Hormonally Yours
Encyclopedia
Hormonally Yours is the second album released by pop duo Shakespears Sister
. The album, released on London Records
in 1992, became a critical and commercial success in the UK and achieved a modest level of success in the U.S. The title of the album was derived from the emotional state of band members Siobhan Fahey
and Marcella Detroit
, who were both pregnant at the time of the recording.
(the co-producer of Sacred Heart) and Fahey's then-husband David A. Stewart
, using the pseudonym
"Manu Guiot". Fahey and Detroit co-produced Hormonally Yours with Alan Moulder
.
The first single selected was album opener "Goodbye Cruel World", which had little success globally despite its campy, acclaimed promo video that depicted Fahey and Detroit spoofing classic melodramas such as Sunset Boulevard
and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. The track did manage to crack the Billboard
Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, a first in the U.S. for the duo. The band toured extensively throughout Europe and North America to promote the album. Hormonally Yours was the last album recorded by Shakespears Sister as a duo as Marcella Detroit exited the act before a third album was recorded.
The synth intro of "Moonchild" was sampled
by British hip-hop artist Tricky
as the musical backdrop of "Overcome", the opening track on his album Maxinquaye
.
Fahey and Dave Stewarts's son Django wore the 'SEX' sweatshirt (as worn by Fahey) from the album sleeve; at the 2008 Grammy Awards in LA
CD 1993 Version
All tracks written by S. Fahey
/M. Detroit
, unless otherwise noted.
Musicians
Technical Personnel
and peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
. The follow-up single, "I Don't Care", rode the success of "Stay" in the summer of that year, peaking at number seven in the UK and becoming their only other charting song (besides "Stay") in the U.S., peaking at number fifty-five there.
The album itself peaked at no.3 in the UK and generated three additional top forty singles (including a remix
ed version of the album's first single, "Goodbye Cruel World"). The album was certified Double Platinum by the BPI
in February 1993.
Singles
Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...
. The album, released on London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
in 1992, became a critical and commercial success in the UK and achieved a modest level of success in the U.S. The title of the album was derived from the emotional state of band members Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
and Marcella Detroit
Marcella Detroit
Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
, who were both pregnant at the time of the recording.
Background
Hormonally Yours presented Shakespears Sister as a duo, rather than as a musical project focused on lead singer Fahey, as was the case with their debut album. The songs were co-written by Shakespear's Sister, Richard FeldmanRichard Feldman
Richard Feldman is an American bicycle racer in time trialing, cyclocross and marathon mountain bike races. He rides for the Durance-Colnago team . In 2001, he was the first American to win the UCI world masters time trial championship, in St. Johann, Austria.He won five more rainbow jerseys in...
(the co-producer of Sacred Heart) and Fahey's then-husband David A. Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
, using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Manu Guiot". Fahey and Detroit co-produced Hormonally Yours with Alan Moulder
Alan Moulder
Alan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
.
The first single selected was album opener "Goodbye Cruel World", which had little success globally despite its campy, acclaimed promo video that depicted Fahey and Detroit spoofing classic melodramas such as Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. The track did manage to crack the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, a first in the U.S. for the duo. The band toured extensively throughout Europe and North America to promote the album. Hormonally Yours was the last album recorded by Shakespears Sister as a duo as Marcella Detroit exited the act before a third album was recorded.
The synth intro of "Moonchild" was sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by British hip-hop artist Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
as the musical backdrop of "Overcome", the opening track on his album Maxinquaye
Maxinquaye
Maxinquaye is the debut album of the English musician and actor Tricky, released in 1995. Expanding on the sonic template of fellow Bristolians Massive Attack, and featuring then-girlfriend Martina Topley-Bird on vocals, Maxinquaye is a dark, mysterious album featuring a combination of hip-hop,...
.
Fahey and Dave Stewarts's son Django wore the 'SEX' sweatshirt (as worn by Fahey) from the album sleeve; at the 2008 Grammy Awards in LA
Track listing
CD & Cassette 1992 Version- "Goodbye Cruel WorldGoodbye Cruel World (Shakespears Sister song)"Goodbye Cruel World" is a song by female duo Shakespears Sister. It was written by group member Siobhan Fahey, Fahey's husband Dave Stewart , and American drummer Steve Ferrera. Marcella Detroit did not co-write the song due to being heavily pregnant at the time, and only contributed vocals...
