Editing Bananarama

{{short description|English girl group}}
{{for|the band's self-titled album|Bananarama (album)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name            = Bananarama
| image           = Bananarama crop.jpg
| landscape       = yes
| caption         = Bananarama in 2006
| origin          = London, England
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[dance-pop]]|[[hi-NRG]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |title=Music Interview – Bananarama |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a166816/bananarama.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=24 July 2009 |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>|[[New wave music|new wave]]|[[Eurodance]]}}
| years_active    = 1980–present<ref name="Erlewine"/>
| label           = {{hlist|[[Deram Records|Deram]]|[[London Records|London]]|A&G|[[Fascination Records|Fascination]]|[[Rhino Records|Rhino]]|Live Here Now}}
| website         = {{URL|bananarama.co.uk}}
| current_members =
* [[Sara Dallin]]
* [[Keren Woodward]]
| past_members    =
* [[Siobhan Fahey]]
* [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]]
}}
'''Bananarama''' is an English pop group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends [[Sara Dallin]], [[Siobhan Fahey]], and [[Keren Woodward]].<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bananarama-mn0000785101|title=Bananarama|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]] until 1991, when the trio became a duo. Their success on both pop and dance charts saw them listed in the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' for achieving the world's highest number of chart entries by an all-female group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bananarama to headline Hyde's Splendid Festival|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|first=Sue|last=Carr|date=21 June 2010}}</ref> Between 1982 and 2009, they had 32 singles reach the Top 50 of the [[UK Singles Chart]].

The group's UK Top 10 hits include "[[He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'|Really Saying Something]]" (1982), "[[Shy Boy]]" (1982), "[[Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye]]" (1983), "[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)|Cruel Summer]]" (1983), "[[Robert De Niro's Waiting...]]" (1984), "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]" (1987), "[[I Want You Back (Bananarama song)|I Want You Back]]" (1988), and the charity track "[[Help! (song)#Bananarama version|Help!]]" (1989), a cover of [[The Beatles]]' song. In 1986, they had a [[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1986|US No. 1]] with another of their UK Top 10 hits, a cover of 1969 [[Shocking Blue]]'s song "[[Venus (Shocking Blue song)|Venus]]". In total, they had eleven singles reaching the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] (1983–1988).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Bananarama on Four Decades Together & Whether They'd Ever Call It Quits |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/bananarama-interview-masquerade-1235117127/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> They are associated with the [[MTV]]-driven [[Second British Invasion]] of the US.<ref name=Scripps-Howard>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1hshAAAAIBAJ&pg=5653,8995145&dq=squeeze%20second-british-invasion&hl=en|title=Culture Club, Duran Duran, Police lead second invasion|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|first=Roger|last=Kaye|date=31 October 1984|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref> The trio also performed on "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]", a UK chart-topping collaborative charity single released in 1984. They topped the Australian [[ARIA Charts|ARIA]] albums chart in June 1988 with ''[[Wow! (Bananarama album)|Wow!]]'' (1987),<ref name=auswow>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bananarama&titel=Wow!&cat=a|title=australian-charts.com > Bananarama - WOW! (album)|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=5 November 2015}}</ref> and earned [[Brit Award]] nominations for Best British Single for "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]", and Best Music Video for their cover of [[The Supremes]]' single "[[Nathan Jones (song)|Nathan Jones]]".

Fahey left the group in 1988 and formed [[Shakespears Sister]], best known for the UK No. 1 "[[Stay (Shakespears Sister song)|Stay]]" (1992). She was replaced by [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]]. This line-up had UK Top 5 hits with "I Want You Back" (1988) and their cover of The Beatles' song "Help!" (1989), recorded with comedy duo [[French and Saunders]] and comedian [[Kathy Burke]] for the charity [[Comic Relief]]. They also charted with "[[Love, Truth and Honesty]]" and their cover of The Supremes' song "Nathan Jones". In 1989, they embarked on their first world tour and had another hit with a new remixed version of "Cruel Summer". In 1990 and 1991, they had Top 30 hits with "[[Only Your Love]]", "[[Preacher Man]]", then the cover of [[The Doobie Brothers]]' song "[[Long Train Runnin'#Bananarama version|Long Train Running]]", and their new studio album ''[[Pop Life (Bananarama album)|Pop Life]]'', which featured these singles and a fourth, "[[Tripping on Your Love]]", which was released soon after the album. After O'Sullivan's mid-1991 departure, Dallin and Woodward continued Bananarama as a duo, with further Top 30 hits including "[[Movin' On (Bananarama song)|Movin' On]]" (1992), "[[More, More, More]]" (1993), "[[Move in My Direction]]" (2005), and "[[Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)]]" (2005). Fahey temporarily rejoined Bananarama in 2017, and the band toured the UK and North America as a trio between November and August that year.

