Top 10 Bananarama Songs

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Our Top 10 Bananarama Songs list will take a look at a popular English group. They were a popular group in the 80s. The group was originally a trio who formed in 1980. Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward were the original members of the group. Siobhan Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O’Sullivan. She stayed in the group for three years. Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward remained with the group. They have sold millions of albums worldwide. They were in the Guiness World Records for having the highest number of charted singles by a female group. They had 30 singles reach the Top 50 on the U.K. charts. Some of their hit singles include “Shy Boy,” “Robert De Niro’s Waiting,” “Love in the First Degree,” “I Want Help,” “Venus,” “Cruel Summer,” “I Heard a Rumour,” “I Can’t Help It” and “More Than Physical.”

Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward were childhood friends who grew up in Bristol. They moved to London and met Siobhan Fahey. They were fans of punk and rock music so it made sense that they would become singers. They recorded a demo in 1981 called “AIE a Mwana.” They were offered their first record deal after that demo. They released Deep Sea Skiving is 1983. It peaked at number seven on the U.K. charts and number 63 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “AIE a Mwana,” “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’,” “Shy Boy,” “Cheers Then,” “He’s Got Tact” and “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” The album was certified silver.

They released their self-titled album in 1984. It peaked at number 16 on the U.K. charts and number 30 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Cruel Summer,” “Robert De Niro’s Waiting,” “Rough Justice,” “Hot Line to Heaven” and “The Wild Life.” The album was certified silver. True Confessions was released in 1986. It peaked at number 46 on the U.K. charts and number 15 on Billboard 200. This is their highest charting album in the United States. It features the singles “Do Not Disturb,” “Venus,” “More Than Physical” and “A Trick of the Night.”

Wow! was released in 1987. This is the last album they did with Siobhan Fahey. It peaked at number 26 on the U.K. charts and number 44 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “I Heard A Rumour,” “Love in the First Degree,” “I Can’t Help It” and “I Want You Back.” The album sold over 100,000 copies. It went gold in the U.K. Pop Life was released in 1991. This is the only album that features Jacquie O’Sullivan. This is also the last album they did as a trio. The album peaked at number 42 on the U.K. charts. It features the singles “Only Your Love,” “Preacher Man,” “Long Train Runnin’” and “Tripping on Your Love.”

Please Yourself was released in 1993. Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward went on to become a duo. It peaked at number 46 on the U.K. charts. It features the singles “Movin’ On,” “Last Thing on My Mind” and “More, More, More.” Ultra Violet was released in 1995. It features the singles “I Found Love,” “Every Shade of Blue” and “Take Me to Your Heart.” Exotica was released in 2001. It features the singles “If” and “Careless Whisper.” Drama was released in 2005. It peaked at number 21 on the dance charts and number 169 on the U.K. charts. It features the singles “Move in My Direction” and “Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango).”

Viva was released in 2009. It peaked at number 87 on the U.K. Charts. It features the singles “Love Comes” and “Love Don’t Live Here.” In Stereo was released in 2019. It peaked at number 29 on the U.K. albums and number five on the U.K. Independent charts. It features the singles “Stuff Like That” and “Looking for Someone.”

Bananarama was a successful girl group from the 80s. They stood out because they all sang together. There was no lead singer. This set them apart from other groups. They paved the way for acts like Ace of Base and Spice Girls. Bananarama was often compared to ABBA because they are an international group. They also sing in unison like ABBA. Bananarama continues to make music for their loyal fans. This Top 10 Bananarama Songs list will feature their best singles.

# 10 – Stuff Like That

The first song on our Top 10 Bananarama Songs list is “Stuff Like That” from the In Stereo album. The song has a disco and pop beat. The catchy song is about a woman who wants to hear a man say sweet nothings in her ear. Many women would love to hear a man say sweet things in their ear. This song proved that Bananarama had longevity in the business because they were successful in the 80s and managed to have a hit in 2019. This is a homage to their old song “I Can’t Help It.”

It is a bouncy track that will stay in your head. They stuck to the formula that works for them. The melody is similar to their hit single “I Can’t Help It.” The music will make you get up on the dance floor. Fans of their old music won’t be disappointed by the music in this track. They didn’t stray from the music they used in the past. They were able to make the transition from the past to the present. Bananarama sound just as good as ever. They sound as if no time has passed.

They kept their singing style similar to the way they did in the 80s. Their voices blend very well with the music. The hook is infectious and will stay in your head long after the song is over. It’s hard to believe this is a group that was from the 80s because they sound as fresh as they did when they first hit the music scene.

