2009
09.21
09.21
Sadly Bananarama’s album failed to make a massive impression on the first week of release. The album only made #87 in the UK Album Charts. It’s an improvement on 2005′s Drama but obviously all of us were hoping for a better result.
It doesn’t diminish the fact that the album is really rather good, and is full of belting pop tunes. I think it’s a case of the single not receiving the support it needed from radio – the girls worked their arses off with promo, but sadly wasn’t enough to inspire people’s imaginations.
What say you?
Deeply depressing, England deserves the dire, bad drag, Beyonce!
Bananarama couldn’t have done much more to promote the single, they still have time to promote the album and a new single which i’m positive Fascination will issue pretty quickly.
The people that really count see ‘Viva’ as a great success!… Bananarama, Fascination, Ian Masterson and the fans.
It will be a steady seller, as was ‘Drama’.
I’m gutted that the girls arent getting the recognition they deserve for this album. They’ve worked their perfect butts off to promote it , gawd bless em! The single was fantastic but got little airplay. Loved the album from first listen, some great original tracks n some amazing covers. I know that the girls are (and should be ) proud of their own compositions but perhaps they should release one of the covers, like Rapture or The Runner, to try n get that elusive airplay? Hopefully that would push the album to a wider audience!!!
Fascination should release “The Runner” as the next single!!!! That should get the media’s attention!
I cannot recall a Bananarama single and album that I have enjoyed more. Moreover, living in the U.S., I’ve never had the opportunity to really see Bananarama promote their material. Being able to read articles, listen to radio interviews, and watch T.V. appearances has been such a treat. Other than putting guns to the heads of the music buying public, I don’t know what more Sara & Keren could have done.
I hope they are proud of the music they released. It’s unfortunate others aren’t. I think it’s a fantastic album and ‘Love Comes’ was a great first single to put out with a fabulous vid. It’s dealing with mega-radio and trying to get them to play it. It should have been played – plain and simple. But the name Bananarama today was like trying to play a Supremes single in 1989. And we just have to face that fact. Fascination needs to push some singles to the dance market and sell it that way. That is how the music will be heard in 2009. Hell… Look On The Floor was HUGE here in the US because it hit the dancefloors and listeners heard the song for what it was… not WHO it was.
It’s a great shame that the Album has not received a greater chart position or the single but I am still very pleased that I can pop into HMV and purchase a new Bananarama Album 22 years after I bought my first which was WOW. I feel that Viva matches Wow on content some amazing new tracks Love don’t Live Here is my fave and its got The Runner my fave song ever. This is an album like Wow which I play from start to finish every song a gem, I think as others have already said release The Runner next with some great dance mixes or picket Radio 1..Viva Bananarama.
i applaud the rams for making a splendid album and as a representative of the fans in Singapore and Asia in general, the drama album did rather well because it was distributed in Singapore, despite a limited release in 2005, look on the floor did well in the dance clubs and got a lot of airplay from local radios, I do hope that viva will get a international release because there are still fans around the world. And they would relying around the girls, facination has done a good job in promoting the single and album and as seen with the Saturdays, they performed in Malaysia, the same approach should be taken for Bananarama. I do hope a second single is in the works and the UK release cannot be taken as a example of what to expect from the rest of the world. I do believe always that the original girl band can and will make a come back!
They should release the album internationally. It seems the UK are not interested in them at all. The way the music industry is the UK right now a three-legged dog with a single would probably get more airplay than Bananarama. Management are not thinking outside the box.
like most of all the fans , i was hoping this album would be huge , i agree with shyboy here is hoping that fascination will get a second single out quite soon
I’m so gutted that it hasn’t hit the Top40, I really can’t believe it. The thing is Bananarama couldn’t possibly do anymore to promote it as they have seriously worked their asses off already.
It all boils down to getting the album in the shops and radio play. Unfortunately radio seem to have ignored it completely and the only shop I’ve seen it in is HMV. Supermarkets probably hold a big share in music sales and I haven’t seen it in Tesco, Asda or Sainsburys. I know it sounds strange but alot of people impulse buy on music when they’re doing their supermarket shopping unfortunately they couldn’t buy Bananarama’s.
It’s such a shame that radio and retailers dictate to people what they can and can’t buy. Sure you can buy online but not everybody would know that they have a new album out.
Let’s hope that Fascination have got a major plan up their sleeves to get the next single radio play and into the charts where it belongs and where Bananarama belong.
All I can say is Sara & Keren (Ian Masterson) you’ve done your fans proud with Viva and nobody can ever take that away no matter what chart position it’s at. Viva will always be a pure pop masterpiece!!!
well said stevie
The UK has been invaded by chavs and unfortunately they only listen to and play dire R&B.
