Early life
Hoffs was born in Newport Beach, California to a Jewish family. Her mother was a fan of The Beatles and played their records for Hoffs when she was a child. She began playing the guitar in her teens and hooked up with Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson, who needed a singer for their band, which would later become The Bangles. Susanna attended Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. In 1980, she graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Art.
The Bangles years
The Bangles released their first album All Over The Place in 1984, but their major breakthrough album was Different Light in 1986, with the hit singles "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like an Egyptian." Her fame rising, Susanna starred in the movie The Allnighter in 1987. It was directed by her mother Tamar Simon Hoffs and also featured Joan Cusack and Pam Grier. She also made the covers of many magazines, and the Rickenbacker guitar company issued a Susanna Hoffs model, which she still plays during gigs. Although the Bangles did not have a set lead vocalist, and the girls alternated on singing, Susanna was perceived by many casual fans to be the main vocalist. She also received by far the most media attention, which led to tensions within the band. The Bangles released their very successful third album Everything in 1988, with their biggest selling single "Eternal Flame." But the breakup was inevitable, and they disbanded in 1989.
Solo career and personal life
Susanna released a solo album When You're a Boy in 1991, which didn't sell very well (although it did spawn a US Top 40 hit with "My Side of the Bed"). In 1993, she married Jay Roach, later the director of the Austin Powers movies and Meet the Parents and producer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. They have two sons, born in 1995 and 1998.
In 1996, Susanna released her second solo album Susanna Hoffs, this time with more personal lyrics and a more mature sound. Although it received some praise in the press (and yielded a minor US hit with the single "All I Want"), it didn't sell well either. Susanna also recorded another album during 1993/1994, prior to leaving Columbia records. So far it remains unreleased, though substandard bootleg copies have been circulating for years. Susanna also records demos prolifically, and these also sometimes surface on the internet. The best known of these is probably the song "Pride," which can be legally downloaded at Bill Bonk's website.
Hoffs appears in the first Austin Powers movie as a member of the fictitious 1960s rock group Ming Tea, fronted by the title character. In real-life, Ming Tea consisted of actor Mike Myers, Hoffs, Canadian musician/producer Christopher Ward, and singer Matthew Sweet. This group made a number of TV performances (with Myers in character as Powers) and had a minor hit with the song "BBC." Hoffs returned with the group in the second and third Austin Powers films.
Bangles reunion
In the late 1990s, Susanna started to contact the other members of the Bangles again. They recorded the single "Get the Girl" for the second Austin Powers movie in 1999. Playing together and enjoying themselves, they announced their decision to reunite in 2000. Their fourth album, called Doll Revolution, was released in 2003, followed by a tour.
Cover of Under the Covers, Vol. 1
Sid 'n' Susie
In 2006, Susanna teamed up with fellow Ming Tea rocker, Matthew Sweet, under the name Sid 'n' Susie to record 15 covers on an album appropriately called Under the Covers, Vol. 1. The Album was released in April of 2006 and they appeared on July 18th on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to promote the album and tour.
Alfie
Susanna Hoffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it just for the moment we live
What's it all about when you sort it out, Austin
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind
And if only fools are kind, Austin
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
What will you've learned on an old golden rule
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Austin
You know there's something much more
Something even nonbelievers can believe in
I believe in love, Austin
Without true love we just exist, Austin
Until you find love you've missed you're nothing, Austin
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Austin
Austin
The lyrics to Susanna Hoffs's song "Austin" touch upon existential questions about life and the pursuit of happiness. The name "Austin" is used as a placeholder for a person, perhaps representing a friend or a lover, to address these questions.
The opening lines pose a question about the meaning of life: "What's it all about, Austin? / Is it just for the moment we live?" Here, the singer is wondering if life is simply about fleeting experiences or if there is a deeper purpose. The following line, "Are we meant to take more than we give / Or are we meant to be kind," delves into the idea of personal values and how one should navigate through life. It questions whether individuals should prioritize their own self-interests or focus on being kind and selfless.
The second verse further explores contrasting perspectives. The line "And if only fools are kind, Austin / Then I guess it is wise to be cruel" suggests that being kind might be seen as foolish in a world that values strength and self-preservation. It reflects the sentiment that sometimes it seems more prudent to be harsh or ruthless in order to succeed. However, the following line challenges this notion: "And if life belongs only to the strong, Austin / What will you've learned on an old golden rule." It questions the idea that life should only be reserved for the strong and suggests that there is wisdom in following the "golden rule," which is commonly understood as treating others as you would like to be treated.
The chorus introduces a hopeful and optimistic perspective: "As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Austin / You know there's something much more / Something even nonbelievers can believe in." Here, the singer expresses a belief in something beyond the material world, stating that there is something more to life that even nonbelievers can find faith in. The repeated line "I believe in love, Austin" emphasizes the importance of love as a driving force in life. The final lines of the song encourage the listener to let their heart guide them in search of love, promising that it can be found at any given moment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Austin" contemplate the meaning of life, the balance between self-interest and kindness, and the power of love in creating a fulfilling existence.
Line by Line Meaning
What's it all about, Austin
What is the true meaning or purpose, Austin?
Is it just for the moment we live
Is life meant to be lived just for temporary experiences, Austin?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Austin
When you carefully analyze and understand life, Austin, what does it truly mean?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Should we be focused on taking more from others rather than giving, Austin?
Or are we meant to be kind
Or should we focus on being kind, Austin?
And if only fools are kind, Austin
And if only foolish people are kind, Austin
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
Then it would be considered wise to be cruel, Austin
And if life belongs only to the strong, Austin
And if life is reserved only for the strong, Austin
What will you've learned on an old golden rule
Then what lesson have you learned from the traditional rule or principle, Austin?
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Austin
With absolute certainty, I believe in the existence of a heavenly realm above, Austin
You know there's something much more
You are aware that there is something far greater, Austin
Something even nonbelievers can believe in
Something that even those who don't believe can still have faith in, Austin
I believe in love, Austin
I have faith in the power and presence of love, Austin
Without true love we just exist, Austin
Without genuine love, our lives merely consist of mere existence, Austin
Until you find love you've missed you're nothing, Austin
If you haven't found love, you have missed out on something essential and are devoid of worth, Austin
When you walk let your heart lead the way
When you journey through life, allow your heart to guide you, Austin
And you'll find love any day, Austin
And eventually, you will discover love at any moment, Austin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ebert311
This song hits you hard... She has a perfect voice.
@thelordofsalem3044
I used to watch all the Austin Powers movies in 9th grade back in 07/08. Burt Bacharach's Love Sweet Love made me feel at peace in that time of my life 😊. This one moved my heart while also hitting me in the feels, knowing damn well there may never be an Austin Powers 4. Especially now that Mini-Me is gone ☹
@zoltanfekete7642
I'm in love with Susanna's voice! Period. What a natural talent! Like cozy blanket on a cold winter night.
@nathanielhutson3580
I used to rewind my vhs to the end credits just to hear this song, it's something about the chords that just really soothes the soul
@HLHReviews
If this song doesn’t play at my funeral, I ain’t going
@strawberryydreams
Always hits me in the feels.
@michaelmiller1215
That unmistakable lead voice from The Bangles!😊
@kingbutter42
This feels like a Christmas song
@oliverpony
it's a shame they cut this song from the movie
@javimiami92
Damn shame.