Banana Republic (song)
"Banana Republic" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Boomtown Rats | ||||
from the album Mondo Bongo[1] | ||||
B-side | "Man at the Top"[2] | |||
Released | November 1980 | |||
Genre | New wave, reggae[3] | |||
Length | 3:24 (album version 5:01) | |||
Label | Ensign Records (UK)[2] Columbia Records (USA) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Briquette, Bob Geldof[2] | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Visconti[2] | |||
The Boomtown Rats singles chronology | ||||
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"Banana Republic" was the first single from The Boomtown Rats' album Mondo Bongo.[1] It peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart.[4]
Breaking from the band's previous new wave sound, the song opens with a ska-reggae hook (that repeats at the close of the much longer album version).[5] However, the song itself is a more mainstream piece musically. The 'banana republic' which the song describes is actually a deliberately scathing portrait of the Republic of Ireland, the band's country of origin, and was written in response to the band being banned from performing there.[6] This in turn was reputedly because of Geldof's "denunciation of nationalism, medieval-minded clerics and corrupt politicians" in a memorably controversial 1977 interview/performance on Ireland's The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne.[7][8]
Charts[]
Chart (1980–81) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 18 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 30 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 47 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] | 3 |
Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 3 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 35 |
Norway (VG-lista)[15] | 3 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] | 12 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] | 7 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] | 10 |
UK Singles (OCC)[19] | 3 |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b William Ruhlmann. "The Boomtown Rats | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Boomtown Rats, The - Banana Republic (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ Hermann, Andy (25 January 2017). "10 Underrated '80s Bands You Need to Hear Now". L.A. Weekly.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 71. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "The Boomtown Rats: January 1981". Theboomtownrats.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ [1] Archived July 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Boomtown Rats: In and out of the rat trap (article) by John Van der Kiste on AuthorsDen". Authorsden.com. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ [2] Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0307." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Banana Republic". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic". VG-lista.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Boomtown Rats – Banana Republic". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Boomtown Rats: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- The Boomtown Rats songs
- 1980 singles
- Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti
- Songs about Ireland
- 1980 songs
- Ensign Records singles
- Columbia Records singles
- Songs written by Pete Briquette
- The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)