Wednesday, May 17, 2006

'Venus' Envy


Every once in awhile we get to feel like kids again, and yesterday I was lucky enough to have one of those moments when kenneth in the (212) reader Daryl was kind enough to extend a meet-and-greet invitation with Bananarama at the Borders he works at in Manhattan. I've been writing about the girls' comeback album, "Drama," for some time now, so I was more than happy to help spread the word of their in-store appearances this week.


My love affair with Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey goes back to the very beginning when they were recording with Fun Boy Three. In fact, when their eponymous sophomore album came out a couple years later it nearly cost me my best friend. You see, I managed to get my hands on the LP first on import at Tower Records and Greg was just beside himself (!). My most egregious sin, however, was that I even played it (both sides!) before calling him up to come over and listen to it with me. (And what was I doing going to Tower Records behind his back anyway?)

It's been many years since then (Bananarama has recorded as a duo since the early '90s), but their new album shows that getting better with age is the way to go. Not only is the new music great, they look like they haven't aged a day. (I assumed their new CD cover was Photoshop Central -- take a look at these photos from yesterday and you'll see they're hotter than ever!) I can't tell you how gracious they were -- signing all FIVE(!) of the old 7-inch singles and two CD booklets I brought. The girls smiled and laughed and reminisced about the really old items.

Of course I wouldn't be me without embarrassing myself in public: When we went to take the photo of the three of us together, I slipped myself into the middle and announced, "I'll be Siobhan!" (note Keren's expression -- what is wrong with me?) But then suddenly -- and for just a moment there -- surrounded by those two women I really was Shakespear's Sister ...



  • Get your own "Drama" from Amazon.com here!
  • Check out the new album on the Bananarama MySpace profile here.
  • 12 comments:

    Steve said...

    Wow, I'm doing the math and can't get over how hot they still look.

    Anonymous said...

    What fun! I wish I could have been there, but I will have to make do with living precariously through you.

    Louis A Bustamante said...

    I am sooooo jealous of you right now.

    Anonymous said...

    Kenneth...you are such a star fucker...and I only know of one person who is more of one than you....me. This posting reminds me of our backstage meeting with Debbie Harry at Blues Alley...one of my favorite memories of you.

    Anonymous said...

    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Your a hottie , and look even hotter with keren and sara by your side. maybe im bi after all. hehe
    sorry im emailing a bit pissed.

    Cheers then

    Jeremy

    Anonymous said...

    Very cute… you have always LOVED those girls!!!!

    Anonymous said...

    Yes, very envious that you had the pleasure of meeting them, but if Karen had looked anything like that with me (completely glib and so over the situation)than I really don't feel that I have missed much!

    Anonymous said...

    Hey!
    The girls don't look that bad now.I've seen them at TOTP and it was a bit embarrasing.I must admit Sarah has aged quite gracefully even when she was the one I've always like the least of the three-I mean, she still looks like herself...

    Anonymous said...

    Tower Records at Mill and University?!?! Oh, yeah! By the way, you and they look hotter than ever!!

    Kenneth M. Walsh said...

    That's the one, Shelley! And aren't you sweet :-)

    I hear that Tower -- even in its new location in that strip mall -- is gone now ... although Zia is still around?

    Anonymous said...

    The first Bananarama album I bought was the Fun Boy Three 'It Ain't What you Do" song - the gilrs had me hooked ever since. "Trick of The Night" goes down as my all time fav song, though and it comes with many memories (not what you are thinking)
    Exotica from about year 2000 was okay, Boom Boom being a high light of that CD, however Drama is truly amazing and I think stands on par with Madge's Confessions CD.
    Cheers

    Unknown said...

    i'm more than jelous of you because you actually got to meet them! i live in dc and planned to make a day trip of it but things just didn't work out. my obsession started back in '82 when they performed REALLY SAYIN SOMETHIN on american bandstand. it was no turning back from there! LOL. fast forward a decade or so later, i get tattooed with logos from some of their singles on my legs! wow. :-)