It's not going to be a 'cruel summer' here in Chicago with the new release of Drama by Bananarama, which drops in the United States on May 16. WCT gave a call to jolly old England to speak with one of the duo, Keren Woodward, about love, truth and honesty.
Windy City Times: Let's begin with the birth of Bananarama, Keren. How did everything get started and what you were doing before Bananarama?
Keren Woodward: Not a lot really. We were in school. Sarah was at college, studying journalism.
WCT: What were you studying?
KW: Well, I went to work at the BBC, thinking I would get into television. No sooner did I get there then we started the group. I was brought up playing classical piano, singing in choirs. So I think we were quite musical in our background. We lived in a YWCA hostel and got thrown out of there. Eventually, we lived over the Sex Pistols' rehearsal room.
WCT: I read that! That is interesting.
KW: Yeah, that was how it kind of all started. We used to mess around doing backing vocals for a band there and were asked to do a demo. It all happened really quickly. The music scene had that punk attitude at the time. Anyone could just get up and have a go.
WCT: Did you think you would do a different style of music than pop music?
KW: Well, when we started it was quite edgy. I think people think of us with the Stock, Aitken and Waterman era, which was slick pop. After that we made more of a rock album with guitars. We have always experimented but stayed in the pop genre. That was one of the reasons that Siobhan left because she was not comfortable in the pop world.
WCT: She went on to make the group Shakespeare's Sister and marry Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics.
KW: I never felt any shame making pop music. It is such fun. Growing up, it's pop music that gives you specific memories. Whether you were bored or dancing in a disco. Now I sing when I am in the car and it makes me happy.
WCT: So what is in your iPod right now? What are you listening to?
KW: I've just done my new Nano. I have a selection of seven hours of music that Andrew did. I live with Andrew Ridgeley from Wham!—I don't know if you knew that.
WCT: Really?
KW: The little pop combo that we are. We have lived together for 15, 16 years.
WCT: But you don't want to get married?
KW: No. We are quite happy as we are.
WCT: I hear a cat. Are you a cat person?
KW: I have three cats and three dogs. They are out in my garden in the country at the moment. I will totally bring my Nano to the States when I visit in a few weeks. We can have discos in the hotel rooms!
WCT: You are coming to New York and L.A.
KW: I am very excited. I haven't been to work in the States in well over 10 years.
WCT: We really want you to come to Chicago.
KW: I would love to come to Chicago. I remember the last time I was there, we were performing at a club and our tour manager threw us down the stairs—a rather strong bloke he was. There was some kind of knife fight.
WCT: Was it a gay bar?
KW: No, it wasn't. [ It was ] unusual for us, because that is normally where we end up.
WCT: Well, you have a big gay following.
KW: I know, and I don't really know how it started.
WCT: It started with all those shirtless hunks in the videos, Keren.
KW: Hello. Well, we started dressing up the boys for our own amusement and realized we have a camp sort of taste. Seeing that most of our friends are gay males, it is hardly surprising. We're real old fag hags.
WCT: Your videos have always had the hottest guys in them, even the new one. Are you going to ever release a video collection?
KW: Well believe it or not, next year is our 25th anniversary and there is talk of doing some sort of hits package that would have to include a DVD. Although, some of the old videos are so embarrassing. It is a shame that we are not on tour. We have four really hot dancers working for us. They are gorgeous—absolutely gorgeous—and from all over the world.
WCT: You are such a tease, Keren! I heard a rumor that you might open for Madonna in Europe. Is that true?
KW: Sara [ Dallin ] sent me an e-mail about that one yesterday. I have to say that it is probably just a rumor. That would be fun though.
WCT: How was performing with the Scissor Sisters recently?
KW: I loved that show. I was in a panic because I thought everyone would be there to see them, but the audience was amazing. They really seemed to enjoy it. Half of them were gay anyway.
WCT: That is the great thing about the gay audience. Once you can get them, they stay loyal.
KW: They are my best audience. When we took a break, we never actually stopped doing the gay shows, because I couldn't turn down the fun!
WCT: You have done some great cover songs over the years. Any plans to do more?
KW: Well, we have done one an album. Venus was the biggest one. How I have sat and cried that we didn't write that one. That was so huge. All the covers that we did were songs that we used to rehearse and wound up recording them all.
WCT: My favorite one is Help. Everyone I play that song for just loves it.
KW: That was from a comedy charity benefit and was eventually released over the world. I always think, what do they think of the stupid backing vocals that were done in a tongue-and-cheek way? It is obvious from the video how that was meant to be.
WCT: What do you think of Ace of Base doing a cover of 'Cruel Summer?'
KW: It is such a form of flattery. It is also nice to sit back, let them do the work and let the money roll in, baby!
WCT: Definitely.
KW: I loved songwriting for the new album. We sat down with a blank sheet with the producers. We were involved every step of the way and we really enjoyed it. The creative process is the most satisfying part of it. We tried to not venture too much from what our fans wanted but stay contemporary.
WCT: I love the new CD, and you ladies look great on the cover. Do you work out?
KW: Makeup.
WCT: Come on! You have great bodies.
KW: Well, I do the least sort of exercising of the two of us. I walked the dogs today. I am incredibly lazy. I just don't put on weight. I am the fat one of the family. I just stuffed down a load of chocolate and I am about to go to the pub after I finish speaking with you.
