The Bangles: They Know What The Want
I still remember when I first heard the Bangles. It was was on a lazy rainy afternoon in California back in 1985. The song "Going Down To Liverpool" came on KPFA, and I immediately loved it! Then when their video of the song featured Leonard Nimoy, I knew that this was going to be one of the greatest bands ever.
Check out their mod outfits in the video, "I'm In Line"! yummilicious! But wait, it gets better - in the video for their song "In Your Room" there are Mini-skirts! Go-Go boots! Floppy flower-power hats! Body painting! Sitars! The "Batusi!" Cheesy spiral thingies! Polka dots! Obscure symbolism! Good and bad versions of the band in twin universes co-existing in the same video without imploding! Yipes! The bass player is wearing white stockings! This video has everything.
I think that all of the guys usually had a crush on Susanna Hoffs, but I always had my heart set on the pout-eriffic bass player, Michael Steele, AKA Susanne Thomas. She used to be in the The Runaways!I did find a few other interesting Bangles related items. The Bangles doing "Good Day Sunshine" (Windows streaming media) via stereogum.com. Also the bangles did a song for the film "Austin Powers" called "Get The Girl". Unfortunately I could only find the lyrics and a short clip of the song on Amazon.com. I also found these great Bangles animated gifs here.
I won't bore you with a history of the band, because you can find all of that on The Bangles website, their My Space page, and also on Wikipedia.
My first Bangles Record
9 Comments:
I love their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter."
I like their versions of "If She Knew What She Wants" and "Goin' Down to Liverpool," but like the originals by Jules Shear and Katrina and the Waves, respectively, a lot too.
"Hero Takes a Fall" is one of my all-time favorites.
And Susana Hoffs was pretty easy on the eyes, wasn't she?
Oh, man, have I always loved the Bangles! When I was a kid, I had a babysitter who looked just like Susanna Hoffs, and I've been in love with Susanna Hoffs--and babysitters--ever since! Great summer music, Doctor.
I love "Manic Monday" -- such a pretty song. I guess Prince had recorded a version of it before giving it to the Bangles -- I wonder what his version sounds like.
If you have the inclination, I posted a little thing about The Go-Go's, inspired by your post from about week ago.
This is another band that Prince worked with -- some of their hits he wrote for them (Manic Monday for sure).
I never really liked them that much then, but I am liking them more now. James is a great song, and it never gets played. It showed up one day in my iPod when I set it to shuffle, and I had to play it through a few times.
Regards,
Tengrain
Johnny Yen: This is just what happened on my Go-Go's post. I talked about how I like Belinda Carlisle, everybody else liked Jane Wiedlin. Now I talk about how I like Michael Steele, AKA Susanne Thomas, ande everybody else talks about how they like Susana Hoffs. Do you think that maybe I am not conforming enough? Maybe I need to play more reindeer games.
SamuraiFrog: Mmm... Babysitters! Thank you, you have stirred fond memories deep within the Zaius psyche!
Splotchy: Yay! I love the post that you did! I have added a link to your post that has the version of "Our Lips are Sealed" done by the The Fun Boy Three to the original Go-Go's post. Thanks!
Tengrain: Well, did you watch the video for their song "In Your Room"? With the obscure symbolism, and the good and bad versions of the band in twin universes co-existing in the same video without imploding? I certainly had new respect for them as a band the second I saw one of them do the "Batusi!"
The Bangles and Nimoy in one post?
My good Doctor, I believe you are trying to make me lose consciousness from too much wonderfulness in one post!
Well done.
That is exactly how I feel about the Bangles! Thank you, sir.
Fyi
Mr. is Me as in Mr. Spocko
LLAP,
Spocko
Early Bangles was so effing great--that first EP (cover pictured above) and the All Over the Place LP were constant spinners on my turntable. Nice post!
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