UK release date: February 18th 1992
UK album chart peak: #3
US album chart peak: #56
Buy Hormonally Yours here (Amazon UK)
Popular contemporary thinking will have you believe that Robbie Williams broke, re-imagined then reset the mold for leaving a popular group and pursuing a solo career that marched to the beat of his own drum. There's no denying the impact of his audacious plan broke boundaries, but in my mind it was actually Siobhan Fahey who was the trailblazer for many pop stars that followed in her wake. As one third of world conquering girl group, Bananarama, Siobhan contributed to the genre-hopping music that regularly scaled the charts. At the peak of their "Wow" album success, Siobhan quit the group to pursue creative control of her musical ambitions. And thus, with Marcella Detroit, Shakespear's Sister was born. The duo redefined pop, exploring gothic undertones and blending them with beguiling melodies that challenged the senses, leaving the listener hungry for more. Their debut album bought critical and commercial success, yielding hits such as You're History and Run Silent Run Deep. It was the second album, Hormonally Yours, however, that gave them their biggest success - an enduring collection of songs that still thrill and delight to this day. It was an album campaign that would last 18 months, see them reach giddy heights and, ultimately, see the end of this award winning partnership.
The album campaign actually started in August 1991 with the release of lead single, Goodbye Cruel World. This deliciously dark slice of music was actually an excellent precursor to their stratospheric next single. It had a chorus that insinuated itself deep into your cerebral cortex, the melody lingering long after the song finished. It was released in a variety of formats, including a 12" with remixes, b-sides and a poster, as was the much missed norm in those days. I remember being shocked that it didn't make the top 40 countdown, peaking at 59. It was later remixed and re-released, getting a new peak of 32. Better, but I still think it was a grossly underrated song.
Next up, in January 1992, came Stay. This bold, dramatic, daring song captured the public's imagination in a way that Goodbye Cruel World did not. It quickly rose to the top of the charts and stayed their for 8 weeks. It couldn't have been more of a juxtaposition to the song it replaced (Wet Wet Wet's Goodnight Girl). Audaciously it felt like the perfect melding of two songs. Marcella sang a haunting prayer to a dying loved one, her vocal imbued with heartache and loss. Siobhan changes the song with her otherworldly spirit giving genuine menace. The two voices collide in a battle for the soul and it could not have been more compelling. It came with an equally mesmerising video that demonstrated how these two ladies knew how to create great art. It propelled the parent album to number 3- and gave them a US top 5 hit. It is considered a genuine modern day classic that has endured through the ages - and remains a peerless example of how to subvert a genre in thrilling new ways.
Single 3 was their jauntiest piece of uptempo pop yet. I Don't Care was remixed, adding a jazzier, more textured instrumental and gleeful new vocals. I was completely smitten with the song, not only for the catchy refrain but the bridge which saw Siobhan melodically recite part of Edith Sitwell's Hornpipe poem. I spent ages pouring over the words in Smash Hits and gettingbit word perfect. I can still lip sync it perfectly to this day and return to this exhilarating track as often as I do Stay (which is quite a lot). Along with Your History, it remains one of my favourite SS songs. England agreed, sending it to number 7. The ladies got another top twenty hit with Hello (Turn The Radio On). I must say, they did well in choosing songs that ably demonstrated the different musical facets of their diverse approach to pop. Hello... was a lovely, languorous mid tempo ballad which highlighted the strengths in both their voices. It is the one song of theirs that I love playing on the piano, a mellifluous melody that is intricate and beautiful.
Hormonally Yours is a glorious body of work that captures the diverse talents of two accomplished music creators. They may not have worked together again, but we should be grateful that we were given a glimpse into their genius. Just magical.
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