"Move In My Direction", the first official single off the "Drama" album, was released in the UK on 25 July 2005 on A&G and promptly hit the UK Top 20. This was Bananarama's first single release in the UK since 1993's "More More More". A lush, hypnotic dance track, "Move In My Direction" (written by Sara Dallin/Keren Woodward/David Clewett/Ivar Lisinski) was produced by Mute 8 from the Murlyn production team which has been behind hits for the likes of J-Lo and Britney Spears. The single which was a huge UK club hit was officially released in three formats:
CD1
1. Move In My Direction [Radio Edit]
2. Venus [Marc Almond's Hi NRG Remix]
CD2
1. Move In My Direction [Radio Edit]
2. Move In My Direction [Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Vocal Mix]
3. Move In My Direction [The Lovefreekz Club Mix]
4. Move In My Direction [Redanka's Remix]
5. Move In My Direction [Video]
7"
1. Move In My Direction [Radio Edit]
2. Move In My Direction [Angel City Remix]
The single was released in a few overseas markets in 2005 (like Belgium on ARS Entertainment) and the roll-out continued in 2006, for example, in Australia (on Central Dance Records - picture sleeve above) and Germany (on Edel Records), where the song was a hit on German DJ dance charts.
In the US, remixes of the song (which was a Top 20 Club Play chart hit) were released in 2006 on the "Drama Remixes Vol. 1" CD (The Lab Records) together with remixes of "Look On The Floor".
As the track started receiving club play again in Europe during the summer of 2007, the single was finally released in France in May 2007, complete with two new remixes by Pat The Cat.
UK (Top 75): #14 - #29 - #50 - #71- out of chart (updated 29 Aug 2005)
Ireland (Top 40): #34 - out of chart (updated 7 Aug 2005)
Belgium (Top 50): #46 - #31 - #25 - #35 (released on ARS Entertainment - updated 16 Nov 2005)
Australia (Top 50): #41 - out of chart (released on Central Station - updated 2 Apr 2006)
Germany (Top 100): #93 - out of chart (released on Edel Records - updated 13 Apr 2006)
Israel (Top 40): Peaked at #4 (updated 9 April 2006)
Japan (Tokio Top 100): Peaked at #87 (updated 26 April 2006)
US Billboard Club Play (Top 50): #43 - #36 - #26 - #21 - #16 - #14 - #17 - #23 (released on The Lab Records - updated 12 Oct 2006)
With Move In My Direction charting at UK #14, MIMD becomes Bananarama's 24th UK Top 40 single (their last Top 40 single was 1993's More More More at #24) and 16th Top 20 (their last Top 20 single was 1991's Preacher Man at #20). MIMD is their highest charting single since 1989's Help (#3).
It's been seven days since my last confession
And I really don't know where to begin
Should've called a taxi
Should've gone straight home
We could just stay here and no one will know
Move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Real slow
Won't you move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Real slow
Don't you know that you are my fascination
And I just can't wait to do it all again
Should've left the party
Should've left alone
But I want you too much
I couldn't say no
Move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Real slow
Won't you move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Feels so right
No one knows I'm not coming home tonight
Why does wrong feel so right
Move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Real slow
Won't you move in my direction, I’ll show you where to go
Won't you move in my direction
Feels so right
View the full-length high-quality video for "Move In My Direction" at the Alchemy website here . Look for Phil Griffin (who's also directed videos for Blue, Atomic Kitten and Steps) under the list of directors to find it.
The video is also available on the official Bananarama website as well as CD2 of the "Move In My Direction" UK single and the "Look On The Floor" UK DVD single. It can also be found as a bonus track on some international releases of the "Drama" album e.g. Taiwan's, Germany's etc.
There are more captures available at the Bananarama Yahoo! Club site here .
There was a wide variety of promotional releases available for "Move In My Direction" in the UK in 2005 including a 1-track CD, an 11-track remix CD and a 4-track 12" vinyl pack.
Remixes available have included:
a) Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Vocal Mix
b) The Lovefreekz Club Mix
c) Angel City Remix
d) Redanka's Fascination Remix
e) Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Dub
f) The Lovefreekz Dub
g) Angel City Dub
h) Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Vocal Edit
i) The Lovefreekz Radio Mix
j) Angel City Remix Edit
k) Radio Edit
l) Pat The Cat Ibiza Mix
m) Pat The Cat Ibiza Dub
A 12-track promo CD was released in the US in August 2006.
