Two-thirds of legendary British girl group Bananarama will tell their story in a memoir due out in this fall. Named after the girls' first top-billed hit, "Really Saying Something" was actually a cover of an old Motown song by the Velvelettes that surprisingly stalled at No. 64 on the Billboard singles chart. (It reached No. 21 on the R&B charts. Perhaps the book will explain how the Ramas ever came across it.)
Super Deluxe writes that the memoir tells the story of how the two best friends arrived at the YWCA in London in the early 1980s, with their sights set on careers in journalism and the media. But with a vibrant social scene (!) and a chance meeting with former Sex Pistol Paul Cook, things changed. Working from Malcolm McLaren’s old office, Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward started rehearsing and singing backing vocals for Paul’s new band, before teaming up with Sara’s college friend Siobhan Fahey, and forming their own group.
The rest, as they say, is (pop) history as the girls become one of the most successful female bands of all time. The publishers say that "Really Saying Something" is the story of “two friends who continue to pursue their dreams their way -- and have a great time doing it.”
Hard to put into words how much fun I had seeing Bananarama at the PlayStation Theatre on Saturday night. As longtime fans know, Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahey -- the three original members of the post-punk girl group -- had never toured together. But last year, Dallin and Woodward decided to reach out to Fahey -- who had departed the group in 1988, quickly finding success as Shakespears Sister -- to see if she would be interested in reuniting for a U.K. tour. After selling out throughout their homeland, the woman brought their enduringly youthful brand of pop songs and self-deprecating humor to North America this month, with so few dates that my best childhood friend from Arizona, Greg, flew in from his current home in Des Moines to catch the final stop, which happened to be in New York City.
Judging a concert is highly subjective. But putting together the nostalgia factor -- my late brother Bill brought Fun Boy Three's debut album and the "Shy Boy" 12-inch single home from college in 1982, turning me into the gals' biggest U.S. fan -- that my dear friend was with me -- each new import single was like a new romance for these New Wave closet cases, and finding a seven-inch Japanese import of "He's Got Tact" was like our prom! -- and that the women looked and sounded beyond my wildest expectations, the concert was undeniably one of my favorites of all time.
A well-considered set list also helped, which included U.K. singles like "Robert De Niro's Waiting" (my personal favorite), "Rough Justice" (if "King of the Jungle" had followed I might have died!), "Trick of the Night" (with delightfully seedy footage of motels projected behind them) and "Cheers Then" (which took on a special meaning during this reunion). The night hit legendary status when when they segued from "Shy Boy" into "Boy Trouble," first known as "Don't Call Us," which Bill declared better than the A-side when he brought home the single. (The women got wistful when they recounted the olden days of "b-sides," something that don't really exist anymore.) From there, the Stock-Aitken-Waterman years -- despite all of their drama -- held up beautifully, with "More Than Physical," "I Can't Help It" (a surprise crowd pleaser), "I Want You Back" (another one of my faves) and, of course, "Venus" leaving the crowd begging for more. ("Some Girls," for instance!) \
That they chose to acknowledge each others' post-trio work -- with Sara and Keren filling in for Marcella Detroit on "Stay" (before Shuv swooped in for her goth-girl close-up), and Siobhan playing the part of Jacquie O'Sullivan on "Preacher Man," which the former Mrs. Dave Stewart declared her post-Rama favorite -- only highlighted the enduring friendship and mutual respect they feel for one another. And the one-two punch of "It Ain't What You Do" (the splendid Fun Boy Three single that brought the gals to prominence in 1982) and "Love in the First Degree" (their classic single that didn't even make the U.S. Top 40) for an encore reminded me (and the rest of the crowd) that Bananarama is one of pop music's most underrated artists.
There's nothing better than an old friend
Greg, me and Damian
With the palpable joy these women bring to the world, here's hoping this triumph leads to more dates later in the year.
Greg, Dave and Greg
Fans shouldn't have to travel to Manhattan to see them, although I'm awfully glad one in particular did.
Filming the video for "Cruel Summer" was their first time in New York ...
Girls about town ...
We want you back!
It ain't what they did, it's the way that they did it ...
You may have seen the exciting news over the weekend that Bananarama is gearing up for a U.K. tour along with former member Siobhan Fahey -- the original trio's first-ever proper live performances. Now a great interview in The Guardian and appearance on Chris Evans's BBC Radio 2 show answer some of the questions that quickly came to mind. For starters, the group would love to add dates in the U.S., but are waiting to see how they are received at home before doing so. (Please come to the U.S.!) Next, there is talk of recording a new single -- Siobhan lives in L.A., so they're working around that inconvenience -- but the tour should be seen as a Greatest Hits event, because they are finally at a point where they want to celebrate everything they've achieved. Regular readers know I am bananas for the girls. I only wish my brother Bill, who introduced me to them with Fun Boy Three's "It Ain't What You Do" and an import 12-single of "Shy Boy," were here to fan-boy out with me.
