8 December 2010: Filming for Christmas Top of the Pops, BBC TV Centre, London, UK
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8 December 2010: Filming for Christmas Top of the Pops, BBC TV Centre, London, UK (Fan Reviews)
Transcript of the recording
For anyone interested, I've listened back to the recording and have put together a rough dialogue of what happened in the studio. It starts from when the bloke on stage (I'm gonna call him the warm-up guy, or WUG for short) is talking about the 'snow machine'...
WUG: So where's the snow machine? Ok... so we just need to keep our lovely audience away form the uh... SFX snow machine. Is that you *pointing*, is that your job there? Snow Machine operator: Yeah WUG: Yeah. Ok yeah that's it perfect. Now we're good. So when you're happy sir, at your word... seconds away, brilliant. Ok, thanks very much. So uh... yeah... you'll be fine you lot. Don't worry about it, you're all top of the pops virgins. I can't believe only one person's been to TOTP before and that's you 20 years ago *points*. Who was on? Guy: OMD (?) WUG: OMD?!
- Audience Laughs*
WUG: Bloody hell! My Mum used to like them! Um ok so... just seconds away ladies and gents, just waiting for the last couple of adjustments. Kev, are you happy on crane now sir? You good, yeah? Brilliant. And uh, as I said before ladies and gents we'll be doing a live link in and a live link out with Fearne and Reggie who I will introduce you to in a second. I think Fearne's on her way in a taxi-bike at the moment, she'll be here any second. Happy happy.
- silence*
WUG: So listen up ladies and gents, what we're going to do is.. a slight delay on Fearne and Reggie, but what we're gonna do is first.. pass... with uh... with Coldplay and I think we're just about ready to meet the guys. Ladies and genst please go absolutely (something)... it's Coldplay!
- About 1 min of clapping, whooping and the like!*
CM: How you doing? How you doing? WUG: So audience, you cannot forget your bit on this, do not let me down, we've tested it with the track, without the track, you're better with the track obviously... CM: *Inaudible - Asking JB about the pitch for the 'Whoooooaaa' bit at the end and then practices a little* WUG: ...and big hands up in the chorus would be fantastic, well, right thr way through if you fancy it. CM: Is that the right line? Whooaaa *practices then turns to crowd*. Hi everybody, thanks for coming. *More applause!*. I know uh, you alright if we do... cos the point of this song is it's sh*t until you all sing your bit, and that's what's going to send it all the way up to number 36 in the charts!
- Laughs*
CM: Which is, as you know, our favourite position! Can we try it one more time Jon... *tests pitch* Is that what it is? I'm not really the singer type...
- Laughs*
CM: I'm not going to bootcamp. *Sings 'Whoooaa' away from mic* If we try it together, is that alright? So you know, we've been in the studio a long time so we've gone all shy, we're a little gun(?) shy at the moment, so this is really going to make us feel good. We'll do it on three, ready? One. Two. Three.
- Audience sings with CM*
CM: That's f*cking lovely!
- Laughs, whoops and cheers*
CM: Tremendous. Where have you come from then? Where have you come from? WUG: Lets hear it for Fearne and Reggie! RY: Hello you lot, you alright? Feeling good? Happy Christmas and Happy New Year! FC: I'm having a right polava of a day I am! I, up until about 30 seconds ago, didn't have any shoes or a bra! I'm ok now. RY: So I leant her mine and now... everybody wins! WUG: Just get that thought out of my head. Just get that thought out of my head. Just get that thought out of my head... Just get it back in. Just get it back in. RY: *Practicing* And we're back at TOTP WUG: Ok so they're just lining up the opening shot there ladies and gents. What we'll do again is start with a huge burst of applause, if you could dip it down a touch for Fearne and Reggie's link, then the announcement into Coldplay and uh... well I know what you're going to do, so do you! Ok, standby audience...
- Applause and CL first take. The a bit of banter between the audience and Fearne and Reggie about X-Factor and who might be Xmas number 1*
RY: *Asking Chris* Who do you think should win it? CM: Ask Guy, he's the expert. RY: Who do you think should win? GB: Um... I think Rebecca should win. RY: She's so hot! CM: I thought Gamu. I'm not joking we thought she was the best. Does anyone... noone agrees with me. *silence*.. Huh... killed it with that comment! Alright then, One Direction, lets f*cking have them instead of Gamu. Honestly, the British public, I'll tell you a few things...
- Laughs*
CM: Shall I tell you what I really think. Your singing was brilliant for that. *Looking at member of audience* We're you in the video for that? Oh excellent. So the rest of you will have no idea what I'm talking about! We had a video, it was like a big orgy, loads of drugs... and some of the uh.. spice girls.
- Introducing Phil*
CM: This is Phil by the way who runs our band. WUG: So ladies and gents, we will go one more time. you were great on that, (Could be better!). CM: It's nice to be in front of people again. We've been in the studio for so long we forget that anybody exists.
- Looks to floor manager, pretending to be annoyed*
CM: Same song again? Ugh... Don't play... WUG: Can we get some audiences to go behind our Elvis' if that's be ok? Just, peel a few of the audience off. That's be lovely, thanks very much. Just bear in mind that, all of you guys are in shot there and you're not doing much, with the greatest of respect, until we cut to Elvis. That'll be fine there, thanks for that. Ok, so once again will do the opening link and then we'll do a closer and well so you know what to do, fantastic. Ok, so if we can hold back on the photography, we're just about to start shooting, thank you very much indeed. Ok, stand by ladies and gents of the audience. CM: *To a fan* Thank you, that was amazing. It was your fault we have to do it again. The singing was too good, made us look too confident(?).
