USA gigs & TV fun

The Bananarama ladies have been incredibly busy since their arrival in the USA.

Music TV station VH1, even commented on their tour in an article.  Here is the link:  Bananarama Support Pinktober  Journalist Jordan Runtagh describes them as 'beautiful brits' and their opening date as a 'joyous PG-rated rave'. 

The great thing about this article is that they comment on the 1989 world tour, with Keren saying describing that period as 'the best time of my whole life'. 

The ladies also appeared on BetterTV (see video) for a short but nice interview.  Sara described touring as like being on a school trip.  Hard work but a lot of fun!

Hard Rock Tampa posted a short video of the ladies signing some electric guitars and saying a few words to promote 'Pinktober'.  Check out the website: https://www.hardrock.com/philanthropy/pinktober/pinktober-2012.aspx

I can't explain how much I've enjoyed watching the fan videos from the tour dates so far.  It's clear that Bananarama fans know how to party and that there are some fine dancers amongst you!  Excitable doesn't even come close to it!

True Confessions, 30 Years Deluxe for iTunes, Olympics.....News, News, News!

Mag-tastic!

Amazing news! If you're following the lovely @Bananarama2012 on twitter, you will know that a special anniversary edition of the True Confessions fan mag has been created.  Only 100 copies printed and they have now sold out!

I know that a huge amount of work has gone into its creation and so on a personal level, I'd like to thank Peter for doing this.  I read nothing but praise for the old fan club and therefore a new edition of the fan mag is an absolute treat in this important anniversary year.  Thank you!

Hey Young London!

I don't know about you, but I'm mostly bored by the idea of watching sport.  Football, for example, is just grown men running after a ball.  Toddlers do the same thing but they don't earn vast amounts of money for doing so.  However, I have been most suprised at my shocking and sudden enjoyment of all things Olympic-related.  I am now officially a fan of sport (or is it sports-men that I'm a fan of...?).  It was recently announced that Bananarama are providing the half-time entertainment at the Men's Beach VolleyBall Final.  Fabulous!  (That's tonight if you are lucky to catch it!)

More news....thankfully some record company person has made the sensible decision to release an iTunes Deluxe version of '30 Years of Bananarama' which includes some of the videos.  Now you can watch all those videos on your iphone! 

Latest News; album, Radio 2, Lorraine, USA Tour...

Most of the lucky people that ordered the 'signed' CD/DVD editions of '30 Years of Bananarama' from HMV have recieved them.  It's fair to say that there are some very happy Fananarama's!  The album is out officially in the UK tomorrow (July 9th) and you can purchase it from all of the major retailers, HMV, Amazon etc....  You will also be able to download it from iTunes, Amazon... (although that version is just the songs, with 3 extra ones that don't feature on the CD).

The ladies were guests on Richard Madeley's Radio 2 show earlier today and it was a lovely little interview.  Of course it goes without saying that they were as funny and charming as they always are - but unfortunately Richard Madeley isn't the most tactful or thoughtful radio presenter.  If you heard the interview, you will know what I mean.  Thank god that both Keren & Sara are seasoned pro's and can handle most situations.

In the interview, the ladies revealed that they couldn't believe that so much time has passed.  30 years is such a long time and it's very hard to believe that Bananarama have been entertaining us for so long.  Of course, the usual questions were asked as they recalled the now infamous meeting with the legend, Robert De Niro.  They also mentioned this weeks huge event, 'Hit Factory Live', the enormous pop event that celebrates acts that worked with producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman.  They said that there were several sections in the show, and that Bananarama are in a section with Rick Astley and Jason Donovan, backed by a live band.  It should be an amazing event and I hope that weather is good for the thousands of fans that have tickets.

Sara at the BBC, sat at Elton John's piano.

They also talked about the October tour of the USA (details to be revealed soon).  This is amazing news for american fans!

Keren went to an eighties fancy dress party until the early hours of the morning.  Last night, Sara went for dinner with Bruno Tonioli, friend and former choreographer of Bananarama.  I think Richard was jealous of the ladies stamina.  To give him due credit, he made a point of mentioning some solid stats and high points about their career and achievements. 

You can listen to the full interview on BBC iPlayer, but I think that you have to be in the UK to listen.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01kjgd3/Made_on_Sunday_08_07_2012/

Bananarama will also be guests on Lorraine Kelly's morning show on ITV1 on July 10th. 

Review of '30 Years Of Bananarama'

30 Years of Bananarama - Part 2

In 1986, Bananarama decided to change their musical direction and began working with producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman.  They heard Dead or Alive's 'You Spin Me Round' and they were impressed by the production and energy of their sound.   'Venus' was born and it became a huge global hit, reaching number one in multiple countries such as the USA!  The video was a big draw to the MTV generation.  Under the guidance of Bruno Tonioli they created a massively camp dance routine which has now been emulated by every woman and gay man across the globe.  I'd imagine that it was their  close friend George Michael that probably suggested that they should also hire some nice boy dancers to help out.  What a nice chap George is?  So helpful!

The 'WOW' album was a stomping pop-fest that included amazing songs like 'I Heard A Rumour'. 

Bananarama had built a reputation for being a great world-class pop act that also made amazing videos.  These video's can be seen on the new CD / DVD collection. ' 30 Years of Bananarama' includes 35 videos and can be pre-ordered here: http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/32252767/0/30-Years-Of-Bananarama/ListingDetails.html 

Part 3 coming soon...

30 Years of Bananarama - Part 1

Bananarama have come a long way since their modest beginnings. 