==Career==
===1980–1982: early years===
Bananarama formed in September 1980 when teenagers and childhood friends Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward moved from [[Bristol]] to London and met Siobhan Fahey. Dallin and Fahey were studying journalism at the [[London College of Fashion]] (University of Arts) and Woodward was working at the [[BBC]] in Portland Place. Dallin and Woodward were living at the YWCA and were about to be made homeless until [[Paul Cook]], with whom they had become friends after meeting at a club, offered them a place to live above the former [[Sex Pistols]] rehearsal room in Denmark Street, [[Charing Cross]]. They took their name, in part, from the [[Roxy Music]] song "[[Pyjamarama (song)|Pyjamarama]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/biography/|title=Bananarama: Biography|date=2017|periodical=Bananarama.co.uk|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904012833/http://www.bananarama.co.uk/biography/|archive-date=4 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The trio were ardent followers of the [[punk rock]] and [[post-punk]] music scenes during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They often performed impromptu sets or backing vocals at gigs for such bands as [[The Monochrome Set]], [[The Professionals (band)|The Professionals]], [[Subway Sect]], [[Iggy Pop]], [[Department S (band)|Department S]], [[The Nips|The Nipple Erectors]], and [[The Jam]].<ref>[http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/nippleerectorsshanneinterview.htm "The Shanne Bradley Interview 26/8/2001"] punk77.co.uk Retrieved 18 September 2018.</ref><ref>[http://www.bananarama.co.uk/oltpr/ "The Original Line Up Tour"] bananarama.co.uk Retrieved 18 September 2018.</ref> In 1981, Bananarama recorded their first demo, "[[Aie a Mwana]]", a cover of a song by Black Blood, sung in [[Swahili language|Swahili]]. The demo was heard at [[Demon Records]], who consequently offered Bananarama their first deal. The song was an underground hit (UK No. 92) and Bananarama were signed by Decca (later [[London Records]]) and remained on the label until 1993. UK music magazine ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' featured an article on Bananarama after the release of their first single. This caught the attention of ex-[[The Specials|Specials]] member [[Terry Hall (singer)|Terry Hall]], who invited them to collaborate with his new vocal group [[Fun Boy Three]] on their album and the single "[['Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)|It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)]]". In 1982, the song hit the Top 5 in the UK and gave Bananarama their first significant mainstream success. Fun Boy Three then guested on Bananarama's single, "[[He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'|Really Saying Something]]", later that year.

===1982–1985: ''Deep Sea Skiving'' and ''Bananarama''===
[[File:Bananarama in 1984.jpg|thumb|Bananarama in 1984 (from left to right: [[Keren Woodward]], [[Siobhan Fahey]], and [[Sara Dallin]])]]
Bananarama experienced their greatest success during the period 1982 to 1989, with their first three albums primarily produced and co-written with [[Jolley & Swain]]. Their debut album, ''[[Deep Sea Skiving]]'' (UK No. 7, US No. 63) (1983) contained several hit singles&nbsp;– "[[He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'|Really Saying Something]]" (UK No. 5) and "[[Shy Boy]]" (UK No. 4)&nbsp;– and included a [[cover version]] of "[[Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)]]" (UK No. 5). "[[Cheers Then]]" (UK No. 45) was released as the third single, with little chart success, but very positive reviews from critics. The album peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI).<ref name=bpi>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/CG95TsU.jpg|title=BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Bananarama' (from bpi.co.uk)|publisher=imgur.com|access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref> 

The band recorded a version of the Sex Pistols' song "No Feelings" in late 1982 for the soundtrack of the British teen-comedy film, ''[[Party Party (film)|Party Party]]''. During 1982 and 1983, Bananarama did several promotional US press tours and TV appearances the first being on ''[[The Uncle Floyd Show]]'' and on ''[[American Bandstand]]'' and ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]''. The group had their first major success in the United States in 1984 with the Top 10 hit "[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)|Cruel Summer]]" (UK No. 8, US No. 9), bolstered by the song's inclusion in the soundtrack to the 1984 film ''[[The Karate Kid (1984 film)|The Karate Kid]]''. The song was ranked No. 44 on [[VH1]]'s 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2006/vh180s.htm |title=VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's |publisher=Rock on the Net |access-date=6 February 2017}}</ref> ''Billboard'' named the song No. 13 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7857816/100-greatest-girl-group-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> 

