Top 20 Iconic Top of the Pops Performances

We can't forget seeing these legendary performances back in the day. For this list, WatchMojoUK counts down the Top 20 Iconic Top of the Pops Performances. We're looking at the most classic "TotP" moments from stars like the Beatles, Elton John, Rod Stweart, the Specials, and more! Which star do you think lip-synched the best? Let us know!
Check out these other brilliantly British videos from WMUK:
Top 10 WTF Top Of The Pops Performances - • Top 10 WTF Top Of The ...
Top 10 Greatest Top of the Pops Performances of All Time - • Top 10 Greatest Top of...
Check Out "BBC" Here!
/ @bbc
Subscribe for more Brilliantly British Content:
wmojo.com/watchmojouk-subscribe
Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!
wmojo.com/trivia
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/suggest

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!
#TopOfThePops #TOTP #TheBeatles #Oasis #TRex

[@WatchMojoUK]

If TOTP came back today who would you like to see perform on it? Top 10 The Beatles Facts You Don't Know kzbin.info/www/bejne/naXPXpJon7F1aJY

[@user-bf3xi6mz8s]

It wouldn't be the same kids wouldn't sit in to watch it like we did ,7pm Thursday 🇮🇪🍄🇮🇪 happy days

[@bunjijumper5345]

Kate Bush

[@Moeporcelli57]

@bunjijumper5345 I love Kate Bush. I saw this performance and have loved her ever since. She is such an expressive person.

[@onlyme219]

I miss TOTP, now I couldn't even tell you who is No1 or if it still exists

[@rbdriftin]

I mean would you still watch it if it did still exist? I wouldn't.

[@onlyme219]

@@rbdriftin I would

[@onlyme219]

@@rbdriftin What is the 'l mean' all about? You stated that then proceed to make your reply, you are a silly sausage, carry on

[@fayesouthall6604]

I watch the reruns on bbc4

[@jjmack6563]

All the great talents have passed away. 😢

[@aprilpotter3054]

Those of us who were 80s teens from the states really missed out on a lot of British Pop.

[@Inglese001]

Not really, a lot of it came over. There were similar shows like Casey Kasem’s Top 40 or American Bandstand.

[@alfredthegreat9543]

I think the 80's was the best time in music, with the 90's 2nd. The reason is the sheer variety of music that was being produced- Ska, New Romantic, Pop Folk, the start of House, Modern Soul, Metal, Rap, Alternative etc.

[@AntonXul]

Nah! To me it’s the ‘70s. All genres were on fire with hard rock, punk rock, prog rock, early metal, disco, r&b, funk, jazz, country. All were just killing it then. The ‘80s took a down turn due to the ‘80s keyboard/synths & drum machine and that horrible ’80s production sound. Only Metal (excluding hair metal) got better in that decade and kept it real. The ‘90s brought it back with grunge, but gangsta rap & boy bands style pop ruined the rest of the decade. I’m an ‘80s kid & ‘90s teen and lived through this. I wasn’t alive in the ‘70s, but it definitely was the apex for music. I missed out on it, but at least I can still enjoy it.

[@Inglese001]

@@AntonXul fair comment.

[@abrahamtomahawk]

Performances I'd have on my list: Shakespeare's Sister doing 'Stay', Manic Street Preachers with 'Faster' (most complaints for a TOTP ever) and the classic moment when a picture of Jocky Wilson was mistakenly put up behind Dexy's Midnight Runners instead of Jackie Wilson in the song 'Jackie Wilson Says'.

[@onlyme219]

The Jocky Wilson comment gave me the right to give you a like

[@adamaalto-mccarthy6984]

@@onlyme219ditto

[@treefingering]

Surprised the Manics weren't on it!

[@BeatboxNorwich]

I'd love to have heard Stay live. What a belter 💖

[@johnharley5157]

Wow! Now I feel old. I saw every one of those performances on TV when broadcast except Paperback Writer, and bought a fair few albums on the strength of those performances. Hey, no-one mentioned John Peel (pretending) to play the mandolin in the performance of Maggie May (<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="296">04:56</a>).

[@ASMR.by.HIPPYCHICK]

I saw Gary Numan live recently! He's still got it! 😉

[@julianaylor4351]

Read his autobiography, borrowed from my local library. It's a very good read.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Sparks: This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.

[@maxflight777]

This ⬆️🎯🎯🎯 So memorable

[@simonrichards6739]

Brilliant that Graham Coxon had an Oasis t shirt on.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Magic

[@fayesouthall6604]

It was Alex James in the tshirt

[@tonyfromchester1961]

I didn't notice the BBC's much loved favourite TOTP presenter

[@rorydog02]

Now then now then

[@fayesouthall6604]

Thank goodness

[@silgen]

He was miming mandolin on Maggie May.

