Bananarama: Cruel Summer vs Robert de Niro's Waiting

Over on twitter, the Bananarama Singles Battle is continuing....

The #Bananarama singles battle is back! It’s round 8. Which single will survive to the next round?

Remember, the rules are...
Retweet... for Cruel Summer.
Like... Robert de Niro’s Waiting

The most votes wins the fight. 🥊 #80s #Eighties #PopMusic #Retro pic.twitter.com/mMzLTTJ1Bs

— ❤️ LoveBananarama (@LoveBananarama) February 10, 2019

Both songs are often mentioned in articles celebrating the most memorable songs from the eighties.  Which will you choose?

Cruel Summer (1983/84)

• Cruel Summer is the 8th single featuring Bananarama, if you take into account their collaboration with Fun Boy Three and the Japan only single 'He's Got Tact'.  The song was recorded in 1983 and released in the UK in June of that year.

• The now iconic video was filmed in New York and features the girls fixing a car, hijacking a truck and being chased by the NYPD.  The video ends with a dance competition on top of a building overlooking the New York skyline.

• Famously, the song was featured in the classic eighties film, 'The Karate Kid' but not on the soundtrack album. It was released in the USA in 1984.

• The song was a huge success all over the world reaching the top 10 in countries such as UK, France, Ireland, South Africa and the USA.

• The song is often regarded as one of the best singles from the eighties having been placed in both VH1 and Billboard listings, amongst others.

Robert de Niros Waiting (1984)

• Robert de Niro's Waiting is the second single from Bananarama's second album.

• The video features a Robert de Niro look-a-like who is armed with a violin case, which is later revealed to contain pizza.

• The single was produced in various versions; including separate picture discs and coloured vinyl versions.

• Robert asked to meet them after hearing about the song.  He famously telephoned Bananarama and they initially didn't believe it was him!  Robert also 'allegedly' took a shine to one of them.

• The song rose to number 3 in the UK charts, making it one of Bananarama's best performing and selling UK singles.

Bananarama in LA / Bananarama Singles Battle

The Bananarama Singles Battle has begun.

We'll be working through all the Bananarama singles to find out which is the mightiest.

We're only on Round 2 currently.  If you want to join in the fun, the current rounds will be pinned over on Twitter.

Meanwhile, just a few hours ago Bananarama performed to an enthusiastic audience in Los Angeles at 80's Weekend #7 at the Microsoft Theater.

Along with Bananarama, artists The Bangles, OMG and Jody Watley also performed.  Fun!

I haven't seen The Bangles in concert before and I can only imagine how utterly amazing they are live.  That's one to add to my list along with Jody Watley, who is still fabulous and fierce.

I didn't appreciate that OMD had hits in the US. 

Boston!

Bananarama hit Boston last night for the second gig of their US tour.

Photo source: @siemienas on Twitter

Fan @JamesDerekDwyer was so thrilled to be pulled up on stage, "I can now say I was a Bananarama back up dancer #lifecomplete"

After the show, the Banana's were interviewed by @BylliCrayone , an eighties fanatic and apparently a dance artist too.  His website is:  http://byllicrayone.com/ 

Bylli clearly has the magic touch (or he's a hypnotist?) as he has interviewed so many celebs on his website http://www.80sinyourface.com/ including The Bangles, Gloria Estefan and Run DMC.  Pretty amazing.  Whilst I can't really say that I'm a fan of his music, you can't help but admire his ambition.  His new single features Tiffany.  YES, that Tiffany!  I'd wish him luck, but I don't need to.  He's clearly having a blast!  How many people do you know that record their own music and meet their idols?  Not many? I thought you'd say that.

Bylli posted this photo earlier today.

 



Mr Crayone also got his collection signed by the ladies... which included the 12" vinyl of Bananarama's last single 'Love Don't Live Here'.

Surely it was Sara that drew the moustache on Keren's face. Tut tut (Ha!)

New York New York!!!!

Last nights Bananarama gig at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, New York was a knock out success!


Photo source: carlogomez on Instgram

As you know, aside from celebrating 30 Years of Bananarama,  this tour benefits cancer charities and this specific date was the launch of the Hard Rock's  2012 'Pinktober' campaign.



Photo source: carlogomez on Instgram

Prior to the gig, the ladies did a few media interviews and photos.  Keren wore a stunning electric pink number and Sara wore a fabulous black gown (which I believe was designed by the amazing Vivienne Westwood).



Photo source: carlogomez on Instgram

The Banana's posed for the cameras with the Pinktober merchandise and at one point they were selling some to customers!  Well, it is for charity, dahlings!

Photo source: @HRCAruba on Twitter

The setlist was a nice mix of old and new songs.  Of course, the most memorable hits were played to please the huge crowd of fans.

Photo source: @JohnWilliams73 on Twitter

So, what did the fans think?

