Customer Reviews

Viva

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of Bananarama for years and have followed their career since their heyday in America. But I never, EVER, expected them to come up with an album like this. This here is a collection of some of the best songs they have ever recorded. The sound here is completely modern and can go up against any of today's dance acts. If I had to compare this to any of their previous releases, I would say it sounds like a combination of the "Drama", "Wow" and "Ultraviolet" albums. The modern electro synth sounds of "Drama", the pulsing club beats of "Ultaviolet" and a hint of the 80's vocalization of the "Wow" album.

The lead single is the albums opener, "Love Comes". The album starts off strong and stays that way throughout. "Love Don't Live Here" is single worthy and one of the strongest cuts on the album, as is "Dum Dum Boy" with it's catchy chorus. Other songs include the Giorgio Morodor written disco, classic, "The Runner". You may not know this song by the title but once you hear it, you will recognize it. An interesting, but excellent cover here is iio's monster hit from a few years ago, "Rapture". Bananarama's version is pretty much a carbon copy of the original, but it works really well.

One thing that really stands out for me are the lyrics. Bananarama have always been underrated as songwriters. Really, I think most people wouldn't even know that they write their own songs. But as cold as some of these songs may feel at first listen, they really are brought to life by the warm lyrics. Songs of love, heartbreak, devotion and life...

This really is a CD worth buying. If you have ever been a fan of Bananarama or are new to them but love good modern dance/pop music, then this is for you.

For long time fans of 80s artists like Bananarama who are still following modern trends in club music, this should be a treat (those who stopped listening to modern music after the 80s probably won't like this). Just like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, the two remaining members of Bananarama deliver a modern electro pop record with infectious beats and melodies. Too bad the album is only ten tracks, and that one of the tracks is a remake of th iio club hit "rapture", which is so played to death that I didn't really need to hear another version of it in the same decade! Another remake is of the dance track "The Runner," which was recorded back in the 70s by Three Degrees and written by none other than electronic dance music pioneer Giorgio Moroder of Donna Summer fame!

Love Comes, Love Don't Live Here, Tell Me Tomorrow, Dum Dum Boy, and We've Got the Night are all dance songs, and if you like modern artists like September, Lasgo, Cascada, and Nouveau Riche, you'll love these songs.

Seventeen, Twisting, Extraordinary, and S-S-S- single bed are more downtempo electro tracks to change things up again. Personally, I would have been fine with an entire dance album, but these tracks are a bit more reminiscent of some of Bananarama's earlier music.

Hopefully, this album will spawn some full length club mixes--it just still feels a little on the short side for some reason. I'm glad they didn't try, however, to add yet more 'remakes' of some of their biggest hits, although the CD single for Love Comes has an update of Cruel Summer...

The followup to 2005's "Drama" has seen the light! This album is TERRIFIC! How can anyone not get into it? (just on a personal note)The album cover is bland. I wouldv'e preferred the words "Viva" and "Bananarama" written out in laser lights on a solid black background rather than this cover. It's not a big deal, I just had to say something about it, It was bothering me.

1f you already have 2005's "Drama" then this is pretty much the same stuff all over again. Slightly more upbeat with more of a modern disco sound. If you're wondering, "Viva" & "Drama" sound as if they were written in the same time frame and released at different times. "Viva" (to me) sounds like "Drama" songs saved for a later release. The songs are still amazing but just giving you all an ideal of how "Viva" truly sounds. The only difference between the two is that "Drama" has more of an electric or digital sound in more areas, That could be because the songs chosen for "Viva" were re-worked to be distinguishable. Both album's songs can be interchangeable if you're not familiar with either one.

My favorite song's on this album are "Twisting" "Love Don't Live Here" "Dum Dum Boy" "The Runner" (Which reminds me alot of "Venus") & "We've Got The Night". My Top (2) favorite's are "Twisting" & "Dum Dum Boy". "Extroardinary" & "Seventeen" have the slowed down "Britney-Spears-Womanizer-bassline" or the "P!nk-So-What-Bassline" that alot of female artist find to be trendy this year 2009 (Kristinia Debarge "Goodbye") Christina Aguilera "Keeps Gettin' Better" etc. (just to name a few). The Gary Glitter bassline has become overdone and recycled by too many artists, let it go.

"Viva" is an album that sounds good played straight through. All The songs have similar tempo and all are upbeat and danceable. This is an overall good album, I have no complaints at all usually i'm bitter when albums are less than 14 tracks because the more songs you dislike create a smaller record. In this case the songs are all decient. These are good songs to do aerobics or cardio to, or just relax to on low volume. Excellent background music, Really good for long drives.

All i have to say is WOW! and not in reference to their 1987 album by that name. Ever since their 2006 release Drama, i have been waiting for another album of club dance music. Viva is more than i could ever have hoped for in terms of a wonderful dance CD. The first 4 songs in a row are fantastic! My favorite song on here is Love Don't Live Here. It is the second song on here. The first song is Love Comes, which is a very appropriate opening to the CD. I just wished that this would have contained the radio verson of Love Comes, maybe as the last song on the CD. The song seventeen isnt necessarily a full dance song, but i LOVE the musical rhythm of it. Viva is Bananarama's 10th Release and now i cant wait for studio album #11 or a USA tour!!! If you like bananarama and you like club, dance, or house music you NEED to buy this CD. It is very well worth the money to spend on shipping.

I've been a fan of Bananarama ever since Aie a Mwana. I watched Keren, Sara and Siobhan morph in to Keren, Sara and Jacqui, then just Keren and Sara. I watched them grow and change musically. I've always liked their sound.

Any act that has been around for that long has to change with the times, and Viva has an up-to-date dance sound. The performances are spirited, the songwriting holds up, their interpretations are top notch (e.g. Rapture).

Like all Bananarama albums, it's great fun. Highly recommended.

I have followed Bananarama since I inadvertantly purchased a Shy Boy 45 a million years ago.

This album is everything you would expect from the girls and more. Love Comes, The Runner, Love Dont Live Here Anymore and Weve Got The Night are the highlights but theres no filler here.

I was a big fan of Drama but this blows that album out of the water. Its modern but has that Bananarama sound.

Its too bad they never were able to maintain their popularity in the states, but luckily getting imports is easier than ever.

Even if you are a casual fan, give this album a spin, you wont regret it!

This is a Top 10, after all... This is their 10th Studio Album and the Girls have come a long way. Every track on Viva is outstanding and makes you want to move it! Buy it, you'll love it!!!

This album is very enjoyable through and through. Modern enough to make it viable on today's radio or in a dance club, yet familiar enough that Bananarama fans from the early days can still enjoy it. Sounds like a natural progression in sound for a group with this long of a history. Their contemporaries should take note...this is how a "80's" group stays viable. The only complaint is that the sound is over compressed, as is most everything coming out today. Many very catchy and radio/club friendly tunes here. 5*s

I am very satisfied with this product! I love the music and the CD is in great condition! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone!

I bought a copy of this "Viva", Bananarama's tenth album after listening to and enjoying the lead hit single from "Viva" titled "Love Comes." The the songs that follow are all well sung,ritten annd produced! Some of my favourite songs include the second single "Love Don't Live Here", "Extraordinary", "Seventeen", the slightly dark "Tell Me Tomorrow" and "Dum Dum Boy" and the bright "We've Got The Night." Bananarama's pulsating renditions of "Rapture" and "The Runner" became immediate favourites of mine. Overall, this a solid and highly enjoyable about that tops their previous album "Drama." Highly recommended!