Their second album, ''[[Bananarama (album)|Bananarama]]'' (UK No. 16, US No. 30) was released in 1984. Single "[[Rough Justice (Bananarama song)|Rough Justice]]" (UK #23) was written about Thomas Reilly, the band's road manager and brother of Fahey's boyfriend [[Jim Reilly]] (drummer of the Northern Irish punk band [[Stiff Little Fingers]]), who was shot and killed by a British soldier in Belfast in August 1983.<ref name="Reilly">{{Cite web|title=Stiff Little Fingers Jim Reilly on forgiving soldier who killed brother: When you're 18 years old, you're still a child yourself|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/stiff-little-fingers-jim-reilly-on-forgiving-soldier-who-killed-brother-when-youre-18-years-old-youre-still-a-child-yourself-36828209.html|website=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=21 April 2018|access-date=11 August 2022}}</ref> The album contained the hit singles, "[[Robert De Niro's Waiting...]]" (UK No. 3) and "[[Rough Justice (Bananarama song)|Rough Justice]]" (UK No. 23). The track "[[Hot Line to Heaven]]" was also released as a single in the UK but failed to reach the Top 40, peaking at No. 58. The album peaked at No. 16 on the [[UK Albums Chart]], reached the US Top 40 albums chart, and was certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]. The trio also recorded the single, "[[The Wild Life (Bananarama song)|The Wild Life]]" (US No. 70) for the [[The Wild Life (film)|1984 American film of the same name]]. In 1984, Bananarama featured on the [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] single, "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" and were the only artists to appear on both the original 1984 Band Aid and the 1989 Band Aid II versions (Fahey appeared on the 1984 version while O'Sullivan appeared on the 1989 version). The stand-alone single "[[Do Not Disturb (Bananarama song)|Do Not Disturb]]" (UK No. 31) was released in 1985, although it was later added to their third album ''[[True Confessions (album)|True Confessions]]''.

===1986–1987: ''True Confessions'' and international success===
In 1986, the band released their third album, ''[[True Confessions (album)|True Confessions]]''. The majority of the album was produced by [[Jolley & Swain]] with the exception of "[[Venus (Shocking Blue song)|Venus]]" and "[[More Than Physical]]". The album contains the group's most commercially successful single to date, a cover version of [[Shocking Blue]]'s 1969 song "Venus", which peaked at No. 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the United States. The [[music video]] for "Venus" received heavy airplay on [[MTV]] in the United States. In 2014, Matt Dunn of [[WhatCulture]] ranked the song at No. 5 in his "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles" list, describing it as a "timeless classic of 80s synth pop, an instantly recognisable foot-tapping gem", while underlining the "provocative video and all its fire, sexy choreography, coffin dancing and red patent-leather devil outfits".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whatculture.com/music/15-unforgettable-stock-aitken-waterman-singles?page=12 |first=Matt |last=Dunn |title=15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles |website=[[WhatCulture]] |date=16 January 2014 |access-date=23 January 2024}}</ref> In 2021, British magazine ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'' ranked "Venus" No. 2 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/stock-aitken-waterman-songs/|first=|last=|title=Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs|magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]|access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref>
{{Listen|filename=bananarama venus.ogg|title="Venus" – Bananarama|description=An excerpt from Bananarama's 1986 version of "Venus"}}
''True Confessions'' reached No. 46 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and No. 15 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], becoming the group's highest-charting album on the latter chart. [[Tom Hibbert]] of ''[[Smash Hits]]'' praised the album as being "undeniably, convincingly listenable" and "a proper pop 'album'", adding that Bananarama "make 'intriguing' pop – and can even sustain the charm across an entire LP."<ref name="SH">{{cite magazine |last=Hibbert |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Hibbert |url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-16-29-july-1986/page/n57/mode/2up |title=Bananarama: True Confessions |magazine=[[Smash Hits]] |location=Peterborough |issn=0260-3004 |volume=8 |issue=15 |page=62 |date=16–29 July 1986 |access-date=4 June 2022 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Also in 1986, Dallin and Woodward were featured as backing vocalists on two songs on ''Family Album'', produced by [[John Lydon]]. Follow-up single "[[More Than Physical]]" hit UK No. 41, and "[[A Trick of the Night]]" hit No. 32. 

During a press tour in [[New York City]], the group also recorded a song "Riskin' a Romance" featured in the film ''[[The Secret of My Success (1987 film)|The Secret of My Success]]'' (1987).  In March 1987, Bananarama participated in the recording of the single "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" (UK No. 11) as members of the charity supergroup [[Ferry Aid]]. All sales from the single were donated to charity in response to the capsizing of the ferry [[Herald of Free Enterprise disaster|MS ''Herald of Free Enterprise'']], which killed 193 people. Among the featured singers was Woodward, who sang with [[Nick Kamen]].<ref>{{cite web| title= Collectors' Items: flexi discs, vinyl and cassettes| website= The Lyn Paul Website| url= http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org/NS-Novelties.htm#anchorFerryAid| access-date = 9 November 2011}}</ref>

===1987–1988: ''Wow!'' and Fahey's departure===
In the wake of the success of "Venus", Bananarama began work on the album ''[[Wow! (Bananarama album)|Wow!]]'' The album reached No. 26 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and No. 44 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],while peaking at No. 1 in Australia. The album was certified Gold by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) in 1988.

