The Bangles play at the Coach House June 6
Almost everybody I know in the ’80s loved The Bangles. With their chart topping hits like “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Manic Monday,” and “Eternal Flame” they will surely rock The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Fri, June 6. To be honest, I’ve never seen them live so this will be epic for me.
It has been 30 years since The Bangles was formed in a Brentwood, CA garage. The group’s genre in the earlier times was ’60s folk rock. They launched their first album in 1984, “All Over the Place.” Two singles were released from this album which were “Hero Takes a Fall” and “Going Down to Liverpool.” The latter’s video featured Leonard Nimoy.
In 1986, the second album was launched called, “Different Light”. In my opinion, this is the most popular album of The Bangles, which hit the main stream. “Different Light” earned a huge radio and MTV airplays during those days. One of my favorites from “Different Light” album was “Manic Monday” penned by Prince under the pseudonym “Christopher.” The song reached #2 in 1986 on the Billboard chart. And the reason why I dig this song is because I used to sing this song a lot on my mini karaoke machine my mom bought me. The pitch was just right for my voice.
“Walking Down Your Street,” and “If She Knew What She Wants” were also hits from the second album that had catchy tunes and concise arrangements. But “Walk Like an Egyptian” made The Bangles multi-platinum rock stars. It was the #1 hit from the album and nominated as Best Group video in the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards.
In between “Different Light” and The Bangle’s third album, the song “Hazy Shade of Winter” was released and reached #2 on the national chart as part of the soundtrack of the cult movie “Less Than Zero” that starred Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr. and Jami Gertz. “Hazy Shade of Winter” was originally recorded and written by the ’60s duo Simon and Garfunkel.
It seems every two years The Bangles released a new album that generated a hit. In 1988, “Everything” was the group’s third album. It produced the hit “In Your Room” but they’re biggest success of their career was the song “Eternal Flame.” “Eternal Flame” became a chart-topper in almost every major chart around the world. It was Hoff’s breathy voice coupled with the band’s stellar harmonies. Up to this date, it still holds up against many of the rock ballad songs of today. In fact, in the CBS show “The Voice,” contestants” Amber Carrington and Danielle Bradbery” teamed up with the song “Eternal Flame” and it was their near pitch-perfect that gave me goose bumps.