More Than Physical
Encyclopedia
"More Than Physical" is a song written and performed by English girl group
Bananarama
. It was one of two tracks on the group's True Confessions
album produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman
(SAW) trio instead of Jolley & Swain
. The album version of the track is different from the single.
In order to capitalize on the number-one success of previous single "Venus" (the other True Confessions track produced by SAW), "More Than Physical" was given a Hi-NRG
-influenced make-over to sound similar to the dance-oriented chart-topper. The version issued in the UK was a slightly different edit to the version used in the rest of the world. The UK version intro went straight into the "hey hey" vocal locs from the instrumental section and the run out choruses also had "hey hey" vocal locs running through them.
Even with heavy exposure on MTV
, "More Than Physical" did not duplicate the success of "Venus", stalling at number forty-one on the UK singles chart
and number seventy-three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
. It was a top-forty success in Australia, where it peaked at number twenty-eight in the ARIA chart. Its biggest success was in nightclubs, and "More Than Physical" became a top-five hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart.
"More Than Physical" was featured in the 1986 British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too
starring Michelle Holmes
and Siobhan Finneran
. The song is featured in the scene where the girls are babysitting for Bob and Michelle, and they dance around the living room while the video to "More Than Physical" plays on the television.
The bassline of the track is derivative of the 70's disco hit "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste Of Honey.
further capitalized on Bananarama's new glamorous and sexy visual image by including several well-muscled, topless men in a montage of shots of the group members. Some of the shots were made with colored filters, and are juxtaposed with tightly cropped shots of body parts or movements in slow motion. The music video was directed by Peter Care
and one of the models in the video is Keren Woodward
's then-boyfriend David-Scott Evans.
+ some copies came with one of three fold out posters of Siobhan, Keren or Sarah
2nd 7" single doublepack NANDP11
7" picture disc NANPD11
+ The MTP Version of "Venus" is a different mixed version to the standard 7" version
12" single NANX11
2nd 12" single NANXR11 - "The Essential Ian Levine Dance Pack"
Other versions
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
. It was one of two tracks on the group's True Confessions
True Confessions (album)
True Confessions is the third album by the British girl group Bananarama. Released in 1986, the album was not a commercial success in the UK, but achieved their biggest sales and chart success in the U.S., where the first single "Venus" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 .A majority of the...
album produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
(SAW) trio instead of Jolley & Swain
Jolley & Swain
Steve Jolley and Tony Swain were a successful pop musician, songwriting and record production duo in the United Kingdom in the early to mid-1980s, producing some of the top artists and songs of the era....
. The album version of the track is different from the single.
In order to capitalize on the number-one success of previous single "Venus" (the other True Confessions track produced by SAW), "More Than Physical" was given a Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...
-influenced make-over to sound similar to the dance-oriented chart-topper. The version issued in the UK was a slightly different edit to the version used in the rest of the world. The UK version intro went straight into the "hey hey" vocal locs from the instrumental section and the run out choruses also had "hey hey" vocal locs running through them.
Even with heavy exposure on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, "More Than Physical" did not duplicate the success of "Venus", stalling at number forty-one on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number seventy-three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was a top-forty success in Australia, where it peaked at number twenty-eight in the ARIA chart. Its biggest success was in nightclubs, and "More Than Physical" became a top-five hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart.
"More Than Physical" was featured in the 1986 British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Rita, Sue and Bob Too is a 1986 British film directed by Alan Clarke about two West Yorkshire teenaged schoolgirls who have a sexual fling with a married man. It was adapted by Andrea Dunbar, based on two of her stage plays; Rita Sue and Bob Too and The Arbor...
starring Michelle Holmes
Michelle Holmes
Michelle Holmes , born Corinne Michelle Cunliffe, is an English actress who has appeared in several television serials.Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, she performed in a pop band called The Dunky Dobbers....
and Siobhan Finneran
Siobhan Finneran
Siobhan Finneran is an English television and film actress from Oldham in Lancashire, England.-Career:Siobhan's first major role was as Rita in the 1986 film, Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Since 2007 she has played Janice in ITV's popular comedy drama Benidorm, appearing in all 4 series and both specials...
. The song is featured in the scene where the girls are babysitting for Bob and Michelle, and they dance around the living room while the video to "More Than Physical" plays on the television.
The bassline of the track is derivative of the 70's disco hit "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste Of Honey.
Music video
The remixed single version's music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
further capitalized on Bananarama's new glamorous and sexy visual image by including several well-muscled, topless men in a montage of shots of the group members. Some of the shots were made with colored filters, and are juxtaposed with tightly cropped shots of body parts or movements in slow motion. The music video was directed by Peter Care
Peter Care
Peter Care is an English director of music videos, commercials and film. He has directed music videos for R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Roy Orbison and Depeche Mode, amongst others.- Biography :...
and one of the models in the video is Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
's then-boyfriend David-Scott Evans.
Track Listings
7" single NANA11- "More Than Physical" (UK Single Version) 3:45
- Available from the CD album Bananarama - Master Series
- "Scarlett" 4:11
- S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward/P. Bishop
+ some copies came with one of three fold out posters of Siobhan, Keren or Sarah
2nd 7" single doublepack NANDP11
- "More Than Physical" (UK Single Version) 3:45
- "Scarlett" 4:11
- "Venus" 3:38
- "White Train" 3:50
7" picture disc NANPD11
- "More Than Physical" (Worldwide Single Version) 3:20
- Available on the 2007 remastered version of True ConfessionsTrue ConfessionsTrue Confessions is a confession magazine targeted at young women readers. It wasoriginally published by Fawcett Publications, beginning in 1922....
incorrectly listed as "single version"
- Available on the 2007 remastered version of True Confessions
- "Venus" (MTP Version) 3:38
- "Scarlett" 4:11
+ The MTP Version of "Venus" is a different mixed version to the standard 7" version
12" single NANX11
- "More Than Physical" (Garage Mix) 8:45
- Also available from the CD album The Twelve Inches of BananaramaThe Twelve Inches of BananaramaThe Twelve Inches of Bananarama is a compilation album by English girl group Bananarama, released on October 2, 2006 by Warner Bros. Records. The collection contains twelve remixes of Bananarama songs, spanning the years 1982 to 1991, many of which are appearing on compact disc for the first time...
- Also available from the CD album The Twelve Inches of Bananarama
- "More Than Physical" (Dub) 4:58
- "Scarlett" (Extended Version) 5:20
2nd 12" single NANXR11 - "The Essential Ian Levine Dance Pack"
- "More Than Physical" (Musclebound Mix) 10:00
- "Venus" (The Hellfire Mix) 9:20
- Available on the CD album The Greatest Hits CollectionThe Greatest Hits CollectionThe Greatest Hits Collection is the title of several greatest hits music albums:*The Greatest Hits Collection *The Greatest Hits Collection *The Greatest Hits Collection...
- Available on the CD album The Greatest Hits Collection
- "Scarlett" 4:11
Other versions
- "More Than Physical" (Album Version) - (5:05)
- Available on True Confessions
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 41 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 73 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 5 |
| Australia ARIA singles | 28 |
| Venezuela Singles Chart | 35 |