More Than Physical

1986 single by Bananarama

"More Than Physical"

Single by Bananarama

from the album True Confessions

B-side

"Scarlett"

Released

11 August 1986

Recorded

March 1986

Genre

Dance-pop

Length

5:05

Label

London

Songwriter(s)

Mike Stock
Matt Aitken
Pete Waterman
Sara Dallin
Siobhan Fahey
Keren Woodward

Producer(s)

Stock Aitken Waterman

Bananarama singles chronology

"Venus"
(1986)

"More Than Physical"
(1986)

"A Trick of the Night"
(1987)

Music video

"More Than Physical" on YouTube

"More Than Physical" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their third studio album, True Confessions (1986). It was released on 11 August 1986 as the album's third single.^[1] It was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. A reworked version of the song was released as the single version.

Background and writing

In order to capitalize on the number-one success of previous single "Venus" (the other True Confessions track produced by SAW), "More Than Physical" was given a hi-NRG-influenced makeover with a sound similar to their previous dance-oriented chart-topper. "More Than Physical" marked the beginning of Bananarama's successful songwriting relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman. Speaking of the sometimes-fractious dynamic in the studio, producer Mike Stock said he found it difficult to write with the band, explaining he was obliged to collaborate with them due to a deal with their management.^[2]

"It's very difficult to be creative if someone's just going to mock you, or laugh at you", he said. "With Bananarama it was just awkward, all the time very awkward, and I didn't feel comfortable writing with them."^[2]

Music video and uses

The remixed single version's music video, directed by Peter Care, further developed Bananarama's new glamorous and sexy style. The video included shots of several topless, muscled men intercut with footage of the group members. Some shots used coloured filters, and are juxtaposed with tightly cropped shots of body parts or movements in slow motion. One of the models in the video is Keren Woodward's then-boyfriend, David-Scott Evans.

"More Than Physical" was featured prominently in the 1987 British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too starring Michelle Holmes and Siobhan Finneran. The song is featured in the scene where the girls are babysitting for Bob and Michelle, and they dance around the living room while the video to "More Than Physical" plays on the television.

Critical reception

Simon Mills of Smash Hits considered the song as a "jolly, bouncy pop" record, adding that it was "real modern because it's got lots of electronic bits" and "the lyrics turn everything upside down by making the female the dominant one".^[3]

Chart performance

Despite heavy exposure on MTV, "More Than Physical" did not duplicate the success of "Venus", reaching number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[4]^[5] Elsewhere, it peaked at number 25 in Ireland, number 28 in Australia, and number 38 in Germany.^[6]^[7]^[8] In the United States, "More Than Physical" reached number five on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.^[9]

Track listings

UK, US, Canadian and Australian 7-inch single

"More Than Physical" 3:18
"Scarlett" 4:11

2nd UK 7-inch single doublepack

"More Than Physical" – 3:18
"Scarlett" – 4:11
"Venus" – 3:38
"White Train" – 3:50

UK 7-inch picture disc

"More Than Physical" (Worldwide Single Version) – 3:20
"Venus" (Original Version) – 3:38
"Scarlett" – 4:11

The Original Version of "Venus" is a differently mixed version from the standard 7″ version.

UK 12-inch single

"More Than Physical" (Garage Mix) – 8:45
"More Than Physical" (Dub) – 4:58
"Scarlett" (Extended Version) – 5:20

UK 12-inch single (The Essential Ian Levine Dance Pack)

"More Than Physical" (Musclebound Mix) – 10:00
"Venus" (The Hellfire Mix) – 9:20
"Scarlett" – 4:11

US 12-inch single

"More Than Physical" (Garage Mix) – 8:45
"More Than Physical" (Dub) – 4:58
"More Than Physical" (7″ Mix) – 3:18

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "More Than Physical"
Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6]	28
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[10]	99
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)^[11]	47
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	25
UK Singles (OCC)^[4]	41
US Billboard Hot 100^[5]	73
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[9]	5
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[12]	26
US Cash Box Top 100^[13]	72
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[8]	38

References

^ "'More Than Physical' advertisement". Smash Hits. Imgur. 30 July – 12 August 1986. p. 26. ISSN 0260-3004.
^ ^a ^b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 13: I Can Prove It to More Than Physical on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
^ Mills, Simon (13–26 August 1986). "Singles reviewed by Simon Mills" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 8, no. 17. p. 73. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via World Radio History.
^ ^a ^b "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^ ^a ^b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 25. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ ^a ^b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – More Than Physical". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – More Than Physical" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 35. 6 September 1986. p. 13. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 35. 6 September 1986. p. 4. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 27 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
^ "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending November 8, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 15 November 2020.