# 9 – I Want You Back

The next song on our Top 10 Bananarama Songs list is “I Want You Back” is from the Wow! album. The song has a dance pop beat. The heartfelt song is about a woman who misses the man she lost. She wants him back in her life. This track is relatable to anyone who has lost someone they love. If you have lost the person you love, this song will let you know that you are not alone. The lyrics are so emotional and deep. The lyrics will hit home if you are suffering from a breakup.

The music is a little misleading because it has an upbeat sound, but it is about heartbreak. The good thing about the upbeat music is while you are heartbroken, you have a reason to smile. It will help ease the pain of listening to happy music. The melody sounds similar to their hit single ”Venus.” The music has an 80s beat, but it doesn’t sound dated. You can still appreciate the music to this day. The keyboard, synthesizer and drums sell the music.

The original members of Bananarama didn’t sing this song. This song was done when Jacquie O’Sullivan joined the group. The magic could have been gone since it wasn’t the original members, but the spark was still there. They sound amazing in this track. You would never know Siobhan Fahey left the group because they never missed a beat. Their voices are in perfect sync with each other. They harmonize well with each other.

# 8 – Shy Boy

The uplifting song is from the Deep Sea Skiving album. The song has a dance pop beat. The breezy song is about a woman enjoying her time with the man she loves. We have all been in a situation where we loved spending time with the person we love. There is nothing new with this song, but they make the best of it. There is nothing here that hasn’t been done before, but they gave it their all.

This is a song you can listen to on a sunny day at the beach or while you are at home relaxing. The music is a nod to 50s music. It will have you bopping your head to the bouncy beat. The music features the keyboard, drum programming, percussion and synth beats. The music is very dance friendly. It is not one of the first songs you would think of when you think of the group and their hit songs, but this one is still a gem. This song features the original members of Bananarama. Fans from the beginning of their career get to hear the original trio on a song together.

Bananarama sound great on this underrated track. Their harmonies are fire as usual. Their chemistry with each other shines through in their vocals. You can tell they enjoyed recording with each other. This song may not be one of the first songs you think of when you think of the group, but it is worth checking out.

# 7 – I Can’t Help It

The loving song is from the Wow! album. The song has a dance pop beat. The tender song is about a woman who is hypnotized by the man she loves. She can’t help herself when she is around him. Anyone who has ever been in love will relate to these lyrics. The lyrics will hit home for anyone who has felt hypnotized by love. People write about love all the time, but Bananarama managed to make it different.

This song is pop perfection. The music sounds similar to Rick Astley’s “Together Forever” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The music is incredibly dance friendly. You will get quite a workout dancing to this track. It is a fun song with a great beat. The music will make you wish you were back in the 80s. It has a classic 80s sound, but it doesn’t sound dated. This is something you could still hear in a club now.

This song is why they were one of the best groups in the 80s. Bananarama sounds fabulous in this track. Their harmonies are amazing. It is as if their voices were made for each other. They don’t hold any notes in the song, but they do belt towards the end of the song. Their voices sound pretty good when they belt in the song. This song is infectious and will stay in your head long after you hear it.

# 6 – Robert De Niro’s Waiting

The deep song is from their self-titled album. The song has a dance pop beat. The reflective song is about a girl who goes into her fantasy world where she believes Robert De Niro is her boyfriend. It may sound like it is about a fangirl who is obsessed with Robert De Niro, but it has a darker meaning. The girl in the story is raped and thinks about Robert De Niro so she can escape the pain of the rape. There aren’t too many songs on the radio that deal with this issue, so the group gets a thumbs up for originality.

Here is a fun fact about the song. The song was originally called “Al Pacino’s Waiting.” They changed the name to “Robert De Niro” because it sounded better for the song. He might not have wanted his name associated with a song about rape. Shockingly, Robert De Niro wanted to meet the group after the song was released. This curious song will have thinking. The music is surprisingly upbeat. You would think a song like this would have a somber beat. This song invites you to get on the dance floor. The group’s harmonies are impeccable. Their phrasing is excellent. They sing this song with a lot of passion. They manage to keep up with each other. One doesn’t get ahead of the other. They do a great job singing together.

# 5 – Love in the First Degree

The next song on our Top 10 Bananarama Songs list is ”Love in the First Degree” from the Wow! album. The song has a dance pop and synth pop beat. The surreal song is about a dream in which they are in court because of love. The title is different. This is one of the final songs the group did with Siobhan Fahey. When the song was released in the United States, she had already left the group. This isn’t a typical song about love. People don’t usually write about love and being in court for love.

The lyrics are unique. They are talking about a woman who wants to go on trial for love, so it is very different. The music is contagious. It definitely makes you want to get on the dance floor. We dare you to sit still while this track is playing. The music sounds like freestyle music instead of their normal dance pop sound. It is good because it proves that they could do different genres of music. They stepped outside of their comfort zone to create this sound. It was a good sound for them.

