What is "bananarama"

Bananarama are a British female pop music vocal group formed in London in 1979 by friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward. Their success on both pop and dance charts have earned the group a listing in The Guinness Book of World Records as the all-female group with the most chart entries in the world, a record which they still hold.

They released their debut single " Aie a Mwana" in 1981. The group's 10 UK Top 10 hits include " It Ain't What You Do..." (1982), " Really Saying Something" (1982), " Shy Boy" (1982), " Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (1983), " Cruel Summer" (1983), " Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (1984) and " Love in the First Degree" (1987). In 1986, they had a US number one with another of their UK Top 10 hits, " Venus". In total, they had 11 singles reach the US Billboard Hot 100 (1983-1988), including two more in the top 10, with "Cruel Summer" (1984) and " I Heard a Rumour" (1987). They are associated with the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US. In 1988, "Love in the First Degree" earned them a Brit Award nomination for Best British Single, while their fourth album Wow! (1987), topped the Australian ARIA albums chart. Their 1988 music video for the group's hit cover of The Supremes 1971 smash single " Nathan Jones" earned them another Brit Award nomination.

Following Fahey's departure from the group in 1988, Jacquie O'Sullivan joined the group for three years and they had UK Top 10 hits with " I Want You Back" (1988) and " Help!" (1989). In addition to their chart success, the band is also known for their vocal style, generally singing in unison rather than in harmony like most vocal groups. Since 1992, Woodward and Dallin have continued Bananarama as a duo, with hits including " Movin' On" (1992) and " More, More, More" (1993). They returned to the UK Top 20 for the first time since 1991 with the 2005 single " Move in My Direction". Between 1982 and 2009, they had 28 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK singles chart.

Bananarama is the second album released by British girl group Bananarama. Released in 1984, the album peaked at no.16 on the UK album chart, also reaching the US top 40 album chart and was certified Silver by the BPI.

The group continued their association with producers Jolley & Swain (who had produced some tracks on their debut album, Deep Sea Skiving). With this album, Bananarama had their first significant U.S. success with the single " Cruel Summer", which became a top ten hit there (the song had also been a top 10 hit in the UK in 1983), bolstered by the song's inclusion in the soundtrack to the movie The Karate Kid. Further hits from the album included " Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (UK #3) and " Rough Justice" (UK #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 #58.

The original vinyl release came in an embossed sleeve and included a poster which, as well as the album lyrics and a photo of each member of the group, contained the message: "Well, a year is a long time, people change & maybe we have too – hopefully for the better! Anyway here are results of our hard work over the past twelve months. This is for you – we hope you like it. Best Wishes, love Keren X, All the best, love Sarah x, and Lots of love, Siobhan xx".

The album and the song on it, "King of the Jungle" were dedicated to the memory of their friend Thomas ‘Kidso’ Reilly, who had recently been killed in Belfast.

On 19 March 2007 Bananarama's first six studio albums were re-issued by Rhino Records. All re-issues are remastered and each includes several bonus tracks, consisting of B-sides and remixes.