"[[I Heard a Rumour]]" (UK No. 14, US No. 4) was their strongest performing international hit from the album.  "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]" (UK No. 3), one of their biggest UK hits, was nominated at the 1988 [[Brit Awards]] for best single. A further single, "[[I Can't Help It (Bananarama song)|I Can't Help It]]" was also a hit (UK No. 20). After the third single from ''Wow!'' was released in early 1988, Fahey&nbsp;– who had married [[Eurythmics]]' [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]]&nbsp;– left the group. Her last performance as a member of the group was "Love in the First Degree" at the Brit Awards in February 1988. She would later resurface in the BRIT Award–winning pop duo [[Shakespears Sister]] with [[Marcella Detroit]].

===1988–1991: second line-up, ''Greatest Hits'', ''Pop Life'' and world tour===
After Fahey's exit, [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]] (formerly of the [[Shillelagh Sisters]]) joined the group in March 1988. The single "[[I Want You Back (Bananarama song)|I Want You Back]]" (UK No. 5) was re-recorded with O'Sullivan, as was [[The Supremes]] cover "[[Nathan Jones (song)|Nathan Jones]]" (UK No. 15) which was nominated for best video at the 1989 Brit Awards. "[[Love, Truth and Honesty]]" (UK No. 23) was released as a single from their 1988 retrospective compilation, ''[[Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)|Greatest Hits Collection]]'' (UK No. 3). At the same time, Bananarama entered the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the all-female group who have the most UK chart entries in history, a record they still hold.<ref name="Nicholson">{{Cite news|last=Nicholson|first=Rebecca|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/24/people-wet-knickers-bananarama-80s-trio-return|title='People wet their knickers when they find out I was in Bananarama': the 80s trio return|work=The Guardian|date=24 April 2017|access-date=24 April 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

As a fundraising charity single for [[Comic Relief]] in 1989, Bananarama recorded a cover of [[the Beatles]]' song "[[Help! (song)#Bananarama version|Help!]]" with [[Lananeeneenoonoo]] (UK No. 3), a mock girl-group created by British female comedy duo [[French and Saunders]], with fellow comedian [[Kathy Burke]]. Also in 1989, the band embarked upon their first world tour, which included shows in North America, East Asia, and the UK. Bananarama's 1991 album, ''[[Pop Life (Bananarama album)|Pop Life]]'', saw Dallin's and Woodward's songwriting collaboration with their friend Youth. They worked with a variety of producers including [[Martin Glover|Youth]], [[Shep Pettibone]], and [[Jolley & Swain|Steve Jolley]] of Jolley & Swain. They also incorporated a wider range of musical genres including [[reggae]], [[flamenco]] guitar, and [[acid house]]. Singles "[[Only Your Love]]" (UK No. 27), "[[Preacher Man]]" (UK No. 20), a cover of the [[Doobie Brothers]]' "[[Long Train Running]]" (UK No. 30), and "[[Tripping on Your Love]]" (UK No. 76) were the group's final releases with O'Sullivan. In a rave review for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[Chuck Eddy]] said that ''Pop Life'', "while energetic, is far moodier than anything they've ever done. The Gipsy Kings{{nbsp}}... help engineer the Doobie Brothers' 'Long Train Running' into a scary locomotive blues. Other tracks venture deep into the dark tunnel of dreamland: Pulses from an alternate universe underline fizzy computerized harmonies; sleepy voices trying hard to wake up ask 'What color are the skies where you live?'{{nbsp}}... Two other songs even have heavy [[psychedelic music|psychedelic]] guitars. We usually visit Bananaramaland to escape our problems, but this album takes us to an eerier place than we'd ever expect."<ref name="entertainmentweekly">{{cite magazine |last=Eddy |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Eddy |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/07/12/pop-life/ |title=Pop Life |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=12 July 1991 |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

===1992–2001: Duo re-launch, ''Please Yourself'', ''Ultra Violet'' and ''Exotica''===
In 1992, Dallin and Woodward returned as a duo and had a UK Top 30 hit with "[[Movin' On (Bananarama song)|Movin' On]]" (UK No. 24), which was the first single from the 1993 album ''[[Please Yourself]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=21|date=15 August 1992}}</ref> Other singles from the album were "Last Thing on My Mind" (UK No. 71) and a cover of the 1976 [[Andrea True Connection]] song "More, More, More" (UK No. 24). In July 2018, Mark Elliot of ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'' ranked ''Please Yourself'' as the 14th best album ever produced by [[Stock Aitken Waterman]]. He presented the album as "a concept project [Waterman] billed "ABBA-Banana", and considered "Movin'On" and "Last Thing on My Mind" as "classics".<ref name="top15">{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2018/07/top-15-saw-albums/|title=Top 15 Stock Aitken Waterman Albums |first=Mark |last=Elliot |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810022807/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2018/07/top-15-saw-albums/ |archivedate=10 August 2019 |accessdate=23 March 2023 |url-status=live |date=July 2018 |work=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]}}</ref>