[@CIMAmotor]

Dexy's Midnight Runners 'Jackie Wilson Says' when they put a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson on the screen. Hilarious.

[@skagamnesia1972]

Jocky was a legend

[@alfredthegreat9543]

Yeah, and they did it for a laugh too. Kevin Rowland told the producer to do it 😂

[@jhamps4806]

I remember watching that…! Ha Ha…

[@NIGHTFRIGHT2011]

I would add Blockbuster and The Ballroom Blitz By Sweet. Steve Priest stole the show every time he was on. School's Out by Alice Cooper was also memorable, and This Town Ain't Big Enough by Sparks. And who could forget Jeffrey Daniels dancing to Shalamar's Night To Remember.

[@melliemel151]

Criminal to not have The Sweet on this list! RIP, everyone but Andy

[@Inglese001]

Yeah, that was so funny - with Steve Priest camping it up. Brilliant!

[@julianaylor4351]

No 15, Rod Stewart and the Faces, with legendary DJ John Peel, doing a cheeky mime on a seat, pretending to play the mandolin solo.

[@WWChampion16]

Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody should have been on the list.

[@onlyme219]

I'll give you that

[@e.btvrail]

Status quo could've gotten a mention for rockin all over the world or even margarita time when rick parfitt fell onto the drum kit

[@maxcuthbert100]

Or, 'down down'.

[@JettTyler17]

They did more performances on the show than any other band.

[@briancd37]

It's Tubeway Army, not Gary Numan

[@Moeporcelli57]

I thought that. I bought the single and it was Tubeway Army.

[@philippeacock5846]

I would’ve thought The Crazy World of Arthur Brown singing Fire was the most outrageous!

[@GenialHarryGrout]

In the Rod Stewart clip (#15) you forgot to mention the much missed John Peel sat on the stool playing mandolin)

[@julianaylor4351]

I always loved that Madness refused to mime properly and fooled around. The producer regularly banned them for it. They finally got their own back, by performing live outside the BBC Television Centre, during the special show about its closing down. They have always been a brilliant live band and TOTP was notorious for mostly insisting on acts miming.

[@larawest4698]

I kept thinking that the debut performance from Culture Club and boy George 'Do you really want to hurt me' would be in the countdown. I had never seen anyone like him before and still sticks in my mind today at how original and memorable that particular show was.

[@upfrontbear74]

I remember watching that when I was 8 and it blew my socks off.

[@dermotoblong]

Japan doing Ghosts would have been up there for me. Quality 👌

[@WatchMojoUK]

One of our favourites!

[@martynlewis9020]

Late 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s were the best musical years. Nothing released today comes close.

[@erchie01]

'Are Friends Electric' was by Tubeway Army, before Gary Numan went solo.

[@georgina.q]

Killer Queen was my favourite, it's the first time I saw Freddie and it's unforgettable and I still love him and the song just as much today ❤️

[@julianaylor4351]

Queen's performance of Killer Queen, was nearly lost forever. It was rescued, because a famous late British comedian had recorded it accidentally, in his home recording collection of comedy shows. It was originally a victim of the BBC's tape wiping and reusing policy, during the 60s and 70s.

[@Inglese001]

Bob Monkhouse ?

[@threepot900]

You missed out Jethro Tull in the 70’s, where Ian Anderson stood on one leg playing his flute,- his trademark thing- on his studio mark for the cameras during rehearsals, but went full concert mode, ducking, diving and spinning around on the live broadcast and the cameras couldn’t keep up with him.

[@MarquisDeSacks]

Anyone else ever notice how dead behind the eyes the TOTP dancing audience members are? I always found it kind of distracting lol

[@AtheistOrphan]

Plus they always play the sound of wild applause when they aren’t applauding at all!

[@MarquisDeSacks]

@@AtheistOrphan Idk why they even have them. It's like they think that we won't know we're supposed to enjoy the performance unless we see other people enjoying it too. 😆

[@TonyHavenMusic]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="71">1:11</a> Pitch perfect showing of a backup by track though, that was one of the reasons it didn’t age well from a musical perspective, but it gave exposure to incredible acts who wrote incredible songs

[@simontreal]

no Culture Club ?

[@jerrycollins234]

Good choices; But where was This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us by SPARKS! 🤔

[@hulahoopone]

Good to see John Peel "playing " the mandolin with Rod Stewart - not literally obviously!

[@mikehetherington8484]

It was Lindisfarne's Ray Jackson on the record but he wasn't paid enough for the session so would not return to London to do TOTP.

