Pop Muzik - M (1979) 9/16/22

By the end of the '70s, popular music had become a melting "pop" of styles: New wave, American Disco, European synthesizer Dance music , and rap.

Songs from each of these musical styles always seemed to be fighting it out for a place on top of the charts.

There was one song, however, that combined ALL of those styles into one one great chart topper: 1979's "Pop Muzik" by M.

"M" was British musician Robin Scott, who envisioned the song as a "call to action" from a Dance Club DJ.

On the surface, M claimed that "Pop Muzik" appears to be about losing your inhibitions on the dance floor, but from a DJ's perspective, it's about controlling an army of dancers who are waiting for their orders.

As a club jock for many years, I can understand both angles, but I feel the "army angle" is a bit over the top.

On the other hand, when you look at the charts and see just how BIG "Pop Muzik" was worldwide, maybe M was onto something!

The song was #1 in eight countries--including the US and Canada--and Top 10 in nine others!

The official video for the song was also a sensation, especially in Europe. It featured "M" as a DJ singing into a microphone behind a weird looking set of turntables, flanked by two models dancing robotically and lip synching.

Occasionally, a woman in blue would appear in front of the microphone. This was Brigit Novik, Robin Scott's wife, who actually sang the female vocal on the recording.

"Pop Muzik" was an American One-Hit Wonder, and a bit ahead of its time, but it was a musical trendsetter and no doubt a "Great Song of 1979!"