@Bergaliciousss Still buzzing from seeing Bananarama. It was so much fun & finally hearing those songs performed live made me so happy!! ^_^

@CarlosMeVa OMG @VivaBananarama were flawless! I am a bit sad that "Only Your Love" wasn't played but yay at "I Want You Back"! :D

@banram88 #Bananarama concert was a blast! Have NO voice left from screaming so much! Keren & Sara put on a phenominal show! 13 songs/90 minutes!

@weirdonyc I'm dying!!!

@skevin10065 @vivabananarama @hardrock @hardrockcafenyc Such a fun show! I woke up with the songs still in my head!

@patrickbutman The @VivaBananarama ladies are so amazing live that I turned into @BravoAndy during their show last night.

@DANNYECHI @hardrock @hardrockcafenyc BA NA NA RAMMA HEY HEY HEY GOODBYE but please don't wait another 10 years to come back to NewYork

Photo source: @HardRockCafeNYC on Twitter

Fox & Friends

Bananarama appeared on US TV yet again.  The ladies appeared on 'Fox & Friends' and performed their US number one smash, 'Venus'!




Photo courtesy of @JeffEtrl

...and more autograph hunters, like this man who waited patiently for the ladies to sign a copy of an album.

Photo courtsey of @Siemienas

Bananarama on 'Watch What Happens Live' on Bravo

Bananarama performed 'Cruel Summer' on last nights episode of 'Watch What Happens Live' on Bravo. 

Host @BravoAndy tweeted the following:

 

 

 

Bananarama hit New York, #30YearsOfBananarama is released in the USA!

Bananarama are now in New York!  The US tour has begun!

After an evening of fun, the ladies require an expensive car to support their aching pins.

There is lots of promotion planned and the following appearances have been announced:

(Oct 1st) 'Watch What Happens Live!" http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-happens-live/season-8 on Bravo
(Oct 1st) WCBS-FM Radio http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/
(Oct 2nd) Fox and Friends http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html

I also know that they will be interviewed by @LarryFlick on October 1st for his radio show. 

Bananarama are also going to be interviewed by Bylli Cayone http://byllicrayone.com/  Bylli is certainly an interesting chap. Clearly ambitious and most definitely an eccentric!  That should be fun!

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I shouldn't post these, but I will do because it is a bit of a hoot.  A very enthusiastic fan had waited for the Banana's arrival in New York and asked them to sign just about every piece of vinyl that exists in the entire world (possibly even several Rick Astley albums, an Anita Dobson single and that hideous Naomi Campbell album that nobody bought....)  He was clearly super excited to see the ladies back on US soil.

As regular readers should know, I am of course a registered psychic (that is a lie).  This is a LoveBananarama exclusive!  I can reveal Sara's actual thoughts as she was signing those records.  "Bloody hell, we recorded a lot of singles! Oooh, I don't like my hair on that cover!....That's not even one of our singles!  Who put a Smurfs album in here? Smile....I'll just smile my through this and imagine the large vodka and tonic waiting for me at the hotel".

I didn't need to read Keren's mind as she made her thoughts quite clear.  "Bearing in mind I flew from Singapore, London and New York...it's like cruelty for me.." she said grinning, whilst aware of the camera aimed at her face.  For the record, Keren need not have worried as she looked gorgeous and not like most people do after a long flight.   Glamourama, infact (that was poor, wasn't it?)  

BTW - Team Derek, if you're reading this.  You are clearly a mahoosive fan.  We love you for your persistance and cheekiness. 

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More great news! '30 Years of Bananarama' is now available to download in the USA, from iTunes and Amazon (and possibly other places too).  

Cool Cats

Twitter follower @PhilipMHeron is the Operations Manager at the super famous animal welfare organisation, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.  The organisation is the focus of Paul O'Grady's excellent ITV show 'For the Love Of Dogs'.   You can also vote for the show in the National TV Awards http://www.nationaltvawards.com/ 

Philip is a HUGE Bananarama fan and he tweeted Sara a lovely photo of these two cute and adorable Kittens. Can you guess what their names are?

Keren & Sara.  Let's hope they are homed soon!

Hard Rock Hollywood

@Bananarama2012 just posted this amazing photo!



"Hard Rock window on Hollywood Blvd"

A British Sensation...

"A British Sensation".  That's how Jeremy Kennedy describes Bananarama in his super complimentary written piece on examiner.com

It's refreshing when a writer acknowledges Bananarama's achievements in their amazing 30 year career.  Jeremy also points out that the October tour is their first in the US (albeit a much smaller affair this time) since 1989, which was when the ladies were on their 'world tour'.

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Sky Sports F1 commentator @CroftyF1 had a very interesting flight back home. Earlier today he tweeted the following:

Dance Studio-ness

Courtesy of @Bananarama2012

Working up a sweat in rehearsals for Hyde Park