It’s been anything but a cruel summer for the past 40 years for Bananarama as the first new track from their second, self-titled studio album, celebrates another milestone. Yes, “Cruel Summer” is 40 years old this month! The track was released at the end of June 1983 and would eventually make it to No.8 in the UK and No.9 in America, becoming their very first top ten hit there.

The song has stood the test of time and not only did the Nana’s themselves re-record the song in 1989 with new member Jacquie O’Sullivan and take it back to the top twenty, but “Cruel Summer” has also found favour with other artists too. Swedish group Ace Of Base covered the song in 1998 and took it to…No.8 again the UK and No.10 Stateside. The song has also been sampled by the likes of Jessie Ware, and been performed by American rock group Evanescence for a lockdown video.

Bananarama themselves have never shy’d away from performing the song live and in 2017, when the original trio reformed for an anniversary reunion tour, “Cruel Summer” was dusted off for a number of live performances both on stage and on television to promote the tour. Bananarama themselves acknowledge that the song as taken on a “life of its own” and seem pretty happy with that. So when the pavements are burning and it’s too close for comfort, you can be guaranteed that “Cruel Summer” will be playing somewhere!

“Cruel Summer” 1983

“Cruel Summer” today

Cruel Summer 2023

See Bananarama perform “Cruel Summer” this Summer across the UK at Lets Rock and Radio 2’s Party In The Park