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Hormonally Yours

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Hormonally Yours
Studio album by
Shakespears Sister
Released17 February 1992 (1992-02-17)
RecordedAugust 1990 – May 1991
StudioFPSHOT (Henley-on-Thames, England)
Genre
Length49:52
LabelLondon
Producer
Shakespears Sister chronology
Sacred Heart
(1989) 		Hormonally Yours
(1992) 		#3
(2004)
Singles from Hormonally Yours
  1. "Goodbye Cruel World"
    Released: 23 September 1991
  2. "Stay"
    Released: 13 January 1992
  3. "I Don't Care"
    Released: 4 May 1992
  4. "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)"
    Released: 26 October 1992
  5. "My 16th Apology"
    Released: 15 February 1993

Hormonally Yours is the second studio album by British pop-rock act Shakespears Sister, released on 17 February 1992 by London Records. The album went on to become a critical and commercial success, and is their best-selling album to date. Hormonally Yours peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified double platinum by the BPI, spending 55 weeks on the chart. The album spawned five singles, three of which reached the UK top 20. The album's second single, "Stay" became the group's best-selling single, topping the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks.[1] It also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background

[edit]

The title of Hormonally Yours derived from both members being pregnant while making the album.[2] Five singles were released from the album, including "Stay", which topped the UK Singles Chart, and is to date the group's best-selling single.[3] An early cassette pressing of the album featured an alternate cover and font previously used on the "Goodbye Cruel World" single. Some versions like the German edition of the album appears to contain a straight mix of "Are We in Love Yet" similar to the BBC Radio live session while others feature the Chris Thomas remix, though he is credited in all releases. Later UK CD issues of 'Hormonally Yours' contain the 7" versions of "Goodbye Cruel World", "I Don't Care", and "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)" while the LP, MC, and the original CD presses contain the original album versions. The US pressing of the album also differed greatly, featuring the album versions of "Goodbye Cruel World", "I Don't Care" and "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)", another remixed version of "Are We in Love Yet", and slightly different versions of "Black Sky" and "The Trouble With Andre" with the former track not segueing into the latter like other pressings, as well as a shortened version of "The Trouble With Andre" and the full-length version of "Let Me Entertain You", as well as featuring a different cover on the CD edition with the titles being vertical like the cassette pressings.

While recording the album, the band watched the 1950s sci-fi B-movie Cat-Women of the Moon and it inspired the lyrics of the songs "Stay", "Catwoman" and "Moonchild".

The album was released as part of a multi-disc, remastered reissue (also on vinyl) as part of the Our History deluxe box set in December 2020.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Calgary HeraldC[5]
Daily VaultB+[6]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
NME5/10[10]
People Magazinefavorable[11]

Tom Demalon from AllMusic praised the album, calling Hormonally Yours "a beautifully quirky, emotionally rich, and nearly flawless pop record", and saying that "It's a vibe that benefits from the contrast between the throaty vocals of Siobahn Fahey and the falsetto flutter of Marcella Detroit. Hormonally Yours is a wonderful, charming album marred only by a few weak lyrics."[4] Gina Arnold of Entertainment Weekly said "Hormonally Yours plays on the idea of female biological madness, and to its credit, it does so without sounding bitchy or melodramatic. Unlike band member Siobhan Fahey's former group, Bananarama, Shakespear's Sis isn't afraid to emote." She also complimented the duo's vocals, saying that " Fahey's deep, uncannily male-sounding voice is perfectly complemented by her American-born partner, Marcella Detroit, who adds more soulful and feminine R&B-influenced backup vocals."[8] Everett True of Melody Maker described it as "often a highly entertaining album of musical pastiche". He was critical of some tracks where the duo "allow grey into their spangled, shiny world to lend 'rock authenticity' to their pop toy", adding that they "forget themselves and pretend they're some kind of female rock retake on Robert Palmer or Bryan Adams".[12] Betty Page of NME felt the duo wanted to "emulate their male rock star heroes rather than carve out their own uniquely feminine niche". She commented, "There's nothing truly contemporary here, nothing truly surprising or startling. Just a strangely misplaced desire to be glam rock muthas. It's like Marcella wants to be Bowie, Siobhan wants to be Bolan, haunted by the ghost of Dave Stewart's guitar."[10]

Singles

[edit]

"Goodbye Cruel World" was released in October 1991 as the album's lead single, though it failed to reach the UK Top 40, peaking at No. 59.[13] In July 1992, the single was re-released and charted better, peaking at No. 32.[13] Neither releases were fully released outside of the UK. The second single, "Stay", was released in January 1992. It quickly became the group's best-selling single, topping the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks, and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry.[13][14] The single reached similar success internationally, reaching the top 5 in territories including Australia, the US, and Germany.[15][16][17] It also reached No. 1 in Ireland and Switzerland.[18][19]

