Pop Muzik

"Pop Muzik" is a 1979 song by M, a project by English musician Robin Scott, from his debut studio album New York • London • Paris • Munich. The song was accompanied by a well-received music video (directed by Brian Grant) showing Scott as a DJ behind an exaggerated turntable setup, at times flanked by two female models who sang and danced in a robotic manner. The video also featured Scott's then-partner Brigit Novik, who provided the backup vocals for the track.
"M Factor", the song's B-side, featured in two different versions. The initial UK and European release featured the original cut of the song, but a slightly remixed version was released in the US 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.
The song was initially recorded in R&B and funk styles before a friend of Scott suggested using synthesisers. He describes the genesis of "Pop Muzik":
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 is of Robin Scott's daughter, Berenice. She became a singer, piano/keyboard player and composer and involved in projects with her father's friends Phil Gould and Wally Badarou.
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.
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.
Original 7" single released by MCA Records and EMI in Europe.
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.
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
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.
7" single released in Sweden in 1989 by Freestyle Records
12" single released in Sweden in 1989 by Freestyle Records
12" single released in Germany in 1989 by ZYX Records
CD single released in Germany in 2001 by ZYX Records