These are the groups for Day 8 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 8:
BUGGLES – “Video Killed The Radio Star”: 1979 birth-of-video chart-topper from Trevor Horn’s art-pop project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs
DOLLY PARTON – “9 to 5”: Country superstar’s 1981 analysis of the relationship between labour and capital. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4
PRINCE – “Raspberry Beret”: 1985 jam from the Paisley Park hitmaker’s Around The World In A Day LP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7vRSu_wsNc
TALKING HEADS – “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”: This love song was a 1983 single for the post-punk outfit from their Speaking In Tongues LP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9gK2fOq4MY
Division 2 GROUP 8:
DAWN PENN – “No No No”: 1994 dancehall smash and comeback single for the veteran reggae singer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4vjVetZPpM
THE DIVINYLS – “I Touch Myself”: Self-pleasure anthem and 1991 worldwide hit from the Australian band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-34w8kGPM
LEN – “Steal My Sunshine”: 1999 trip-pop monster hit from the Canadian five-piece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fzJ_AYajA
TASMIN ARCHER – “Sleeping Satellite”: Chart-topping 1992 debut from the Bradford singer-songwriter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOqVQPq8zm8
Division 3 GROUP 8:
THE B-52s – “Roam”: Top 10 US hit for the Athens, GA trash-culture mavericks from their 1989 LP Cosmic Thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNwC0sp-uA4
BECK – “Debra”: Live show-stopper and fan favourite for the LA multi-genre auteur from his 1999 set Midnite Vultures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL_9zWmDcjs
CHAIRLIFT – “Ch-Ching”: Single from Moth, the final LP by the Colorado indie synth-poppers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSFlqBOgl8
JOHN GRANT – “GMF”: Fan favourite track from the critically acclaimed Denver singer-songwriter’s Pale Green Ghosts LP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekFWPsXXcg0
Division 4 GROUP 8:
KRAFTWERK – “Trans Europe Express”: Title-track from the Dusseldorf techno godfathers’ 1977 LP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exvmLfH6wRA
PET SHOP BOYS – “Left To My Own Devices”: 1989 single from the synth duo’s third LP Introspective, their first with an orchestra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed1tv_gCOUA
SAINT ETIENNE – “He’s On The Phone”: 1995 single from the London pop band, an adaptation of guest-star Etienne Daho’s “Week-End a Rome”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddr9EpezslU
VITALIC – “La Rock 01”: 2001 club anthem from the French dance music producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGOaXphpT7w
Division 5 GROUP 8:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ft TOM MORELLO – “The Ghost Of Tom Joad (live)”: Live version of the title track to the New Jersey rocker’s 1995 LP, with guitar by Rage Against The Machine’s Morello. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzRbeHyIomk
MANDO DIAO – “Annie’s Angle”: Single from the Swedish indie rockers’ breakthrough 2004 LP Hurricane Bar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8iXKYHSYVk
THE MEKONS – “Where Were You?”: Second single by the long-running punk/post-punk group, from 1978. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71s-T8oUTQs
SKUNK ANANSIE – “Yes It’s Fucking Political”: Keystone track from the British rockers’ 1996 second LP Stoosh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcaUer4fuU8
Division 6 GROUP 8:
ALEXEI SAYLE – “Ullo John Gotta New Motor?”: Cult 1982 single by the alternative comedy legend, not available on Spotify. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqMZ6XqMfc
BERNARD CRIBBINS – “When I’m 64”: George Martin- produced Beatles cover by the much-loved English actor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTJlJ3ku3v4
THE CUBAN BOYS – “Cognoscenti Vs Intelligentsia”: John Peel favourite from 1999 sampling the then-popular Hamster Dance meme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXJ5oaU940U
MC PITMAN – “Witness The Pitness”: Roots Manuva answer record from the miner turned viral rap sensation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkC45z4UXVc