These are the groups for Day 5 of the People’s Pop Poll! Obviously it contains SPOILERS for the day’s matches so if you’d prefer to be surprised read no further! As usual, these are in order from the group with the most-streamed tracks to the one with the least.
Division 1 GROUP 5:
JOHNNY NASH – “I Can See Clearly Now”: Career-defining 1972 hit for the American soul and reggae singer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FscIgtDJFXg
PRINCE – “Kiss”: Blockbuster hit from the funk and pop overlord’s 1986 LP Parade, covered by Tom Jones (among others). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9tEvfIsDyo
SISQO – “The Thong Song”: Global signature hit for the Baltimore R&B singer, from his debut LP Enter The Dragon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oai1V7kaFBk
TLC – “Waterfalls”: Grammy-winning single from the R&B trio’s enormous 1994 CrazySexyCool album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEtxJ4-sh4
Division 2 GROUP 5:
BUZZCOCKS – “Ever Fallen In Love”: 1978 hit for the Mancunian punks-turned-new-wavers, probably their most famous tune. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=51OB2YoC4sg
IGGY POP – “Lust For Life”: 1977 Bowie co-write from the leathery rocker’s LP of the same name. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jQvUBf5l7Vw
KATE BUSH – “Cloudbusting”: 1985 Wilhelm Reich-themed single from the English pop visionary’s Hounds Of Love. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pllRW9wETzw
SUZANNE VEGA – “Luka”: This 1987 single about an abused child remains the folk rocker’s biggest worldwide hit. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZt7J0iaUD0
Division 3 GROUP 5:
ANNIE – “Heartbeat”: Critically acclaimed dancefloor romance hit for the from-Norway singer. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Wf46tLonM
GIRLS ALOUD – “Call The Shots”: Popjustice £20 Music Prize winning single from the reality show stars’ 2007 Tangled Up. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QPWUyAZZfK0
KYLIE MINOGUE – “Your Disco Needs You”: The lack of a single release for this 2000 stomper from the Australian songstrel prompted protests outside her record company. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iqtzMue6Izw
LOUISA JOHNSTON – “So Good”: 2016 hit single from the big-voiced 2015 X-Factor winner. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=svhGUlB9V5U
Division 4 GROUP 5:
THE BELOVED – “The Sun Rising”: Sleepy-eyed chillout pop from London indie band who jumped the acid house train. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiO28EzXZjU
THE ORB – “Little Fluffy Clouds”: Rickie Lee James-sampling nephophiliac ambient dub hit from the cosmically inclined electronic stoners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ecdn5SGT1E
SAINT ETIENNE – “Nothing Can Stop Us”: Optimistic 1991 hit from Croydon’s pop gurus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDrZ2Ln6aBE
THE STREETS – “Weak Become Heroes”: Rave memories explored in the Birmingham rapper’s 2002 single from his Original Pirate Material set. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMAVR4AId1g
Division 5 GROUP 5:
NEW ORDER – “1963”: 1987 B-Side for the Factory Records legends which achieved a rare promotion to single status in 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SofZHE0jBRI
PROPAGANDA – “Dr Mabuse”: Debut 1984 single for the German synth group, based on the 1922 Fritz Lang movie about a demonic criminal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHKm4mLTLs8
SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES – “Dazzle”: 1984 hit for the goth icons from their LP Hyaena. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrCzTgUe2M
STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE – “Since Yesterday”: Signature song by the polka-dotted Scottish synth-pop duo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7QPBzAJ_io
Division 6 GROUP 5:
A GUY CALLED GERALD – “Voodoo Ray”: 1988 acid house classic from the Manchester producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvqSnSSF2i4
GARY CLAIL – “Human Nature”: Socially conscious banger from the On-U Sound System stalwart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56O1XVmEwEU
McALMONT – “Unworthy”: Romantic 1994 dreampop from the British soul singer’s early days in indie band Thieves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-FfY_XTn0w
SAINT ETIENNE – “Avenue”: 1992 epic single from the pop connoisseurs’ So Tough LP, a reminiscence of a love affair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05qHruTmb8