Jacquie O'Sullivan

Jacquie O'Sullivan (born 7 August 1960)[1] is an English singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group Bananarama from 1988 until 1991, replacing Siobhan Fahey, who left in early 1988. The line-up with O'Sullivan had UK top five hits with "I Want You Back" (1988) and a cover of The Beatles' "Help!" (1989), recorded with comedy duo French and Saunders for the charity Comic Relief. In 1989, O'Sullivan joined the group on their first world tour. Prior to Bananarama, O'Sullivan was the lead singer of the band Shillelagh Sisters.

Jacquie O'Sullivan
Birth name	Jacqueline Michelle O'Sullivan
Born	7 August 1960 London, England
Genres	Pop, punk, new wave
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass
Years active	1978–present
Labels	AlmaFame
Associated acts	Shillelagh Sisters, Bananarama, Slippry Feet

Career

Early years

O'Sullivan appeared in the music video for the song "Visage" performed Visage, in 1981. She also appeared in the music video for Eurythmics' 1983 hit single ""Who's That Girl?"", with the original Bananarama members also being featured in the video. O'Sullivan joined the country/punk/rockabilly group Shillelagh Sisters in early 1983. It was "a sort of a fun band, a kind of trendy band". The band name came about courtesy of their Irish connections. They released their first single "Give Me My Freedom" in April 1984. The band's dissatisfaction with their record label CBS, along with differences between the band members, led to the band's demise in late 1984. O'Sullivan later stated that she felt the records they released "weren't very good".[1]

1988–1991: Breakthrough with Bananarama

In March 1988, she was chosen by Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward (who had known O'Sullivan since they were eighteen) to become a member of Bananarama,[2] as a replacement for outgoing member Siobhan Fahey,[3] who also approved of the choice. Bananarama's hit streak continued with the addition of O'Sullivan. They re-recorded the vocals for the songs "I Want You Back" and "Nathan Jones" with O'Sullivan to replace versions previously recorded by Fahey. The group scored eight consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK with O'Sullivan.

She appeared on Bananarama's fund-raising cover of The Beatles' "Help!" for Comic Relief alongside comedians French and Saunders and Kathy Burke, who appeared as "Lananenenoonoo". The record peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1989. She also participated in Band Aid II's 1989 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

O'Sullivan's only songwriting credits with Bananarama appeared on the song "Love, Truth and Honesty" from the compilation album Greatest Hits Collection and on the song "Only Your Love".

In 1991, Bananarama recorded the album Pop Life, the only full-length album on which O'Sullivan appeared. Later that year, O'Sullivan left the group, a decision that was amicable with Dallin and Woodward. O'Sullivan later stated in interviews that her role in Bananarama was that of a paid employee and that she was given no say in the creative, musical or visual direction of the group. She said that this lack of input, along with the continued emphasis by the music press that she was the "new girl" and constant questions of "How does it feel to replace Siobhan?", contributed to her exit.

When French and Saunders parodied Bananarama in their 1988 Christmas special as "Lananenenoonoo", O'Sullivan was portrayed by Kathy Burke as "Kim". O'Sullivan's perceived lack of input into the group was used as a source of humour, with Kim ignored and dismissed in interviews and group discussions.

1992–96: Slippry Feet

When she left Bananarama, O'Sullivan formed the disco act Slippry Feet from 1992 to 1996. They recorded songs for a record titled Freak Time Viewing and then disbanded.

2001–present: New management, Freak Time Viewing and The Jacquie O Collection

In 2001, O’Sullivan signed a three-album deal with AlmaFame Records, featuring unreleased songs from throughout her music career. The first release in late 2001 was the Slippry Feet album Freak Time Viewing. In early 2002, the Shillelagh Sisters album, Sham'Rock & Roll, was released and a third album, tentatively titled The Jacquie O Collection, featuring new songs and re-recordings of her hits with Bananarama, was announced but the record label folded and nothing was released.

In 2005, she appeared briefly on the second video clip (also called 'whitey version') of Siobhan Fahey's song "Pulsatron".

1994–2015: Yoga teacher and massage therapist

O'Sullivan went to India and in 1994 trained to be a yoga teacher. She continued to teach and on her travels has taught yoga all over the world. She continued with her yoga education, taking teacher training with the prestigious Prana Yoga College. She completed her two-year teacher training with the life centre, earning a distinction. O'Sullivan still teaches all over the world, but is now based in Bloomsbury, teaching many classes in various locations, gyms, dedicated yoga centres, corporate clients and many private clients. She is also a certified Level 2 Reiki Teacher as well as a massage therapist, specialising in Swedish and Deep Tissue massage.

References

1. Smash Hits, 1988. Personal File: Jacqui O'Sullivan, p. 11
2. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 440. CN 5585.
3. Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Bananarama". AMG. Retrieved 16 May 2010.