Top Of The Trending Topics. #TOTP

The ‘90s run of #TOTP is taking a week off, but the 1996 editions should probably start the week after that, I think?
We have Dubstar, Gene and Dreadzone to look forward to. Also there’ll be Babylon Zoo.

And here’s what you could look forward to in the evening: youtube.com/watch?v=GBqOEl… #TOTP

If you stayed tuned to BBC One on Christmas Day 1995 you could enjoy Only Fools And Horses, The Queen, and Noel Edmonds. youtube.com/watch?v=vLmfVA… #TOTP

Jarvis Cocker infamously interrupted Michael Jackson’s performance of “Earth Song” at the Brit Awards on 19 February 1996. Here’s a bunch of news reports: youtube.com/watch?v=ymCQyq… #TOTP

The “Earth Song” video was shot in the Amazon rainforest, Karlovac in Croatia, Tanzania, and New York (in a cornfield used for the forest fire sequence). #TOTP

“I later found out the cause of the great man’s monumental shyness. Apparently he was on nose job number 12, or thereabouts, and his attempt at a button-like proboscis had pretty much collapsed... apparently it looked truly awful.” #TOTP

'Once I'd got my head around the idea it became hilarious. I'd try to get to the other end of the desk to get an ashtray or whatever, only to find three people blocking my path.' #TOTP

Bassist Guy Pratt recalls recording his part on “Earth Song”: “Someone was hiding under the [mixing] desk, telling the engineer what Michael would or wouldn’t like... it was all I could do not to fall apart in a mixture of hysteria and confusion.” #TOTP

It charted again (as part of a series of CD single reissues) at 34 in June 2006 (his 67th hit), and then again as a download following his death in July 2009, climbing back to 33. #TOTP

The 42nd of 75 (including reissues) UK top 40 hits credited to Michael Jackson, 'Earth Song' was the sixth of his seven number ones (and his only Christmas number one). 'Earth Song' stayed at number one for six weeks across December 1995 and January 1996. #TOTP

The last time this edition was repeated (in 2020), they accidentally aired the Mike Flowers version. They recorded a studio performance! How gutting must that have been? youtube.com/watch?v=Oeye8x… #TOTP

As the Christmas chart was only announced the day before this #TOTP aired, two alternate edits of the show were prepared: one with Michael Jackson announced as number one; one with Mike Flowers Pops topping the chart.

'I Believe' was also a hit in 1964, when a cover by The Bachelors peaked at two. youtube.com/watch?v=XNdiJB… #TOTP

'I Believe' was originally a number one for Frankie Laine – for 18 non-consecutive weeks – between April and September 1953 (becoming the best-selling UK single of 1953). youtube.com/watch?v=EJg3hO… #TOTP

The second of three UK top 40 hits – all number ones – for Soldier Soldier stars Robson Green & Jerome Flynn, 'I Believe' (a double a-side with 'Up On The Roof') stayed at the top for four weeks. #TOTP

Harsh but

“When Mick came back into the room, he heard his vocal against the rhythm track and he loved it straight away and said; ‘That’s absolutely what I want!’” #TOTP

“When he came back, we listened to them and decided to use a sample from the Goodmen track, recording it into an Akai sampler and then looping one of the main parts.” #TOTP