Music Review: Bananarama "Rough Justice"
Bananarama
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Rough Justice
Album: Bananarama
Year: 1984
Bananarama oppose violence and corruption against victims of crimes in the boiling "Rough Justice."
Matter-of-fact beats open the single, setting a deadly tone. In the first verse, Keren Woodward says that children learn early on that if they aren't popular and rich, they won't get the friends or adolescence they desire. She adds that an abused wife seeks to divorce her husband, only to be humiliated and demoralized by her husband's awyer.
Album: Bananarama
Year: 1984
Bananarama oppose violence and corruption against victims of crimes in the boiling "Rough Justice."
Matter-of-fact beats open the single, setting a deadly tone. In the first verse, Keren Woodward says that children learn early on that if they aren't popular and rich, they won't get the friends or adolescence they desire. She adds that an abused wife seeks to divorce her husband, only to be humiliated and demoralized by her husband's awyer.
"The young don't grow up/Well not in this life/Big mouths and money/Win every time/Boy beats girl/While the sneaky and snide/Take all your money/And take your pride."
In the chorus, she says people thought of as collateral damage in a shooting and homeless children left to go to hungry are crooked politics. Everyone, regardless of their class status, should be treated equally."Innocent people walking by/No time to smile before they die/Don't call that justice/ Children are starving on the street/Another one disappearing every week/Don't call that justice."
In the second verse, she says those who are controlling the gangs and the corporations are considered heroes. She says children currently living in society are learning that it's ok to treat people badly for profit. However, it will disillusion once they see the damage they've done. Woodward was a victim once and she hasn't forgotten how she was given the runaround. She vows to get back at those people who nearly ruined her being."King for a day/But their kingdom grows cold/They'll never grow up/But they're bound to grow old/I remember the pain/And humiliation/And I'll show them rough justice/The way that they did."
The chorus is sung twice.
A panicked saxophone solo follows.
The latter half of the first verse is sung again."Boy beats girl/While the sneaky and snide/Take all your money/And take your pride."
The chorus is sung twice.
Bits of the chorus end the song."Innocent people walking by/Don't call that justice/Children starving on the street/Don't call that justice."
Bananarama fight for equality. After seeing the disadvantaged hung out to dry, they have become activists. However, they are tired of the government treating the hungry as disopable and unneeded. They want to see an action done and right away. Lip service and empty words will no longer suffice.
Bananarama's vocals are embittered and compassionate. However, there's a stormy fury inside of them that won't be put down with a slogan.
The flashing, murmuring beats are like jolts, sending signals of immediate danger.
"Rough Justice" is a politically charged, astute single.