What are your go-to comfort films?

What are your go-to films when you need comfort and instant entertainment? The films that are so familiar to you, yet you never tire from watching again and again.

When I was compiling my recommendations for the LoveBananarama Amazon store, a few titles easily came to mind.

I was particularly thinking about those feel-good, guaranteed-laugh nostalgia films and there was one unforgettable actress that immediately sprung to mind. The Divine Miss M.

Outrageous Fortune (1987)
Prissy, refined Lauren (Shelley Long) thinks she has nothing at all in common with loud, brassy Sandy (Bette Midler)... until she discovers that they share the same boyfriend (Peter Coyote)! When their two-timing beau then goes missing, the unlikely duo are forced to reluctantly join forces and track him down. On the subsequent cross-country trek the women learn that complete opposites can sometimes get along after all.  It's a hilarious romp and both Shelley and Bette give great performances. To order, click here.

Ruthless People (1986)
Millionaire Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) hates his wife Barbara (Bette Midler). He plans on murdering her to gain control of her $15 million family fortune and run off with his mistress Carol (Anita Morris). It's so eighties that it hurts. Love it. To order, click here.

Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three hundred years after they were sentenced to die in Salem, a trio of witches return to gain their revenge. Terrorising the town's trick-or-treaters on Halloween, riding on vacuum cleaners instead of broomsticks, the only thing that can stop them is a black cat - in fact a boy who was turned into feline form on the day of the witches' original execution. This has become a classic Halloween film for all the family. To order, click here.

I might cosy up on the sofa and pop in a DVD in right now...

It’s murder on the dance floor

She’s back! Sophie Ellis Bextor releases The Song Diaries on 15 March.

It’s an orchestral greatest hits with 19 incredible tracks including 'Murder On The Dancefloor', 'GrooveJet', 'Take Me Home' plus 'Love Is You' which was previously A-listed at Radio 2 and performed on The One Show.  Featuring orchestral versions of 6 x Top 10 hits!

“Joyous, exhilarating reinvention and reminiscence" - Evening Standard ****

Preorder here

What on earth is happening on Friday?

The news that there will be an Bananarama announcement on Friday is making fans go a little bit bonkers.

What kind of news could it be?  Well, we know that the album was mastered recently, so it's most likely to be that.

Is that new music you hear?!👂OUR ALBUM IS DONE🎉 Just in time for Christmas🎄✨🍾🎶#Bananarama2019 pic.twitter.com/GPkAbm1f1Y

— Bananarama Official (@VivaBananarama) December 19, 2018

Yet some fans are thinking a little deeper by suggesting that Dawn French will become their new comedy partner, Jacquie is re-joining and my favourite which is my own thought on the matter, Bananarama are going to announce a range of collectable ornamental thimbles. One can only hope.

To calm myself down, I've been listening to last years Live album and throwing shapes to the funky version of I Can't Help It.

Free Love by Juliet Roberts

Nothing is free in life... except maybe love - well, unless you're a certain kind of business person...but we won't dwell on such unsavoury nonsense.

Free Love by Juliet Roberts is a jam! I found this 1992 US vinyl maxi-single (pictured) recently in a record shop and I was reminded how Juliet had released a series of dancefloor masterpieces in the nineties. Songs like 'Caught in the middle' and 'I want you' that feature on her very good debut album 'Natural Thing'.

You're never satisfied

You're never satisfied! Yes, I'm talking to you, reader of this blog post.

There is something about this song, a track on Bananarama's sixth studio album, that makes me wonder how this would've fared as a single back in 1993.



In my head, I imagine remixes by Steve Silk Hurley because the rhythm is very similar - and a video where Keren and Sara are berating a group of men for being utterly useless dickheads.

"I gave you everything but you still want more" mouths Keren as she waves a frying pan around her head before throwing it in the face of an attractive blonde model. Meanwhile, Sara is burning a selection of men's designer suits whilst proclaiming "if you play with fire, you'd better learn", much to the horror of her bloke who cries a bit. The girls then throw a selection of french patisserie creations at a line-up of males, whilst muttering something about cake and eating it too. It's all very late night channel 4 if you ask me.

Obviously, at the very end there is a dance routine with troops of men in designer underwear and much arm waving and prancing because Bananarama were contractually obligated for both of those things.

Please Yourself is available on whiter than white vinyl and can be purchased by clicking here.



You're Never Satisfied (S. Dallin, K. Woodward, M. Stock, P. Waterman)

I gave you everything but you still want more
You just don't know what you're looking for
You used to say I was all you ever need
But now you're running 'round footloose and free

You choose to play the other side of the tracks
Then expecting me to take you back
You never know what's good for you
You want your cake and eat it too

Took my love, threw it on one side
Saying the grass is greener on the other side
You can look but you'll never find
Don't you know you're never satisfied?

If you play with fire, you'd better learn
You fool around, you get your fingers burned
Out of mind is out of sight
Don't know how you sleep at night?

Took my love, oh, but you can look
You're never satisfied

Don't know how you sleep at night?
Footloose and free

You want your cake and eat it too

You choose to play the other side of the tracks
Then expecting me to take you back
You never know what's good for you
You want your cake and eat it too

Took my love, threw it on one side
Saying the grass is greener on the other side
You can look but you'll never find
Don't you know you're never satisfied?

You're Never Satisfied lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.