Military Takes Control of Fiji
I've been wondering for like 15 years what happened to Bananarama. I remember the first time I heard "Cruel Summer" in that early scene in the "Karate Kid" when LaRusso is at his new California school and hot little Elizabeth Shue is playing soccer or whatever. And then the remake of "Venus". An essential to the soundtrack of my childhood. You still hear that song nowadays. I had just figured the female British trio had faded into motherhood like most other female pop stars of the 80s. But apparently not. Tuesday, Bananarama seized power of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji. Bananarama, who I guess are now the head of the military in Fiji (who knew?), have ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and appointed themselves acting heads of state. So it appears the London girls who appeared in the Band Aid's 1984 hit "Do They Know It's Christmas" not only can sing, but also can orchestrate coups. Whoa. Wait a sec. My bad.  It wasn't the 80s group Bananarama that seized control of Fiji on Tuesday. It was Fijian military commander Frank Bainimarama. You can see how I could get confused. Bananarama. Bainimarama. But yeah, so Tuesday armed troops surrounded Prime Minister Qarase's home and General Bainimarama announced that he was now in charge. Australia and New Zealand, neighbors of Fiji, condemned the military takeover and threatened to sever military ties until the PM is reinstated. Bainimarama responded by saying that any foreign attempt to thwart the coup would be met with fierce military opposition. This is Fiji's fourth coup in the last 19 years. And the worst part is, I still have no idea what happened to Bananarama.

•AP: Military Seizes Power In Fiji
•YouTube: Banarama "Cruel Summer" Video

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