[@rorydog02]

When music was good

[@speedtimothy]

will you do Top 20 of 'later with jools holland'

[@onlyme219]

Yes, later

[@davidlarson9125]

I don't know how you couldn't have included a Pet Shop Boys appearance apart from the very end.

[@CashelOConnolly]

🎶BUT ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC ⚡️🎶

[@brantnuttall]

As a classically trained and fairly successful pianist, I can't tell you how amazing I thought Nirvana's song was.

[@Ravenswalk]

ABBA were great fans of Middle of the Road and used the band as inspiration.

[@DarenMitchell-pv6ji]

U2 appeared on top of the pops a number of times before they got big. It's how you got "out there" as we had no internet or social media back then.

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Legendary performances. All the people that said the host Jimmy Saville was amazing

[@fayesouthall6604]

What the actual?

[@Chris84409]

1) At least they showed Bonnie Tyler singing Total Eclipse instead of the video for the song. In the decade of truly awful pop videos, that was a real stinker. 2) Kate Bush and Wuthering Heights - what a lot of people don't realise, unless you've read the book by Emily Bronte, is that Kate is singing as Cathy's ghost (Too long I've roamed in the night, let me in I'm so cold etc). When you've read the book then the song is even more atmospheric. Of all the songs they showed, that has to be my all time fave.

[@pinkballoon8181]

And singing it live too

[@Chris84409]

@@pinkballoon8181 Bonnie or Kate? Or both?

[@pinkballoon8181]

@@Chris84409 Kate

[@pearljam619]

I miss TOTP it could easily be brought back on BBC2 or BBCTHREE. Just don’t really have as many iconic bands or artists anymore.

[@aladinsane10]

NR.1 is T.REX get it on the glam Rock is born, the Revolution began in music. Keep a little Marc Bolan in your❤

[@alfioinsaudo4179]

Ancora loro i mitici BEATLES sono fenomenali e i numeri uno anche nelle performance della musica pop rock il settimo posto di Freddie Mercury ci sta tutto ❤❤

[@iretattoo]

Blur!! 🙌🏼❤

[@AntonXul]

“Paperback Writer” & “Rain” is probably my most favorite A & B side single ever. That’s a Hell of a combo. Two of my all time favorite songs.

[@karenmandeville7116]

i think it would have been better-and more honest-to have the acts play for real. Screw that lip synch shit!

[@davidpritchard4263]

Faster by the manic street preachers

[@Elephant2024-wi2li]

Music was so much better back then even though technology was not as advanced.

[@franciscoguimaraes534]

Iron Maiden do it alive. No playback. Ah, Maiden is HM… so.

[@brantnuttall]

the most iconic one for me is when Morrissey of The Smiths had a tree branch stuck up his ar$e.

[@TessaCoker]

Feature best videos and Pan’s People. Examples: Hello video and the girls dancing to I Heard it through the Grapevine

[@coreyhill681]

No S Club 7,there songs are amazing to listen to, I am shocked

[@Ola_na_Tungee]

John Lennon doing Instant Karna

[@alondra2190]

It would be wonderful that someone, someday... post the Beatles lost performance, for me would be great to see the two performance of my favorite bands. But for now: the Queen ones, is my favorite. Fortunely, is here posted for watch it all the times i want... i love that performance. ❤ (By the way: "See Emily Play" by Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett still in the band, was a great performance too)

[@Foo-oo-oo-oolsGold89]

The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays on the same show is something that is my perfect music moment on TOTP.

[@maxflight777]

Jay Kay … superb ! What a lovely guy too

[@user-bf3xi6mz8s]

Top of the pops was great you were you were you were on a Thursday night at7,pm🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@papa_ethan]

Of course still number 1 the Beatles.

[@GonzoGoesToBitburg87]

Bowie should be number 1

[@Loki-fm7zm]

He was iconic every time and always

[@Gandellion]

For all its faults, I miss this programme

[@stevencrayn]

School’s Out Alice Cooper should be #1

[@simonjdouglass]

Err John peel on guitar for Maggie May?

[@punkpanther6310]

NO! He is on the Mandolin NOT the guitar!

[@Kyoto_Ed]

2 Unlimited, There's no Limit

[@AtheistOrphan]

‘There’s no lyrics’

[@scottmiddleton9689]

No. No, no no no no. No no no no No no There's no limit!!!😄

[@user-nj6lt1rg6m]

Where is Sweet?

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

I like them a lot, but the reality is that they have not transcended much

[@fayesouthall6604]

TOTP 1980’s is my era. Loved 2 tone, house music, dance music etc. Although always had a soft spot for Kylie and great pop music.

[@maxcuthbert100]

Wot, no Slade ?

