The Bangles – Eternal Flame
Co-written by Susannah Hoffs, Tom Kelley and Billy Steinberg, “Eternal Flame” became a #1 hit in 11 countries, including the U.S.
Released on the ‘Everything’ album in 1989, the song evoked thoughts of when The Bangles were given a private tour of Graceland and the eternal flame that lights Elvis Presley’s Garden of Memories. It was also thought of when Billy Steinberg heard Hoffs talk about the Graceland visit and the eternal flame, and was reminded of the synagogue where he grew up where there was “one little red light in the sanctuary” and was told that that was the “eternal flame”.
The Bangles were all big fans of The Beatles and of the 60s pop music and when Hoffs, Steinberg and Kelley had finished the song, Steinberg said it sounds like a fusion of sounds from The Byrds and The Beatles, and mentioned The Beatles’ “For No One”, “Mother Nature’s Son”, and “Here, There And Everywhere” as certain stylistic influences. I totally agree with that statement.