Their next offering was 1995's ''[[Ultra Violet (Bananarama album)|Ultra Violet]]'' (entitled ''I Found Love'' in Japan) on a new label. The album and its three singles — "I Found Love", "[[Every Shade of Blue]]", and "[[Take Me to Your Heart (Bananarama song)|Take Me to Your Heart]]" — were only released in some European countries, North America, Japan, and Australia, but not in Britain. In 1998, Dallin and Woodward asked Fahey to join them to record the track "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]" (a cover of the classic [[ABBA]] song) for the [[Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision]] celebration ''A Song for [[Eurotrash (TV show)|Eurotrash]]'' on [[Channel 4]]. In 1999, Dallin, Woodward, and Fahey were interviewed together for an episode of the BBC music documentary series ''Young Guns Go For It'' dedicated to the group. In 2001, Dallin and Woodward, who had been frequently working in France, had recorded the album ''[[Exotica (Bananarama album)|Exotica]]'' with the French label M6. The album also included a cover of [[George Michael]]'s "Careless Whisper", Latin- and R&B-influenced dance songs, and reinterpreted versions of their earlier hits.

===2002–2006: ''Very Best'' and ''Drama''===
In 2002, the group released ''[[The Very Best of Bananarama]]'' to celebrate the group's 20th anniversary, including their singles released from 1981 to 1993.<ref name="AM">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id= r621397/review|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref> They also recorded the song "Love Him, Leave Him, Forget Him" for [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky TV]]'s show ''[[Is Harry on the Boat?]]'' as well as the song "U R My Baby" for a German disco project. The album reached No. 43 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. In 2005, Dallin and Woodward collaborated with [[Murlyn Music Group]], writing and recording in Sweden for six months to produce the album ''Drama''. The album's first single "[[Move in My Direction]]" debuted on the [[UK Singles Chart]] at No. 14, also becoming their first UK Top 40 entry since 1993. The second single, "[[Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)]]", also reached the UK Top 40, and climbed to No. 2 on the US [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart as an import, becoming Bananarama's biggest US dancefloor hit since "Venus" two decades earlier. ''Drama'' charted at No. 21 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Top Electronic Albums]] chart.

===2006–2011: Remasters and ''Viva'' ===

In 2006, [[Warner Bros. Records]] released ''[[The Twelve Inches of Bananarama]]'', a compilation of twelve remixes on CD including the rare [[George Michael]] remix of "[[Tripping on Your Love]]". On 19 March 2007, Bananarama's first six studio albums were reissued by [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]] on CD with bonus material, including alternative versions, remixes, and B-sides. On 7 May 2007, another best-of collection titled ''[[Greatest Hits and More More More]]'' was released by [[Warner Bros. Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/disco/albums/ghmmm.html|title=Bananarama – The Greatest Hits & More More More|publisher=Bananarama Official Website|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref> 

