The International Pop War
The International Pop War (a belated mention): while obviously rigged (how come we got the dodgy version of “Stutter”, eh?), Ian’s piece is still a very fun read. The UK charts wouldn’t be any fun, though, if they were all good. To quote Paul Morley’s magnificent article on the subject: “The Charts are something to take a wicked delight in….There is so much to love, so much to hate, so much to pick at, so much to pick: so much for those cool folks who say there’s nothing going on.”.
That was written in 1982 - Morley was enchanted by the way the chart mixed up the cool New Pop groups with the uncool Old Pop ones and everything in between and on either side. Watching hip-hop curiously, cockily colonise the British Charts now you get the same kind of thrill. I want a chart with room for Outkast, Wheatus, Bob The Builder, Atomic Kitten et al. Currently, we’ve got one. Which makes me happy.
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