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.
Now and Then
Susanna Hoffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days have felt the life time love
That's when we found each other
And we found ourselves oooh
Now and then don't have to look back
Now and then you're right here with me
Now and then oooh my friend
Looking in your eyes was like a mirror
Every single joy and fear
All for one and one for all
Yeah we did it
Now and then don't have to look back
Now and then you're right here with me
Now and then oooh my friend
Don't say good bye again
And though it was long, long ago
Saw here, here inside our love
Now and then don't have to look back
Now and then you're right here with me
Now and then yeah my friend
Don't say good bye again
Looking in your eyes was like a mirror
Every single joy and fear
All for one and one for all
Yeah we did it
Now and then
Now and then
Now and then oooh my friend
Don't say good bye
Don't say good bye
Don't say good bye again
The song "Now and Then" by Susanna Hoffs talks about a summer love that lasted a lifetime. The lyrics express the sentimentality of looking back at memories and feeling grateful for the moments that were shared with someone special. The song begins with a description of a typical summer that starts out like any other. However, the days became memorable when the two people in the song found each other. They discovered a connection with each other that lasted for a long time, hence the expression "Days have felt the lifetime love."
The second verse delves deep into the notion that looking into the other person's eyes is like looking in a mirror. They can see all of each other's joys and fears. They both shared everything, and they did it together, hence "All for one and one for all. Yeah, we did it." The chorus is the main focus of the song, "Now and then don't have to look back, Now and then you're right here with me, Now and then, oh my friend, don't say goodbye again." It repeats this final line three times. It's a sentimental plea to hold on to relationships, a reminder not to take memories and people for granted, and to cherish the moments shared together.
Line by Line Meaning
Started out just like any summer
It all began unremarkably, just like any other summer.
Days have felt the life time love
Although the time has passed, the love we shared those days still feels eternal.
That's when we found each other
During that time, we discovered and began our special bond.
And we found ourselves oooh
Through our connection, we also found a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Now and then don't have to look back
Occasionally, we don't need to revisit the past to appreciate our relationship.
Now and then you're right here with me
Sometimes, you're here by my side even without being physically present.
Now and then oooh my friend
From time to time, I remember our friendship fondly.
Don't say good bye again
Let's stay together and not part once more.
Looking in your eyes was like a mirror
When I looked into your eyes, I saw my own reflection.
Every single joy and fear
We shared every emotion, both good and bad.
All for one and one for all
We were united, supporting and caring for each other as one.
Yeah we did it
Together, we faced obstacles and overcame them.
And though it was long, long ago
Even though it happened a long time ago,
Saw here, here inside our love
I can still feel and see our love.
Now and then yeah my friend
Occasionally, my dear friend, I recall our memories.
Don't say good bye again
Let's cherish our bond and not part ways again.
Now and then oooh my friend
Time to time, I think of you fondly, my friend.
Don't say good bye
Let's stay together.
Don't say good bye again
Let's continue our friendship without any goodbyes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLOTTE CAFFEY, JANE WIEDLIN, SUSANNA LEE HOFFS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind