BANANARAMA HEAD IN YOUR DIRECTION
Jul 11 2005
icWales

As Bananarama mark 25 years as a pop group and release a brand new single, Move In My Direction, its two remaining members - Sarah Dallin and Keren Woodward - celebrate one of the most enduring relationships in pop.

The pair, who met as children growing up in Bristol, went on to form the most successful British female group in pop history with university pal Siobhan Fahey.
While both Siobhan and her replacement Jacquie O'Sullivan have fallen by the wayside over the years, Keren and Sarah's friendship has seen Bananarama through.

"We're similar where it matters," says Keren. "And we're not similar in other ways. But we complement each other. Where it's important we're exactly the same, we've got exactly the same sense of humour".

"Imagine going through life without a best friend," adds Sarah. "I think it was hard for Siobhan because, although we never meant to exclude her, we are what we are - best friends since kids. What can you do?

"The three of us were like sisters though, because we would finish each others sentences and we'd all make a face and we'd know what that face meant," she laughs. "Initially it wasn't so hard for Siobhan, but after a while it was."

Bananarama have been a duo since Jacquie left in 1991 and although Keren and Sarah say that the change of dynamic didn't affect the band internally, the public lost interest and they were dropped by their record label after mustering only a few minor hits.

In the ensuing 12 years they failed to get another deal in the UK but Bananarama's popularity has endured. They released a dance album in Europe in 1995; a follow-up, Exotica, was released in France in 2001, and they have continued to perform around the world.

In 1998, they got together again with Siobhan, who they're now good friends with again, for a one-off performance of Abba's Waterloo for Channel 4's Eurotrash. She later joined them for a 20th anniversary gig in London. "We spent a long time not speaking to Siobhan," says Keren. "After she married Dave [Stewart, of the Eurythmics] it wasn't exactly acrimonious but it wasn't particularly friendly either. "When we saw her again it was fantastic because it was really like we'd never been apart. You've always got that friendship, and you've always got similarities there. But we've gone very different routes. It could never really be a permanent return."

On top of keeping Bananarama alive, Keren and Sarah have used the lull in their careers to spend more time with their families. "We've been having a life, which is nice," says Keren. "The last couple of months as we've promoted this record I've only been getting down to where I live in Cornwall for a couple of days here and there.
"That's how it was for 12 years and it gets to the point where you realise you need a bit more outside of work. It's great working so much now, though, because we haven't done it for so long."

"I had a child in that time," adds Sarah. "I like spending time with her and watching her grow up rather than going on tour and not seeing her for three months.

"But we've been working all that time as well. And this new album has taken us a while to make, to find the right producers and songwriters."
Sarah lives in London with former Bananarama dancer Bassey Walker and their 13-year-old daughter Alice. Reports that she was dating Paul Gascoigne last year are untrue.
"Oh for God's sake," says Keren at mention of the story - she becomes very defensive of her friend. "Last year in Marbella we were at a do that a friend of mine invited us to. It was a charity event and there was loads of footballers there - Lee Sharpe, Bryan Robson - and they printed a picture of us all sat round a table of Sarah next to him, and that was it."
Sarah is very private about her personal life, preferring not to talk about her family. She does, however, voice concerns that her rejuvenated pop career will take her away from Alice. "It is tricky actually," she says. "But I've taken her to a couple of roadshows and she's been fantastic. It's almost like Saffy and Eddie from Absolutely Fabulous - she tucks my labels in and checks I'm OK. She's really sweet."

Keren still lives in Cornwall with former Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley and her 18-year-old son Tom. Having had him during the band's heyday (he is the product of her relationship with model David Scott-Evans) she relates to Sarah's dilemma.
"It was kind of hard but I just had to do it," she says. "People do manage."

While much of the nation, at least those over a certain age, have a nostalgic love for Bananarama, the pair have failed to impress their own children with their pop legend past. Alice was more taken with the Spice Girls during their chart reign, while Tom wearily deals with having starstruck teachers.
"I get Tom coming home going, `Can you sign this for my maths teacher?'," says Keren. "Then you go to parents' evening and they just look down at the table going, `Yeah Tom's great, he's lovely'. "You're mortified, and they're even more mortified because they know that I know they told Tom they had my picture on their wall when they were growing up."

Now they're back and hoping to seduce a whole new legion of admirers. They're already being welcomed back by the old fans with open arms. Move In My Direction, their sexy slice of Kylie-esque electro-pop, has been getting positive reactions and Keren and Sarah have been surprised at the response.

"We've done a couple of radio roadshows and we wondered if any of these kids would know who we are," says Keren. "But they've been amazing because when we strike up and do Venus they all know it. All the girls were joining in with the dance routine and singing full blast at us. I thought that was quite incredible."

Yes, although both Keren and Sarah have edged into their 40s (with ease by the looks of it - they both look amazing), they are still doing dance routines, surrounded by the obligatory plethora of hunks.

"The routines aren't quite as energetic now," admits Sarah.
"But all the old ones we still do," adds Keren. "We've dropped a couple of bits throughout the years, but that's more to do with being lazy. We still go wrong as well, and we still think, oh well, doesn't matter," she laughs.
"It's our show," says Sarah. "We can do what we like."

Name: Bananarama
Birthdates: Formed in 1980. Sarah Dallin was born on December 17, 1961; Keren Woodward was born on April 2, 1961 Significant others: Sarah lives with former Bananarama dancer Bassey Walker; Keren lives with former Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley

Career high: Named by the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful British female group in pop history
Career low: Never having got a No 1 in their native UK
Famous for: Half-arsed dance routines and bad 80s fashion
Words of wisdom: Sarah: "We didn't think we would get past one single, and we didn't really care."

Bananarama's new single Move In My Direction is out on Monday July 25.