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Shakespears Sister

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Shakespears Sister
OriginLondon, England
GenresPop, dance, rock, adult contemporary
Years active1988–1996, 2009–present
LabelsFFRR, London (1988–1996)
SF (2009–present)
Warner Bros. Records (2012-present)
MembersSiobhan Fahey
Past membersMarcella Detroit (1989–1993)
Websiteshakespearssister.co.uk

Shakespears Sister is a British-based pop-rock act formed by Irish singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988. Consisting of Fahey and Marcella Detroit, the group released two albums and multiple top-ten singles, including signature tune "Stay" which peaked at #1 in the UK for 8 consecutive weeks.[1] Detroit left the band in 1993, leaving Fahey as the sole member until she ended the project in 1996.[2] After a solo career of her own, Fahey revived the project in 2009.[3]

History

1988–1992: Sacred Heart and Hormonally Yours

Shakespears Sister was conceived as a solo project by Siobhan Fahey, who left Bananarama in 1988 out of unhappiness with their "Hit Factory" sound with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and over a row over mouldy pizza.[4][5] The name was adapted from the title of the song "Shakespeare's Sister" by The Smiths, which was in turn a reference to Virginia Woolf's work A Room of One's Own.[6] According to Fahey, the misspelling was accidental, however she decided to keep it, because "It made it sort of my thing, as opposed to the song by The Smiths".[7] Fahey has described the meaning of the name being "Siobhan Fahey is the mother, the sister, the daughter, it's not the artist. The artist is Shakespeare's sister."[8]

Whilst working on the project with Richard Feldman, he invited Marcella Detroit as a songwriting aid. Detroit continued to work with Fahey as a "hired hand" until Fahey's husband David A. Stewart suggested the two form a band, which was backed by Feldman, Fahey's management and her record company, London Records.[2] Detroit officially became a member of the band after the release of the first Shakespears Sister single, "Break My Heart (You Really) / Heroine". Their second single "You're History" reached the top 10 in the UK, as did their debut album Sacred Heart, which was certified Gold by the BPI.[9][10] Two further singles were released from Sacred Heart, "Run Silent" and "Dirty Mind", both of which failed to peak within the UK top 50.[11]

In late 1991, Shakespears Sister released the first single from their second album Hormonally Yours, "Goodbye Cruel World", which was also a commercial failure, failing to peak within the UK top 50. The second single however, "Stay", marked Shakespears Sister's first and only #1, staying at the top of the UK charts for 8 full weeks, and also found similar success in international charts.[11] Hormonally Yours was released the following month, and was certified 2× Platinum by the BPI.[9] The duo continued to enjoy success with further singles from Hormonally Yours; "I Don't Care" peaked at #7, "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)" at #14, and a re-release of "Goodbye Cruel World" at #32.[10]

1993-2004: Detroit's departure and #3

In late 1993/early '94, tensions began to arise between the two. A concert at The Royal Albert Hall was cancelled due to Fahey's own personal issues at the time. The two decided to put the band on hiatus for Detroit to release her new solo album, which she had been working on at the time, and also for Fahey to spend time with her family. During this period, the fifth and final single from Hormonally Yours was released; "My 16th Apology", and due to both members being unable to promote it, it was a commercial failure, reaching #63 on the UK charts.[10] Fahey decided to end her partnership with Detroit, which she did not actually tell her herself; Detroit attended the 1993 Ivor Novello Awards ceremony without Fahey. She found out about the split through Fahey's publisher when Hormonally Yours won "Best Contemporary Collection of Songs". Neither have spoken nor seen each other since.[2]

In June 1996, "I Can Drive", the first single from Shakespears Sister's third album, #3, was released to a lukewarm commercial reception, peaking at #30 on the UK charts.[10] The single was also not released internationally.[12] Following this, Shakespears Sister were dropped from London Records, making "I Can Drive" their last release with the label. In 2002, Fahey released "Bitter Pill" under her own name, followed by "Pulsatron", which peaked at #108 and #95 respectively. In 2004, she was given the full rights to #3 by London Records, and it was finally released that same year independently through her website the same year. She later stated the act was dropped not because of "I Can Drive"'s commercial performance, but due to her label thinking the album "too alternative for a woman of my age".[13]

2005–2010: Compilation albums, re-launch, and Songs from the Red Room

In 2004-05, two retrospective compilation albums were released; The Best of Shakespear's Sister, compiled of the group's hits and b-sides, and Long Live the Queens!, compiled of rarities and unreleased tracks. Originally, Fahey's solo album was intended to be released under the title Bad Blood, yet this release was cancelled.[14] The album was then released on Fahey's own label, SF Records, in 2009 as Shakespears Sister, Songs from the Red Room. The fourth and final single "It's a Trip" was released in April 2010.