In August 2008, Bananarama were back in the studio recording a track with [[Joseph Simmons|Rev Run]] from [[Run-D.M.C.]]. The song, 'Invincible', credited as Rev Run featuring Bananarama, did not surface until late 2014 on Rev Run's solo album ''Red Rhythm Rewind''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/|title=Official Website|publisher=Bananarama}}</ref> In June 2009, Bananarama performed at the Isle of Wight Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/history/2009.aspx|title=Isle of Wight Festival|access-date=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519140309/http://isleofwightfestival.com/history/2009.aspx|archive-date=19 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2009, they performed at the [[Rewind Festival|80s Rewind Festival]] in [[Henley-on-Thames]] alongside other 1980s acts which included [[Rick Astley]], [[Belinda Carlisle]], and [[Kim Wilde]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rewindfestival.com/lineup|title=Rewind Festival|access-date=23 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831090116/http://www.rewindfestival.com/lineup|archive-date=31 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Bananarama released a new single entitled "[[Love Comes]]" (UK No. 44) and a new album ''[[Viva (Bananarama album)|Viva]]'' (UK No. 87) in September 2009. The album was produced by [[Ian Masterson]] and released through Fascination Records. A second single was released from the album in April 2010, a new remix of the song "[[Love Don't Live Here (Bananarama song)|Love Don't Live Here]]" (UK No. 114) backed by Ian Masterson's 2010 reworking of the 1995 single "[[Every Shade of Blue]]" and "The Runner" (originally recorded by [[The Three Degrees]]), remixed by Buzz Junkies.<ref name="bananarama">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/|title=BANANARAMA OFFICIAL WEBSITE|website=BANANARAMA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/disco/albums/va.html |title=Bananarama detailed discography |publisher=bananarama.co.uk |access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref> In April 2011, Bananarama appeared on ITV's hit comedy ''[[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]]'' and performed "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]", "[[Robert De Niro's Waiting...]]", and "[[Movin' On (Bananarama song)|Movin' On]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151800482|title=Bananarama hit Benidorm|publisher=MSN|date=31 March 2011|access-date=21 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123134121/http://tv.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151800482|archive-date=23 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2012–2016: ''30 Years of Bananarama''===
On 9 July 2012, Warner Music imprint [[Rhino Records]] released a greatest hits CD and DVD Collection ''[[30 Years of Bananarama]]'' to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/exclusive/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=13&Itemid=30&MainId=30 |title=Official Website |publisher=Biography |access-date=22 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403113711/http://www.bananarama.co.uk/exclusive/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=13&Itemid=30&MainId=30 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[CD]] features Bananarama's 22 best-known [[Single (music)|singles]], from their [[1981 in music|1981]] debut, "[[Aie a Mwana]]", to their [[2009 in music|2009]] effort, "[[Love Don't Live Here (Bananarama song)|Love Don't Live Here]]". All songs are presented in chronological order (except the bonus tracks on digital) with most of them being their album versions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/30-Years-Bananarama/dp/B008AVYOBC |title=30 Years Of Bananarama on Amazon|publisher=amazon.co.uk |access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> The [[Online music store|digital version]] includes three extra tracks "[[Rough Justice (Bananarama song)|Rough Justice]]", "[[Long Train Running]]", and "[[A Trick of the Night]]", adding up to a total of 25 tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/30-years-bananarama-very-best/id539612884 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221004118/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/30-years-bananarama-very-best/id539612884 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2015 |title=30 Years Of Bananarama on iTunes|publisher=[[iTunes]] |access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> The album charted at No. 62 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. On 9 August 2012, the band performed at the men's final of the beach volleyball at the London Olympics. They performed a medley of "[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)|Cruel Summer]]", "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]", and "[[Venus (Shocking Blue song)|Venus]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/other-sport/warbos-word-olympics-day-14-5974578|title=Warbo's Word: Olympics day 14|newspaper=Harrow Observer|first=Paul|last=Warburton|date=11 August 2012|access-date=19 February 2013}}</ref> In December 2016, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine ranked them the 94th most successful dance artist of all time.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-top-dance-club-artists "Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists"]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved 4 January 2017.</ref>

===2017–present: original line-up tour, ''In Stereo'', ''Really Saying Something'' and  ''Masquerade''===
[[File:Bananarama (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Bananarama in 2018]]
On 23 April 2017, Fahey rejoined Bananarama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.6towns.co.uk/2017/04/bananarama-are-back-siobhan-fahey-rejoins-sara-dallin-keren-woodward-for-one-tour/|title=BANANARAMA ARE BACK - Siobhan Fahey Rejoins Sara Dallin & Keren Woodward For One Tour|date=2017-04-24|website=6 Towns Radio|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-22|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222135649/http://www.6towns.co.uk/2017/04/bananarama-are-back-siobhan-fahey-rejoins-sara-dallin-keren-woodward-for-one-tour/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Original Line-up Tour saw them perform 23 sell-out dates across the UK in November and December 2017. In February 2018, they played four dates in North America: [[Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco]], and [[New York City]] in the United States; and [[Toronto]] in Canada. Their final dates as a trio were in August 2018. On 22 December 2018, Dallin and Woodward again appeared as contestants on the Christmas Special of the game show ''Pointless Celebrities''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1062893/Pointless-Celebrities-Richard-Osman-end-show-Alexander-Armstrong-Christmas-BBC-video-watch|title=Pointless Celebrities: 'End the show' Richard Osman makes HUGE admission moments into show|newspaper=Express|first=Charlie|last=Milward|date=22 December 2018|access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref> 

