Masquerade (Bananarama album)
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Masquerade
| type = studio
| artist = Bananarama
| cover = Bananarama - Masquerade.png
| alt =
| released = 22 July 2022
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 39:01
| label = In Synk
| producer = Ian Masterson
| prev_title = In Stereo
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Glorious: The Ultimate Collection
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Masquerade
| type = studio
| single1 = Masquerade
| single1date = 15 June 2022
| single2 = Forever Young
| single3 = Running with the Night
| single3date = 14 October 2022{{Cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/bananarama-to-release-forever-young-as-next-masquerade-single/|title=Bananarama release 'Running With The Night' as latest 'Masquerade' single|website=Retropop Magazine|date=16 October 2022|access-date=5 November 2022}}
}}
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/bananarama-announce-12th-studio-album-masquerade-release-new-single-favourite/|title=Bananarama announce 12th studio album, 'Masquerade', release new single 'Favourite'|first=Connor|last=Gotto|website=Retropop Magazine|date=29 April 2022|access-date=9 March 2024}} 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".{{cite tweet|author=Bananarama|user=VivaBananarama|number=1519952980036009985|title=We're thrilled to announce that our NEW album MASQUERADE is available to pre-order now!|date=29 April 2022}} The track is a cover of an Alice D song, as is the album track "Brand New", and features Alice on background vocals.{{cite tweet|author=Bananarama|user=VivaBananarama|number=1536257653302824960|title=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|date=13 June 2022}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://list.co.uk/news/42132/bananarama-to-play-two-nights-in-london-this-august-how-to-get-tickets|title=Bananarama to play two nights in London this August: How to get tickets|author=Kevin Fullerton|website=List.co.uk|date=2022-05-03|access-date=2022-07-08}}{{cite tweet|author=Bananarama|user=VivaBananarama|number=1521414873997004800|title=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|date=3 May 2022}} "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{{Cite web |url=https://retropopmagazine.com/bananarama-announce-masquerade-the-unmasked-edition-deluxe-album/ |title=Bananarama announce 'Masquerade – The Unmasked Edition' deluxe album |first=Connor |last=Gotto |website=Retropop Magazine |date=18 January 2023 |access-date=9 March 2024}} and a digital edition including edits thereof.{{Cite web |title=Masquerade (The Unmasked Edition) |via=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/58SKrbUte55jIeHiDQwCMn |access-date=9 March 2024}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| all_writing = Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Ian Masterson, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Ian Masterson.
| title1 = Favourite
| writer1 = {{hlist|Alice Dallin-Walker|Oscar Scheller}}
| length1 = 3:07
| title2 = Stay Wild
| length2 = 3:47
| title3 = Velvet Lies
| writer3 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
| length3 = 2:47
| title4 = Masquerade
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = Running with the Night
| length5 = 3:28
| title6 = Bad Love
| writer6 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
| length6 = 3:00
| title7 = Let's Go Outside
| length7 = 3:45
| title8 = Brand New
| writer8 = {{hlist|Dallin-Walker|James Mackenzie Robinson}}
| length8 = 3:32
| title9 = Need a Little More Time
| length9 = 3:35
| title10 = Forever Young
| writer10 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
| length10 = 3:34
| title11 = Waiting for the Sun to Shine
| length11 = 4:13
| total_length = 39:01
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = The Unmasked Edition digital bonus tracks
|title12 = Running with the Night
|note12 = Almighty remix edit
|length12 = 3:25
|title13 = Forever Young
|note13 = Lamentis remix edit
|writer13 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
|length13 = 3:53
|title14 = Favourite
|note14 = Shanghai Surprize remix edit
|writer14 = {{hlist|Dallin-Walker|Scheller}}
|length14 = 2:54
|title15 = Masquerade
|note15 = Cahill & DTAG remix edit
|length15 = 3:29
|title16 = Velvet Lies
|note16 = Sebastian Perez remix edit
|writer16 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
|length16 = 2:54
|title17 = Stay Wild
|note17 = Until Dawn remix edit
|length17 = 3:39
|total_length = 59:23
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = The Unmasked Edition bonus LP{{Cite web |title=Masquerade : The Unmasked Edition Vinyl [Ltd Edition] |via=Townsend Music |url=https://store.bananarama.co.uk/product/107599 |access-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240309111224/https://store.bananarama.co.uk/product/107599 |archive-date=9 March 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Discogs release|id=28225993|title=Masquerade (The Unmasked Edition)}}
|title12 = Running with the Night
|note12 = Almighty remix
|length12 = 5:36
|title13 = Forever Young
|note13 = Lamentis remix
|writer13 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
|length13 = 4:50
|title14 = Favourite
|note14 = Shanghai Surprize remix
|writer14 = {{hlist|Dallin-Walker|Scheller}}
|length14 = 5:03
|title15 = Masquerade
|note15 = Cahill & DTAG remix
|length15 = 5:02
|title16 = Velvet Lies
|note16 = Sebastian Perez remix
|writer16 = {{hlist|Dallin|Dallin-Walker|Masterson}}
|length16 = 4:14
|title17 = Stay Wild
|note17 = Until Dawn remix
|length17 = 5:48
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Masquerade ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 August 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1691|page=6|date=1 August 2022}}
| 83 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|130|artist=Bananarama|album=Masquerade|rowheader=true|access-date=31 July 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|6|date=20220729|rowheader=true|access-date=30 July 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|22|date=20220729|rowheader=true|access-date=29 July 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|2|date=20220729|rowheader=true|access-date=29 July 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|99|artist=Bananarama|rowheader=true|access-date=August 2, 2022}} |