Music Review: The Bangles "Following"
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Following
Album: Different Light
Year: 1987
Michael Steele strains to understand an old crush’s eye contact in the assuming ballad “Following.”
A remorseful guitar and sour strings open the single, setting a critical tone. In the first verse, she tells her old crush he thinks she’s a stalker and can’t let go of the past, questioning him about every look he gives her.
In the pre-chorus, he has told her to leave her alone and stop pestering him.
In the chorus, she tells him that it’s a game they are both playing. He’s seeking her out also, running into her where she works and shops. He’ll leave messages for her, asking her how things are going. He will keep his eyes on her until she is out of his sight.
In the second verse, she says there is damaged history between them. Two years after high school, she reconnected with him and his best friend. Although she had liked him in high school, she found she had more in common with his best friend. However, her old crush still had feelings for her, causing him to resent his best friend.
In the pre-chorus, she says she was not obligated to return his feelings. However, in his eyes, she had to pick which guy she wanted to be friends with more. She chose his friend, which made him hate her.
The chorus is sung once.
In the second chorus, she says she’s aware that he cannot get over her.
The remorseful guitar closes the single.
Steele believes his body language over his cutting words. The history between them is continuing. He has something he wishes to tell her but clouds it in his emotions. Steele, however, just wants him to be upfront and say something to her. They are complicated and it’s a relationship she wants an answer to also.
Steele’s rambling, art-house poetic vocals are entangled in self-importance and showiness. She tries too hard to be taken seriously and ends up being ridiculous as a result.
The sparse, bloodless arrangement is self-concious of its indie elements and embarrassed to ever to be considered mainstream for a nanosecond.
The affected “Following” stumbles at its attempt to a substantial pop song.
Album: Different Light
Year: 1987
Michael Steele strains to understand an old crush’s eye contact in the assuming ballad “Following.”
A remorseful guitar and sour strings open the single, setting a critical tone. In the first verse, she tells her old crush he thinks she’s a stalker and can’t let go of the past, questioning him about every look he gives her.
“You think I'm crazy or something/Always following you around/You say I'm a hopeless case/Run an obsession into the ground.”“
In the pre-chorus, he has told her to leave her alone and stop pestering him.
“You call me a loser/You call me a shadowing fool/Look over your shoulder/And you say I'm haunting you.”
In the chorus, she tells him that it’s a game they are both playing. He’s seeking her out also, running into her where she works and shops. He’ll leave messages for her, asking her how things are going. He will keep his eyes on her until she is out of his sight.
“So why do you call me/Why do you look for me/Why do your eyes follow me the way they do.”
In the second verse, she says there is damaged history between them. Two years after high school, she reconnected with him and his best friend. Although she had liked him in high school, she found she had more in common with his best friend. However, her old crush still had feelings for her, causing him to resent his best friend.
“You hold me responsible/Yeah, so I stand accused/Of causing all the trouble after high school/Between him and you.”
In the pre-chorus, she says she was not obligated to return his feelings. However, in his eyes, she had to pick which guy she wanted to be friends with more. She chose his friend, which made him hate her.
“Yeah, you call me a loser/You call me a shadowing fool/But I was a good girl/Yeah, 'til you taught me what it means to be true.”
The chorus is sung once.
In the second chorus, she says she’s aware that he cannot get over her.
“Why do you call me/I know you look for me/Why do your eyes follow me the way they do.”
The remorseful guitar closes the single.
Steele believes his body language over his cutting words. The history between them is continuing. He has something he wishes to tell her but clouds it in his emotions. Steele, however, just wants him to be upfront and say something to her. They are complicated and it’s a relationship she wants an answer to also.
Steele’s rambling, art-house poetic vocals are entangled in self-importance and showiness. She tries too hard to be taken seriously and ends up being ridiculous as a result.
The sparse, bloodless arrangement is self-concious of its indie elements and embarrassed to ever to be considered mainstream for a nanosecond.
The affected “Following” stumbles at its attempt to a substantial pop song.