They were sometimes portrayed by the sexist press as being smiley, girly pop stars that sang cover versions.  Of course that wasn't the truth at all.  Not only did Bananarama write a huge number of songs over their fabulous career, in the early days they were not girly or feminine whatsoever.  In fact it would be very hard to pick them out in a line-up of builders or mechanics as all three members looked like blokes.  They had a fondness for ill-fitting jeans, braces and monkey boots.  They were nothing like the picture of glamour that they are today. 

If we rewind even further, the Banana's used to be terrifying punks. They were mohican clad rebels, stomping through the streets of London, terrifying the locals (probably).  A trio of bad hair, ripped jeans and piercings (probably).  When they weren't borrowing eye-liner from Siouxsie Sioux, they were probably crowd-surfing at punk gigs and throwing up in car parks (probably).  They really weren't smiley at all! 

Someone saw through their bad hair and terrible blouses and gave them a chance at fame.  A song was recorded in Swahili (whose bloody idea was that?)  Sadly 'Aie-A-Mwana', their debut single flopped, but thankfully they were noticed by popster Terry Hall who took a shine to them.  Bananarama were in shock. They recorded more songs and then their career really took off!  The success of their subsequent singles and debut album 'Deep Sea Skiving' completely took them by surprise.  It wasn't look before they were throwing away the checked shirts and jumpers and trying out exciting new looks.  A change of image was on the cards. They went goth!  They made a pact to wear black and for a while they developed the ultimate pop star trait - always wearing shades, day or night, rain or shine.

Very few people know that Bananarama were responsible for the 'great hairspray' shortage in the early/mid eighties.  Shelves in supermarkets and salons were left empty as the Bananarama ladies used all of the the nations supplies in an attempt to create the perfect 'do'.  Sara's hair became so large that it could be seen from space.

Of course, one of their finest moments was when they performed on the Band Aid single.  The video to 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' features a clearly hung-over Bananarama getting out of a car.  If my memory serves me, Keren can be seem mouthing the word 'Sh....it'.  I don't think they were expecting the huge crowd of photographers.

There have been so many great moments in the last 30 years.  When they weren't gossiping with Boy George and smoking with Midge-Ure, they were writing songs about movie stars. 'Robert De-Niro's Waiting' has gone down in history as pop's greatest song about Robert De-Niro.  The other brilliant song being 'Robert De-Niro's Grating', a song which I just made up about Robert grating cheese.

More to come in Part 2....

Warner UK & Ireland are releasing '30 Years Of Bananarama' in July.  This CD / DVD collection features 22 amazing songs on the CD...and 35, yes 35! videos on the DVD!!!!

Pre-order here: http://www.play.com/Music/CD/3-/32252767/0/30-Years-Of-Bananarama/ListingDetails.html

Cover artwork TBC.

CD Tracklist

1. Aie A Mwana
2. Really Saying Something
3. Shy Boy
4. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
5. Cruel Summer
6. Robert De Niro's Waiting
7. Venus
8. I Heard A Rumour
9. Love In The First Degree
10. I Can't Help It
11. I Want You Back
12. Love Truth & Honesty
13. Nathan Jones
14. Help
15. Only Your Love
16. Preacher Man
17. Movin' On
18. Every Shade Of Blue
19. Move In My Direction
20. Look On The Floor
21. Love Comes
22. Love Don't Live Here

DVD Tracklist

1. Really Saying Something

2. Shy Boy

3. Cheers Then

4. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

5. Cruel Summer

6. Robert De Niro's Waiting

7. Rough Justice

8. Hotline To Heaven

9. The Wild Life

10. Do Not Disturb

11. Venus

12. More Than Physical

13. A Trick Of The Night

14. I Heard A Rumour

15. Love In The First Degree

16. I Can't Help It

17. I Want You Back

18. Love Truth & Honesty

19. Nathan Jones

20. Help

21. Only Your Love

22. Preacher Man

23. Long Train Running

24. Tripping On Your Love

25. Movin' On

26. Last Thing On My Mind

27. More More More

28. Every Shade Of Blue

29. Take Me To Your Heart

30. Move In My Direction

31. Look On The Floor

32. Love Comes

33. Love Don't Live Here

34. Venus 12"

35. I Can't Help It 12"

The Year of the Banana

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... some bloke was writing the script to the nerdiest film in history - but enough about the millionaire George Lucas.

Sara: "What the hell is that smell?", Keren: "......."

The year is 1979 and three young ladies decided to form one of the best global pop acts ever.  Yes, they would be greater than Shawaddywaddy and perhaps even greater than Saint Cliff Richard. 

They had a plan.  They would wear homemade clothes and dance badly but they would win the hearts of millions of people across the globe by creating their own unique sound.  After a chance meeting with a banana salesman, three bottles of vodka later they decided to call themselves The Three Degrees.  A court battle ensued.  There was nastiness and a fight with Sheila Ferguson's wig.  The wig won and they had no alternative but to call themselves Bananarama.

Bananarama quickly rose to the heights of superstardom.

Bananarama would sing about Cruel Summers and keeping actor Robert de Niro Waiting - Apparently he is still waiting at a bus stop in Peckham. Perhaps we should tell him?  but alas there is no time and this chicken tikka lasagne (courtesy of Iceland) won't eat itself.

They would prance about in videos, dressed in leather or prisoner uniforms.

This blog is to celebrate the year of the banana.  30 years of Bananarama.

Twitter tag: #30YearsOfBananarama