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

I like them a lot, but the reality is that they have not transcended much

[@davidlance5310]

#1 The Timelords

[@robertperry9576]

What? No Sparks? "This Town..." caused a playground sensation - not least because of Ron's resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

[@markfox1545]

TOTP live performances were all mimed.

[@michaelrochester48]

No abba? Something is wrong with

[@beautifulmidnight]

Nirvana, absolutely. Peak troll magic.

[@garyhunt764]

To all you people who Top of The Pops it's on most Fridays on BBC 4 at 7pm and at the moment they're working their way 1996

[@AtheistOrphan]

Of course, the bed thing about the ‘Starman’ performance is tank-top boy ahem, ‘dancing’ in the background, eyes fixed on the overhead monitor!

[@MissGNX]

No Queen of Rock n Roll Tina Turner??? Guess another list is in order cause you definitely can’t leave Tina’s performance off.

[@user-wi3sd2sb8q]

❤🎉😊

[@madjackster66]

Good list but you missed Culture Club appearing on TOTP. Do you really want to hurt me….you knew something was about to change!!

[@DavidMuirhead-lx4wv]

Bowie should be No1. And where was Slade and The Smiths?s

[@ThatCoalSoul]

2ECOND.

[@chrisbergmanniii59]

So I'm confused. Is lip syncing the studio version of a song a performance? No. Sorry.

[@mangasky7]

BOWIE should be number 1; give your head a shake.

[@sybamunki]

You know they all mimed, right?

[@pinkballoon8181]

Not all. Watch Kate Bush. Nirvana mimed the backing track but Kurt Cobain sang live. Jay Kay sang it live. TOTP didn't have the studio equipment for the instruments to be live.

[@pinkballoon8181]

Not all. Watch Kate Bush. Nirvana mimed the backing track but Kurt Cobain sang live. Jay Kay sang it live. TOTP didn't have the studio equipment for the instruments to be live.

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

Frankie doing Two Tribes when Holly walked through the audience was the best TOTP performance have ever seen. Britpop was so overrated, two bang average songs from Blur and Oasis.

[@warrenbut1455]

I miss totp but not the bbc fill of rubbish now apart from David Attenborough and springwatch

[@eckie4679]

See My Baby Jive by Wizzard. I remember Roy Wood’s girlfriend Ayesha made an appearance with them. Beautiful 😊

[@cassiebloemendaal7694]

I like Def Leppard's performances

[@julianaylor4351]

Elton John was a friend of Marc Bolan, along with Ringo Starr and David Bowie.

[@hayleymsiebert7526]

Slade? Mud? Wizzard?

[@gershonnundkumar6444]

What about Whitney Houston in 1999?

[@johnord684]

Missed the sex pistols typical mojo

[@andysviewsof7767]

Roxy Music and Kate Bush are the 2 Greatest EVER

[@gavinkerslake]

Kate Bush is my fave.

[@Ghiafreak]

i think that arguably two tribes could be up there

[@jonathanvince8173]

Madness should had been number two Jilted John or even Bad Manners Sir Elton Pinball Wizard

[@fayesouthall6604]

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep is atrocious. George Michael singing however ❤️

[@julianaylor4351]

My younger brother was obsessed with Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. 😁

[@samnpoppythedog4416]

I hated Roxy Music back then and still and when he murdered a cover of John Lennon's Jealous Guy, I went to the point where I'd turn off the radio if he came on.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Don’t like Bryan Ferry I guess ?im sure he’ll do fine without your support.

[@pinkballoon8181]

I thought their version of "Jealous Guy" was great

[@samnpoppythedog4416]

@@fayesouthall6604 we don't all have to like the same people, I'm sure there is a few musicians/bands I like that you may not like and I'm sure they will do fine without your support. If we all liked the same people, the world would be a very boring place, I like Queen/ Freddie Mercury and I know they are not everyone's cup of tea but that's life.

[@christophermerlot3366]

As I understand it, this show was on around dinnertime, so I can only imagine middle class people trying to eat while being introduced to Black Sabbath.

[@donnaneedham1]

It was on a Thursday night can remember watching it at my Nan and grandads house after tea.

[@TheMagickdavid]

Thursday 19:00 ish or half past, I think

[@donnaneedham1]

@@TheMagickdavid yeah that was it

[@johnkilpatrick2343]

Too much talking. Shut up and let the music do the talking.

[@ichbinbluna3504]

Copyright reasons for the much talked about

[@bluetortilla]

BLAH BLAH BLAH Play the fucking songs already!

[@MrMickyboy52]

Far too much rabbit, and very little music.

[@richardjenkins4208]

Let us listen to the music instead of talking over it all the time. Unbearable!