Forgotten Classic Video of the Week

Let's take a look back at the humble beginnings of The Bangles with "Hero Takes a Fall," the first single from their 1984 debut, All Over the Place. Yeah, most people know The Bangles for walking like Egyptians and burning that infernal, er, eternal flame, but I've always felt that they peaked with this first song. It's still my favorite of theirs.

I don't really get the video. All of the girls fantasize about destroying male mannequins. Okay. Well, it was the early '80s, and The Bangles were unknown, so what can we expect?

Comments

If I remember correctly and without checking because the ol' dial-up would make me late for work, doesn't Susannah wear that cute little maid outfit?

Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
I like the Bangles more with each passing year, but never as much as the Go-Go's.
This was one of their better songs.
Les Becker said…
I'm still trying to get over those duct-tape-wrapped earrings...
Wait a minute, didn't Prince write this song?
Oh hey hey hey hey!

Never knew much about my dad's side of the family. Well, he did some tree-tracing, and I found out a couple years ago that I'm like 2nd cousins or something with Michael Steele, the Bangles' original bassist! I just checked their website (?they still have one!) - looks like her departure wasn't particularly amicable.

My fave is their cover of Hazy Shade of Winter.
Johnny Yen said…
That's my favorite Bangles song!
SkylersDad said…
In my best Dieter voice, "Now I am as happy as a little girl"... That was great!
Twit said…
Mannequins-in-pop-videos.. is so incredibly 80's.

Tune's ok though I suppose.

Susanna Hoffs wants me.

¦:¬|
cube said…
Girl bands. What a concept.
Yeah, the french maid outfit was nice. Never heard that tune, though. The only way for us to see videos in 1984 was a show called Friday Night Videos. Cable (and MTV) didn't make it to my neighborhood until a while later.
Hey how come they're not walking like Egyptians?

They sure do rock the 80s, no matter what country the walk like.
Cup said…
Oh, wow. That is a forgotten classic!
Joe said…
How sweet. I always liked Bananarama a little better than the Bangles though. Cool video. It's funny, I remember the song clearly but I don't remember ever seeing the video...
Martin said…
"Hero Takes The Fall" is a personal favorite from All Over The Place. Then again, the title of the album is apt as it is quite varied. When I think of The Bangles, usually, I fall back on early memories of this song as well as their cover of "Going Down To Liverpool." Still upset that my interview didn't work out as intended but who knows, it may be better to interview one of the girls prior to the next album.
Moxie said…
I found my old cassette of All Over the Place a couple days ago...man, that was a great album. I loved "Dover Beach" and "James", too. Never saw this video, oddly enough, but I agree with Twit: mannequins were so 80s. I wonder if the mannequins in the "All Over the World" dance sequence in Xanadu started it?
anandamide said…
I had a crush on the guitar player....
Funny, I have no recollection of this song at all. Maybe because I didn't have cable and MTV or VH1 or whatever station was still playing videos, until 1989.
LoraLoo said…
I was never much of a Bangles fan, but this is one of their better songs.
BeckEye said…
WP - Yes. And she kind of looks like a softcore porn star throughout the video.

Pistols - And you shouldn't. There would probably be no Bangles without The Go-Go's.

Monkey - Agreed. Some (me) might even say their best!

Les - Hey, it was the '80s.

WP - Nope, he wrote "Manic Monday."

Slave - Cool! I don't have any semi-famous relatives.

Johnny - Me too.

Skylers Dad - You have grown tiresome. :)

Twit - I hope Susannah finally gets to have you one of these days.

Cube - Are you one of those crazy feminists who thinks that girls should be washing dishes instead of playing guitars? :)

BSUWG - Yeah, I had to get my video fix on TBS's "Night Tracks" for some years before we got MTV.

Barbara - They weren't quite that advanced yet. In fact, I saw them open for Cyndi Lauper way back in the day and Susannah Hoffs kept doing splits. That was her big move.

Beth - And that is what I'm here for!

Bubs - Those Bananarama chicks were cute, but they didn't play any instruments!

80s Nut - Why don't you interview the disgruntled Michael Steele? Maybe Slave to the Dogs can hook you up!

Moxie - I think most people love the idea of mannequins coming to life. It all started with that classic Twilight Zone episode, "The After Hours." But...oh, Xanadu. What a wonderful, horrible movie. I rollerskated my young life away to that soundtrack. :)

Anandamide - Yeah, most men prefer her to her sister, the slightly bug-eyed drummer.

CP - Maybe you were just drunk that year. :)

Lora - See my response to Mr. Monkey. :)
Tenacious S said…
They played at a small club near my house when I was still underage. I really wanted to go see them and it still was probably the most exciting thing to happen in our town except for a show by Ministry.