Today’s classic song of the day is “If She Knew What She Wants” by the Bangles. Released as a single in April of 1986, this track peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, #28 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #24 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
“If She Knew What She Wants” was written by Jules Shear and first released on his 1985 album, The Eternal Return. The Bangles, who did a lot of cover songs, picked it up for their 1986 album, Different Light. Their version closely follows Shear’s original except, in the words of one critic, “they sing better.”
The song is all about a somewhat complicated girl and a guy trying to figure out how to deal with her. He’d be glad to give her what she wants, if only he could figure out what it was:
If she knew what she wants
(He’d be giving it to her)
If she knew what she needs
(He could give her that too)
If she knew what she wants
(But he can’t see through her)
If she knew what she wants
He’d be giving it to her
Giving it to her
But she wants everything
(He can pretend to give her everything)
Or there’s nothing she wants
(She don’t want to sort it out)
He’s crazy for this girl
(But she don’t know what she’s looking for)
If she knew what she wants
He’d be giving it to her
Giving it to her
Lead vocals on the Bangles’ version are by Susanna Hoffs, with the others singing in a call-and-response fashion. It’s a great song and an appealing performance, full of jangly guitars and smooth vocal harmonies. It’s very much in line with the Bangles’ previous single, the Prince-penned “Manic Monday.” (The Different Light album would also contribute a third single, the chart-topping “Walk Like an Egyptian.”)
The Bangles were one of my favorite groups of the ’80s. They had an uncanny ear for material and a somewhat sophisticated (or certainly well-honed) sound. Some of their best tunes were deep album tracks and their less-successful singles, such as “If She Knew What She Wants.” They only released three albums in the ’80s before breaking up, but they’re all gems.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the Bangles singing “If She Knew What She Wants” live in concert at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh on December 13, 1986. Those harmonies, man!
