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"More Than Physical" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Bananarama | ||||
from the album True Confessions | ||||
B-side | "Scarlett" | |||
Released | 11 August 1986 | |||
Recorded | March 1986 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 5:05 | |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Bananarama singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"More Than Physical" on YouTube |
"More Than Physical" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their third studio album, True Confessions (1986). It was released on 11 August 1986 as the album's third single. [1] It was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. A reworked version of the song was released as the single version.
In order to capitalize on the number-one success of previous single "Venus" (the other True Confessions track produced by SAW), "More Than Physical" was given a hi-NRG-influenced makeover with a sound similar to their previous dance-oriented chart-topper. "More Than Physical" marked the beginning of Bananarama's successful songwriting relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman. Speaking of the sometimes-fractious dynamic in the studio, producer Mike Stock said he found it difficult to write with the band, explaining he was obliged to collaborate with them due to a deal with their management. [2]
"It's very difficult to be creative if someone's just going to mock you, or laugh at you", he said. "With Bananarama it was just awkward, all the time very awkward, and I didn't feel comfortable writing with them." [2]
The remixed single version's music video, directed by Peter Care, further developed Bananarama's new glamorous and sexy style. The video included shots of several topless, muscled men intercut with footage of the group members. Some shots used coloured filters, and are juxtaposed with tightly cropped shots of body parts or movements in slow motion. One of the models in the video is Keren Woodward's then-boyfriend, David-Scott Evans.
"More Than Physical" was featured prominently in the 1987 British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too starring Michelle Holmes and Siobhan Finneran. The song is featured in the scene where the girls are babysitting for Bob and Michelle, and they dance around the living room while the video to "More Than Physical" plays on the television.
Simon Mills of Smash Hits considered the song as a "jolly, bouncy pop" record, adding that it was "real modern because it's got lots of electronic bits" and "the lyrics turn everything upside down by making the female the dominant one". [3]
Despite heavy exposure on MTV, "More Than Physical" did not duplicate the success of "Venus", reaching number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [4] [5] Elsewhere, it peaked at number 25 in Ireland, number 28 in Australia, and number 38 in Germany. [6] [7] [8] In the United States, "More Than Physical" reached number five on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. [9]
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] | 28 |
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [10] | 99 |
Europe (European Airplay Top 50) [11] | 47 |
Ireland (IRMA) [7] | 25 |
UK Singles (OCC) [4] | 41 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] | 73 |
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [9] | 5 |
US Dance Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [12] | 26 |
US Cash Box Top 100 [13] | 72 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) [8] | 38 |
Bananarama are a British pop group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward. Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan until 1991, when the trio became a duo. Their success on both pop and dance charts saw them listed in the Guinness World Records for achieving the world's highest number of chart entries by an all-female group. Between 1982 and 2009, they had 30 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart.
"Venus" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, released as a single in the Netherlands in the summer of 1969. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen, the song topped the charts in nine countries.
True Confessions is the third studio album by British group Bananarama. It was released on 14 July 1986 by London Records. The majority of the album was produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley, with the exception of "Venus" and "More Than Physical". The latter, given a garage remix for its single version, was Bananarama's first songwriting collaboration with the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) production team.
Wow! is the fourth studio album by English group Bananarama, released on 4 September 1987 by London Records. The album was entirely produced and co-written with the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Tensions between group member Siobhan Fahey and Stock, Aitken and Waterman regarding songwriting input and lyrical content prompted Fahey's departure from Bananarama five months after its release. The album reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart and number 44 on the US Billboard 200, while peaking at number one in Australia. The album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 3 February 1988.
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"Brand New Lover" is a song recorded by English pop band Dead or Alive. It was the lead single released from the band's third studio album, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know on Epic Records. It achieved international success when released as a single in 1986, but while it was a major hit in a number of territories, including the United States and Japan, in the UK the single significantly underperformed, failing to crack the top 20.
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"A Trick of the Night" is a mid-tempo ballad recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It was written and produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and released as the final single from Bananarama's album True Confessions.
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"I Can't Help It" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 29 December 1987 as the album's third single, except in the United States, where it was the second single, and Australia, where it served as the fourth single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. The single peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart, number 27 on the Australian ARIA chart, and number 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
"I Want You Back" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 March 1988 by London Records as the album's fourth and final single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. It became one of Bananarama's highest-charting singles, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It also climbed into the top three in Australia and the top 10 in New Zealand. The single was not released in the United States. Andy Morahan directed its accompanying music video.
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