Music Review: Bananarama "Cruel Summer"

Bananarama

Cruel Summer

Album: Bananarama

Year: 1983

        Keren Woodward misses her best friend in the brooding “Cruel Summer.”

        Scorching synth opens the single, setting a blistering tone. Her bare foot touches the patio while she opens the door. The dog runs out while she rubs her singed foot. Her mom asks her what she’s plans on doing. She musters a smile and responds maybe talking a walk. Once her mom leaves, her smile fades.  Humidity is at a record high. She can hardly breathe outside. Finally, she decides to go out for her walk. However, she can hear the whispers from her classmates, talking about her. She is able to make out certain words but not whole sentences. But she gets the gist of it.  It only reminds her more of her friend, bringing tears to her eyes. (“Hot summer streets/And the pavements are burning/I sit around/Trying to smile/But the air is so heavy and dry/Strange voices are saying/What did they say/Things I can't understand/It's too close for comfort/This heat has got right out of hand.”)

In the chorus, the innonence of the summer is torturing her. She has no one to talk to or hang out with. It only emphasizes how much she wishes her best friend were with her. But she passed away a couple months ago. She couldn’t take her depression any longer. (“It's a cruel, cruel summer/Leaving me here on my own/It's a cruel, cruel summer/Now you're gone.”)

         Her mom decides they both should get out of the house and go shopping. As they walk from store to store, she keeps bumping into people. A constant stream of apologizes spills from her mouth to people as she pretends to peruse the racks. She just wants to go home. (“The city is crowded/My friends are away/And I'm on my own/It's too hot to handle/So I got to get up and go.”)

          In the second chorus, she adds she’s as alienated as her best friend was. (“It's a cruel, cruel summer/Leaving me here on my own/It's a cruel/It's a cruel cruel summer

Now you're gone/You're not the only one.”)

         An extended third chorus is sung. (“It's a cruel, cruel summer/Leaving me/Leaving me here on my own/It's a cruel/It's a cruel cruel summer/Now you're gone.”)

          The second chorus is sung again.

         A final chorus is sung to end the single. (“It's a cruel, cruel summer/Leaving me/Leaving me here on my own/It's a cruel/It's a cruel cruel summer/Now you're gone/You're not the only one.”)

       Bananarama’s forlorn vocals see the everlasting light of the sun as put-upon, hiding secrets and telling lie after lie. The joys of being young have been lost after her friend died. Nothing seems real anymore.

            The internal “Cruel Summer” has had to grow up too soon.