The Bangles – Hazy Shade of Winter: Reinventing a Classic

Discovering The Bangles’ Version

I’ll be honest — the first time I heard “Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles, I didn’t even realize it was a cover. It was blasting out of a friend’s cassette deck in the late ’80s, all fuzzed-out guitars and pounding drums, and it felt so raw, so urgent, so unmistakably The Bangles.

Only later did I find out the song started life as a Simon & Garfunkel track back in 1966. Where their version was moody and folk-driven, The Bangles turned it into a rock anthem. And for me — and a whole generation of fans — that’s the version that stuck.

A Perfect Match for the Band

The Bangles recorded “Hazy Shade of Winter” for the 1987 film Less Than Zero, a dark drama about excess, youth, and disillusionment. The song fit perfectly with the movie’s atmosphere, but it also showed the world a different side of The Bangles.

Most people knew them for jangly, pop-friendly hits like “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like an Egyptian.” But here? They went full throttle. Susanna Hoffs’ vocals had bite, Vicki and Debbi Peterson’s guitars snarled, and Michael Steele’s bass gave the whole thing a solid, driving foundation. Suddenly, The Bangles weren’t just pop darlings — they were rockers with serious chops.

From Folk to Fury

The transformation of “Hazy Shade of Winter” is what makes it so special. Simon & Garfunkel’s original was reflective, almost mournful, with acoustic textures that carried a wintery melancholy. The Bangles kept the core of the song intact — the haunting melody, the poetic lyrics — but cranked up the tempo and plugged it straight into an amplifier.

The result? A version that didn’t just update the song; it reinvented it.

A Fan’s Memory

I still remember seeing the music video on MTV for the first time. The Bangles, decked out in their signature ’80s style, playing against flashing movie clips. I must have rewound that VHS tape half a dozen times just to hear the song again.

For a kid growing up in the ’80s, it was one of those moments where you realized a band you thought you knew could surprise you. Suddenly, The Bangles weren’t just catchy — they were powerful.

Chart Success and Lasting Legacy

The Bangles’ “Hazy Shade of Winter” wasn’t just a soundtrack single — it became one of their biggest hits. It climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988, proving that their edgier side could resonate just as strongly as their pop hits.

Even today, fans debate whether The Bangles’ version actually outshines the Simon & Garfunkel original. (Count me in the “yes” camp — with all due respect to Paul and Art, of course.)

Why It Still Rocks

More than 35 years later, “Hazy Shade of Winter” still feels electric. It’s the kind of track you crank up in your car and suddenly the world outside looks sharper, faster, and a little more dangerous.

For fans of The Bangles, it’s proof they were more than just an ’80s pop act. For fans of rock in general, it’s a reminder of how a great band can take a classic song and make it completely, unmistakably their own.