The track has found a home on various dance compilations. Pictured above are "The EQ Dance Show" from Singapore and "Joy94.9FM" from Australia. The track can also be found on "Dance Max 2006.01" (Edel) and "DJ Masters #8" (Tinted).
From the A&G website :
It’s tempting to say that Bananarama rewrote the pop rulebook. The truth is that they never even read it in the first place - for over twenty years their name has been synonymous with bright, sophisticated and authentically brilliant pop music. And here are Keren and Sara back with some of the strongest material of their career: totally modern, totally pop, totally Bananarama.
Monday July 18th sees the release of “Move In My Direction”, a slice of gorgeous glitterball disco-house – dipped in lush vibes and electro flavoured, it’s the perfect summer soundtrack to unite happy hedonists, club kids and pop-heads everywhere.
Co-written and produced by Mute 8 from the famous Murlyn camp, home of hits to the likes of Britney and J-Lo and mixed by UK popmeister Jeremy Wheatley of Sugababes fame - “Move In My Direction” will be available on 2 CDs and 7” vinyl:-
CD1 will include “Move In My Direction“ and also the Marc Almond remix of the Bananarama classic “Venus”.
CD2 will come with “Move In My Direction“, a whole heap of foxy remixes courtesy of Redanka, Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto, Lovefreakz and the video in all its glory.
7” limited vinyl will include “Move In My Direction“ and also the Marc Almond remix of the Bananarama classic “Venus”.
With millions of records sold, Top Ten and no1 smashes across the world and 25 Top 40 hits in the UK, the ladies are true global pop heroines: i-Tunes have also recently added over 60 Bananarama songs for downloading to celebrate one of the world’s most loved pop groups of all time.
Totally modern, totally pop, totally Bananarama.
“Move In My Direction“ is released on A&G Records on Monday 18th July on 2CDs and limited 7” vinyl.
Let's all imagine Atomic Kitten never existed…that was quick! Two years ago if Bananarama had asked you to ‘Move In My Direction’, you’d have assumed they’d be asking you to follow them to the Job Centre.
But now they’re back - looking all Desperate Housewives with this fantastic Murlyn-produced electro gem.
It’s a naggingly, hypnotically addictive collision of Kylie’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ and the Halliwell Monster’s ‘Ride It’. Why does wrong feel so right?
- Gary Ryan, Manchester Online
**** out of 5
- Heat Magazine
Having endured everything from Duran Duran to even Kajagoogoo nostalgia reunions it's about time that most important band of the '80s made a comeback too, namely Bananarama.
Yep, it's been almost a decade since Keren and Sara (alas Siobhan still won't come back) lit up the pop world with their wonderfully half baked, sometimes camp pop creations. Move In My Direction is nothing short of a classic 'Nanas moment.
True to form, the girls have written a song about partying, a kinda spangly club anthem for all those hungover cats regretting the night before, hence the line, "should've caught a taxi, should've gone straight home." It has a vague Middle Eastern flavour thanks to the synth strings while it's great to hear the girls still avoiding harmonies and singing like a couple of pissed gals at a karaoke sesh.
In a world of super slick all-singing/dancing pop kids who all seem to learn their trade at drama schools, the 'Nanas are a breath of kooky air. They still look mighty fine too!
- msn
There's something so cool about an artist that you completely isolate to one decade or genre or song in particular, coming back with a new look and new sound and totally rock that transformation. Cher's made a career out of it, but that doesn't mean someone else can't do it, too, right? Bananarama, easily and always remembered for one of the 80s' biggest hits ever "Venus", are back with a new look, a new single, and a ragingly successful entrance into the club world with remixes by the Lovefreekz, Redanka and Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto. And between those remixers they've got all their bases covered - Blanco & Moto turn in a sandy beach house disco mix, Lovefreekz add a deeper peak-hour disco mix, and Redanka contributes what will probably the most played mix, a peak-hour, circuity house mix. I'm thinking these girls may have more to offer than just 80s pop, they may actually have some lasting potential that we never saw coming.
- Perfect Beat
The ladies are back! Handbag queens can now reactivate their Bananarama strut to this new track reminiscent in flavour to old classics like 'Venus' and 'Really Saying Something'.
