In Your Room

Album: Everything (1988)
Charted: 35 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs wrote "In Your Room" with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who have written many hit songs, including "Like A Virgin," "True Colors" and "I Touch Myself." Steinberg told Songfacts: "Right from the get go the Bangles were a retro '60s kind of band. They loved '60s music, obscure groups like The Merry Go Round. There was a song by The Merry Go Round called 'Live' and the Bangles used to do that. They liked everything from Petula Clark to The Beatles, so when we got together to write with Susanna, it was right up our alley because Tom and I grew up with '60s music and that was what we loved also."
  • This was written in the same batch of songs that produced "Eternal Flame," which was a #1 hit for the Bangles.
  • Steinberg said in his Songfacts interview: "'In Your Room' I think if anything it's a bit like 'Mony, Mony,' the Tommy James song. Sort of a happy Pop song. It's kind of camp. I wouldn't say it's one of the songs I'm the most proud of, but people like it, it's cute."
  • When they formed, the Bangles shared lead vocals and made sure all four members were represented equally in promotional materials. That changed as Susanna Hoffs, who sang lead on this track, became the star of their show, drawing most of the media attention. The music video for "In Your Room," directed by Tamra Davis, is a clear sign of the shift to Hoffs as the group's center. The video played her as a sex kitten, with a scene where the camera looks through a keyhole to leer her in a bathing suit.

    This focus on Hoffs led to the band's breakup in September 1989, while they were still one of the top acts in America. Hoffs launched a solo career, but could never capture the chemistry she had with the Bangles. In 1998, the group got back together.
  • In 2004, Target stores used this in commercials to promote their home furnishings.

Comments: 1

  • Spacemop from KentuckyThe song was always one of my favorites and the organ combined with the drums makes it completely badass. And cute. It’s cuteass.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.