- Applause and CL second take. Fearne does a link for the possible X-Factor number one and the audience boos so the link has to be reshot for "obvious reasons!". Everyone has a bit of a chuckle about it.*
FC: You can clap and boo in your head!
- Redoes link with clapping*
FC: You're all seething inside! RY: You're a bunch of liars!
WUG: So audience, so now you've rehearsed it a few times you know what you're doing. A bit louder on the Whoa-whoa-whoas ok. Um... so... fine so what we're going to do, we're going to do it a third time, we're going to do it one more time with all of you doing your singing bits and we're going to be able to record that without the noise of pyrotechnics and stuff. Ok, good stuff, thanks very much.
Audience member: I love you (someone?!)!
WUG: So what we're going to do ladies and gents is no link at the top, we'll go from applause straight into Coldplay, if that's ok. But we will be doing a link at the end with an alternative link to number one. So if it's someone you equally hate, please cheer for gods sake! Just keep clapping all the way through! It's really weird when you just stop and start booing. I would have left it in, but that's why I'm doing this and not producing I guess! Just seconds away now, thanks for your patience everyone. CM: Alot of people say this song is even better on the third listen! So if you think you're getting bored, your brain is tricking you!
- Applause and third take. Coldplay leave the stage and everyone goes home!*
[huds601]
Media Reviews
Coldplay on festive Top Of The Pops
Coldplay are to top the bill for this year's Christmas Top Of The Pops with a one-off performance of their festive single. The band released a low-key new single Christmas Lights last week and will be seen when the show returns to BBC One on December 25. Coldplay have promised fans "a unique, one-off performance" in a message on their website. Also appearing on the TOTP special will be Tinie Tempah, Ellie Goulding and JLS. The much-loved show was axed by the BBC in the summer of 2006 after more than 40 years, but it still returns for Christmas specials. Presenters Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will host the show, which will be screened at 2pm and also features Cee-lo Green, Scouting For Girls, Eliza Doolittle and Plan B. It will finish with the Christmas number one. Viewers will be able to take part in a singalong version via the BBC red button. Reggie said: "Top Of The Pops is and always has been part of my Christmas and it wouldn't be the same without it."
Coldplay To Play Top Of The Pops Christmas Special
Coldplay are set to perform on a special Christmas edition of Top Of The Pops, it’s been announced. The band will give a "unique, one-off performance" of their new festive single ‘Christmas Lights’ on the show. The rest of the line-up is not yet known. The special will be hosted by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates, and be broadcast on the BBC over the Christmas period. Top Of The Pops was a regular fixture on British TV for 42 years until it was axed in 2006. It has since been revised for special seasonal editions. In September, the BBC said they were looking for a more long term replacement for Top Of The Pops.
http://www.gigwise.com/news/59952/Coldplay-To-Play-Top-Of-The-Pops-Christmas-Special
Coldplay to star on Christmas Top of the Pops
Chart stars Coldplay are to top the bill for this year's Christmas Top Of The Pops with a one-off performance of their festive single. The band released a low-key new single Christmas Lights last week and will be seen when the show returns to BBC1 on December 25. Coldplay were recording their performance for the show today and promised fans "a unique, one-off performance" in a message on their website. Also appearing on the TOTP special will be Tinie Tempah, Ellie Goulding and JLS. The much-loved show was axed by the BBC in the summer of 2006 after more than 40 years, but it returns for Christmas specials. Presenters Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will host the show, which will be screened at 2pm and also features Cee-lo Green, Scouting For Girls, Eliza Doolittle and Plan B. It will finish with the Christmas number one. Viewers will be able to take part in a singalong version via the BBC red button. Yates said: "Top Of The Pops is and always has been part of my Christmas and it wouldn't be the same without it."
Tweets
- My mum @mumatron was dancing to Tinie, Coldplay were gorgeous and Plan B sounded brilliant
Chris Martin came over and said he loved the series 'Fearne and...and that the Craig David one was his fave!
@fearnecotton
The Oracle on 8 December 2010: Filming for Christmas Top of the Pops, BBC TV Centre, London, UK
December 14, 2010 - submitted by Tiago, United Kingdom
Q. Hey Oracle,
I just got Will's drumstick and Jonny's guitar pick whilst recording TOTP on Wednesday (which was amazing by the way). But, I wanted to know if those are the same equipment they use on their live shows or just one that Top of the Pops have provided for them?
Kind regards.
thanks!
The Oracle replies:
The guys always use their own gear, sticks and picks included so you have their bona fide personal items not once owned by the BBC.
December 6, 2010 - submitted by Mark, United Kingdom
Q. Hi Oracle
I have tickets for the Coldplay Top of the Pops, I have to travel quite far to get to the BBC. Will the band only be playing Christmas Lights? And is there going to be other acts there?
Thanks
Mark
The Oracle replies:
This is the Top of the Pops Christmas special and will feature acts who have had singles out this year. Coldplay obviously weren't releasing this year due to their recording sessions but with the arrival of Christmas Lights came the invitation to perform on the show. So... that's a yes they will only be performing Christmas Lights and yes there will be other acts there.
December 6, 2010 - submitted by Laurene, France
Q. Dear Oracle,
I'm going to Top of the Pops with a friend of mine, next Wednesday. I'd like to know if there's a possibility to meet the boys after the show to get dedicates or to take pictures?
Thanks a lot :-)
Laurene
The Oracle replies:
I'm afraid not Laurene as this is a television show's taping; there will be a lot of activity on the day. It's quite an involved process with hectic goings on co-ordinating all the acts who will be performing. I'm sure you understand that this is a great opportunity to see the boys up close but there will be direction given from the television crew.