The third single from Hormonally Yours, "I Don't Care", reached No. 7 in the UK, and No. 10 in Ireland.[13][18] Internationally, the single reached the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand, and No. 55 in the US.[15][17] The fourth single, "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)", reached No. 14 in the UK,[20] and peaked at No. 97 in Australia on the ARIA singles chart.[21] The song was covered less than two years later by The Bates, and released as the band's debut single. Although this version gained little attention, the song was covered once again by Queensberry in 2009, and in several territories was more successful than the original. The fifth and final single, "My 16th Apology", was released during a period of hiatus, and due to a lack of promotion only peaked at No. 61 in the UK.[22]

Track listing

[edit]
UK CD version track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Goodbye Cruel World"Siobhan Fahey, Jean Guiot, Steve FerreraChris Thomas4:01
2."I Don't Care"Fahey, Marcella Detroit, Richard Feldman, Ed ShearmurAlan Moulder, Shakespears Sister4:24
3."My 16th Apology"Fahey, Detroit, FeldmanMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:16
4."Are We in Love Yet"Fahey, DetroitMoulder, Shakespears Sister3:32
5."Emotional Thing"Fahey, DetroitMoulder, Shakespears Sister3:48
6."Stay"Fahey, Detroit, GuiotMoulder, Thomas, Shakespears Sister3:47
7."Black Sky"Fahey, Detroit, Guiot, FerreraMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:03
8."The Trouble with Andre"Fahey, Detroit, FerreraMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:42
9."Moonchild"Fahey, DetroitMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:25
10."Catwoman"Fahey, DetroitMoulder, Shakespears Sister3:59
11."Let Me Entertain You"Fahey, Detroit, FerreraMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:44
12."Hello (Turn Your Radio On)"Fahey, Detroit, GuiotMoulder, Shakespears Sister4:21
Total length:49:52

Personnel

[edit]

Adapted from album booklet.[23]

  • Siobhan Fahey – vocals
  • Marcella Detroit– vocals, guitars, programming, harmonica
  • Mick Cozzi – guitars
  • Ed Shearmur, Jonathan Perkins – keyboards
  • Ian Maidman – bass, piano, keyboards, guitar.
  • Steve Ferrera – drums, percussion, keyboards

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Hormonally Yours
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[21] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[42] Gold 250,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[43] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] 2× Platinum 600,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Hormonally Yours video compilation

[edit]
Hormonally Yours
Video by
Shakespears Sister
Released1992
GenrePop
LabelLondon
DirectorSophie Muller
Shakespears Sister chronology
Sacred Heart
(1989) 		Hormonally Yours
(1992) 		S.F.T.R.R: Videos
(2010)

A video compilation was released in 1992 of the same name as the album. It featured the five music videos released so far from the album.

Track listing

[edit]
Hormonally Yours video compilation track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Goodbye Cruel World"4:06
2."I Don't Care"4:16
3."Stay"3:47
4."Catwoman" (Live)3:58
5."Hello (Turn Your Radio On)"4:03

References

[edit]
  1. ^ All the Number Ones – 1992
  2. ^ 'Hormonally Yours' documentary
  3. ^ "Charstats – Shakespear's Sister". Official Charts. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b Demalon, Tom. "Review: Hormonally Yours – Shakespear's Sister AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  5. ^ Muretich, James (19 April 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  6. ^ Smith, Michael R. "Review: Hormonally Yours – Shakespear's Sister Daily Vault review". Daily Vault. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  8. ^ a b Gina Arnold, Gina. "Review: Hormonally Yours – Shakespear's Sister Entertainment Weekly Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  9. ^ Rosenbluth, Jean (8 March 1992). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b Page, Betty (22 February 1992). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 31.
  11. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Hormonally Yours". People Magazine. 13 April 1992.
  12. ^ True, Everett (15 February 1992). "Albums: Oestrogeneration Terrorists". Melody Maker. p. 23.
  13. ^ a b c d "Charstats – Shakespear's Sister". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  14. ^ a b "British album certifications – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". British Phonographic Industry. 1 February 1993. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b Australian Charts > Shakespears Sister > Stay
  16. ^ "GER Charts > Shakespears Sister". charts.de. Retrieved 7 December 2012.[dead link]
  17. ^ a b "Shakespear's Sister – Allmusic discography". allmusic. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Irish Charts > Shakespears Sister". irishcharts.de. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Swiss Charts > Shakespears Sister – Stay". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Official Charts > Hello (Turn Your Radio On)". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 249.
  22. ^ "Official Charts > My 16th Apology". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  23. ^ Album Personnel
  24. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1927". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  27. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 14. 4 April 1992. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Shakespear's Sister Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  38. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  40. ^ "Year End Charts – Top Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  41. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Shakespears Sister – Hormonally Yours". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Shakespears Sister; 'Hormonally Yours')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  43. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Hormonally Yours')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
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