Since becoming a duo in 1992, Bananarama has released four albums: "Please Yourself (1993), "Ultra Violet" / "I Found Love" (1995), "Exotica" (2001) and "Drama" (2005). During this period, Bananarama also recorded a host of dmeo tracks that sadly never saw the light of day except in the form of poor-quality audio clips being circulated on the net or as bootleg CDs. Sadly, some of these are true gems: the poptastic "Blue Sky" which the girls performed on their Club Sandwich Tour in 1999 and the moody Gareth Young-produced "Falling" which tragically didn't make the cut for "Drama", for example.
Six songs which didn't make any of Bananarama's last four studio albums as a duo are however officially availble elsewhere.
"Treat Me Right", "Another Lover" and "Live In The Sun" were the b-sides to the "Movin' On" (1992),"Last Thing On My Mind" (1992) and "Look On The Floor" (2005) singles respectively. Both "Treat Me Right" (a largely-instrumental jazzy track) and "Another Lover" (a classy little number which has become a fan favourite because of its cheeky lyrics) were written and produced with Stock/Waterman while the thumping club track "Live In The Sun" was written and produced with Dru Masters.
And then there were three ...
Keren and Sara reunited with original member (and one-time Shakespear's Sister) Siobhan for a electric-guitar-licious recording of ABBA's "Waterloo" as part of the "A Song For Eurotrash" UK TV special and CD in Apr 1998 which brought together diverse acts (Sinead O'Connor, Edwyn Collins etc.) to do cover versions of Eurovision Song Contest songs. The song was so popular that it won the audience poll as the track most deserving of single release. Sadly, this never happened.
A hilarious video was made of the girls in action and this can be viewed on Bananarama's official website under the Chronology section. Video captures above.
Bananarama declined to perform this song when Keren, Sara and Siobhan went on the UK TV show "TGI Friday" (pic above) soon after the airing of the "Eurotrash" special because Keren and Sara said it wasn't representative of the music they were actually working on at the time (which was more dance than the pop-rock of "Waterloo") but that didn't stop Keren and Sara from performing it in Singapore later that year (pic above) and all three girls sang it live for Bananarama's 20th anniversary gig in London in 2002 (pic above).
The track was subsequently also available on the compilation album "ABBA - A Tribute". Rumour has it that a new version of the track was recorded for a new Bananarama album around the time but it was never released.
Lyrics
My, my, (my, my) at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yes (oh, yeah) and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf, it’s always repeating itself
Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo, promise to love you forever more
Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo
My, my, (my, my) I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yes, (oh, yes) and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse? I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo, promise to love you forever more
Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo
And how could I ever refuse? I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo
Oh, oh, Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo
Dance-producers Ian Masterson and Terry Ronald (who have recorded with the likes of Dannii Minogue) worked with Bananarama on this track which was the theme song for the UK Sky TV series "Is Harry On The Boat?". Credited to Multitude featuring Bananarama, this rousing carnival-esque party track was, like "Waterloo", also considered for single release. Sadly, again, this never came to be despite remixes being commissioned and Keren and Sara recording a performance of it in their recording studio for a Janapanese news programme.
(After "Love, Leave, Forget", Terry Ronald and Ian Masterson continued to work with the girls and a few of their tracks can be found on the "Drama" album.)
Lyrics
Don't waste my time with your sweet talking lies
I've heard it all before
Did you think that you could be my divine philosophy?
Take a look you're history in my eyes
From now on I'll
Love him, leave him, forget him, he's not worth my time
Love him, leave him, forget him, I'm moving down my line
Don't talk to me, I've played this game before
You're just not what I need
Did you think I'd be deceived? Fooled by your dishonesty?
Take a look you're history in my eyes
From now on I'll
Love him, leave him, forget him, he's not worth my time
Love him, leave him, forget him, I'm moving down my line
Produced by Peter de Havilland and (Nana backing dancer and Sara's ex-boyfriend) Bassey Walker, this track first surfaced in 1999 on a bootleg CD along with other demo tracks that Bananarama was working on at that time.
A few songs (e.g. "Boom", "Middle Of Nowhere") from this bootleg went on to become official album tracks but "U R My Baby" was unique in being remixed by German producers the Discobrothers (pic above of Bananarama with one of the Discobrothers) and being put on their album "Discobrothers presenting Stars of the 80s" which brought together new songs by the Weather Girls, Ru Paul, Limahl (pic above) etc. instead. The Discobrothers released a second compilation later that year and that too contained "U R My Baby". A very lush and dreamy club track with a stomper of a chorus, this is another favourite of mine.
Lyrics
I can see everything from here tonight
And who knows my destiny up in the sky
I wanna ride (I wanna ride), I wanna fly (I wanna fly)
I wanna see the seven wonders of the world
I wanna live (I wanna live), I wanna die (I wanna die)
I wanna see the heavens in your eyes
I feel U moving closer, feel U inside me
The waiting will soon be over and U will be mine
‘Cause U R my baby, don't U, don't U feel it, baby
‘Cause U R my baby, won't U, won't U say it, baby
‘Cause U R my baby, take me in your arms and save me
‘Cause U R my baby, love me, love me, baby, baby
U woke me from my underwater of dream
Your silent waters takes me in so deep
I feel U breathe (I feel U breath), I'll never need (I’ll never need)
I feel the waters as they're rushing over me
The pain I feel (the pain I feel), pleasures me (pleasures me)
It takes me up to the land of make believe
I'm tripping solely over the edge of my mind
U got me going crazy I'm lost in your eyes (lost in your eyes)
‘Cause U R my baby, don't U, don't U feel it, baby
‘Cause U R my baby, won't U, won't U say it, baby
‘Cause U R my baby, take me in your arms and save me
‘Cause U R my baby, love me, love me, baby, baby
I feel U moving closer, feel U inside me
The waiting will soon be over and U will be mine (U will be mine)