Alphaville - Big In Japan (Top Of The Pops, 23.08.1984)

As the saying goes: ‘The paths of destiny are winding and wondrous. In the case of Alphaville, this is 100 percent true, and not just once. ‘Top Of The Pops/TOTP’, one of the most influential and important music programmes in the UK, ran for 42 years, from 1964 to 2006, and launched the careers of countless British rock bands, from the Rolling Stones and the Beatles to Oasis and the Pet Shop Boys. Alphaville had their TOTP moment on 23 August 1984, a stroke of luck, because Stevie Wonder, at number 47 in the UK charts, was ill and the band in the next position....was us ;-)

For us, England was the promised land of pop music, almost all of our favourite bands came from here. Being able to perform in TOTP was a total highlight for us greenhorns. After rehearsals, the host of the show, I think it was still Jimmy Savile, came up to us and asked me what city we were from. He probably thought we were from some far-flung corner of England, Ireland, Australia or South Africa because of our strange accent. When it turned out that we were from Germany, it was a big surprise, to say the least. After all, after ‘Can’ and ‘Kraftwerk’, we were only the third ‘Krautrock’ band to have rocked it this far. Our performance didn't fail to make an impact. A week later, we had gone from 48th to 6th place in the British charts. Oh, what a life!

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Wie heisst es so schön? Die Wege des Schicksals sind verschlungen und wundersam. Im Falle von Alphaville trifft das 100prozentig zu, und nicht nur einmal. "Top Of The Pops/TOTP", eine der einflußreichsten und wichtigsten Musiksendungen in Großbritannien, lief 42 Jahre lang, von 1964 bis 2006, und war der Karrierestart von unzähligen britischen Rockbands, angefangen von den Rolling Stones und den Beatles bis hin zu Oasis oder den Pet Shop Boys. Am 23. August 1984 hatten Alphaville ihren TOTP-Moment, ein Glückstreffer, denn Stevie Wonder an Platz 47 der englischen Charts, war erkrankt, und die Band auf der nächsten Position....das waren wir ;-)

Für uns war England das gelobte Land der Popmusik, fast alle unsere Lieblingsbands stammten von hier. In TOTP auftreten zu können war für uns Greenhorns ein totales Highlight. Nach den Proben kam der Moderator der Show, ich glaube, das war noch Jimmy Savile, auf uns zu und fragte mich, aus welcher Stadt wir denn kämen. Er dachte vermutlich, wir wären aus irgendeinem entlegenen Winkel Englands, Irlands, Australiens oder Südafrikas, wegen unseres irgendwie seltsamen Akzents. Als sich herausstellte, daß wir aus Deutschland stammten, war das eine, vorsichtig ausgedrückt, große Überraschung. Immerhin waren wir nach "Can" und "Kraftwerk" erst die dritte "Krautrock"-Formation, die es bis hierhin gerockt hatte. Unser Auftritt verfehlte seine Wirkung nicht. Eine Woche später waren wir von 48 auf Platz 6 der britischen Charts gelandet. Was für ein Leben!

ALPHAVILLE - BEST OF 40 YEARS TOUR

KEMPTEN - 02.11.2024
ZÜRICH - 03.11.2024
BREMEN - 16.11.2024
LÜNEBURG - 17.11.2024
LINGEN - 29.11.2024
WETZLAR - 30.11.2024
NÜRNBERG - 10.12.2024
PFORZHEIM - 11.12.2024
KIEL - 23.01.2025
HANNOVER - 24.01.2025
DÜSSELDORF - 06.02.2025
BOCHUM - 07.02.2025
BERLIN - 13.02.2025
HAMBURG - 14.02.2025
WIEN - 22.02.2025
FREIBURG - 01.03.2025
FRANKFURT AM MAIN - 02.03.2025
MANNHEIM - 08.03.2025
BIELEFELD - 09.03.2025
MAGDEBURG - 17.03.2025
STUTTGART - 14.04.2025
SAARBRÜCKEN - 15.04.2025
LEIPZIG - 29.04.2025
DRESDEN - 30.04.2025
MÜNCHEN - 27.05.2025
MÜNSTER - 30.05.2025

More Liveshows:
WEIßENFELS - 23.08.2024
KASSEL - 25.08.2024
USTI NAD LABEM - 31.08.2024
CLUJ-NAPOCA - 21.09.2024
BUDAPEST - 12.10.2024
FREIBURG - 09.11.2024
PRAG - 14.11.2024
MADRID - 26.04.2025
FINKENSTEIN - 23.08.2025

Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved

#Alphaville #BigInJapan #ForeverYoung

[Nicoco]

This voice...
This melody...
Those lyrics...
This band was clearly coming from another dimension.
Happy birthday Alphaville !❤

[dorinamihalache]

✨Super Class "Big inJapan" 🌟, absolutely timeless! 💎, 23.08. 1984 💯🍀🌟best magical year!!!💖🌹😃

[paulo_b]

the 80s…the neon lights, the classic Jupiter-8 synthesizer, the dance moves of that era. I truly admire those who lived through it and enjoyed all of that...
Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷♥️

[albertlouisfernandes]

Listening on 23.08.2024 (40 years later)

[MartaZRAPHAELPH]

Marian's voice transports me to a magical world. I will never get tired of listening to you!!!♥️♥️♾️

[geoffjulyan]

Iconic sound of alphaville, great era ..

[retyfor]

Гениальный артист, шикарный голос. Вечно молодой ❤❤❤

[pet_ricia]

I was born in '95 and love the 80s music. "Big in Japan" is my No. 1

[jofarmer-theautisticmouse]

Literally watching it 40 years to the date of the performance. Still a brilliant song. 80s music was great.

[karenallen]

Superb...a song that will never grow old...love alphaville ❤

[andreasill]

😉👍🧡🌸😊
Danke Marian, dass es Alphaville bis heute noch gibt.
Alphaville forever and ever. ❤❤❤😊

[vessto]

Stunning beauty, stunning voice. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[cristianacatalinamedelean]

💎Masterpiece forever! I Love it this song ... Marian forever the best ! Love ❤❤❤

[TracyG-ub]

Thank you for the memories, the music and 40 years of beautiful songs ♥️

[sandrabornia]

The greatest pop band of all times!❤❤❤

[arnick]

Alphaville is the soundtrack of my life. Thank you!

[tracygower]

I loved you in 84 and whenever I heard your music, then I had my children and life was a whirlwind, now I’ve just rediscovered you after 40 years and you’ve bought back wonderful memories ♥️

[emlyn]

I remember watching this at the time. They hooked me right in.

[MurguMarius-Lucian]

Forever Young . ❤ I Love you Alphaville 🥰

[MohinPat]

One of the best songs of the century, of our Has been remixed a billion times....and still enchants and mesmerizes....