The radio situation is horrendous, people are being force fed American rap and R&B 24/7 there is no hope.
DJs and radio presenters have too much control, when did they actually become the ‘stars’?
Bananarama have done everything right, no one can ask for more from them, there are many bands in the same situation…even Petshop Boys, Duran Duran, Sioux, George Michael, Boy George, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Alison Moyet, and Human League have come up against this age-ist attitude…and along with Bananarama they are some of Great Britain’s finest, long standing artists who are struggling to get airplay, record deals and respect.
Not everyone ‘loves’ Beyonce! and the surge of inane R&B imports.
A fantastic album released in a country that is awash with dull r and b and one hit wonder faceless dance acts. but im so proud 27 years on i can still buy a bananarama album. they are and will always be the best girl group ever. with the two of the original members. take a look at the sad state of play with the sugar babes. it just goes to show that friendship and a love of writing your own music wins and not the complete corporate nightmare that groups seem to suffer now. brave keren and sara for keeping it as you want it.
by the way ……………… GET THE FREEMASONS TO REMIX THE RUNNER OR LOVE DONT LIVE HERE ANYMORE
by the way. loved the inclusion off the old fish symbol on the sleeve notes. nice piece of nostalgia
Most people were pleased to see the return of the Kooky Fish
The Bananarama font is also very similar to the font used for ‘Deep Sea Skiving’ and it’s singles……. A lovely touch, a lot of thought went into it, and obviously a fan somewhere had a hand in the design.
Would have helped is sells from outside the UK counted towards chart placement and sells…How many of us are outside the UK and imported it??? I’m in Montreal Quebec,Canada…And i also love the album…not all at first,but by second or third listen all the tracks pleased me…and I’m very pleased that they used the old way of numbering the single…Love comes being NANA30K,NANA30S and NANACD30 and the Album being 31..really cool! Guess they counted Move in my direction and Look on the floor as 28 and 29. Hope we get to see more singles and a release of the album WORLDWIDE!Maybe a japanese release with,Run to you,Sound of silence,Tokyo boy and Voyage,voyage as bonuese??? LOL! And NO I do not download lol!
I hope they have international pressings also, especially a double disk for Japan/Asia with all the extras (just so we get them on an official CD)
‘ViVa’ should have had the ‘Rama10′ catalogue number as ‘Nana’ was for the singles
Great touches though, but they are working with old friends at Fascination are’nt they? maybe it was their idea? I like it a lot.
it`s time to come at latin america …. cool !!!!
Been into HMV today in Leeds and Bananarama is at number 56 in HMV’s album chart!
yes and the single is at number 7 in the hmv singles chart up from last weeks number 9
Fab!
By the way I’ve only just noticed the Kooky Fish, lol! I love it!
Like I said about the single, and & the charts…They are rigged. Shy boy–We do like the same artists!! LOL! I still say (as others agree) FOCUS ALL PROMOTION ON THE CLUB CHARTS! Radio sucks…To me, “Love Comes” is the best & most “Hit” potential single since “I Heard A Rumor”…”Viva” is their most consistent, best, CD. Loads of club hits on this CD! I just don’t go to clubs! LOL!
I wish I could get MP3s of the 2 iTunes Bonus tracks….Thank God for Townsend…Being in the U.S. it was frustrating not being able to use iTunes or Amazon..I got my Townsend package!!! LOVES it!!!
Have and always will be a massive fan, loved their last Album and the single “Move in my direction” and “Diva” and the latest single “Love Comes” even more. Shame on British Radio – it’s about time that established acts like Bananarama got the respect and the airplay they deserve. Why British Radio sucks up to American pulp is beyond me. Still I have “Viva”. If the girl’s read this – then Thanks for a great Album!!! I love it! I’ll continue to vote with my wallet and buy British Pop and in particular – Bananarama! Thanks also to Townsend. What more can you guy’s have done when you’re up against our rotten radio stations.
Have and always will be a massive fan, loved their last Album and the single “Move in my direction” and “Diva” and the latest single “Love Comes” even more. Shame on British Radio – it’s about time that established acts like Bananarama got the respect and the airplay they deserve. Why British Radio sucks up to American pulp is beyond me. Still I have “Viva”. If the girl’s read this – then Thanks for a great Album!!! I love it! I’ll continue to vote with my wallet and buy British Pop and in particular – Bananarama! Thanks also to Townsend. What more can you guy’s have done when you’re up against our rotten radio stations.