The Bangles or The Go-Gos

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eternal flame = not awful

Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bangles on strength of Eternal Flame alone.

Sterling Clover, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bangles had a Philip Garner Vac-trola on the cover of their first album so are obviously women of taste and humour. However the Go-Go's were 3 years of drink, drugs and fucking so I think it would have to be Belinda's gang.
Alternatively getting to hang out with Prince vs hanging out with John Belushi.

Billy Dods, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The contingent of open "Eternal Flame" lovers scare me in my soul. I will countenance it only if *every one* of the people praising also evince an equal like for Heart and Whitesnake power-ballads of the same era, because then it means you have the strength of your convictions. ;-)

kissing Valentino by a crystal- blue Italian stream

Is that an actual line from the song? That nutty Prince.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Eternal Flame" has awful lyrics, a wonderful melody, one of the world's greatest bridges, and adapts itself so well to a capella singing that even the most tone-deaf group can sound halfway decent singing it. I make no apologies for loving that song.

Having said that, it's nowhere near the best song The Bangles did. That would either be "Hazy Shade Of Winter" (especially for the bongo solo in the 12" remix), "Manic Monday", or "If She Knew What She Wants".

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ned, I know you don't pay attention to lyrics and all, but COME ON. Everyone knows that line!

The only good song Whitesnake released was "Is This Love?", whereas Heart had great songs with "These Dreams" and "Alone" but truly augmented them with bizarrely inappropriate videos. The less said about "All I Wanna Do ..." the better.

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Everyone knows that line!

Nope, don't remember it all! It's been years upon years since I heard the song, I should note. All I remember is most of the chorus.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It 'at' all, I should say.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The last time I heard this song was probably five or six years ago. From memory:

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissing Valentino on a crystal-blue Italian stream
[... oh shit, I can't believe I've forgotten the rest of the first verse, bang goes my point]
It's just another manic Monday
Wish it were Sunday
That's my fun day
My "I don't have to run" day
It's just another manic Monday

[...fuckfuckfuck how does the second verse start?]
But I can't be late because [something about getting] paid
These are the days when you wish your bed was already made
It's just another manic Monday...

[This is the part where Susanna gets all chirpy and incomprehensible] (Last night, last night)
[More Susanna chirps] employment's down
Then he whispers in his bedroom voice,
"Come on baby, let's go make some noise." (Oh oh oh oh!)
Funny how time flies (when you're having fun...)
It's just another manic Monday...

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's a line that goes
"Of all of my nights why did my lover have to pick last night to get down?"

Sean, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think that's the "chirpy" part Dan mentions. btw, at this point in his career, Prince was a god.

Sean, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

All the support The Bangles are getting is blowing my mind. My mind has been blown! I have a bit of a problem with everyone saying The Bangles b/c of a Prince song. Damn ya'll The Go-Go's could've had that song if Belinda was Prince's type.

Lindsey B, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So much hate for "Eternal Flame"! Dan captures it exactly: terrible lyrics, awesome melody. And Mellotron (I think)! How can you go wrong?

I will countenance it only if *every one* of the people praising also evince an equal like for Heart and Whitesnake power-ballads of the same era, because then it means you have the strength of your convictions.

I think "Is This Love?" is a fantastic power-ballad, and I think I "These Dreams" is a deeply underrated song. Happy, Ned? :)

Vinnie, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dan and Vinnie mind-meld! Oh NO!!!

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You are honest, Vinnie, and for that I salute you. But now I wish you to imagine David Coverdale's leathery face rubbing up against Ann Wilson's heavily made up features in the equivalent of an '88 era video bootleg.

Fun fact: Robert Forster covered "Alone," and did a damn good job of it.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

BAD NED! BAD NED! NO CANDY FOR YOU!

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I knew a breaking point would be achieved somehow. But for my video nightmare or the Forster mention?

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Furthermore, I have mentioned to Brian about this love of "Eternal Flame" you have, Dan. He reacted with stunned horror and contempt, I fear.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Close your eyes. Sun shines through the rain. My whole life I've waited. Then you came to ease the pain. Am I only DREEEAAAAMING or IIIISSS THIIIISS burning AAN ETERNAL FLAAAAAAMMMEEEE?" No way are those bad lyrics.

Sterling Clover, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You can mock and scoff and sneer and disdain all you want. You cannot change the fact that "Eternal Flame" is, in fact, a great song and your distaste obviously comes from extremely jealousy that Susanna Hoffs looks so purty when lit by a candle.

Oh, and Sterl? You've got the end of the bridge wrong.

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dear god, guys... what's next? The virtues of Starship's "Knee Deep In the Hoopla" album?

The Eternal Lame, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No, because that album sucked. Also, Grace Slick looks like a haggard drag queen. I will admit that a friend and I had an entire lip-synch routine made up for "Sara", though. Heh heh heh.

Wow, if I'd known it was this easy to horrify you guys, I would have brought this up YEARS ago!

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Actually, "Jane" from Freedom at Point Zero comes next.

Re: "Eternal Flame," Dan Perry is OTM except the lyrics aren't really terrible in the Bernie Taupin sense of the word. However, my vote goes to the Go-Go's, since there were more of them and because of the sex and because Belinda was in the Cramps. Plus, "OUR LIPS ARE SEALED"! Holy shit! How did this thread go so far with only ONE mention of one of the ALL-TIME TEN GREATEST POP RECORDINGS EVER! Sheeps! I thought ILM was a "popist" forum!

J, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(I should also point out that, while I've been pumping up The Bangles, The Go-Go's were ridiculously good and, as J. says, "Our Lips Our Sealed" is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.)

Dan Perry, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i like eternal flame, in your room is also cool. but i also like the go-gos. i am very biased and the reason i like the bangles better is purely cos of michael and non-belinda factors.

di, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't think Belinda was ever in the Cramps, J. She was in the Germs, though, which is just as good. Wasn't she cute?

http://www.stormpages.com/germs/belindaa.jpg

Arthur, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Whoops, yer right of course . . . a mistake of the keyboard on my part! URGH.

J, Friday, 12 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have heard of "Our Lips are Sealed", but I'm not actually sure I've heard this song. Since my fellow melder Dan and others recommended it, I must download it. Sadly, I admit to liking "Sara" and "We Built This City", which I assume I'm "Alone" on (hahaha).

Vinnie, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Eternal Flame" is awesome and I don't mind the lyrics. "In Your Room" and "Complicated Girl" are good too. Actually, the whole first side of Everything is pretty good. Is this indie-dance?

"Crazy On You" and "Magic Man" are like the two best songs of all time but 80s Heart was pretty execrable. (This is because rock is superior to pop. High culture is also superior to low culture. And men are - just kidding.) I didn't really mind "Slide It In" and "Here I Go Again" but I wasn't mad for them either. I really liked Starship's "Sara" when my age was in single digits, which is the main criterion by which I judge music from that time.

sundar subramanian, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't really get the connection between "Eternal Flame" and those other bands' power ballads though.

sundar subramanian, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Because that's how I remember that song ("Eternal Flame") coming across at the time -- Another Damn Fucking Power Ballad in the triumphialist late eighties era of same. The video did not help in the slightest.

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes, hold up a candle in your video and you end up sounding just like Heart and Whitesnake. It's a trap many artists of the time fell into.

Dan Perry, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tsk, Mr. Perry, you go about this incorrectly. If that same video treatment was given to Heart's "Alone," would anyone have batted an eye?

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Celine Dion should cover Eternal Flame. A better match doesn't exist. What a vomit-inducing song.

nathalie, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If that same video treatment was given to Heart's "Alone," would anyone have batted an eye?

I would have. I would have said, "Holy shit! Heart has recorded a video that's appropriate to the song!"

Celine Dion should cover Eternal Flame. A better match doesn't exist.

Destiny's Child could do a KILLER version of "Eternal Flame".

Dan Perry, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You're not helping your cause any here. ;-)

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You act like I'm on a crusade or something. :)

Dan Perry, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, the thought crossed my mind, idly, sweetly. ;-)

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DC would massacre eternal flame. The only good cover I've heard of it has been happy-hardcore.

Sterling Clover, Sunday, 14 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Bangles, for Atomic Kitten's version of Eternal Flame ALONE.

Graham, Sunday, 14 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I had almost forgotten about "In Your Room". I must buy a Bangles best-of.

Sean, Sunday, 14 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I realize that I never really answered the question. I choose the Bangles, despite the fact that most of the songs that they're known for were, uh, written by other people.

Sean Carruthers, Sunday, 14 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

rockist

electric sound of jim, Sunday, 14 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh! Oh! Oh! I am just DYING to say something, but it would break my lurk.

kate, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

PLEASE SAY SOMETHING KATE. We need you back!

Sean Carruthers, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The return of the Kate! :-)

Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...
It's gotta be The Bangles. Much more of a stage presence, particularly Vickie Peterson who appears to barely contain herself during some of the lead breaks (check out the Walk Like an Egyption vid). Good solid harmonies, far beter than the Go-Go's.

Bangles ROCK!!!

Vince Grienti, Friday, 3 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...
Go-Go's are terrible! Will they ever write one good song? Their music lacks any creativity,each song sounds like the the one before. Yawn! Belinda is a bitch! The Bangles kick their asses!!! In terms of pure talent,beauty,singing,60's style,musicianship,songwriting.

Anyone who seriously picks the Go-Go's over the Bangles is a looney! The Bangles are much more of a tight rock outfit with some serious musicianship going on and stellar harmonie vocals whilst the Go-Go's are still the Go-Go's and thats not good. LOL! What has happended with them since that awful disc GBTGG's anyway?

Johnny, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

nine months pass...
OK, this is the thread where I can say this.

I have to pick Bangles because MY BAND ARE SUPPORTING THE BANGLES ON TOUR NEXT WEEK!!! WWWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

No, I don't know any details. There are two British dates, Manchester on Wednesday the 19th, London (Shepherds Bush Empire, I think?) on Thursday the 20th.

Yes, I am bricking it. I mean, the freaking BANGLES. Everyone is going to be like "Oh, yer supporting the Bangs again" but no, we're supporting the Bangles. I just checked my phone to make sure I didn't dream the whole thing. But wow. I was just trying to figure out the riff from Hazy Shade of Winter the other day...

kate (suzy), Friday, 14 March 2003 07:39 (twenty-three years ago)

So cool!!!

Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 14 March 2003 07:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I opened this thread fully expecting a blowout for The Go-Gos, who I thought had all the cred and appear constantly in my peers' record collections, whereas I never see anybody with anything by the Bangles (accidentally typed "the Buggles," whom I actually like) and the songs that I know by them (that's "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like An Egyptian" and NOTHING else) have always basically grated on me. I would say "Manic Monday" is about an equal battle with "Vacation" but virtually anything I know by the Go-Gos trounces "Walk Like An Egyptian."

So, I'm wondering, is this a generational thing? Like if you were a club-hopping teen of the times, do the Bangles go way up for some reason? Because for this to even be a contest, to my ear, there has to be something else in play. Otherwise it's the Go-Gos in a walk.

Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 04:34 (twenty years ago)

if those are the only two bangles songs you know you really need to remedy that quick smart.

electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 04:43 (twenty years ago)

"Hazy Shade Of Winter" alone (yes, I know they didn't write it. I also don't care) gives the prize to the Bangles.

Also, I hate the Go-Go's.

John Justen (johnjusten), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 04:46 (twenty years ago)

many of the musicians in these bands still work! (jane wiedlin's surreal life appearance doesn't count as "work.")

jbr with a z (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 05:28 (twenty years ago)

Bangles. Slightly better music and a lot better chicks.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 11:00 (twenty years ago)

If you're not sold on the Bangles, then you need a copy of All Over the Place right quick. Even Different Light has some choice album tracks.

The Go-Go's were just as uneven, but they have one more near-great album (Talk Show) than the Bangles. So, the Go-Go's win, in a photo finish.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 12:18 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, in a battle of first albums (since that's all I've ever bothered with for either. Though we own Talk Show, I've listened to it about twice), the Go Gos win hands down. Even the stupid songs are more awesome by an order of magnitude. This isn't to say that I don't like the Bangles, just that the first Go Gos albums is one of the most perfect pop slabs ever. EVER.

js (honestengine), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 12:46 (twenty years ago)

Then again, only on "Hero Takes a Fall" do the Bangles' own songs approach the sublimity of their cover of Jules Shear's "If She Knew What She Wants."

