Masquerade (Bananarama album)

Masquerade
Studio album by
Bananarama
Released22 July 2022
Length39:01
LabelIn Synk
ProducerIan Masterson
Bananarama chronology
In Stereo
(2019) 		Masquerade
(2022) 		Glorious: The Ultimate Collection
(2024)
Singles from Masquerade
  1. "Masquerade"
    Released: 15 June 2022
  2. "Forever Young"
    Released: 12 August 2022[1]
  3. "Running with the Night"
    Released: 14 October 2022[2]

Masquerade is the twelfth studio album by English musical duo Bananarama. It was released on 22 July 2022 as part of the group's 40th anniversary celebrations.

The album was originally conceived as an EP, but following the cancellation of the group's live shows throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it developed into a full-length album.[3] In addition to working with longtime collaborator Ian Masterson, Sara Dallin also co-wrote tracks with her daughter, Alice Dallin-Walker, known professionally as Alice D.

"Favourite" was released on 29 April 2022 as a "taster track".[4] The track is a cover of an Alice D song, as is the album track "Brand New", and features Alice on background vocals.[3][5] The single was added to the B-list of the BBC Radio 2 playlist and made 'Single of the Week' upon release, before moving onto the A-list the following week.

The album's release was followed by two launch shows at London Lafayette on 3 and 4 August 2022.[6][7] "Forever Young" and "Running with the Night" were subsequently released as singles. A reissue of the album, subtitled "The Unmasked Edition", was released on 7 April 2023, as a double-LP including six full-length remixes[8] and a digital edition including edits thereof.[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Ian Masterson, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Ian Masterson.[9]

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Favourite"
  • Alice Dallin-Walker
  • Oscar Scheller
3:07
2."Stay Wild" 3:47
3."Velvet Lies"
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
2:47
4."Masquerade" 4:13
5."Running with the Night" 3:28
6."Bad Love"
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
3:00
7."Let's Go Outside" 3:45
8."Brand New"
  • Dallin-Walker
  • James Mackenzie Robinson
3:32
9."Need a Little More Time" 3:35
10."Forever Young"
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
3:34
11."Waiting for the Sun to Shine" 4:13
Total length:39:01
The Unmasked Edition digital bonus tracks[9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Running with the Night" (Almighty remix edit) 3:25
13."Forever Young" (Lamentis remix edit)
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
3:53
14."Favourite" (Shanghai Surprize remix edit)
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Scheller
2:54
15."Masquerade" (Cahill & DTAG remix edit) 3:29
16."Velvet Lies" (Sebastian Perez remix edit)
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
2:54
17."Stay Wild" (Until Dawn remix edit) 3:39
Total length:59:23
The Unmasked Edition bonus LP[10][11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Running with the Night" (Almighty remix) 5:36
13."Forever Young" (Lamentis remix)
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
4:50
14."Favourite" (Shanghai Surprize remix)
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Scheller
5:03
15."Masquerade" (Cahill & DTAG remix) 5:02
16."Velvet Lies" (Sebastian Perez remix)
  • Dallin
  • Dallin-Walker
  • Masterson
4:14
17."Stay Wild" (Until Dawn remix) 5:48

Charts

Chart performance for Masquerade
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 83
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 130
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 22
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[16] 2
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[17] 99

References

  1. ^ Gotto, Connor (8 August 2022). "Bananarama to release 'Forever Young' as next 'Masquerade' single". Retropop Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Bananarama release 'Running With The Night' as latest 'Masquerade' single". Retropop Magazine. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Gotto, Connor (29 April 2022). "Bananarama announce 12th studio album, 'Masquerade', release new single 'Favourite'". Retropop Magazine. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ Bananarama [@VivaBananarama] (29 April 2022). "We're thrilled to announce that our NEW album MASQUERADE is available to pre-order now!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Bananarama [@VivaBananarama] (13 June 2022). "Exciting news! Make sure to tune into @ZoeTheBall breakfast show on Wednesday 15th June on @BBCRadio2 to hear the first play of our NEW single #Masquerade 🎭✨ Pre-save link here: https://slinky.to/BRMasquerade" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Kevin Fullerton (3 May 2022). "Bananarama to play two nights in London this August: How to get tickets". List.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  7. ^ Bananarama [@VivaBananarama] (3 May 2022). "Celebrate the launch of our new album #Masquerade with two special shows this summer! 🎭 💿August 3rd & 4th at @LondonLafayette Tickets on sale this Friday @10am (UK)⏰ Link here: http://axs.com/uk/series/14661/bananarama-at-lafayette-tickets?skin=aegpresentsuk #Bananarama2022 @AEG_Presents @AXS_UK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Gotto, Connor (18 January 2023). "Bananarama announce 'Masquerade – The Unmasked Edition' deluxe album". Retropop Magazine. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Masquerade (The Unmasked Edition)". Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via Spotify.
  10. ^ "Masquerade : The Unmasked Edition Vinyl [Ltd Edition]". Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via Townsend Music.
  11. ^ Masquerade (Bananarama album) at Discogs
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1691. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 August 2022. p. 6.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bananarama – Masquerade" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Bananarama Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2022.