"Walk Like an Egyptian"
Single by The Bangles
from the album Different Light
Released	December 1986
Format	Vinyl record (7")
Recorded	Sunset Sound Factory (1985)
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:21
Label	Columbia
Producer(s)	David Kahne
Peak chart positions
#1 (Australia, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, United States, World) #2 (Ireland) #3 (United Kingdom) #5 (Italy) #6 (Austria) #8 (Switzerland) #15 (France)
The Bangles singles chronology
"If She Knew What She Wants" (1986) "Walk like an Egyptian" (1986) "Walking Down Your Street" (1986)

"Walk Like an Egyptian" is a U.S. number-one hit from the album Different Light by The Bangles in 1986. Image File history File links The_Bangles_Walk_Like_An_Egyptian. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... For the jewelry item, see Bangle. ... Different Light is an album by The Bangles released in January 1986. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the music genre. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... David Kahne is a music producer having worked on MTV Unplugged, the 1995 Grammy Award winner for Album of the Year. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... The United World Chart is a worldwide chart issued every week by Media Traffic, using both sales (digital and physical) and airplay to determine the most popular albums and singles in the world. The United World Chart uses the same system as the Billboard Hot 100, in which the tracking... For the jewelry item, see Bangle. ... If She Knew What She Wants is a song by Jules Shear released in his 1985 album Eternal Return. ... Walking Down Your Street is the name of a song by the New Wave group The Bangles. ... Different Light is an album by The Bangles released in January 1986. ... For the jewelry item, see Bangle. ...

History

Origin

Liam Sternberg wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance as figures do 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. ^[1] Liam Sternberg is an American songwriter and producer best known for writing the Bangles hit Walk Like an Egyptian. Sternberg first got noticed as part of the late 70s Akron scene which launched Devo and The Waitresses. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ... For other meanings, see Relief (disambiguation) In the art of sculpture, a relief is an artwork where a modelled form projects out of a flat background. ... Wilson, Keppel and Betty were a popular British music hall act who capitalised on the trend for Egyptian imagery following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. ... A Fez The Fez (also known as the Checheya or Tarboosh) is a red felt hat in the shape of a truncated cone; a black tassel hangs from the crown. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ...

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. For the football player of the same name see Steve Martin (football player). ... King Tuts Strut, or the King Tut Strut is a song, and an accompanying dance. ...

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. ^[2] 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. Toni Basil (born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a musician, video artist, actress, and choreographer. ... David Kahne is a music producer having worked on MTV Unplugged, the 1995 Grammy Award winner for Album of the Year. ... Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (2003 promo photo) Susanna Lee Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) is a vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Bangles. ... Vicki Peterson - Victoria Anne Theresa, (born 11 January 1958, Burbank, California) is a US pop musician (guitar, vocals). ... Michael Steele (born on 2 June 1955 in Pasadena, California, USA) was a bassist, songwriter, and singer with The Bangles. ...

Chart performance

Susanna Hoffs in the song's music video

"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. ^[3] 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. ^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (2003 promo photo) Susanna Lee Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) is a vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Bangles. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... “British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... Manic Monday (1986) was the first hit single by pop group The Bangles. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

On the American Top 40 Top 100 of 1987 radio show, host Casey Kasem reported the song was added to 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 American Top 40 was using at the time. American Top 40 (commonly abbreviated to AT40) is an independent internationally-syndicated radio program currently hosted by Ryan Seacrest. ... Casey Kasem in 1989 Casey Kasem (born Kemal Amin Kasem on April 27, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, USA, of Palestinian and Lebanese heritage) is an American radio personality and voice actor. ...

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 a List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks, presumably due to its reference to Egypt. ^[5] This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Track listing

Charts

“Hot 100” redirects here. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Dutch Top 40 (Dutch: Nederlandse Top 40) is a weekly music chart, which started as the Veronica Top 40, because the pirate radio channel Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Covers

Cover "Geh'n wie ein Ägypter" by Die Ärzte.

The British rock group 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." Image File history File links Die_Ärzte_Gehen_wie_ein_Ägypter. ... Image File history File links Die_Ärzte_Gehen_wie_ein_Ägypter. ... Die Ärzte (also spelled die ärzte; German for the physicians or the doctors) are a German rock/punk rock band from Berlin. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... “2006 World Cup” redirects here. ...

Another cover of the song was done by the German punk rock band Die Ärzte who wrote German lyrics to the original melody and called their cover "Geh'n wie ein Ägypter" which also features The Incredible Hagen on vocals. Die Ärzte (also spelled die ärzte; German for the physicians or the doctors) are a German rock/punk rock band from Berlin. ...

The Italian rock band Linea 77 produced a metal version of this track. Linea 77 is an Italian nu metal band formed in 1993. ...

A cover recorded by Eric Mouquet and Deep Forest Featuring Beverly Jo Scott can be found on the soundtrack for Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre.

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. Musical Styles: Shaabi Middle Eastern Belly Dance Hakim was born in Maghagha, a small town in Minya, Egypt, in 1962, Hakim grew up with the sound of working-class tradition of Shabi; the root of Egyptian southern. ...

This song has also been covered by the vocal rock group Rockapella. Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group best known for their series of Folgers Coffee commercials and the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song. ...

References

Additional sources used: is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

• 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

See also

• Walking like an Egyptian.

External links

• The Bangles official website