Bananarama believe the secret to their huge popularity in the 1980s is that the group’s fans could relate to them and believed they could be like the singers.
The ‘Cruel Summer’ hitmakers – made up of Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward – feel that their awkwardness during performances and lack of expensive styling appealed to fans, even though they were major pop stars in the UK and elsewhere.
Keren told Classic Pop magazine: “We didn’t know what we were doing, and also we weren’t styled. We didn’t have any expensive clothes, so you really could be like us.
“It was maybe the last time when you could totally find your own way. Now, of course, there are literally places like the Brit School where you can learn to be a pop star. It’s more slick and glossy.”
Keren explained how much of Bananarama’s work came from their working class background as the group – which also included former member Siobhan Fahey – moved from Bristol to London, where they were joined by many other acts from the era.
The 62-year-old singer said: “So much about Bananarama was from our working class backgrounds.
“We were singing about our experiences. Anyone could be a pop star at the time. Everyone else seemed like us, too: Boy George, Soft Cell, whoever, it didn’t matter where you were from or who you were.”
The ‘Venus’ group are releasing the compilation album ‘Glorious: The Ultimate Collection’ next year and are set play a pair of shows at the London Palladium in April, although Keren is still surprised by their ongoing appeal.
Keren said: “We still play every show wondering, ‘Will anyone come?’
“The Palladium has so much history, we were asking our manager when the first show went on sale: ‘Are you sure?’, only for us to be told: ‘Yes! It’s sold out!'”