30 years of Bananarama!
It's nigh on impossible to concisely write about the achievements of Bananarama. Since they burst onto the pop scene in 1982 with their accessible-yet-punky brand of pop music (technically Aie A Mwana was 1981 but who's counting), they've survived line up changes, embraced different musical genres and provided countless hours of entertaining music and video that endures to this day. From duets with Fun Boy Three to team ups with Stock Aitken & Waterman, the loss of Siobhan, the addition and loss of Jacqui, Lananeeneenoonoo, French only albums, nostalgia tours and up to date dance infused albums and festive singles, the constant has always been the ongoing partnership of Keren and Sara. Hats off to them for being so consistently ace :) Now, almost as impossible as writing about their achievements (just go to wikipedia instead) is picking my top ten fave Bananarama songs - so here is my top ten as of today (I reserve the right to change it often :D) Do share yours and celebrate all things Bananarama!!
- 10 ~ Is She Good To You: Collectively, the return to S/A/W album (Please Yourself) is my joint fave Bananarama album (along with WOW). This lovely track should definitely have been single 4 had the opus had more chart success. Pensive, reflective, melancholy - it certainly captured the modern day Abba heartbreak the producers were aiming for.
- 09 ~ Na Na Hey Hey: One of their first singles, a bouncy kiss off tune that remains as fresh today as it was 30 years ago. Perfect for sports games, reality tv shows, heck - even funerals! I love a good repetitive chant pop song I do and that's why it's on the list :)
- 08 ~ Venus: Their US chart top and perennial gay club/hen party fave is still a proper bobby dazzler of a pop tune. You know it the instant you hear the first few notes and it tends to cast a witchy spell compelling you to get up and dance. Utterly bonkers and brilliant :)
- 07 ~ Cruel Summer ~ A song so good they released it twice (1984 & 1989). An effervescent instrumental keeps the song perkier than the lyrical gloom would normally allow and the chorus was singalong nirvana. Now make sure you strut down the street this summer in your dungas in honour of the girls video (above)!
- 06 ~ Baby, It's Christmas: Their most recent single sees them getting all seasonal again. It's not only one of my favourite Bananarama songs ever but quickly became one of my favourite Christmas songs ever. Brilliant work from the girls proving that Ian Masterson continues to be an able captain guiding their poptastic ship...
- 05 ~ Every Shade Of Blue: Why, for crying out god's sake, wasn't this given a wider release?! All sorts of dancetastic fabulousness abounds here from the shimmering beat to the pulsating chorus; it's Bananarama at their effervescent best. PS, the 2010 version (b-side to the almost made the list Love Don't Live Here Anymore) is equally as delish.
- 04 ~ Nathan Jones: I love the Supremes. And I love the Bananarama take on the Supremes classic hit. Bringing it back up to date yet keeping a classic girl group realness about the proceedings, the video had them vogueing about a full year before madonna got in on the act. Now pose. And pose. And face! Brillz.
- 03 ~ I Want You Back: S/A/W plus the girls equals a match made in heaven. What I really love about the WOW album is how the groups individual and collective personality shone through ensuring that while the songs had the S/A/W aura about them, they were completely Bananarama. Bring on Hyde Park this summer!
- 02 ~ Help: SHUT UP KIM. Need I say anymore??
- 01 ~ Love In The First Degree: Watch the video above and tell me it's not the most amazing, camp, fabulous three minutes you've had today?! VIVA BANANARAMA!!!
One word: AMAZE! Fabulous group, and ace post. Happy birthday 'Nanas and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Paul x
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