The Bottom Drops Out of Top of the Pops

Even though we don't see it in the States, the BBC's Top of the Pops has a certain cache among musicians and music lovers here and around the world. It's the UK's music chart show, and it tells Britons young and old which groups or performers had the hits. I've only seen it twice, I think. Once was in 1977 when the Sex Pistols had one of the largest-selling singles with "God Save the Queen," but since they were banned by the Beeb (and banned from the charts no matter how many they sold), they didn't make the show. The top single was Abba's "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (although they just appeared by video), and the show also featured a singer named Elkie Brooks--whom I heard of for the first time and have heard very little of since--and Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran's Eurovision-bound "Rock Bottom" (also on video). I saw just a brief clip of it again when I was in London in 1982. I was staying at a bed and breakfast run by a Middle Eastern family, who were all watching it together. I saw just enough to recognize Fun Boy Three performing "Summertime."

But enough of my lame reminiscences. Soon there will be no more chance to mint new memories of the show because the BBC has cancelled it. The last episode will air at the end of next month. The TOTP Website has its own announcement. The BBC is saying ratings are down, so what can you do? Of course, the BBC can do lots of things because they're a state agency and not a commercial venue. Oh, well. From what little I know about the show, it's certainly got a high cheese factor, but it did give a certain visibility to pop music that went beyond a given band's (or even a style or genre's) fanbase.

And there's still time for a little bit if drama left. Art Brut has made no secret of their desire to be on the show. Their first single, "Formed a Band," mentions it, and so does its b-side, "Bad Weekend." With only a month to go, someone's set up a petition to that effect. As of this writing, there are more than 4250 (virtual) signatures. Sure, it might make more sense for all those people to go out and buy Art Brut CDs in order to get them into the charts, it's far less expensive to do it this way. I rarely sign anything on line, but I added my name to this cause. Filter Magazine claim that they've signed it--twice! Why don't you go and add your name. Even if Art Brut aren't able to realize this dream, you'll feel good about getting involved.