I heard a rumor ...
The state I'm in? Ecstasy!
The reunion is a surprise, but I noticed this 2014 holiday shot the girls posted with pal Boy George, plus this 2013 reunion at the Standard Hotel in West Hollywood. And the "Waterloo" and "Club G-A-Y" performances show the love was always there.
Despite all the '80s nostalgia and reunion tours going on, I'm still kind of in shock -- and thrilled! -- that Siobhan Fahey has reunited with Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin for a U.K. tour planned for this fall. (Apparently even Shakespear's moodiest sister isn't above a little throwback fun!) My dirty little secret is that I didn't go see Bananarama when I had the chance on their first World Tour back in 1989 partly because I was interning on Capitol Hill at the time and was flat broke, and partly because I wasn't particularly thrilled that my favorite Rama had left the band. (Jacquie O'Sullivan stepped into her Venus catsuit.) I eventually saw Keren and Sara at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, but I may just have to make a second trip across the pond this fall to see the original line-up on tour for the first time ever! Ticket info HERE.
So re-buying the Pretenders' first four albums -- remastered and expanded -- wasn't enough fun for me. (Ditto for Blondie and Culture Club.) This week I got the first six Bananarama albums, gloriously reissued and expanded by music-loving Rhino Records in 24-bit mastering with the complete catalog of the girls' b-sides and non-album tracks from over the years, along with remixes and single versions, sprinkled on the respective albums. Imported yet still only $10.99 each, this is the kind of CD I can feel happy (re)buying. It gives the artists new income (well, hopefully) and makes me smile. If Dolly Mixture had ever caught on they may well have been Britain's most successful group ever. But that honor was saved for Banana Girls Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahey, and I don't think my childhood would have been half as much fun without them.
"Deep Sea Skiving": includes the singles "Shy Boy," "Really Saying Something" and "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)"; "He's Got Tact" and "No Feelings" were brilliant additions
"Bananarama": includes the singles "Cruel Summer" and "Robert de Niro's Waiting"; "The Wild Life" (from the Cameron Crowe film) makes it all worthwhile
"True Confessions"" includes the worldwide No. 1 single "Venus" and the should-have-been hit "More Than Physical" (including the superior single mix); "Riskin' a Romance" from the Michael J. Fox vehicle "The Secret of My Success" was a great addition, as is "White Train"
"Wow": the last album to feature Siobhan Fahey, includes the singles "I Heard a Rumor," "Love in the First Degree" and "I Want You Back"; ushers in the Jacquie O. era with re-recorded versions of "Nathan Jones" and "I Want You Back" with Jacquie's vocals in for Siobhan's
"Pop Life": the one and turns out only album to feature Jacquie O'Sullivan (ex-Shillelagh Sisters) as a member of the group, includes the singles "Preacher Man," "Only Your Love" and the cover of the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running"; the alternative take of "Ain't No Cure" is a real treat
"Please Yourself": The group became a duo on its sixth and final release for London Records, which includes the singles "Movin' On," "Last Thing on My Mind" and the cover of "More, More, More"; b-side "Another Lover" was as good as any of the LP's tracks
Since these six albums came out between 1983-1992, Bananarama (as a duo) have released three more albums: 1995's dance-friendly "Ultra Violet"; 2001's borderline-disastrous French-only "Exotica"; and 2005's return to form, "Drama." During the same time founding member Siobhan Fahey has gone on to do considerably more interesting things, first as the leader of Shakespear's Sister ("You're History," "Heroine," "Goodbye Cruel World," "My 16th Apology" and the worldwide No. 1 "Stay"). More recently she's been a prolific songwriter and artist, usually making her solo material available only on her Web site, siobhanfahey.com. Without the constraints of record executives and labels, she's tapped into a dark, glam-inspired side that is like nothing else out there these days. Occasionally, she lends her voice to slightly more mainstream projects, like Agent Provocateur (aka Erreur Fatale)'s cover of "She's Lost Control" (the old Joy Division song). Siobhan -- gorgeous as ever and sounding great -- and Dita van Teese starred in the video that pokes fun at the Bush White House (below):
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 wasShakespear's Sister ...
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1983
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