On 19 April 2019, Dallin and Woodward released their new album ''[[In Stereo (Bananarama album)|In Stereo]]'' (UK No. 29). On 29 April 2022, Dallin and Woodward released the track "Favourite" from their twelfth studio album ''[[Masquerade (Bananarama album)|Masquerade]]'', which was released on 22 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/bananarama-announce-12th-studio-album-masquerade-release-new-single-favourite/|title=Bananarama announce 12th studio album, 'Masquearade', release new single 'Favourite'|website=Retro Pop Magazine|date=2022-04-29|access-date=2022-07-08}}</ref> On 15 June 2022, the album title track "Masquerade" was released as the first official single, and its music video followed two days later. A second track entitled "Velvet Lies" followed on 18 July 2022. On 12 August 2022, "Forever Young" was released as the official second single. On 14 October 2022, "Running with the Night" was released as the official third single. The album's release was followed by two launch shows at London Lafayette on 3 and 4 August 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://list.co.uk/news/42132/bananarama-to-play-two-nights-in-london-this-august-how-to-get-tickets|title=Bananarama to play two nights in London this August: How to get tickets|author=Kevin Fullerton|website=List.co.uk|date=2022-05-03|access-date=2022-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|author=Bananarama|user=VivaBananarama|number=1521414873997004800|title=Celebrate the launch of our new album #Masquerade with two special shows this summer! 🎭 💿August 3rd & 4th at @LondonLafayette Tickets on sale this Friday @10am (UK)⏰ Link here: http://axs.com/uk/series/14661/bananarama-at-lafayette-tickets?skin=aegpresentsuk #Bananarama2022 @AEG_Presents @AXS_UK|date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Nominee(s)
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=10|[[Billboard Music Awards]]
| rowspan=6|[[Billboard Year-End|1986]]
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Artist|Top Hot 100 Artist]]
| rowspan=3|Themselves
| {{nom}}
|rowspan=6|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51 |title=Billboard - Google йМХЦХ |date=27 December 1986 |page=51 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Artist|Top Dance Club Play Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Dance Sales Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song|Top Hot 100 Song]]
| rowspan=3|"[[Venus (Shocking Blue song)|Venus]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song|Top Dance Club Play Single]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Dance Sales Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4|[[Billboard Year-End|1987]]
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Artist|Top Hot 100 Artist]]
| rowspan=2|Themselves
| {{nom}}
|rowspan=4|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA21 |title=Billboard - Google йМХЦХ |date=26 December 1987 |page=44 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Artist|Top Dance Club Play Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song|Top Hot 100 Song]]
| rowspan=2|"[[I Heard a Rumour]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song|Top Dance Club Play Single]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Brit Awards]]
| [[1988 Brit Awards|1988]]
| [[Brit Award for Song of the Year|British Single of the Year]]
| "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]"
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1988|title=History|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=17 June 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509000725/https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1988|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[1989 Brit Awards|1989]]
| [[Brit Award for British Video of the Year|British Video of the Year]]
| "[[Nathan Jones (song)|Nathan Jones]]"
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1989|title=History|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=17 June 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507121622/https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1989|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop Readers' Awards]]
| 2018
| Group of the Year
| Themselves
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scontent-hel3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-0/s320x320/26993472_747465422112637_8678287722285645659_n.png?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=T5vYBYfC_jcAX8FndPl&_nc_ht=scontent-hel3-1.xx&tp=30&oh=637141fc102f5cd299b453d8b4b06332&oe=60EB5D24 |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184732/https://scontent-hel3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-0/s320x320/26993472_747465422112637_8678287722285645659_n.png?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=T5vYBYfC_jcAX8FndPl&_nc_ht=scontent-hel3-1.xx&tp=30&oh=637141fc102f5cd299b453d8b4b06332&oe=60EB5D24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| Album of the Year
| ''[[In Stereo (Bananarama album)|In Stereo]]''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latest.facebook.com/ClassicPopMag/photos/a.414448128590912/2567513246617712/?type=3&theater  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/412511768784548/2567513246617712 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=The Classic Pop Reader Awards are almost... - Classic Pop Magazine &#124; Facebook |website=Latest.facebook.com |date=2019-12-31 |access-date=2020-05-17}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[International Dance Music Awards]]
| rowspan=2|2007
| Best HiNRG/Euro Dance Track 
| rowspan=2|"[[Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)|Look on the Floor]]"
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2007#idmanominees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126005800/http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2007#idmanominees |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-11-26 |title=31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016 |access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>
|-
| Best Dance Music Video
| {{nom}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[Music Week|Music Week Awards]]
| 2025
| Catalogue Marketing Campaign
| rowspan=2|Themselves
| {{pending}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.musicweekawards.com/25/finalists25 | title=Music Week Awards Finalists }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|[[Smash Hits Poll Winners Party]]
| 1989
| Best Group
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1989-poll-winners |title=Articles on Smash Hits |website=Michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com |access-date=2020-05-17 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721192448/http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1989-poll-winners |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{end}}

==Members==

===Current members===
*[[Sara Dallin]] (1980–present)
*[[Keren Woodward]] (1980–present)

===Former members===
*[[Siobhan Fahey]] (1980–1988, 1998, 2002, 2017–2018)
*[[Jacquie O'Sullivan]] (1988–1991)

====Timeline====
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:900 height:auto barincrement:30
PlotArea   = left:100 bottom:55 top:05 right:0
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1980 till:31/08/2024
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend     = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1980
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1980

Colors =
 id:Sara           value:red
 id:Keren          value:orange
 id:Siobhan        value:green
 id:Jacquie        value:blue
 id:album          value:black       legend:Studio_album
 id:other          value:gray(0.7)   legend:Other_significant_release

LineData =
 layer:back
 at:07/03/1983 color:album
 at:21/04/1984 color:album
 at:12/07/1986 color:album
 at:04/09/1987 color:album
 at:18/05/1991 color:album
 at:03/04/1993 color:album
 at:27/05/1995 color:album
 at:12/03/2001 color:album
 at:14/11/2005 color:album
 at:14/09/2009 color:album
 at:19/04/2019 color:album
 at:22/07/2022 color:album
 at:25/09/2012 color:other
 at:14/10/1988 color:other
 at:08/03/2024 color:other

