He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'

"Really Saying Something"
Single by Bananarama with Fun Boy Three
from the album Deep Sea Skiving
B-side	"Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares
Released	April 1982
Format	7" single, 12" single
Recorded	November 1981
Genre	Pop/New Wave
Length	2:45
Label	London
Producer	Dave Jordan, Fun Boy Three
Bananarama chronology
"It Ain't What You Do...." (1982) "Really Saying Something" (1982) "Shy Boy" (1982)
"If" (2001) "Really Saying Something (Solasso remix)" (2005) "Move in My Direction" (2005) Fun Boy Three singles chronology "It Ain't What You Do...." (1982) "Really Saying Something" (1982) "The Telephone Always Rings" (1982)

"He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' is a soul song written by Motown Records songwriters Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964 (see 1964 in music). The song is notable in both a 1964 version by American Motown girl group the Velvelettes, and a 1982 hit version (with the title altered to "Really Saying Something") by British girl group Bananarama.

Overview

Velvelettes version

The original version of the song was recorded by Motown group the Velvelettes in December 1964. An alternate version recorded in October/November had been discarded. Produced by Norman Whitfield, the Velvelettes' version was released on Motown's V.I.P. label on December 27, 1964, and was a minor hit for the group in early 1965. "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" peaked at number 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and at number 21 on the then recently reinstated Billboard R&B Singles chart. The single was the second most successful release for the Velvelettes, a minor Motown act which never released a full-length album.

"Throw a Farewell Kiss", composed by Whitfield and Holland and produced by Whitfield, had been recorded in October 1962 and was issued as the B-side of "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'". Six years later, Whitfield had the Temptations record "Farewell Kiss" for their 1971 album Sky's the Limit.

Bananarama version

In 1982, the British girl group Bananarama recorded a cover version of the song and released it as the first single from their debut album Deep Sea Skiving. Providing background vocals is Fun Boy Three, a male vocal trio who had a hit with Bananarama earlier in the year with another cover, "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)".

The 1982 single became the second consecutive top-five hit for both Bananarama and Fun Boy Three, peaking at number five in the UK singles chart. It also received heavy play on the then-young MTV network in America. "Really Saying Something" was both groups' second chart entry in Australia, peaking at number seventy-four. The B-side, "Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares", has been issued on CD for the first time on the 2007 UK reissue of Deep Sea Skiving as one of five bonus tracks.

The song was revived in 2005 by Solasso, who remixed the song and released it as a bootleg remix. It was later included on Bananarama's album Drama. The Velvelettes' original appears on several Motown compilation albums.

Releases

UK 7" single NANA1

1. "Really Saying Something" 2:41
2. "Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares" 2:44

US 7" single LD201

1. "Really Saying Something" (US Version) 3:44
2. "Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares" 2:44

UK 12" vinyl NANX1

1. "Really Saying Something" (Extended Mix) 5:40

   Remixed by Fun Boy Three

2. "Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares" (Extended Version) 4:25

UK 12" vinyl - stickered limited edition NANX1

1. "Really Saying Something" (Extended Mix) 5:40

   Remixed by Fun Boy Three

2. "Aie A Mwana" (Extended Version) 5:46

US 12" vinyl LLD101

1. "Really Saying Something" (Extended US Version) 7:50
2. "Aie A Mwana" (Extended US Version) 6:46
3. "Aie A Mwana" (Dub Mix) 4:38

German 12" vinyl 6400 606

1. "Really Saying Something" (Extended Mix) 5:40
2. "Give Us Back Our Cheap Fares" (Extended Version) 4:25

2005 versions

1. "Really Saying Something" (Solasso Mix) 5:58 Taken from the album Drama
2. "Really Saying Something" (Solasso Radio Edit)
3. "Really Saying Something" (Solasso Dirty Dub) 5:58
4. "Really Saying Something" (Hardino Radio Edit)
5. "Really Saying Something" (Hardino Remix) 6:20
6. "Really Saying Something" (DJ Bomba & Soulseekerz Remix) 6:37
7. "Really Saying Something" (Kenny Hayes Sunshine Funk Remix) 5:34
8. "Really Saying Something" (Giresse Breakbeat Remix) 5:21
9. "Really Saying Something" (Shanghai Surprise Radio Edit) 3:21
10. "Really Saying Something" (Shanghai Surprise Club Mix) 6:44

Shakespears Sister Version

In late February 2011, Siobhan Fahey's current band, Shakespears Sister announced that they were releasing their own version of "Really Saying Something", as a special anniversary single, celebrating 30 years since Bananarama recorded their first single. The single is available exclusively on Fahey's/Shakespears Sister's web site.

Charts

Velvelettes version

Chart (1965)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	64
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles	21

Bananarama version

Chart (1982)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play	16
Australia ARIA singles chart	74
Dutch Singles chart	16