Pop Muzik

"Pop Muzik" is a 1979 song by M, a project by English musician Robin Scott, from the debut album "New York • London • Paris • Munich". The single, first released in the UK in early 1979, was bolstered by a music video (directed by Brian Grant) that was well received by critics. The clip featured Scott as a DJ singing into a microphone from behind an exaggerated turntable setup, at times flanked by two female models who sang and danced in a robotic manner. The video also featured Brigit Novik, Scott's wife at the time, who provided the backup vocals for the track.
The single's B-side, "M Factor", was featured in two different versions. The original cut appeared on the first UK and European releases of the single, while a slightly remixed version appeared on the single released in the United States and Canada. "Pop Muzik" reached number 1 on the US "Billboard" Hot 100, the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.
Concept and chart performance.
The song was initially recorded in R&amp;B and funk styles before a friend of Scott suggested using synthesisers. He describes the genesis of "Pop Muzik":
I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarise the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale. That's why I really wanted to make a simple, bland statement, which was, 'All we're talking about basically (is) pop music.'
"Cash Box" described it as a "quirky Euro-pop number," stating that "the nonsensical lyrics create a catchy cadence." "Record World" described it as a "totally infectious body-mover."
The single was released in the UK first, peaking at number 2 on 12 May 1979, unable to break Art Garfunkel's 6-week stint at number one with "Bright Eyes". In August of that same year, it was released in North America, where it eventually climbed all the way to number 1 in Canada on 27 October and in the US on 3 November.
Along with Scott, other musicians who played on the track were his brother Julian Scott (on bass), then unknown keyboardist Wally Badarou, Canadian synthesiser programmer John Lewis, drummer Phil Gould (who later became one of the founding members of the group Level 42), Gary Barnacle and Brigit Novik, the backing vocalist, credited as "Brigit Vinchon" on the records and sleeves.
The image of the baby on "Pop Muzik"'s single disc pictures Robin Scott's daughter, Berenice. She is now a singer, piano/keyboard player and composer and involved in projects with her father's friends Phil Gould and Wally Badarou.
Album.
The subsequent full-length album "New York • London • Paris • Munich" was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, at Queen's Mountain Studio, with lead singer and guitarist Robin Scott and regular engineer David Richards, as well as Julian Scott, Wally Badarou and Brigit Novik.
Additional musicians on the album included drummer Phil Gould, Gary Barnacle on saxophone and flute, and David Bowie (a friend of Scott and a resident of Montreux at the time) who provided occasional handclaps.
The album was also released in the United States on Sire Records with a different track listing but it was not commercially successful, compared to the album's success in Europe.
Other formats.
The UK 12-inch single version was notable for the A-side having a double groove so that the two tracks ("Pop Muzik" and "M Factor") both started at the outer edge of the record and finished in the middle (with a long silence at the end of "M Factor" since the track was the shorter of the two). This resulted in a random selection of the two tracks, depending on which groove the needle landed in the lead-in. To further market this idea, the UK record sleeve stated "B side included on A side, full length disco mix of Pop Musik on Seaside". 'Seaside' (in other words "C side") was a simple play on words as the letter C, apart from being the logical next "side" after the A and B sides, is pronounced the same way as the English word "sea".
The song was remixed and re-released in 1989 where it reached number 15 in the UK Singles Charts.
Formats and track listings.
Original 7" single.
Original 7" single released by MCA Records and EMI in Europe.
Original 7" single with Prize message.
Original 7" single released by MCA Records and EMI in Europe, and had a special 'Prize Message' at the end of the A-side which said "It's a Winner!" Presenting the record at the retailer entitled you to a small cash prize/ Free gift.
Long version single.
Released in both 7" and 12" vinyl single formats in the United States by Sire Records, and as a 12" vinyl in France by Pathé Marconi EMI, all featuring a longer version of the song
Netherlands 12" single.
12" single released in the Netherlands by MCA Records. The B-side "M Factor" was featured on the A-side of the vinyl on this release, with a remix of the title song on the B-side.
Sweden 7" 1989 release.
7" single released in Sweden in 1989 by Freestyle Records
Sweden 12" 1989 release.
12" single released in Sweden in 1989 by Freestyle Records
Germany 12" 1989 release.
12" single released in Germany in 1989 by ZYX Records
Germany CD 2001 release.
CD single released in Germany in 2001 by ZYX Records