BarData =
 bar:Sara        text:"Sara Dallin"
 bar:Keren       text:"Keren Woodward"
 bar:Siobhan     text:"Siobhan Fahey"
 bar:Jacquie     text:"Jacquie O'Sullivan"

PlotData=
 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
 bar:Sara    from:01/01/1980 till:end        color:Sara    width:11
 bar:Keren   from:01/01/1980 till:end        color:Keren   width:11
 bar:Siobhan from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1988 color:Siobhan width:11
 bar:Siobhan from:23/04/2017 till:01/08/2018 color:Siobhan width:11
 bar:Jacquie from:01/03/1988 till:31/12/1991 color:Jacquie width:11
</timeline>

==Discography==
{{Main|Bananarama discography}}

===Studio albums===
*''[[Deep Sea Skiving]]'' (1983)
*''[[Bananarama (album)|Bananarama]]'' (1984)
*''[[True Confessions (album)|True Confessions]]'' (1986)
*''[[Wow! (Bananarama album)|Wow!]]'' (1987)
*''[[Pop Life (Bananarama album)|Pop Life]]'' (1991)
*''[[Please Yourself]]'' (1993)
*''[[Ultra Violet (Bananarama album)|Ultra Violet]]'' (1995)
*''[[Exotica (Bananarama album)|Exotica]]'' (2001)
*''[[Drama (Bananarama album)|Drama]]'' (2005)
*''[[Viva (Bananarama album)|Viva]]'' (2009)
*''[[In Stereo (Bananarama album)|In Stereo]]'' (2019)
*''[[Masquerade (Bananarama album)|Masquerade]]'' (2022)

==Concert tours==
'''Headlining'''
* Cruel Summer Tour (1985)
* Lovekids Tour (1988)
* Bananarama World Tour (1989)
* Dance Mix Tour (1995–1996)
* Bananarama Culture Tour (1997–1999)
* Drama World Tour (2005–2006)
* Viva Tour (2009–2010)
* Live in Concert (2012–2016)
* The Original Line Up Tour (2017–2018)
* In Stereo Tour (2019)
* Masquerade Tour (2022–present)

'''Co-headlining'''
* [[Here and Now Tour]] {{small|(with various artists)}} (2007–2008)

==List of all record labels==
{{div col}}
* [[London Records]] <small>(UK, US and Canada, 1981–1993)</small>
* [[ZYX Records]] <small>(Germany, 1994–1996)</small>
* [[avex trax]] <small>(Japan, 1995 / Taiwan, 2006)</small>
* [[Quality Records]] <small>(Canada, 1995)</small>
* Mega Records <small>(Denmark, 1995)</small>
* DigIt International <small>(Italy, 1995)</small>
* [[Festival Records]] <small>(Australia, 1995)</small>
* Popular Records <small>(Canada 1996)</small>
* [[Curb Records]] <small>(USA, 1996)</small>
* M6 Interactions <small>(France, 2000)</small>
* A&G Productions <small>(UK, 2004–2006)</small>
* The Lab <small>(USA, 2006)</small>
* [[True North Records]] <small>(Canada, 2006)</small>
* Edel Company <small>(Germany, 2006)</small>
* EQ Music <small>(Singapore and Malaysia, 2005)</small>
* Phantom Imports <small>(Hong Kong, 2006)</small>
* Central Station <small>(Australia, 2005)</small>
* [[Pony Canyon]] <small>(Japan, 2006)</small>
* [[Universal Records (Philippines)|Universal Records]] <small>(Philippines, 2005)</small>
* [[Blanco y Negro Records]] <small>(Spain, 1995–2006)</small>
* Megaliner Records <small>(Russia, 2005)</small>
* Nice Records <small>(France, 2007)</small>
* [[Fascination Records]] <small>(UK, 2009–2010)</small>
* [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]] <small>(UK, 2016–2019)</small>
* Absolute Label Services <small>(UK, 2019–present)</small>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Girl group]]
*[[List of best-selling girl groups]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bananarama}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{Allmusic}}
*{{Discogs artist}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{Bananarama|state=expanded}}
{{Stock Aitken Waterman}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1981]]
[[Category:British new wave girl groups]]
[[Category:British Eurodance groups]]
[[Category:English pop music duos]]
[[Category:Dance-pop groups]]
[[Category:Deram Records artists]]
[[Category:English dance music groups]]
[[Category:British hi-NRG groups]]
[[Category:English new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:English dance girl groups]]
[[Category:English pop girl groups]]
[[Category:London Records artists]]
[[Category:English musical trios]]
[[Category:Pop music groups from London]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]
[[Category:ZYX Music artists]]
[[Category:Female musical duos]]
[[Category:Second British Invasion artists]]
[[Category:Live Here Now artists]]
[[Category:English musical duos]]