I Heard a Rumour

"I Heard A Rumour"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Wow!
B-side Clean Cut Boy
Released July 1987
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded August 1986
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:24
Label London Records
Writer(s) Matt Aitken, Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Mike Stock, Pete Waterman, Keren Woodward
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Bananarama singles chronology
"Set on You"
(1987)		 "I Heard a Rumour"
(1987)		 "Love in the First Degree"
(1987)

"I Heard a Rumour" is a 1987 song recorded by English girl group Bananarama, featured on their Wow! album. It was also featured in the film Disorderlies (starring The Fat Boys) and included on its soundtrack.

"I Heard a Rumour" became one of Bananarama's biggest singles, hitting #14 in their native UK, and climbing to #4 in the U.S., #2 in Canada and #8 in New Zealand. It was also a hit in nightclubs, prompting a top-five placing on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Songwriter and music producer Pete Waterman names "I Heard a Rumour" as one of his favourite songs.

The chords, general structure and parts of the melody (mainly the bridge leading into the chorus) are the same as those of Michael Fortunati's 1986 hit "Give Me Up".

The song is included in the PlayStation karaoke game SingStar Anthems.

Music video

The music video, directed by Andy Morahan, is an expansion on the dress-up theme of Bananarama's "Venus".

Group members Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward are seen emulating various film stars, projected on screens behind them, by dressing up in various costumes, such as a cowgirl or Carmen Miranda. Bananarama's trademark silliness is interspersed throughout.

At one point the group, dressed in French can-can dresses, bend over to 'moon' the camera and expose the letters W-O-W (a reference to their album title) on their rears.

Bloopers, of the girls making mistakes in the dance routine, are intercut with other footage.

Track Listings

7" single
  1. "I Heard a Rumour" (Album Version) 3:25
  2. "Clean Cut Boy" (Party Size) 4:22
    S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward/I. Curnow
12" single
  1. "I Heard a Rumour" (Horoscope Mix) 5:57
    Available on the CD album The Twelve Inches of Bananarama
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" (Dub) 5:06
  3. "Clean Cut Boy" (Party Size) 4:22
    S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward/I. Curnow
2nd 12" single
  1. "I Heard a Rumour" (Miami Mix) 7:13
    Also available for the first time on the CD album The Greatest Remixes Collection and the limited edition 2-cd version of The Very Best of Bananarama
    Remixed by Phil Harding
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" (House Mix) 7:22
    Remixed by Phil Harding
  3. "Clean Cut Boy" (Party Size) 4:22
US 12" maxi-single / Cassette
  1. "I Heard a Rumour" (Horoscope Mix) 5:57
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" (Miami Mix) 7:13
  3. "I Heard a Rumour" (House Mix) 7:22
  4. "Clean Cut Boy" (Party Size) 4:22
Other versions
  1. "I Heard a Rumour" (Corporation Of Bananarama Mix) 5:40
    From the single "Megarama '89" and "Cruel Summer '89"
    Remixed by Freddie Bastone
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" (Corporation Dub)
    Remixed by Freddie Bastone
  3. "I Heard a Rumour" (2001 Version)
    Taken from the album Exotica

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 14
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 4
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 3
Canada The Record singles 2
Australia ARIA singles 7
New Zealand singles 8
Switzerland singles chart 10
Dutch Singles chart 16

External links