The Bangles’ work has two facets. There’s the 1960s garage rock sound of their early singles and reunion work. And there’s the mainstream pop/rock of ‘Manic Monday’ and ‘Eternal Flame’.
Susanna Hoffs formed a band with lead guitarist Vicki Peterson and drummer Debbi Peterson. Bassist Michael Steele, formerly of The Runaways, completed the classic lineup. They were initially part of the Paisley Underground scene, an LA movement that reprised the 1960s psychedelia of The Byrds and The Doors. But while bands like Green On Red and The Dream Syndicate remained underground bands, The Bangles became a household name.
Here are my ten favourite Bangles songs. All four Bangles contributed songs and sang lead vocals, but this list is dominated by Hoffs. She sang most of the band’s hits, and her breathy voice has the star factor. For the record, I haven’t forgotten ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ – I just think it’s the red-headed stepchild of their big hits.
10 Best Bangles Songs
#10 Mesmerized
from Sweetheart of the Sun, 2011
The 1970s sounds of Lauren Canyon inspired The Bangles’ most recent album. Hoffs read Girls Like Us, an intertwined biography of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon.
‘Mesmerized’ recalls the band’s Paisley Underground days, with some Laurel Canyon sheen courtesy of producer Matthew Sweet.
#9 In Your Room
from Everything, 1988
Susanna Hoffs wrote ‘In Your Room’ with professional songwriters Billy Steinberg and composer Tom Kelly. The pair also wrote Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors’ and Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’, as well as The Bangles’ ‘Eternal Flame’. The writers recreated 1960s sounds, like Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘Mony Mony’.
It accentuates into Hoffs’ pinup image – she breathily intones “I’ll do anything you want me to/I only want to be with you.” It’s also notable for Vicki Peterson’s guitar lines, simulating a sitar sound.
#8 Something That You Said
from Doll Revolution, 2003
The Bangles split in 1989, with tension over disappointing sales for Everything and Hoffs’ perceived dominance of the band. 2003’s Doll Revolution is a surprisingly vital comeback, their first record in fifteen years.
It feels more dated than their 20th-century work, with the overly polite drum machine. But there’s still magic in Hoffs’ aching voice and the group’s harmonies. The song is a collaboration with the other big female-only rock band of the early 1980s – Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go’s is credited as a cowriter.
#7 Hero Takes A Fall
from All Over the Place, 1984
The Bangles were just an obscure Paisley Underground band when they released their first album. ‘Hero Takes a Fall’ didn’t even chart in the US. It emphasises their fixation on 1960s garage rock, rawer and more rocking than their subsequent hits.
Despite the obscurity, there’s a terrific music video – it caught the attention of Prince, who wrote their breakthrough hit after seeing it.
The Grass Roots’ ‘Where Were You When I Needed You’ was the b-side – it later surfaced on the band’s Greatest Hits.
#6 Hazy Shade of Winter
non-album single, 1987
The Bangles recorded a toughened version of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’ for the Less Than Zero soundtrack. It’s surprisingly frenetic – Steele later told VH1 that “we sounded the most on this record the way we actually sound live”. The four group members shared the vocals.
I’m listening to K-EARTH 101, an oldies station. I’m alone in this dark room and all I had was the radio. “Hazy Shade of Winter” came on one day. I thought I was a Simon & Garfunkel aficionado but I, somehow, had missed that badass folk-rock song of theirs. I ran to our band rehearsal that night and was like, “We have to cover this song”
Susanna Hoffs
#5 I’ll Set You Free
from Everything, 1988
‘I’ll Set You Free’ is a flimsy song, but the massive chorus hook is worth the price of admission. The stacked vocals on the hook are beautifully arranged.
Hoffs cowrote the song with the songwriting team David Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro – the pair also wrote Pat Benatar’s ‘We Belong’.
#4 Eternal Flame
from Everything, 1988
Like ‘In Your Room’, Hoffs wrote ‘Eternal Flame’ with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was inspired by The Bangles’ private tour of Graceland. They visited the Garden of Memories where the eternal flame to Elvis was turned off due to rain. Steinberg was also inspired by the eternal flame at his childhood synagogue.
The song differs from The Bangles’ usual jangle – it’s a power ballad. While power ballad is often a pejorative, ‘Eternal Flame’ works with a memorable melody and an aching Hoffs vocal. The high notes at the end of the chorus are effective. Hoffs recorded the song naked, in the dark, after producer Davitt Sigerson lied to her that Olivia Newton-John recorded her vocals in the nude.
