The Mike Flowers Pops (also known as MFP, The Pops or The Mike Flowers Pops Orchestra) is a British easy listening band fronted by Mike Flowers (real name: Mike Roberts) and supported by the "Sounds Superb Singers" and "Super Stereo Brass". Formed in 1993, there can be up to fourteen of them on stage at any time. The band is principally known for easy listening or lounge music covers of both 'classic' and contemporary pop music.
The band became famous in the UK in 1995 when they released a cover version of Oasis' hit song "Wonderwall". After seeing the band perform, BBC radio producer Will Saunders recruited Flowers for BBC Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening in order to cover the 'Hits of 95' for Greening's Saturday show; "Wonderwall" was his first week's project. Chris Evans heard the song and made it 'single of the week' on his Radio 1 breakfast show, telling listeners that this was the original version of the song. The single, issued by London Records under the name The Mike Flowers Pops, was released while the Oasis original was still in the UK Singles Chart, and itself reached the Top 10. Flowers' version peaked at #2 in the Christmas 1995 chart, following widespread speculation that it might supplant Michael Jackson's 'Earth Song' to be that year's UK Christmas #1. The B-side of the single featured the Flowers compositions "Son of God" and "Theme From Memory Man".
Following the success of "Wonderwall", The Mike Flowers Pops quickly advanced from performing shows in nightclubs and small concert halls to touring festivals and larger venues across Britain and Europe. At the end of 1996 they toured Britain with Gary Glitter on his last 'Who's in the Gang' tour. They played large venues including Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC. Cover versions of The Doors' "Light My Fire", and "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" also reached the Top 40 of the UK chart. Following Mike Flowers success, EMI GOLD released an album using a Mike Flowers style approach, Cheesy Easy Listening by Geoff Parnell a made up name for the composer and producer Steve Deakin-Davies featuring music by Oasis, The Saw Doctors, Pulp and Blur to some success.
Famous quotes containing the words mike, flowers and/or pops:
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”
—Calder Willingham, screenwriter, Buck Henry, screenwriter, and Mike Nichols. Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman)
“Unmeasured power, incredible passion, enormous craft: no thought
apparent but burns darkly
Smothered with its own smoke in the human brain-vault: no thought
outside; a certain measure in phenomena:
The fountains of the boiling stars, the flowers on the foreland, the
ever-returning roses of dawn.”
—Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962)
“I’ll tell you one thing. If a little green man pops out at me I’m shooting first and asking questions later.”
—Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1922–1978)