So, yeah, the Go-Go's were better songwriters.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 12:56 (twenty years ago)

susanna hoffs had a better voice than belinda carlisle though

kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 13:59 (twenty years ago)

Ned mentioned the film in which Ms Hoffs shows her virtues to wondrous effect once, so I would do well to remind you all of my first (and one of the last) heterosexual crushes:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305537534.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 14:15 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

wth is that

Surmounter, Friday, 20 March 2009 14:15 (seventeen years ago)

re-reading kate's post about supporting the bangles lo these many years later is pure joy.

iro with the brown bag (Hunt3r), Friday, 20 March 2009 18:04 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

Great Jane Wiedlin interview here.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 27 June 2011 17:55 (fourteen years ago)

three months pass...

Four tracks into 'Sweetheart of the Sun' and it's a bit of a gem. I can't help but think that Susanna Hoffs is an underrated vocalist, the Rainy Day version of 'I'll Keep It with Mine' is in my top 10 of Dylan covers.

The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 20 October 2011 16:37 (fourteen years ago)

Really excellent album. There's a little discussion of it already on the old 'Doll Revolution' thread.

timellison, Thursday, 20 October 2011 17:13 (fourteen years ago)

nine months pass...

Did they ever tour together? If so, who opened for whom?

late adopter, Sunday, 5 August 2012 02:20 (thirteen years ago)

Four tracks into 'Sweetheart of the Sun' and it's a bit of a gem. I can't help but think that Susanna Hoffs is an underrated vocalist, the Rainy Day version of 'I'll Keep It with Mine' is in my top 10 of Dylan covers.

otm, although tbh for me I'm so into the Fairport Convention version of "I'll Keep It With Mine" I'm having trouble getting into this one. But pretty much every other cover version that I've heard from her has gotten me right away.

Zing Can Really Hang You Up the Most (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 August 2012 04:59 (thirteen years ago)

four weeks pass...

i think they toured together in the recent past, but not in the old days. might be wrong though.

akm, Tuesday, 4 September 2012 07:51 (thirteen years ago)

one month passes...

so dreamy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7uSyTZN0xk&feature=related

terrell sug (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 17:26 (thirteen years ago)

one year passes...

really feeling beauty and the beat right now

socki (s1ocki), Friday, 11 April 2014 17:34 (twelve years ago)

"Can't Stop the World"!

Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 11 April 2014 17:36 (twelve years ago)

"our lips are sealed" is really one of the greatest blasts of pop euphoria ever eh

socki (s1ocki), Friday, 11 April 2014 17:37 (twelve years ago)

I always think of the great stories in We Got The Neutron Bomb... their manager calling up Gottehrer (?) yelling "you ruined my band!" after hearing the final mix, the gals chopping up coke on their UPS packages...

sleeve, Friday, 11 April 2014 17:42 (twelve years ago)

six years pass...

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zKkUfMj8pzLoQpL50oUQb?si=R2SdwaTHT8-r8iDqxRXFJA

enjoying this, might wind up buyingthat first lp on cd.

INteresting seeing whoever it was turn up in Teerry graham's memoir Punk Like Me. I think he hung out with several of the girls pre-band, dated one and did the Sex pistols Southern tour with at least one of them.

But otherwise thing I knew best about tehm was teh co-write on Our Lips Are sealed which i knew better by the Fun Boy Three.

Stevolende, Thursday, 27 August 2020 18:19 (five years ago)

I probably prefer the Go-Go's over the Bangles - listening to the three LP's they both made during their heyday, the Go-Go's were far more consistent to the end of that run. But in both cases, I have a soft spot for their early underground recordings, particularly the Bangles (or the Bangs as they were briefly known). Return to the Valley of The Go-Go's (which may be a little too much and still missing some key tracks) and Ladies And Gentlemen . . . The Bangles! are probably my favorite releases from either band.

birdistheword, Thursday, 27 August 2020 19:06 (five years ago)


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