Bananarama ~ Cruel Summer 1983 Disco Purrfection Version

Is there a forecast for a long, hot cruel summer in 2020?

I had so many requests to do this one and it finally happened in 27 minutes after four years of your patience. I have always loved this song the Swain-Jolley sound. Kelly Marie had a song called "Love Trial" and then I heard Imagination's "Just An Illusion" and knew I had a new favorite production team. One thing they had in common was the Phil Spectorish wall of sound that is effectively oppressive here the sonic equivalent of the heat of steamy summer night with that funky ass bass makes me wanna get up and dance. It still drives me crazy! I never realized how much of a reggae influence there was here.

Our story starts in 1979 when Siobhan Fahey, Sarah Dallin and Keren Wood formed Bananarama. Dallin and Wood were schoolmates and moved to London together. Once there, Dallin met Siobhan and the three women became fast friends.

They pestered Siobhan's sister's boyfriend to persuade his boss who ran Demon Records to record a demo of "Aie A Mwana" a cover of a song by Black Blood. At this point they agreed on the name Bananarama since "it projected fun and lightheartedness". I could not agree more.

The women were working hard at making music, doing well in the UK and not so much in the US until their
song "Cruel Summer" was included in the hugely successful "The Karate Kid" movie from 1984. It peaked at #9 on the Hot100 and #11 on the disco chart paving the way for "Venus"...but that is another remix and story...

[wilmabetty]

I’m 61 and the 80’s were the best decade of my life..sure do miss it.

[theinstructor]

One of the truly vintage songs of the 80's.

[mikeysuzefour]

38 years later, this Bananarama song's still timeless and should be the starter tune for every new summer that begins.

[Tommi]

This song is not from this world, 80s with a ghettoblaster on the way to a lake, goosebumps, and wet eyes now, thx.🙏❤️😎🌞

[eb]

Still as fresh as it was 41 years ago! Absolutely timeless

[clovis-tiyv]

I first heard this in Aunt Ginger’s 1984 Mercury Grand Marquis in the summer of 85. The car was going through an automatic car wash. I can still feel those velour seats and navy blue interior/exterior. Air conditioner was on. I was in matching short shorts and a tank top. If you were a child of the 80s you know what they look like. Great dance song. Summer can be cruel.

[aussiegreek]

My wife & i with some friends dancing in the lounge room all in our mid 50’s.Where did the years go.

[teutguy]

This group made great and still makes great records!!! Long live Bananarama!!!

[djsugebryant]

This song always been dope to me! Since the 80's, the greatest decade of music💯💯💯💯💯

[christophersantana]

This song never gets old and its still fresh after 37 years.

[tonyjohnson]

You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IT WAS FRESH THEN AND STILL IS
STILL LOVE IT

[Marcel_Audubon]

We have a cruel summer ahead of us in 2020, I'm afraid

[jigen]

My late husband got me to love this song. I think he would've really appreciated this version. Thank you DJDiscoCat :)

[efrainhernandez]

I was 14 when this song came out
& it's just as good now as it was
back then.Every summer from that
time 2 now has been anything but
cruel when this song pops on 👍

[CÆSSIUS]

The thing that gets me all the time is that Guitar riff.... God it's so good. The key it's played in and just the riff in general

[ayrahn]

Fucking wild this song is 40 years old now.

[Marcel_Audubon]

My favorite B'rama song was I Heard a Rumor ... "Who needs friends who never show? ..." what a great opening lyric!

[victoriag]

Thanks for taking me back to my teenage years!! I absolutely love it ❣💋

[virgilwyatt]

Has the Summer of 2020 been a "Cruel Summer?" Still digging' this track from when I used to watch the video when I was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska from 1982 to 1985! Still got me Shaking My Head! Can't Help It! Don't want to help it! No medical assistance needed! Just the De Lorean Time Machine!

[stickywicket]

Fantastic sound! I was 20 years young in '83 and my little boy was 1 year young. He and I kind of grew up together listening to this sound. We both loved "Karate Kid" as well. Fun times and good memories. Love you Nick!