I Couldn聮t Live Without You For A Day
-
10:12
Miquel Brown
So Many Men So Little Time
- The Best of Miquel Brown.
- Record Shack Records.
-
10:12
Hazell Dean
Searchin'
- Heart First.
- Proto Records.
-
10:14
Hazell Dean
Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) Remix
- Heart First.
- Proto Records.
-
10:15
Bronski Beat
Smalltown Boy
- Age of Consent.
- Forbidden Fruit / London Records.
-
10:17
Bronski Beat
Why
- Age of Consent.
- Forbidden Fruit / London Records.
-
10:18
Wham!
Freedom
- Make It Big.
- Epic / CBS Records.
-
10:18
Duran Duran
The Wild Boys
- Arena.
- Parlophone.
-
10:18
Spandau Ballet
I'll Fly For You
- Parade.
- Chrysalis.
-
10:19
Culture Club
It's A Miracle
- Colour By Numbers.
- Virgin.
-
10:19
Howard Jones
New Song
- Human's Lib.
- WEA.
-
10:20
Howard Jones
Hide & Seek (live)
- Human's Lib.
- WEA.
-
10:21
Nik Kershaw
Wouldn't It Be Good
- Human Racing.
- MCA.
-
10:23
Blue Rondo 脿 la Turk
Klactoveesedstein
- Chewing The Fat.
- Virgin.
-
10:24
Ken Dodd
Hold My Hand
- Images Records.
-
10:25
Pride
When You Can't Back Down
-
10:26
Sade
Your Love Is King
- Diamond Life.
- Epic / CBS Records.
-
10:27
Matt Bianco
Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed
- Whose Side Are You On.
- WEA.
-
10:28
Animal Nightlife
Mr Solitaire
- Shangri-La.
- Island.
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10:28
Sade
Smooth Operator
- Diamond Life.
- Epic / CBS Records.
-
10:30
The Toy Dolls
Nellie The Elephant
- Dig That Groove Baby.
- Volume Records.
-
10:31
Break Machine
Are You Ready
- Break Dance Party.
- RCA Victor.
-
10:31
Cyndi Lauper
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
- She's So Unusual.
- Portrait.
-
10:32
Madonna
Like A Virgin
- Like A Virgin.
- Sire.
-
10:34
Depeche Mode
Master and Servant
- Some Great Reward.
- Mute Records.
-
10:35
The Damned
Driller Killer
-
10:35
Neil
Hole In My Shoe
- Neil's Heavy Concept Album.
- WEA.
-
10:37
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Two Tribes
- Welcome To The Pleasuredome.
- ZTT.
-
10:42
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Talking Loud and Clear
- Junk Culture.
- Virgin.
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10:43
Nena
99 Luftballons
- 99 Luftballons.
- Epic / CBS Records.
-
10:44
Nena
99 Red Balloons
- 99 Luftballons.
- Epic / CBS Records.
-
10:46
Bananarama
Rough Justice
- Bananarama.
- London Records.
-
10:47
Culture Club
The War Song
- Waking Up With The House on Fire.
- Virgin.
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00:00
The Special A.K.A.
Free Nelson Mandela
- In The Studio.
- Chrysalis.
-
10:52
Band Aid
Do They Know It's Christmas?
- Phonogram.
-
10:53
Nik Kershaw
The Riddle
- The Riddle.
- MCA.
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10:54
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The Power of Love
- Welcome To The Pleasuredome.
- ZTT.
-
10:55
Wham!
Last Christmas
- Music From The Edge of Heaven.
- Columbia.
-
10:55
Band Aid
Do They Know It's Christmas?
- Phonogram.
-
10:58
Dead or Alive
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
- Youthquake.
- Epic / CBS Records.
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Producer | David Vincent |
Director | David Vincent |
Executive Producer | Mark Cooper |
Broadcasts
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