Robert De Niro's Waiting...

Last updated

"Robert De Niro's Waiting..."
Banana rdnw.jpg
Single by Bananarama
from the album Bananarama
B-side "Push!"
Released20 February 1984 (1984-02-20) [1]
Genre Synth-pop [2]
Length3:43
Label London
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jolley & Swain
Bananarama singles chronology
"Cruel Summer"
(1983)		"Robert De Niro's Waiting..."
(1984)		"Rough Justice"
(1984)
Music video
"Robert De Niro's Waiting" on YouTube

"Robert De Niro's Waiting..." is a song written by Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Steve Jolley, and Tony Swain, recorded for English girl group Bananarama's eponymous second studio album. Produced by Jolley & Swain, it was released as the album's second single on 20 February 1984. It namechecks American actor Robert De Niro. The single is one of the group's strongest-performing releases, peaking at number three in the UK Singles Chart. It made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 95. Billboard ranked the song at number 74 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time". [3]

Contents

An extended version of the song is available on the 12-inch single. The B-side of both 7-inch and 12-inch singles is a song called "Push!". The version of "Push!" on the 12-inch single is not extended but preceded by an unlisted alternate version of the brief track that would be called "Link" at the end of side one of the Bananarama album. Bananarama have re-recorded "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." twice, in 2000 for the G-A-Y compilation and the next year another new re-recording was included on their eighth studio album Exotica (2001).

Lyrical content

In Bananarama's 2017 reunion interview with The Guardian , original group member Siobhan Fahey explained the song's meaning: "The thing I'm proudest of [...] is that we made quirky pop. The lyrics were much darker than you'd imagine. 'Robert De Niro's Waiting' is about date rape." Keren Woodward added, "You'll listen to it with new ears now." Sara Dallin continued, "I wanted it to be like 'Pull Up to the Bumper'. It didn't quite work out like that, did it?" [4] This echoed similar statements in the group's contemporaneous, and earlier, interviews. [5] [6] However, in a 2019 interview with The Telegraph, Dallin offered a different explanation of the song's meaning: "It was just about hero worship. It wasn't about rape. I don't know where that came from. It's absolute rubbish." [7]

Music video

The music video for "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." was directed by Duncan Gibbins and shows Bananarama walking around dark streets, possibly followed by mafia-style clothed men. When it gets to the bridge part of the song, Dallin is shown running along, looking behind her as if being followed. As the video winds down, Dallin, Fahey, and Keren Woodward are back in their apartment, when the door bell rings. Woodward answers the door, only to be confronted by the man who might have been chasing them, armed with a Mafia-style violin case. As she looks nervously at him, the case falls open to reveal a sign saying "Pizza Delivery", along with three pizzas. Both the man and Woodward start laughing, and the video ends with Bananarama in their apartment eating the pizza and laughing.

Track listings

Some copies of the UK 7-inch came with a cut out postcard of Fahey, Woodward, or Dallin. There were also three separate picture disc releases each with a photo of Fahey, Woodward, or Dallin. The UK 12-inch was available in three different vinyl colours: pink for Woodward, green for Fahey, and blue for Dallin, each with a large picture label.

7-inch single [8]

A. "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." – 3:27
B. "Push!" – 4:08

12-inch single [9]

A1. "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (extended version) – 5:43
B1. Untitled ("Link") (unlisted on label and artwork) – 1:59
B2. "Push!" – 4:08

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bananarama</span> British pop group

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Fahey</span> Irish singer (born 1958)

Siobhan Maire Fahey is an Irish singer whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the British/Irish girl group Bananarama, who have had ten top-10 hits including the US number one hit single "Venus". She later formed the Brit Award- and Ivor Novello Award-winning musical act Shakespears Sister, who had a UK number one hit with the 1992 single "Stay". Fahey joined the other original members of Bananarama for a 2017 UK tour, and, in 2018, a North America and Europe tour.

<i>Deep Sea Skiving</i> 1983 studio album by Bananarama

Deep Sea Skiving is the debut studio album by British vocal group Bananarama, released on 7 March 1983 by London Records. The album peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keren Woodward</span> English singer

Keren Jane Woodward is an English singer and, with Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey, a founding member of the girl group Bananarama. In 1986, the trio reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with their version of "Venus". Woodward and Dallin are the only constant members of Bananarama, and both have been a part of the group for over 40 years since 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venus (Shocking Blue song)</span> 1969 song by Shocking Blue

"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.

<i>Bananarama</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Bananarama

Bananarama is the second studio album by British group Bananarama. Released in 1984, the album peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart, reached the US top 40 albums chart, and was certified Silver by the BPI.

<i>True Confessions</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Bananarama

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.