#3 Manic Monday
from Different Light, 1986
Prince contacted The Bangles after enjoying ‘Hero Takes A Fall’, offering them songs. It’s understandable that he gave ‘Manic Monday’ away – the verse melody is similar to ‘1999’.
‘Manic Monday’ was the first single released from Different Light. It became the band’s breakthrough hit, topping the US charts.
#2 Going Down To Liverpool
from All Over the Place, 1984
After The Soft Boys broke up, Kimberly Rew led of Katrina and the Waves. His best-known song is 1985’s mega-selling ‘Walking on the Sunshine’. Katrina and the Waves released their version on the 1983 EP Shock Horror!
The Bangles’ version features drummer Debbi Peterson on lead vocals. Tamar Simon Hoffs, Susanna’s mother, directed the music video, and Leonard Nimoy, a family friend of the Hoffs family, featured as a chaffeur in the video.
#1 If She Knew What She Wants
from Different Light, 1986
Cult songwriter Jules Shear wrote ‘If She Knew What She Wants’ for his 1985 album The Eternal Return. Cyndi Lauper connected Shear and The Bangles – Shear wrote ‘All Through the Night’ for Lauper, while The Bangles opened for Lauper.
The Bangles made minor adjustments to Shears’ song, changing some lyrics to the third person and moving the bridge. It’s a sparkling pop-rock song,
“What the Byrds would have sounded like if they were chicks.”
Peter Bothum, News Journal
Did I miss your favourite Bangles’ song?
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You number one would be my number three, number six- number two and number seven would be my number one.
It’s cool you know ‘Hero Takes A Fall’ – I didn’t hear that until recently.
Walk Like an Egyptian
Sorry!
You nearly always dismiss an act’s biggest hit, Graham. “Walk Like an Egyptian” is my favorite song by them, followed by “Eternal Flame”.
That’s an interesting premise. I do think there are cases where I’m burnt out on the biggest hit, like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. But in the case of ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’, I think it’s a little gimmicky, and probably divisive for that reason.
I only recognize a handful of songs on your top 10 list. But that’s perhaps not too surprising since “Different Light” is the only Bangles album I heard in its entirety, plus a few additional songs. Another song from “Different Light” I’ve come to love their cover of Big Star’s “September Gurls.” I also really dig your no. 1 “If She Knew What She Wants.” Together with “September Gurls”, “In a Different Light”, “Manic Monday” and “Walking Down the Street”, it would be in my top 5.
I could probably do without “Eternal Flame.” Similar to “Walk Like an Egyptian”, I think I got burned on both songs by heavy radio overexposure back in Germany in the ’80s. Granted, “Manic Monday” also got plenty of airtime, but to me, that song hold ups better.
You’d probably like ‘All Over The Place’ – their debut album. It’s pretty indebted to 1960s garage rock, and it’s less commercial than Different Light.
Thanks! “Going Down to Liverpool” and “Where Were You When I Needed You” sound great. I should definitely listen to the rest of the album.
James is a good one too.
Love everything on this list. Was anything ever better than The Bangles coming ok the radio in the summer in the early 90’s?
We peaked as a civilisation right there
They’re pretty great at harmony arrangements – they’re naturally radio friendly. Have you heard Tom Petty’s ‘Waiting for Tonight’?
I have. I’m rather smitten with it
Finally Graham! Someone who thinks If She Knew What She Wants was their best song! That song is what made me like them in the first place. You are the only one that I’ve talked to who places it that high. You nailed this list…no qualms here! I don’t miss “Walk Like A…” at all.
My only addition might not count…but it was when they were the Bangs…the song “The Real World” …It’s a really cool song…Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson wrote it
I listened to the album of pre-Bangles stuff a couple of times – should probably have given it more chances.
I did spend a bit of time dithering about the top song – wasn’t one head-and-shoulders above the others. But glad I settled on ‘If She Knew What She Wants’ – I didn’t hear it until I listened to their greatest hits.
I’ve got a soft spot for The Bangles. I can’t argue with If She Knew What She Wants at #1.
Cool, I think most people at least like one Bangles song, they’re pretty universal
True answer is ‘Dover Beach’ which is on the debut although I first heard it on the ‘Going Down To Liverpool’ 12″. For me it is the point in which they went from Paisley Underground and Rickenbacker’s to the more pop group. I am guessing that Prince may have heard the middle 8 with ‘Michelangelo’ and sounds eerily similar to ‘come on honey let’s go make some noise’ in Manic Monday. Perfection.
Thanks for writing in. It felt like the debut was a bit shortchanged with only two songs, just wanted to get a spread in.