Walk Like an Egyptian

Single infobox
Name = Walk Like an Egyptian


Artist = The Bangles
from Album = Different Light
B-side = "Angels Don't Fall in Love"
"Not Like You"
Released = September 1, 1986 (UK)
Format = 7" single
12" maxi
Recorded = Sunset Sound Factory (1985)
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:21
Label = Columbia
Writer = Liam Sternberg
Producer = David Kahne
Last single = "If She Knew What She Wants"
(1986)
This single = "Walk like an Egyptian" (1986)
Next single = "Walking Down Your Street"
(1986)

"Walk Like an Egyptian" is a number-one hit from the album "Different Light" by The Bangles in 1986.

History

Origin

Liam Sternberg wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egyptian reliefs. The opening lyrics state, "All the old paintings on the tombs/They do the sand dance don't you know". The reference to the sand dance possibly refers to a music hall routine performed by Wilson, Keppel and Betty where Wilson and Keppel danced around in the postures portrayed on the reliefs wearing the fez while Betty watched. The music video for "Walk Like an Egyptian" similarly featured people dancing in such a pose. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/lime_street/empire_theatre/variety.shtml BBC Liverpool] article on the Empire Theatre where Wilson, Keppel and Betty performed regularly] [YouTube: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftYSMk4BLto Egyptian Sand Dance: Wilson & Keppel 1934] ]

The perception that ancient Egyptians normally walked in such a way has been reflected in other items of popular culture such as the song "King Tut" performed by comedian Steve Martin and the King Tut Strut. Ancient Egyptian sculptures reflect the subjects walking normally.

Decision to record

Sternberg offered his song to Toni Basil, who turned it down. David Kahne, the producer of "Different Light", took the song to The Bangles who agreed to record it. [ [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=595 Songfacts] article on "Walk Like An Egyptian"] Kahne had each member of the group sing the lyrics to determine who would sing each verse, with Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele each singing lead vocals on a verse in the final version.

Chart performances

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was released as the third single from "Different Light". It debuted on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in September 1986. The song reached a peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1986 and reached number one in the U.S. on December 20, staying at the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, carrying it over into January, 1987. The song is the first song by an all-female group playing their own instruments to top the "Billboard" singles chart. [Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, 500 Nr. 1 hits uit de Top 40, Page 234, 9023009444] The success of the song and "Manic Monday" propeled "Different Light" to number two on the "Billboard" 200 chart, making it the group's most successful album. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=4040&model.vnuAlbumId=594047 Billboard.com] The Bangles album chart history Accessed: November 4, 2006]

On the "American Top 40 Top 100 of 1987" radio show, host Casey Kasem reported the song was added to the album as a joke, to which he added, "Some joke. Here's the punchline: The Bangles' sand dance of the ancient pharaohs walks away with the pyramid prize of the year!" contrasting how the song was added to the album with how popular it became, as it topped the year-end "Billboard" Hot 100 singles chart, which is the chart the American Top 40 was using at the time.

The song was also the Bangles' last non-cover Top 40 hit that wasn't co-written by at least one band member. Subsequent charted singles (with the exception of "Hazy Shade of Winter", which is a cover) were co-written by Susanna Hoffs and Debbie Peterson.

Deemed inappropriate

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was one of the songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks, presumably due to its reference to Egypt. [Dutton, Jeremy & Puchert, William. " [http://www.jour.unr.edu/zephyr/spring02/arts/archives/art_dutpuch_musicindustry.html Music industry responds to terrorism] ". "Zephyr". October 10 2001.]

Covers

*The British rock group The Laddz [http://www.theladdz.com/ The Laddz] use the tone of the song for support of the England national football team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in a chant called "Chant Like an English Fan".

*A German language cover of the song was done by the German punk rock band Die Ärzte ("Geh'n wie ein Ägypter", the title is a literal translation), which also features the Incredible Hagen on vocals. It was the first track and the first single from their 1987 album "Ist das alles? (13 Höhepunkte mit den Ärzten)". The woman on the cover is Die Ärzte's mascot Gwendoline (from "Sweet Gwendoline").
Although a video wasn't officially released, there is a video done for it. It was revealed in 2008 in an MTV-show [http://www.bademeister.com/v7/news/aerzte_MTV_mods.php?b=1&sid=b56c3a9a835f26e369ef47d6e70e9315 MTV-show] about their videography, along with the video of "Bitte bitte". In the video, Bela and Farin play children, whom parents have put to bed to go out themselves. When they're gone, Bela and Farin get up and a party ensues. When the parents come back, they're in the bed again.

*The Italian rock band Linea 77 produced a metal version of this track.

*A cover recorded by Deep Forest and featuring Beverly Jo Scott can be found on the soundtrack for "". It is played during the closing credits of the film.

*There is also a cover recorded by the Egyptian singer Hakim, featuring a singer named Cleopatra. This cover is included on the album "Desert Roses 3".

*This song has also been covered by the vocal rock group Rockapella.

*It was covered by The Puppini Sisters on their 2007 album "The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo".

*It was covered by Jamaican singer Wilman de Jesus.

*In 2007, KT Tunstall began performing this song while on her UK tour. A cover version of the song serves as a B-side to her single "If Only", and is also available to owners of KT's album Drastic Fantastic through the disc's Opendisc feature.

*J.B.O., a German band who does parodies of modern rock and dance songs, parodied this song, renaming it "Walk With an Erection".

*Like J.B.O., a Boston band, the Swinging Erudites, parodied this song in the mid- to late-80s as "Walk With an Erection".

Track listings

;1985 release;; 7" single
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (3:21)
# "Angels Don't Fall in Love" (3:21)

;; 12" maxi
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (extended dance mix) (5:48)
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (dub mix) (5:17)
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (a capella mix) (2:47)

; 1986 release;; 7" single
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (3:21)
# "Not Like You" (3:05) ;; 12" maxi
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (extended dance mix) (5:48)
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (dub mix) (5:17)
# "Walk Like an Egyptian" (a cappella mix) (2:47)
# "Angels Don't Fall in Love" (3:21)

Certifications

Charts

References

Additional sources used:
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:axdyyz51xpmb All Music Guide song review]
* Jay Warner, "On This Day in Music History: Over 2000 Popular Music Facts Covering Every Day of the Year" Hal Leonard 2004 ISBN 0-634-06693-5 pages 272, 321, 356

External links

*http://www.thebangles.com The Bangles' official website
*http://www.theladdz.com The Laddz Official Website