Top 10 Iconic Top of the Pops Performances

Some of the biggest names of all time appeared on this BBC classic. For this list, WatchMojoUK counts down the Top 10 Iconic Top of the Pops Performances. What TOTP song is closest to your heart? Let us know the story in the comments below!

Check out these other brilliantly British videos from WMUK:

Subscribe for more Brilliantly British Content:

Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!

Have Your Idea Become A Video!

WatchMojoUK is your source for British Top 10s, covering popular shows like Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Bake Off, Coronation Street, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, The Graham Norton Show, Sherlock, and more! We also cover the latest in British Movies, Music and Pop Culture - We Top 10 it all!

#TOTP #TopofthePops #TheBeatles #DavidBowie #Starman

[WatchMojoUK]

Time for BEST of the WORST
Top 10 Worst Top of the Pops Lip Syncs

[annonimouse]

In terms of which song on TOTP do I actually remember thinking "woah, what is this, I love it". I remember a ten-year-old me at my aunt's when Gary Numan performed Cars. It was like nothing I'd heard before. I still remember being that mesmerised kid.

[hoderharris]

As an American who grew up in the 80s, discovering Top of The Pops has been like finding a time loop into 80s music from a distinctive British perspective. We had a steady diet of MTV in the States during the 80s which introduced us to brilliant British pop music..Great Stuff..

[jeperstone]

For me it has to be Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' in '78. I was 9 and part of me found her ridiculous and part of me was mesmerised. Adults and kids alike talked about it the next day. Her voice was screechy and beautiful at the same time. The 'screechy' part has left my ears now and she just sounds beautiful to me. Her voice is a much loved old friend and quite comforting

[dariowestern]

Sparks doing "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" in 1974. A charismatic singer looking like a cross between Jim Morrisson, Marc Bolan and Johnny Rotten and the keyboard player with his hair slicked back with Brylcreem and a Charlie Chaplin moustache scowling without moving a muscle except for his fingers. Iconic!

[wendyhill]

Why don’t you let us hear what they are singing without talking all over it

[captainsensiblejr.]

Bowie looks like he knows he is a very naughty boy on his Starman TOTP performance.

[jennybroad]

I'm blown away by these great legends because I actually took all this talent for granted! Gosh we were so privileged. (hope the spelling is ok) to be there. ❤

[davidhill]

I remember seeing Blondies first appearance with Debbie Harry jiggling about in a bikini and a blazer when i was about 13. Thinking my father wouldn't approve I offered to get up and change the channel. "Leave it on if you like" he said with a bit of a wry smile. A definite "moment" in our relationship....

[BarefootShaman]

Thank you very much for this video. My ToTP performance has to be The Specials performing "Ghost Town", which went to no.1 in 1981.

[colinbaker]

I hadn’t realised how much of a resemblance there was between Sally Carr and Agnetha Fältskog.

[prd]

Dexys Midnight Runners and "Jackie Wilson says" was pretty amusing viewing.

[rsmickeymooproductions]

The Smiths - This Charming Man. I remember seeing this performance and thinking wtf.

[jeffpan]

Rod Stewart performing Maggie May on TOTP. They were really have fun😂

[alicesings]

I’m addicted to Top of the Pops because I favored British bands in the 80’s. It’s just great performances.

[terrythacker]

The greatest for me would be T.Rex - Get It On. Brilliant and very talented guy was Marc Bolan. Died too young.

[jonathanstempleton]

Adam Ant's Goodie Two Shoes. He totally owned that stage.

[julianaylor]

Killer Queen performed by Queen, was actually a late replacement, when the originally booked band, pulled out. I'd say serves that band right, their thunder was totally stolen. The clip itself was originally wiped, but found in the video recording collection of a late famous comedian, who was actually recording the next show on, but got the last 10 minutes of TOTP, with this iconic performance. I'm sure those of us who had video recorders years back remember setting them to go off early, recording part of the previous program, so we could get what we really wanted. It's an amazing and serendipitous save for musical posterity of one of the UK's all time great bands. 🎶❤️

[karl]

I watched another top 10 Top of the pops performances a while ago. This one is better, but still can't believe T Rex's Get it On with Elton John on the piano isn't here!

[julianaylor]

My younger brother loved Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep as a kid. If we had a record player in the house at the time, we would have had no peace. 😁