- Love in the First Degree
Infobox Single
Name = Love in the First Degree
Artist =Bananarama
from Album = Wow!
B-side = Mr. Sleaze
Released = October 1987
Format = 7" single, 12" single
Recorded = March 1987
Genre = Pop, Dance
Length =
Label =London Records
Writer =Matt Aitken ,Sarah Dallin ,Siobhan Fahey ,Mike Stock ,Pete Waterman ,Keren Woodward
Producer =Stock Aitken Waterman
Last single = "I Heard a Rumour "
(1987)
This single = "Love in the First Degree"
(1987)
Next single = "I Can't Help It "
(1987)"Love in the First Degree" is a song written and recorded by English
girl group Bananarama . It is included on their fourth studio album "Wow!" and was released as its second single except in the U.S., where it was the album's third single (following "I Can't Help It "). The track was co-written and produced by theStock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio.The song is an uptempo pop tune similar to many hits produced by SAW during this time period. The surreal lyrics, composed by
Siobhan Fahey and built upon by SAW and Bananarama membersSara Dallin andKeren Woodward , describes a dream in which they find themselves being tried in court for love. Some of the musical structure mimicsPachelbel's Canon .The
music video featured Bananarama (including a very pregnant Fahey) performing the song in a jail cell, dressed in prison uniforms, as several male dancers perform around them. The imagery plays off ofElvis Presley 's 1957 movie "Jailhouse Rock". As one of their final performances with Fahey, the group performed the song at theBRIT Awards with a large entourage of male dancers dressed only in black bikini briefs. The song was nominated for best British single at theBRIT Awards , but lost toRick Astley 's "Never Gonna Give You Up "."Love in the First Degree" is Bananarama's biggest-selling single in their native UK. It holds a three-way tie for their highest
UK singles chart placing (number three). The single also became a top-ten success in Australia and earned a top-twenty placing in New Zealand. In the United States the song just missed the top-forty, but was a top-ten club hit.By the time "Love in the First Degree" was released in the United States, Fahey had already announced her departure from Bananarama.
In 2007, a mash-up of the song with
Basement Jaxx 's 2005 hit "Oh My Gosh " became popular on the internet.Charts
Remixes
* "Love In The First Degree" (Album Version)
* "Love In The First Degree" (Eurobeat Stylee Mix)
* "Love In The First Degree" (Jailer's Mix)
* "Love In The First Degree" (House Mix)
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