The familiar beats are back and pop has never looked so good. Clad in slinky gowns and topped with luscious falling locks, the duo (now minus Siobhan Fahey) doesn't look a day over 25! And their first single is equally impressive. A thumping but updated backbeat jumps in to rev up the glamorous violin strains and electronic swirls, creating the perfect backdrop for those late night boogies at your club of choice.
Bananarama admirably snubs the need to reinvent themselves for their comeback – why mess with something that has always worked? The lyrics are simple but catchy, allowing anyone to quickly pick it up and sing along. Lighting up the tune is their glam and spangly vocals, a perfect display before the lusha and hypnotic arrangement.
As it is, the single has been rocketing up the UK charts with 2 versions featuring 10 remixes from 4 different spinners. The Lovefreekz gives the classical house spin while Angel City's version is a little harder and edgier. Bobby Blanco's and Mikimoto's versions though might go down the easiest with the a more kooky mediterranean slant.
As usual the 'Nanas' has made a stunning entrance and laid the golden carpet for their upcoming album. I can't wait.
- sgboy
It's been some years now since these ladies last graced the charts, but that's all about to change [crosses fingers, toes, legs and everything else] with this glorious new single. For over 20 years, the girls' name has been associated with bright, sophisticated and authentically brilliant pop, and here they continue that tradition. This full-on, dance-pop extravaganza comes complete with a whole heap of tasty remixes and an exclusive Marc Almond update of the classic Venus. The girls couldn't have returned with a better package for fans, both old and new. Now they've done their bit, it's time to do yours, so prise open those purses and make this the huge hit it so deserves to be.
- Boyz
A bright, breezy slice of electro-pop
- This is Worcestshire
Move In My Direction is what you would expect from the
girls who brought us Venus and
Love In The First Degree. Its catchy electro-disco tune is undoubtedly geared
towards their huge gay following and
it should bring back memories to all of us who
remember bopping along to their many
hits.
- Sky
With brand new single 'Move In My Direction', Keren & Sara are back with a slice of gorgeous glitterball disco-house dipped in lush vibes & electro favours. This is the perfect summer soundtrack to unite happy hedonists, club kids & pop-heads everywhere.
- HMV
Hard to say what a new Bananarama record would sound like in 2005, given that they were last seen sticking stubbornly with the Stock/Waterman (if not Aitken) dream team at the one point in the past twenty years when it could not have been less fashionable to do so. But this sounds exactly as you’d expect, and in the best possible way; they hitched a ride under Kylie’s little fingernail at the end of ’92, anxiously watched the seat-edge rollercoaster saga of her wilderness years and subsequent sparkling renaissance, and, inspired by the latter, chose 2005 to be the point at which they would emerge to reclaim their place in the framework of the Pop-Not-Quite-Cutting-Edge. Please Yourself was bouncy but hackneyed SAW tropes given a big old kick up the arse by some joyous collaborative songwriting; likewise, “Move In My Direction” is gurgly flamenco filter-disco straight out of 2001 that makes up for the absence of shock-of-the-new tactics via lashings of fizzy shapeshifting charm, and through being so fundamentally Bananarama-y. Vocally they are still the female Neil Tennants; rueful, not much range, have no truck with histrionics or ‘technique’; totally refreshing and instantly comforting and recognisable. So they steal through the molten silver throb of “MIMD”, and it is a record that in some respects is completely Then (4 years, 13 years, 23 years ago), but also gleamingly Now, and they sound like no one but themselves.
[9/10]
- Alex Linsdell, Stylus Magazine
Their best single in 18 years (i.e. since "Love In The First Degree"), thanks to following a 10-year-old formula - get those good-hearted Swedes in to fix you up real good. A bit of a heaving dance behemoth, sounding like Geri Halliwell's "Ride It", but much more filled-out. Repeating middle eights over choruses is always a good idea. I would dance to this if it would get played somewhere other than scary gay clubs and my bedroom. The synth-strings opening is also rather good. [9/10]
- Edward Oculicz, Stylus Magazine
Don't call it a comeback! No, actually, you can totally call this a comeback. The suspiciously well-preserved Bananarama are back, and they're doing Nu Kylie almost as well as the real thing - whoomp-whoomp housey bits, instantly memorable chorus, a great refrain of “why does wrong feel so right?” near the end. There's also one part of the production that sounds almost too close to an equivalent part of 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' for comfort. I suppose you could argue that their credentials give Bananarama the right to steal things from people who so clearly followed in their footsteps first time around. And you'd be right.[8/10]
- Joe Macare, Stylus Magazine