Shakespears Sister opened their Two Thousand and Ten Tour in Hoxton, London on 20 November 2009.[15] The band also performed at the Isle of Wight Festival and Ladyfest in 2010.[16]

2011-12: Cosmic Dancer and other projects

In February 2011, Shakespears Sister announced the release of Live, a recording from their Two Thousand and Ten Tour, consisting of a CD and DVD set. To date, the album has not been released, but in June 2012, it was announced on Shakespears Sister’s official Facebook page that Live was due for release in 2013.[17][18] Three singles were released in March and April 2011, "Dancing Barefoot", originally by Patti Smith, an acoustic re-working of "Someone Else's Girl", and "Really Saying Something", released in celebration of 30 years since Bananarama recorded their first single.

The band's first live album, originally broadcasted on BBC Radio, Live 1992 was released exclusively on digital format through Shakespears Sister's website in June 2011.[18] Their fifth studio album, Cosmic Dancer, was released in December 2011, consisting entirely of acoustic tracks, including several re-recordings of older songs, most notably "Goodbye Cruel World". Fahey had announced as early as April 2010 that she was working on an acoustic album featuring original songs and re-workings of older songs, for the purpose of it "being a nice thing to do for the fans".[8] She also worked on the album with her son, Sam.[8]

2012-present: Re-releases, Rarities and Seek the Woman

In January 2012, Shakespears Sister released their third compilation album Rarities exclusively through their website. On June 10 2012, Fahey posted a photo on her official Facebook simply saying "Seek the Woman" in red font against a black backdrop. It was confirmed on June 28 that this was the working title of the band's sixth studio album, scheduled for release in 2013 amongst several other new releases, including a 20th Anniversary edition of Hormonally Yours. Although originally scheduled for release in Autumn 2012, it was pushed back into early 2013 along with a Deluxe Edition of Sacred Heart. Both albums are to consist of a 2CD and DVD set, with liner notes from both Fahey and Detroit.[18][19] In November 2012, Cosmic Dancer, a new expanded edition of #3, and a new album Remixes were released for the first time through major retailers, including HMV, Amazon.[20] Also scheduled for release in 2013 is the Live album, and a DVD entitled History: 1988 - 2010.[18]

On 20 December 2012, it was announced Seek the Woman was to be released under the name Cherchez La Femme, set for release in early 2013. The artwork was revealed the same day.[18]

Discography

Main article: Shakespears Sister discography

References

  1. ^ All the Number Ones - 1992
  2. ^ a b c Marcella-Detroit.com - FAQ
  3. ^ Shakespears Sister - About
  4. ^ Shakespears Sister - Music (Sacred Heart info)
  5. ^ Bananarama & Siobhan Fahey - Chris Evans Interview>
  6. ^ The Agency Group | Shakespears Sister
  7. ^ Shakespears Sister - 1988 Mick Brown Interview
  8. ^ a b c Shakespears Sister 2010 Interview
  9. ^ a b "Shakespear's Siter - BPI certifications". bpi. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. ^ a b c d "Charstats - Shakespear's Sister". Retrieved 2012-12-5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ a b Chart Log UK, 1994–2010, DJ S – The System Of Life
  12. ^ Shakespears Sister - About
  13. ^ "Siobhan Fahey, Metro Inteview". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "Message Board - Album Tracklisting". Siobhanfahey-realm.proboards.com. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  15. ^ —Tim Blanks (2009-11-24). "Siobhan Fahey's Back And Better Than Ever: style file: daily fashion, party, and model news". Style.com. Retrieved 2011-07-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Shepherd, Fiona. "Interview: Siobhan Fahey - 'Why should you stop if you're still inspired?' - The Scotsman". Thescotsman.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  17. ^ Shakespears Sister - Live CD/DVD
  18. ^ a b c d e "Siobhan Fahey & Shakespears Sister" on Facebook (Blocked URL)
  19. ^ Hormonally Yours - 20th Anniversary Edition
  20. ^ Shakespears Sister - Order New Albums
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