30 Years of Bananarama - CD & (at last!) DVD

[tom71]

In preparation for the new compilation, can't someone run a Bananarama singles rate? I would love it (but far to lazy to sort it myself)?

[trussy74]

I too prefer the '89 version of Cruel Summer. Didn't realise I had the 12 inch version on my copy of Please Yourself so thanks for that!

[tom71]

Just been feeding my 'Rama love, listening to my absolute favourite of theirs, "I heard a rumour".

I knew there was a strong similarities to Michael Fortunati's "Give me up", but checking it out on Spotify, it's practically the same song, with new lyrics. There's even an identical "Woooooo" halfway through (the highlight on both!). Both sound great, so "I heard a rumour" remains untarnished.

I'm intrigued though. Anyone know anything more about Michael Fortunati's song? Who wrote it? When was it released? Did he sue? There's no writer's credit.

[vasilios]

SAW settled with him. There was no court case, just behind the scenes stuff.

[tom71]

SAW settled with him. There was no court case, just behind the scenes stuff.

Hope he made loads. It was a big hit internationally, No.4 in the States.

It's shameless crediting the writers as Stock, Aitken, Waterman, Dallin, Fahey, Woodward and Pete claiming it as one of his favourites. Great song though (both of them).

[little ern]

£8.95 pre-order price at Zavvi(cheapest i've seen it yet!)

http://www.zavvi.com/cd/10617921.html

Same price at The Hut

[Mirror Man]

I just saw this on So Hip It Hurts. Sorry for not looking in Comeback Corner.

The DVD is extraordinary!! Genuinely amazing.

I like the minimal artwork/old logo too.

I think my first ever post in 2006 was about a Bananarama compilation. Happy days.

[Fish Finger]

HMV are now doing signed copies:

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...;-1&sku=802589

[idratherjack]

I am very tempted to get a signed copy but when I checked the HMV website it seems to be listed separately from the CD/DVD combo and I am concerned it is an HMV exclusive of just the DVD. Anyone know for definite?

I already have this and the Pete Waterman Hit Factory 3CD deluxe on pre-order with Play but as I am travelling down for the Hyde Park concert I would love to have these albums on my iPod for the journey to really get me in the mood. I know Play aren't great with pre-orders arriving on time, never mind early, and I wonder if anyone knows if I'd have more luck going with HMV to definitely get them in time?

[Fish Finger]

HMV always list exclusives separately as the listings get deleted once the item is sold out. It's the same CD+DVD, just signed. Their pre-orders usually arrive a couple of days before the release date.

[idratherjack]

Thanks, I know it was a silly question but there wasn't any product information and the wording was a bit vague! The Pete Waterman CD is a bit more expensive on HMV than Play but is it worth it to get it in time for the Hit Factory concert? Decisions, decisions...

[tom71]

HMV are now doing signed copies:

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...;-1&sku=802589

Ooooh, signed copies! This package couldn't get much better, other than Keren and Sara hand-delivering them to your door.

[Lady Agnes Holland]

If I buy through HMV, will I have to set up an HMV account or can I simply mouse click payment via my paypal ?

[rashidhk81]

Yes please a Bananarama singles rate would be fab! Although someone else would have to run it as I wouldn't know what I'm doing!

[phoenix123]

The cover still looks lazy and fan made.

I may have to make myself a better one.....

[ShakespearsMister]

Well, I think it may have been a verse written but not used for the original, or possibly written specifically for the 89 version, but there's no pre-89 version with that on to my knowledge. It's been said that Siobhan pretty much came up with Cruel Summer herself (lyrically at least) when Keren and Sarah went on holiday without her... but I'd like to know the origin of this verse once and for all, too!

Jacquie has said on her Facebook page that it's a cut from the Siobhan version, as you will notice the second verse is sorted than the first.

Also, she has said that she never recorded any new vocals for that - so it is literally just a remix.

[anfunny2003]

Thanks for clearing that up... I had thought as much, but it's nice to know. Strange they should re-introduce it, but I guess that means there's an alternate mix of the original version sat somewhere now! If Jacquai isn't on it at all, I thinkt hey've unmixed Siobhan out, because it does sound different. It's a bit slower, I guess, so maybe that's it but I'd swear Siobhan's vocals are absent.

[ShakespearsMister]

I think you're right, they may have removed or at least lowered her vocals. Was Cruel Summer '89 ever performed in that version?

[letuinmybackdoor]

It's funny, but when you look back now, Siobhan really did kind of stand out in so much as a group who sing in unison can stand out. You get the feeling she was the driving force behind their sound, writing the most. It's funny that the 'Rams version of 'Young at heart' credits all of them, yet the Bluebells version credits only Shuv. I know their version is almost a completely different song, but it does seem odd. You can often hear Siobhan doing ad libs, most noticably on 'Robert DeNiro's waiting' and the intro to 'Do not disturb' and it was very telling she left once she kind of 'lost control' of the band to PWL.

It's such a shame that they didn't make more use of Jacquie when she was with them. I like to think with her style from the Shilleligh Sisters that she could have brought a new dimension to their sound. I guess they were trying to prove themselves once Shuv was doing well with Shakespears sister and didn't want to think of the newcomer as 'taking over' (kind of like what Shuv went through with Marcella in SS).

[anfunny2003]

Siobhan definitely was the more creative member, if no where else, it's evidenced in the fact that since she left, their sound hasn't really changed too much! It looks great on her CV, mind. She left at the peak of their success, the BPI awards, the Greatest Hits and the Guiness Book Of Records entry... then she went on to get Brit nominations, a Brit award and a number 1 single as Shakespear's Sister. Whilst she hated what her and Marcella became, ultimately sacking her from the "group", she ended up cutting her nose off to spite her face. London would've stuck with the duo I think, but that third album really must've sounded uncommercial at the time. I love it, but it's very dark and bleak... anyway, Bananarama!

[letuinmybackdoor]

Well, their sound DID change with 'Pop life' quite dramatically, but when it failed to capture the public's attention, they went back to camp PWL pop and have re-treaded water ever since. I get the feeling they see it as a lucrative hobby these days. any album very 4-5 years, the odd 80s gig here and there. They're both fairly well off and enjoy it that way, so I guess you can't blame them, but, as they've nothing to lose (it's not as if they sell that many records), it'd be nice to see them experiment a bit more. I don't think I'd bother with another Viva style album.

[bichard]

I think it's a little unfair to say Siobhan was the main creative driving force in the group, considering that they came up with Pop Life after she left. For me it's their best album and displays a hell of a lot of versatility and innovation. As letuinmybackdoor says, I think it was this album's commercial failure that curtailed any development after this, especially when you consider they returned with Please Yourself which bar a few tracks, is pretty rubbish.

I must admit I don't own Viva. The gay-by-numbers stuff they churn out now doesn't really appeal. I doubt we'll ever see them stretching their creative legs again though.

[sometimesxtc]

"State I'm In" is a shocking omission... even my old VHS "And That's Not All" has it on there. A fantastic track of my all-time favourite Nanas record.

That aside, stoked this compilation is on the way. I've been waiting for the videos FOREVER!!!

Please Yourself gets a bad rap. I still think it sounds quite sweet and dreamy, if not as hip as the (also fantastic) Pop Life.

[bichard]

Please Yourself is all about Is She Good To You. One of their best singles-that-should-have-been ever.

[letuinmybackdoor]

'Is she good to you' sounds like a Big Fun song! I always loved 'Another lover' which is better than most of the stuff that made the album. You can really tell Stock/Waterman were running out of steam by this stage.