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.
Pride
Susanna Hoffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's taken you for a ride
Makin' you run and hide
Keepin' it all inside
Won't make it better.
Try
Nobody's askin' why
Learnin' to say goodbye
That means forever.
Free
No one to hold you down
Not me
Free
No one to tell you lies
But you won't listen now.
Fly
You never flew so high
Reach for the other side
Baby, you realize
That you were fallin'.
Free
No one to hold you down
Not me
Free
No one to tell you lies
But you won't listen now.
Oh no no no.
There's someone out there
Life takes you somewhere
There's so much more that you can find
It's alright.
Pride
You can put up a fight
Nobody's wrong or right
Keepin' it all inside
Won't make it better.
Won't make it better
Won't make it better
Oh no no no.
This song, "Pride," by Susanna Hoffs, is a powerful and emotional message about the damaging effects of holding onto pride and not being open to change or growth. The lyrics speak directly to the listener, urging them to let go of their pride and take control of their own life. The opening line, "Pride, it's taken you for a ride," sets the tone for the song and highlights the fact that pride can be a dangerous thing when left unchecked.
Throughout the song, Hoffs encourages the listener to try and let go of their pride, reminding them that it's their life and they need to learn to say goodbye to the things that are holding them back. She also emphasizes the importance of being free and not allowing anyone to hold you down or tell you lies. The lyrics "There's someone out there, life takes you somewhere, there's so much more that you can find" are particularly poignant, suggesting that there's always something worth pursuing beyond our current circumstances.
Ultimately, "Pride" is a powerful reminder to be humble, open, and willing to change. It's a message of hope and encouragement, urging us to let go of the things that are holding us back and to reach for something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
Pride
The emotion of feeling superior and important has led you astray
It's taken you for a ride
Your sense of pride has lead you down a path you didn't intend
Makin' you run and hide
Your pride has made you scared and unwilling to face the truth
Keepin' it all inside
You're not sharing your feelings or struggles with anyone
Won't make it better.
Hiding your true self won't solve anything
Try
Give it a shot
Nobody's askin' why
No one is demanding an explanation
Remember that it's your life
Don't forget that you have the power to make decisions for yourself
Learnin' to say goodbye
Learning to move on from something or someone in your past
That means forever.
Once you let go of something, it's gone for good
Free
Liberated from something that held you back
No one to hold you down
You're free from any bonds or restrictions
Not me
I won't be the one holding you back
No one to tell you lies
You're free from anyone who would deceive you
But you won't listen now.
You're not open to hearing what others have to say
Fly
Take off and soar
You never flew so high
You've never experienced such freedom and potential
Reach for the other side
Strive for something beyond your grasp
Baby, you realize
Eventually, you'll come to understand
That you were fallin'.
You were headed towards failure
Oh no no no.
Expressing regret or grief
There's someone out there
There are people who could help and support you
Life takes you somewhere
The journey of life is unpredictable
There's so much more that you can find
There are new experiences and opportunities waiting for you
It's alright.
Everything will be okay
You can put up a fight
You can resist and overcome your challenges
Nobody's wrong or right
There's no singular truth in this situation
Won't make it better.
Keeping your problems inside won't help improve them
Won't make it better
Repeating the same action won't lead to a different result
Won't make it better
You need to make a change to improve your situation
Oh no no no.
Still feeling regret or grief
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonyleach3061
A really nice song and Susanna's voice sounds wonderful!
@felipgiraldez4523
Wow! I thought I knew every song of that unreleased album... but I didn't knew this one.
You've made me happy.
Thanks a lot!
@matthewaston4893
This is truly superb; thanks.
@petkotachev9492
Обичам го този глас...
@daveringer9535
That Voice!!!!
@michaelkurkowaski1718
Amen brother beauty and voice. No other in the world like Susanna hoffs
@anidagomes927
Thank you so much!! I Love anything of any Bangle, specially Susann Hoffs.
@denywilliam4808
I love Susanna hoffs!
@michaelkurkowaski1718
We all do
@osbangloromerog.3559
it's a HUGE Pride to be a fan of my Favorite Bangle girl...
Susanna Hoffs*
Greetings!!