New Wave

The song “Pop Muzik” was written, produced, and performed by M, which was the alter-ego, as it were, of British musician Robin Scott. It was released in 1979 on M’s debut album New York -London-Paris-Munich and as a single, backed with “M Factor.” The song was an international smash, rising to #1 on the charts in several countries: the U.S.,  Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, South Africa, Sweden, and Switzerland. It was #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100. It was #2 in the U.K., Ireland, and Austria; #3 in Belgium, The Netherlands, and New Zealand; #5 in Italy and Norway; and #12 in France.  And it received gold certification in the U.S. and Germany and Silver in the U.K.

The idea behind “Pop Muzik” entailed a fusing of styles of pop music for the previous 25 years — that is, from the British Invasion music to disco, and there are a lot of synthesized sounds of the studio going on. Scott wanted to say that all we talk about is pop music.  On another level, Scott liked the way disco music brought people together onto the dance floor from around the world — yet with a DJ giving them direction. The line at the end of the song, “Do you read me loud and clear” is evidence of an authority in control.

The video, directed by Brian Grant, helped to promote the record. It shows Scott as a DJ behind a turntable setup, sometimes joined by two female models who sing and dance in a robotic way. The video was very popular as well. It got him work with The Human League, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and many others. When MTV launched in 1981, and “Pop Muzik” was featured often.

M’s backing musicians were called The Factor. He felt they were more of an organization than a band. On the album were Robin Scott (lead vocals, guitar), Brigit Novik (backing vocals), Wally Badarou (keyboards, synthesizers), Julian Scott (bass), Phil Gould (drums, percussions), Gary Barnacle (ax, flute), and David Bowie (handclaps). Robin Scott’s career of recording and performing has continued for many decades.

Here are the lyrics to “Pop Muzik” by M:

Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Get down
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik

Radio, video
Boogie with a suitcase
Go living in a disco
Forget about the rat race
Let’s do the Milkshake
Selling like a hot cake
Try some, buy some
Fee, fi, fo, fum
Talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik

I want to dedicate it
Everybody made it
Infiltrate it
Activate it

New York, London, Paris, Munich
Everybody talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik

Sing it in the subway
Shuffle with a shoeshine
Mix me a Molotov
I’m on the headline
Want to be a gun slinger
Don’t be a rock singer
Eenie, meenie, miney, mo
Which away you wanna go
Talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik

Right in betweenie
Eenie meenie
Right in betweenie
You know what I meanie
Hit it
Now you know what I’m saying

Talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik

All around the world
Wherever you are
Dance in the street
Anything you like
Do it in the car
In the middle of the night
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Dance in the supermart
Dig it in the fast lane
Listen to the countdown
They’re playing our song again
I can’t get “Jumping Jack”
I want to hold “Get Back”
Moonlight muzak
Nick nack paddy wack
Talk about Pop muzik
Talk about Pop muzik

It’s all around you
They want to surround you
It’s all around you
Hit it

New York, London, Paris, Munich
Everybody talk about Pop muzik

Talk about Pop
Talk about Pop
Pop Pop Pop
Pop Pop Pop

Now listen

Talk about (Pop, Pop,Pop muzik)
Talk about (Pop, Pop, Pop muzik)
Talk about the fever
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Pop, Pop, Pop muzik
Do you read me
Loud and clear-cle-cle-cle-clear?

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Pop Muzik” by M.