We were talking last night about how a little set decoration goes a long way.

Some drapes behind Sybil, bare twigs, berry arrangements, and suddenly the stage looks amazing.

That we're hearing "The love I lost" is the icing on the cake.

#TOTP #Sybil

We're not saying that "No limit" had been around for a long time, but they've got Roman centurions dancing in the background...

#TOTP #2Unlimited

They didn't have Snow, so he bought Vanilla Ice.

#TOTP

Papin? Nicole!

Wrong campaign! The Bluebells were advertising Volkswagens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZej0XmJEA4

#TOTP #TheBluebells

Volkswagen - Golf GTI - "Young at Heart" - UK TV Advert (1993)

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Ace of Base, everyone's problematic faves.

Not least Epic Sax Guy's attempt at dad dancing. Seriously, mate, running on the spot?!

#TOTP #AceOfBase

"Dreams" by Gabrielle, a performance screaming "classy" and "eat this, Dina Carroll".

The original version of the single had a sample of Tracy Chapman's "Fast car".

Would be interested to hear it; the record companies have very efficiently scrubbed it from the interwebs.

#TOTP #Gabrielle

Take That perform "Pray", the first of %some% songs tonight.

That must be a massive matte of a stained glass window behind the band, far too early to be computer effects.

Four great singers in this band, and Gary Barlobe up front.

#TOTP #TakeThat

Bitty McLean performing from the set of Bruce's Generation Game, all the cuddly toys just about to jump on the conveyor belt.

A very striking fashion choice: black shirt and trews, stark white waistcoat. Very good look.

#TOTP #BittyMcLean

"Moving on up", M People's biggest hit... and Heather Small's second most massive choon.

Really disliked this lot at the time, partly because they were every-chuffin'-where, and partly because they were better than basic dance grooves.

These days? They're a memory, tick the nostalgia box. Still think they owe us one great song.

#TOTP #MPeople

"Relight my fire" has two things going for it: the chant-a-long chorus, and the way a decent singer hands over to a great one.

Just like George Michael to Elton John last week, Gary Barlobe cedes centre stage to Lulu.

Will we make it a Take That hat-trick later?

#TOTP #TakeThat #Lulu

"I would do anything for love (but I won't do that", Meat Loaf says in twelve minutes what Rick Astley says in five lines.

Every queer of a certain age has one of the "Bat Out of Hell" albums on their shelves; this is mine. Here's a little something explaining why the song is great.

https://weaversweek.tumblr.com/post/763839034794688512/42-id-do-anything-for-love-but-i-wont-do

#TOTP #MeatLoaf

42 "I'd do anything for love (but I won't do that)" - Meat Loaf

Written by Jim Steinman Part of the UncoolTwo50 project, marking the best singles from 1977-99. In the beginning, there was the combination of heaven and hell. Jim Steinman's gothic fantasy, brought...

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Which brings us to the Christmas number one.

In another universe, it's "Pray", the most dull and tedious and heteronormative song ever recorded.

This universe? The first properly upbeat Christmas number one since 1987, and only the second original song since 1985.

#TOTP #MrBlobby

Well, that was a fun show.

Ah, "Props buyer - Bob Warans". Best in the business.

We're heading back to 1989 tomorrow, which I think is a fascinating show - in part because it's so flawed. Two of those Mystery Years follow afterwards.

Coming up next on BBC4: "Blobbyvision".

https://archive.org/details/blobbyvision-1994

#TOTP

BlobbyVision (1994) : BBC Enterprises Ltd. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

He Came, He Saw, He Blobbed. Mr Blobby displays his skills as only he can in Blobwatch, Blindblob, Masterblob and Blobstand.BlobbyVision also features even...

Internet Archive