The Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian: yea or nay?

[fange]

What say you, BCBers?



Does the The Bangles' smash from '86 do it for you?

[Dayodead]

Annoying novelty song, which probably bought each group member a new house, but fully entrenched them in mainstream pop...

[trans-chigley express]

I like it, especially when Susanna Hoffs takes over the lead vocals for the last verse. A yay from me

[sloopjohnc]

Not my least favorite Bangles song, but close.

[Charlie O.]

Closer to "Yea" than "Nay" for me, but: "Footy". I don't dislike it, but I wouldn't object to never hearing it again. I'd've said the same in 1986.

[The Red Heifer]

I like it a lot more than I do Manic fucking Monday, but it nowhere near as good as Eternal Flame. As TCE says, it's at its best when Susanna's singing

[fange]

A pattern forming here? People who like the band - or at least a couple/some of their other tunes - looking down on this one as an over-played novelty/sell-out?

[Davey the Fat Boy]

I think it is just fine.

[Brickyard Jack]

I like it a lot more than I do Manic fucking Monday, but it nowhere near as good as Eternal Flame.

Absolutely.

[Darkness_Fish]

It's the best thing they did by a country mile, and a classic example of a proper pop song. Is it a novelty because it was actually good? What are the novelty elements? Did they otherwise write deep soul-searching songs that tried to explain the human condition?

[Moleskin]

It's more yea than nay.

[Footy]

It's more yea than nay.

Agreed.
I voted for myself, though, as I am an attention seeker.

[naughty boy]

Not keen.

Most of their big hits were written by other people, right? Manic Monday, Eternal Flame, this one? A shame, 'cos they were good songwriters. The first album (I think!) has the evidence.

[fange]

Not keen.

Most of their big hits were written by other people, right? Manic Monday, Eternal Flame, this one? A shame, 'cos they were good songwriters. The first album (I think!) has the evidence.

The debut is fine, with some good power pop like 'Hero Takes A Fall', 'Dover Beach' and 'Going Down To Liverpool', but i think that last one was a cover too.

It's the best thing they did by a country mile, and a classic example of a proper pop song. Is it a novelty because it was actually good? What are the novelty elements? Did they otherwise write deep soul-searching songs that tried to explain the human condition?

Yep, agreed.

I think the whole Egyptian dance thing rubs some people the wrong way and makes them see it like a novelty track; but the switching vocals, the crisp swing of the verses, and just the way it sounds like the perfect mid-80s power pop song make me love it.

[naughty boy]

Not keen.

Most of their big hits were written by other people, right? Manic Monday, Eternal Flame, this one? A shame, 'cos they were good songwriters. The first album (I think!) has the evidence.

The debut is fine, with some good power pop like 'Hero Takes A Fall', 'Dover Beach' and 'Going Down To Liverpool', but i think that last one was a cover too.

Yeah - that Soft Boys fella.

'Hero Takes A Fall', tho'!

and there was one that made that Children of Nuggets comp too - great song. Lovely sound, too.

[sloopjohnc]

Not keen.

Most of their big hits were written by other people, right? Manic Monday, Eternal Flame, this one? A shame, 'cos they were good songwriters. The first album (I think!) has the evidence.

The debut is fine, with some good power pop like 'Hero Takes A Fall', 'Dover Beach' and 'Going Down To Liverpool', but i think that last one was a cover too.

It's a Kimberly Rew song.

[clive gash]

First place I heard “Live” too.

[Neige]

I like it a lot..

[Sneelock]

Nah. Too MTV for me by half. If I never see S.Hoffs licking her lips & smoldering into the camera again — it’ll be too soon.

[pcqgod]

I can listen to it now and enjoy it for what it is, but at the time it seemed a betrayal, coming as it did after the smart, emotionally-engaging garagey pop-rock of their self-titled e.p. and the 'All Over the Place' lp. That and their MTV-makeover made their descent into power ballad mediocrity inevitable.