Wide Awake Club Minipops Christmas clips (c.1987/8)

[@83moonchild]

We had this recorded off the TV as kids I've remembered these songs for all these years never thought I'd see this again!

[@VideotapeFTW]

Can't tell if you're thanking me or blaming me... ;-)

[@83moonchild]

@@VideotapeFTW lol 😆 thanking you, very much!!! My brother managed to find this and showed me and even though I haven't seen it since I was a child I knew all of the words again not sure if that's impressive or pathetic either way I loved seeing it!

[@VideotapeFTW]

@@83moonchild Glad to help bring back some memories! It's funny the things that stick in our mind from a young age...

[@picklepictures]

That 'i wish' song at around 5.47 has been in my head my entire life. I'm now in my 40s. Every time it gets anywhere near Christmas, that song just pops straight back into my head. I cannot believe I found it!

[@VideotapeFTW]

Amazing the things that (a) get stuck in your head for no reason, and (b) somehow turn up on KZbin decades later. :-)

[@soeffingwhat]

@@VideotapeFTW I remember there was a controversy about the Mini Pops, but I think by this stage (1988?) the image had been literally toned down and in these vids they're dressed as normal kids and just singing.

[@VideotapeFTW]

@@soeffingwhat Yes, about four or five years earlier there'd been a massive furore (and with very good cause, in some instances), leading to them rethink everything about the group. This is their sanitised incarnation, even though they still sometimes sang songs they probably shouldn't have.

[@soeffingwhat]

@@VideotapeFTW If they had been like this the whole time then I think maybe they would have had a bit more longevity. There was that documentary, I think it was called "whatever happened to the Minipops", narrated by Alexander Armstrong (it was up on youtube for a while) where some of them explained that they got treated badly afterwards because of it. Scott Sherrin's story is really tragic but I think that was due to mental health issues, nothing to do with the Minipops as he'd had a lot of subsequent success after it.

[@VideotapeFTW]

@@soeffingwhat Oh, yeah, and whatever criticism anyone throws at the Minipops over the controversies should be aimed squarely at the producers anyway, and definitely not at the kids themselves. They were entirely innocent in all of this. I think "ill-judged" is the way to put it, rather than anything actually malicious.

[@KKAkuoku]

I can genuinely FEEL the difference between the Minipops and PWK that you mentioned in the description of your later video in this one.

[@michaelowens1641]

The first 4 songs are from 1987, which I remember because I got the record for Christmas that year, Wow, almost 40 years ago.

[@VideotapeFTW]

Thanks very much - I've updated the description.

[@tamiko308]

I remember all the words ..had this on video 😆

[@tamiko308]

I fancied the boys who sing man in red 😆

[@80srenaissance67]

9:25 I was 10 and had a huge crush on the girl on the left

[@lyannecompton3881]

Lol thats actually me. Its incredible watching this, didn’t we seem rather obnoxious?!! :D

[@80srenaissance67]

@lyannecompton3881 is that really you ? Wow...seriously it's so cool to think that decades later that girl I fancied would reply to youtube comment I made...made my day thank you

[@minasan0187]

I remember there was a girl named Johanna, daughter of one of the producers...

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

Pure 80s cheese. I love it! 😂

[@Adam-ul5vr]

I thought pink windmill kids lol

[@VideotapeFTW]

A pale imitation! There are a few more of their clips in this vid - I'll be interested to hear how you think they compare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIbVaK1mf8qWmM0

[@lucasmckinley8087]

*sighs* (three thousand word rant about why I absolutely loathe Minipops)

[@VideotapeFTW]

You can read my slightly watered-down opinions on them in the description here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIbVaK1mf8qWmM0

[@lucasmckinley8087]

@@VideotapeFTW A bit disappointed you didn't go all in

[@louisajane6918]

Who are they ?

[@VideotapeFTW]

The Minipops - it's worth reading this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minipops And there are a few of their more regular routines here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIbVaK1mf8qWmM0

[@soeffingwhat]

At 4:12, is that an actress called Marissa Dunlop?