True Confessions

by Jose F. Promis After becoming one of the biggest girl groups in U.K. pop music history, and after scoring a Top Ten U.S. hit with "Cruel Summer," Bananarama reached the commercial pinnacle of their career with their third album, True Confessions. This album also marked an artistic change of pace for the trio because they began to utilize super hit producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman, who helped them turn the 1970 rock hit "Venus" into an unstoppable, unforgettable dance smash. In fact, their version was so huge that it became their only U.S. number one hit. The rest of the album, however, is a little darker than one might expect, with heavy lyrics and themes permeating the songs. Other highlights include the second single, "More Than Physical," which was also produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, the moody third single, "Trick of the Night," the saucy "Hooked on Love," the dance-pop of "Promised Land," and the seductive "Dance with a Stranger." To some, True Confessions was a departure of sorts from the post-punk, new wave girl group sound that made Bananarama so essential to early-'80s British alt-pop music. To others, it represents a shift to platinum success (which continued with their follow-up album, Wow!), and this album, along with the hit "Venus," are prime examples of classic '80s dance-pop music.