Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)



"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 in 1987 as its second single except in the U.S., where it was released in 1988 as the album's third single (following "I Can't Help It"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock 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 members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, describes a dream in which they find themselves being tried in court for love. The musical structure could be compared to that of Pachelbel's Canon.

"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. The B-side was Mr. Sleaze in which Bananarama member Sara Dallin not only sang on that track but also played bass guitar like she did on "Love in the First Degree".

As one of their final performances with Fahey, the group performed the song at the 1988 BRIT Awards with a large entourage of male dancers dressed only in black bikini briefs. The song was nominated for best British single at the BRIT Awards, but lost to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", also produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

By the time "Love in the First Degree" was released in the United States, Fahey had already announced her departure from Bananarama.

Music video
The music video, directed by Andy Morahan, features the group performing the song in a jail cell, dressed in prison uniforms, as several male dancers perform around them. The imagery plays off of Elvis Presley's 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock.

On Bananarama's The Greatest Hits Collection video compilation, the videoclip for Love In The First Degree is intercut with the live performance of the song at the 1988 Brit Awards, which was Siobhan Fahey's last performance with the group before her departure.

Track listings

 * 7" single NANA14
 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (Album Version)  3:33
 * 2) "Mr. Sleaze" 4:45


 * UK 12" single NANX 14
 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (Jailer's Mix)  6:03
 * Available on the CD album "The Greatest Remixes Collection".
 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (Escapee Instrumental) 3:33
 * 2) "Mr. Sleaze" (Single Version) 4:45


 * 2nd 12" single NANXR 14 / German 12" single 887 222-1
 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (Eurobeat Style)  7:15
 * Available on the CD album "Greatest Hits Collection".
 * 1) "Mr. Sleaze" (Rare Groove Mix) 6:00


 * U.S. 12" single
 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (Eurobeat Style) 7:15
 * 2) "Love in the First Degree" (7" Mix) 3:33
 * 3) "Love in the First Degree" (Jailer's Mix)  6:03
 * 4) "Ecstacy" (Wild Style)  5:35

Other versions

 * 1) "Love in the First Degree" (House Mix)  5:45
 * Available on the CD single "I Want You Back".

Personnel
Bananarama
 * Sara Dallin - Vocals and bass guitar
 * Siobhan Fahey - Vocals
 * Keren Woodward - Vocals

Cover Versions

 * In the late 80s, the song was covered by Japanese singer Tomo Sakurai as the main theme song for the anime Lemon Angel, which appeared under a late night risque slot known more generally as Late night anime.
 * Hong Kong singer Danny Chan recorded the song in Cantonese as the title track to his 1988 album "San sin ya yee man (神仙也移民)".
 * A Mandarin cover version titled "Say You Love Me Again (再对我说声爱我)" was recorded by Taiwanese singer Qian Baihui (千百惠) and included on her 1988 album "Missing My Autumn Lover (秋水伊人)".
 * In 2011, English singer Slow Moving Millie covered the song on her album Renditions.
 * This song is also covered by Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid.
 * Australian musician Anthony Callea covered the song for his album Backbone (2016).

Sampling
In 2007, a mash-up of the song with Basement Jaxx's 2005 hit "Oh My Gosh" became popular on the internet.