<i>The Greatest Hits Collection</i> (Bananarama album) 1988 greatest hits album by Bananarama

The Greatest Hits Collection is a compilation album released by Bananarama which features their single releases and greatest hits. It was issued by London Records in 1988, eight months after the departure of group member Siobhan Fahey. The track listing differed between versions released in the United States and Canada, as well as those released throughout Europe and other territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Heard a Rumour</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"I Heard a Rumour" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987), and was released on 29th June 1987 as the album's lead single. It became a hit in UK where it reached the top 20, but was more successful in North America, where it peaked within the top five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Jones (song)</span> 1971 single by The Supremes

"Nathan Jones" is a song by American girl group the Supremes from their twenty-third studio album, Touch (1971). It was released on April 15, 1971, as the album's lead single. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Kathy Wakefield and Leonard Caston, "Nathan Jones" was one of eight top-40 entries the Supremes recorded after its original frontwoman, Diana Ross, left the group for a solo career.

<i>Please Yourself</i> 1993 studio album by Bananarama

Please Yourself is the sixth studio album by English pop act Bananarama. It was released on 29 March 1993 by London Records, the group's last release under the label. It is also the first album from Bananarama as a duo – with original members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward continuing after the departure of Jacquie O'Sullivan in 1991. Please Yourself also reunites Bananarama with two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman production team. Musician Gary Miller was brought in to do keyboards and guitar and would be Bananarama's next collaborator on their following album Ultra Violet. The concept of the album was first suggested by Pete Waterman as 'ABBA-Banana', a record that would feature pop songs in the style of ABBA, but updated for the 1990s. Ultimately, however, much of the album ended up incorporating a ‘90s Euro-disco sound with only “Movin’ On” and “Last Thing On My Mind” utilising an ABBA-esque influence.

<i>Exotica</i> (Bananarama album) 2001 studio album by Bananarama

Exotica is the eighth studio album released by the British female vocal duo Bananarama. The album was released only in France by the independent label M6 Interactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheers Then</span> 1982 single by Bananarama

"Cheers Then" is a song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It appears on their 1983 debut album Deep Sea Skiving and was released as its third single in November 1982, a few months before the album. The song was the first Bananarama single to be written by group members Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward and also their first ballad release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rough Justice (Bananarama song)</span> 1984 single by Bananarama

"Rough Justice" is a song by English girl group Bananarama. It was co-written by group members Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward and the writing-production duo Jolley & Swain who also produced the song. The song was released in May 1984 as the third single from their self-titled second album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Trick of the Night</span> 1986 single by Bananarama

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"Love in the First Degree" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 September 1987 as the album's second single, except in the United States, where it was released in 1988 as the third single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. It achieved major success in the UK and Australia, and also peaked within the top 20 in many European countries, but, unlike "I Heard a Rumour", it reached only the lower end of the top 50 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help It (Bananarama song)</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tripping on Your Love</span> 1991 single by Bananarama

"Tripping on Your Love" is a song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It appears on the group's fifth studio album, Pop Life (1991), and was released as the album's fourth single in the UK and the first single in the United States. The track was co-written and produced by Youth. This is the last single released featuring member Jacquie O'Sullivan and the group as a trio.

"Young at Heart" is a song by British female music trio Bananarama, released on their debut album, Deep Sea Skiving, in 1983. The song was later recorded by Scottish pop group the Bluebells, whose version reached the top of the UK Singles Chart after a re-release in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Dallin</span> English pop singer

Sara Elizabeth Dallin is an English singer and a founding member of the pop group Bananarama. The group has achieved 28 UK top-50 and 11 US top-100 singles, including a US number one with "Venus" (1986). Other hits include "Cruel Summer" (1983), "I Heard a Rumour" (1987) and "Love in the First Degree" (1987). Dallin and bandmate Keren Woodward are the only performers to appear on both the 1984 and 1989 Band Aid versions of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Bananarama have sold over 30 million records and entered the Guinness Book of World Records for achieving most UK chart entries by an all-female group, a record they still hold.

References

  1. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week . 18 February 1984. p. 18.
  2. ↑ Graeme Virtue (14 November 2017). "Bananarama review – hi-NRG poignancy as pop trio return for first proper tour". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (24 April 2017). "'People wet their knickers when they find out I was in Bananarama': the 80s trio return" . Retrieved 11 July 2017– via The Guardian.
  5. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (26 April 2017). "Bananarama are back: 'It was every bit as intense as a marriage, but without the sex'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Potton, Ed (21 November 2017). "It's love in the first degree; This was a truly stonking comeback for the Eighties girl group, says Ed Potton Pop". The Times (London).
  7. ↑ Singh, Anita (19 April 2019). "Bananarama interview: 'We didn't have to be sexual to make it'". Telegraph Online. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Robert De Niro's Waiting... (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Bananarama. London Records. 1984. NANA 6, 820 033-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Robert De Niro's Waiting... (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Bananarama. London Records. 1984. NANX 6, 820 033-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 25. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  11. ↑ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 1, no. 6. 7 May 1984. p. 8. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Robert De Niro's Waiting". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bananarama" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting...". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.