"If you ever" was the good kind of cool in its original a capella version by Shai.

Now "If you ever" is the good kind of warm in this lush interpretation by Gabrielle and E17. Mostly Gabrielle, mind...

#TOTP

*Completely* forgot that Prince did this cover.

If it's going to get him back on American radio, and give them an excuse to play his more outré songs, it might be a price worth paying.

Anyway, there's a 1985 concert by Prince on BBC4 after midnight tonight.

#TOTP #Prince

Pop kids are astute, and sometimes we can be cruel.

Mark Owen had won "Most Fanciable Man" at the Smash Hits awards for four years running. In 1996, he lost the title to Ronan Keating, and had to be content with "Most Tragic Haircut".

#TOTP #MarkOwen

Honestly, don't you guys get the hint?! #TOTP

Back to "Muppets Tonight!" for "Deep Dish Nine", the next generation of PIIIIIIIGS IIIIIIIIIN SPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VksHDA5rfkU

#Muppets

In our first #TOTP mystery year: Janet Walton of Wallasey gave birth to six daughters, the first successful delivery of sextuplets in Europe. "The Walton Sextuplets" - Hannah, Lucy, Ruth, Sarah, Kate, and Jennifer - were delivered two months prematurely. All survived and live their own lives.

Simon Bates and Richard Skinner host this week's live show.

"There have been a few problems," says Simes. Mate, we've just survived two from Robson and Jerome: whatever problems you've got are minuscule by comparison.

Paul Young kicks off, snug in his winter jumper, and singing "Love of the common people" like it's a welcome cup of hot chocolate. Love this performance.

#TOTP #PaulYoung

Tina Turner gyrates on the video for "Let's stay together", her big comeback single.

New manager Roger Davies encouraged Tina to play rock 'n' roll with a bit of grit: her shows at the time were variously described as hip-shakin' knee-swingin' deep-sweepin' fast-movin' raunchy.

Tina's Greatest Hits tour, from 2009, is tonight at 9.15 on BBC4.

#TOTP #TinaTurner

It's the debut of The Smiths. Johnny Marr plays guitar, and there's some temporary bloke at the front of the stage throwing around crocuses in a vain attempt to cover up the way he cannot sing.

Regular lead singer with The Smiths, Rick Astley, was playing drums in covers bands.

#TOTP #JohnnyMarr

Thompson Twins perform "Hold me now", drawing us into their enchanting little polycule.

These #TOTP reruns allowed me to re-evaluate some bands. Discovered prog rockers Sky, got their best-of album. Uprated Bucks Fizz, from "a few fine pop songs" to "very nearly the next ABBA".

And reconsidered the Thompson Twins, from "hummable songs" to "great stagecraft, and every song's a winner".

#ThompsonTwins

Marilyn's career zenith is timed to the minute, as the only way is down for "Calling your name".

A white waistcoat and massive shades looks foppish and foolish, and doesn't go with his red trakkie bottoms. The song is disposable disco, the backing singer does most of the work.

At this time, Marilyn was reportedly dating Gavin Rossdale - later of Bush and BBC The Voice.

#TOTP #Marilyn

Claudia Fontaine is the backing singer, who does all the work on "Calling your name".

She sang with The Jam, Annie Lennox, Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Betty Boo, Dusty Springfield, Claudia Brücken, Julia Fordham, Marilyn, Pink Floyd, Madness, Neneh Cherry, Robbie Williams, The Specials, Heaven 17, Hothouse Flowers, Howard Jones, and many many more.

Claudia died in 2018.

#TOTP #ClaudiaFontaine

Simple Minds present "Waterfront". One of the greatest introductions in rock history, crashing guitars obscure a pulsing keyboard-and-bass riff.

Jim doesn't just find the camera, he stares down it, beckons us in and out of the rain.

The first verse has messy direction, at least one camera was out of position, but Jim uses his monitors and gently signals, before a literal jump for joy in the chorus.

Performance of the night.

#TOTP #SimpleMinds

They couldn't follow "Waterfront" in the studio, so give us videos.

The Style Council's new single "A solid bond in your heart", with the duo going out to a mod club, dressed in sharp suits.

Billy Joel's "Uptown girl" again.

We dance out to The Eurythmics' "Right by your side", which looked like this two weeks ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zgYjoHT0Dc

#TOTP

The first #TOTP Mystery Year was 1983. Bates' "few problems" referred to a strike by scene shifter, which limited the show to two stages.

If you're desperate to see the 30-minute edit of this edition, it's on the BBC Scotland channel at 11.30 on Tuesday 10 December.

Before it, at 10pm on 10 December, "Everything Is Possible", a new film about Simple Minds.

#SimpleMinds

Our second #TOTP Mystery Year is hosted by Andy Crane - soon to be immortalised in the lyric of a novelty hit song - and Simon Mayo, who abused his position as The Nation's Favourite Deejay to promote three novelty hits into the top ten.

No space in this show for "Sugar daddy" by Keren and Chelle, because it entered the top 40 at number 167. We saw the duo last week - they became Alisha's Attic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMD1ITCZfNY

#AlishasAttic

Tiffany is back! "Radio romance" is the lead single from her new album 'Hold an Old Friend's Hand'.

The album makes it clear that Tiffany is a big-haired gravel-voiced rocker, she'd like nothing more than to rub shoulders with Bonnie Tyler or Stevie Nicks.

But she's been penned into this niche of tinny pop arrangements, all synthesised instruments and processed drumbeats. And she comes across as insincere, not liking what she's singing.

#TOTP #Tiffany

Looking back, we needed to have spent more time with Tiffany; she was on her third album, we were hearing her second, and the mismatch feels wrong.

Pop kids are astute, and sometimes we can be cruel. Tiffany was a big loser at the recent Smash Hits poll, high in the polls for worst in pop and nowhere in the best categories. This song will have done nothing to help.

#TOTP #Tiffany

Tiffany never returned to the #TOTP stage, this will be her last hit. Freed of expectation's shackles, and recording for herself, Tiffany has made the rock albums she always wanted to make.

Worth bunking off double art to see her in the Bull Ring? You bet.

From the night before, an unexpectedly lovely pairing: Tiffany and Des O'Connor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rzutEmSLxo

#Tiffany

Bomb the Bass featuring Maureen in the studio for "I say a little prayer". Inevitable comparisons to Aretha Franklin's vocal performance, and Maureen leaves a respectful gap between herself and the legend.

The backing track is very much of its time, chugs along with clunks and bumps. More keyboard stabs than we like, but certainly fewer than Tim would have put into a record even one year ago.

#TOTP #BombTheBass

Deacon Blue perform "Real gone kid". During their active recording career, "Real gone kid" was the Deacon Blue song you'd most hear on the wireless; as soon as they re-released "Dignity" in 1994, that took pole position.

This is an upbeat stomper, whoo-whoo-whoo with Ricky in his fashionable tweed jacket.

Yeah, there was a time when it was fashionable to look like a geography teacher. The past was strange.

#TOTP #DeaconBlue

What a band. Saw them live back in the day. Those songs really stand up.