It resonated well with them. The trio were probably having issues when this track was done because Siobhan Fahey left the group when the song was released. You would never know they were having problems because they remained professional. They performed this cute and girlie song as if nothing was going on behind the scenes.

# 4 – More Than Physical

The passionate song is from the True Confessions album. The song has a dance pop beat. The sexy song is about a woman who wants a physical relationship with the man she loves. The title is misleading because you would think that she would want more than sex based on the title. If you are attracted to someone and want to be with them, you will relate to the lyrics. The group needed another hit song after “Venus”, so they chose this song as the single.

Here is some trivia about the song. The producer didn’t enjoy working on this track with the group. He thought it was awkward. He wasn’t comfortable because he felt like they were mocking him. Despite the friction between the producer and the group, they managed to create a hit song. The music is very synth heavy which gives it a freestyle sound. The drumbeat is fire. It drives the music. The melody is slightly similar to “Venus.”

It has a great dance beat that will invite you on the dance floor. This song is underrated because it’s not as popular as “Venus.” It had the unfortunate timing of being released after the hit song, so it wasn’t going to get the popularity it deserved. With that said, this track is worth listening to. The group sound amazing on this track. They are in perfect sync with each other. They sing in time with all of the beat changes. Their harmonies are flawless.

# 3 – Venus

The energetic song is from the True Confessions album. The song has a dance pop beat. The playful song is about a goddess on a mountain top. Her lethal weapons are her eyes. This is a cover of Shocking Blue’s song of the same name. Should Bananarama have taken the risk and covered this song? Did Bananarama make this song their own? The answer to the first question is maybe. Bananarama took a risk recording this song when it was number one for Shocking Blue.

Depending on your age, you may remember Bananarama’s version and not the original version. The answer to the second question is yes. Bananarama managed to make this song their own. Both versions start with the guitar riffs. Shocking Blue’s has more of a folk beat while Bananarama’s version has a dance and pop beat. This version is more upbeat than the original version. You can dance around to the electro beat of this version.

The original had one singer singing lead while this version has all three members singing together. Bananarama nailed this cover song. They did so well with the song that they usurp the original version. It is easy to forget that this is a cover song. They sing it as if they wrote it themselves. This is a novelty song, but if you can get passed it, you will find it very enjoyable. It is their biggest hit single. You may be wondering why this song wasn’t number one since it was their biggest hit single. It is their biggest hit, but it came down to a coin toss for the last three spots.

# 2 – Cruel Summer

The dark song is from their self-titled album. The song has a pop, funk, new wave and post disco beat. The mysterious song is about the darker side of summer. It is about a woman who is suffering in the heat by herself. We have all been there when we have felt alone. The song gained popularity when it was in the movie The Karate Kid. Unfortunately, the group didn’t give permission for the song to be used in the movie. The song gained popularity again when Ace of Base covered it.

The second you hear the first note, fans of the group will know what this song is. It has an unforgettable beat that will stay in your head. The musical production is fantastic. The music features the xylophone, guitar, drums and keys. All the chord changes are on point. They keep the music simple, so it isn’t all over the place. The song may give you ABBA vibes. Bananarama’s vocals are excellent. They sing in time with all of the beat changes. They use their lower register for this song. There is no way to hear this song without singing along with them.

The chorus is flawless and unforgettable. You don’t have to listen to the song in the summer in order to enjoy it. You can hear it all year round. It is the perfect 80s song. The only flaw with the song is they are a little hard to understand. You might have to read the lyrics in order to understand what they are saying. It is an earworm that will stay in your head all day.

# 1 – I Heard A Rumour

The number one song on our Top 10 Bananarama Songs list is “I Heard A Rumour” from the Wow! album. The song has a synth pop and dance pop beat. The insecure song is about a woman who wants to be with a man, but she isn’t sure if she should be with him because he has a broken heart. The lyrics make sense because no one wants to be with someone on the rebound.

This song is relatable to anyone who is in a similar situation. You want to take a leap of faith, but you’re not sure if you will get hurt. The music is phenomenal. There is no way to sit still while listening to it. The music is designed to stay in your head. It is very polished. The melody is similar to Michael Fortunati’s “Give Me Up.” There is a musical pause that is worth checking out. It will give you a chance to focus on the music. Bananarama’s vocals are flawless on this track. They are in perfect unison.

They sing the lead vocals in their normal soprano vocals while they sing the background in their lower register. The chorus is contagious. There is no way to avoid singing the chorus with the group. They did the right thing by letting the song end with the chorus. It is the best part of the song, so it was befitting that saved the best for last. This is the type of song you can hear all day and never get tired of it. This track should be on repeat so you can hear over and over again.