" (S. Fahey/M. GuiotDavid A. StewartDavid Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
/Ferrera) - "I Don't CareI Don't Care (Shakespears Sister song)"I Don't Care" is a song by British based female duo Shakespears Sister, from their successful 1992 album Hormonally Yours.The song incorporates a segment of the poem "Hornpipe" by Dame Edith Sitwell , which is a surreal poem that attempted to capture the flow of a sailors jig...
" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/R. FeldmanRichard FeldmanRichard Feldman is an American bicycle racer in time trialing, cyclocross and marathon mountain bike races. He rides for the Durance-Colnago team . In 2001, he was the first American to win the UCI world masters time trial championship, in St. Johann, Austria.He won five more rainbow jerseys in...
/E. Shearmur) - "My 16th Apology" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/R. Feldman)
- "Are We In Love Yet"
- "Emotional Thing"
- "Stay" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/M. Guiot)
- "Black Sky" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/Ferrera/M. Guiot)
- "The Trouble with Andre" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/Ferrera)
- "Moonchild"
- "Catwoman"
- "Let Me Entertain You" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/Ferrera)
- "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)Hello (Turn Your Radio On)"Hello " is a song by the British based pop duo Shakespears Sister and was the penultimate single released from their second album Hormonally Yours. The single peaked at no.14 in the UK singles chart....
" (S. Fahey/M. Detroit/M. Guiot)
CD 1993 Version
- "Goodbye Cruel World" (7" Mix)
- "I Don't CareI Don't Care (Shakespears Sister song)"I Don't Care" is a song by British based female duo Shakespears Sister, from their successful 1992 album Hormonally Yours.The song incorporates a segment of the poem "Hornpipe" by Dame Edith Sitwell , which is a surreal poem that attempted to capture the flow of a sailors jig...
" (7" Remix) - "My 16th Apology"
- "Are We In Love Yet" (Remix)
- "Emotional Thing"
- "Stay"
- "Black Sky"
- "The Trouble with Andre"
- "Moonchild"
- "Catwoman"
- "Let Me Entertain You"
- "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)Hello (Turn Your Radio On)"Hello " is a song by the British based pop duo Shakespears Sister and was the penultimate single released from their second album Hormonally Yours. The single peaked at no.14 in the UK singles chart....
" (7" Mix)
All tracks written by S. Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
/M. Detroit
Marcella Detroit
Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
, unless otherwise noted.
Personnel
Shakespear's Sister- Siobhan FaheySiobhan FaheySiobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
– VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Marcella DetroitMarcella DetroitMarcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
– GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, Vocals
Musicians
- Nick Cozzi – Guitars
- Steve Ferrera – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Ian Maidman – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Keyboards - Jonathan Perkins – Keyboards
- Edward Shearmur – Keyboards
Technical Personnel
- Alan MoulderAlan MoulderAlan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Shakespear's Sister – Producer
- Chris Thomas – Producer
- Nick Addison – engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Lee Manning – Engineer
- Alan Moulder – Engineer
- Nick Addison – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Chris Thomas – Mixing
- Jean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
– PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
Charts & Certifications
"Stay", the album's second single, became a huge success, spending eight weeks at number one on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The follow-up single, "I Don't Care", rode the success of "Stay" in the summer of that year, peaking at number seven in the UK and becoming their only other charting song (besides "Stay") in the U.S., peaking at number fifty-five there.
The album itself peaked at no.3 in the UK and generated three additional top forty singles (including a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed version of the album's first single, "Goodbye Cruel World"). The album was certified Double Platinum by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
in February 1993.
Singles
- "Goodbye Cruel World" #59 UK
- "Stay" #1 UK, #4 U.S. Ireland #1 Sweden #1
- "I Don't Care" #7 UK, #10 Ireland #55 U.S.
- "Goodbye Cruel World" (remix) #32 UK
- "HelloHello (Turn Your Radio On)"Hello " is a song by the British based pop duo Shakespears Sister and was the penultimate single released from their second album Hormonally Yours. The single peaked at no.14 in the UK singles chart....
" #14 UK - "My 16th Apology" #61 UK
| Country | Provider | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
2x Platinum |