Walk Like an Egyptian
Encyclopedia
"Walk Like an Egyptian" is a number-one hit from the album Different Light
by The Bangles
in 1986.
wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egypt
ian relief
s. The opening lyrics state, "All the old paintings on the tombs/They do the sand dance don't you know". The reference to the sand dance possibly refers to a music hall routine performed by Wilson, Keppel and Betty
where Wilson and Keppel danced around in the postures portrayed on the reliefs wearing the fez
while Betty watched.
Sternberg offered his song to Toni Basil
, who turned it down. David Kahne
, the producer of Different Light, took the song to the Bangles who agreed to record it. Kahne had each member of the group sing the lyrics to determine who would sing each verse, with Susanna Hoffs
, Vicki Peterson
and Michael Steele
each singing lead vocals on a verse in the final version. Kahne did not like any of Debbi Peterson
's leads and she was relegated to backing vocals. This angered Peterson and caused tension within the group as she felt the rest of the group wasn't being supportive to her, which was worsened by fact that the drumming in the song is done by a drum machine
instead of Peterson, further diminishing her role in the song.
"Walk Like an Egyptian" was one of the songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
in September 1986. The song reached a peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart
in November 1986 and reached number one in the U.S. on December 20, staying at the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, carrying it over into January 1987. The song is the first song by an all-female group playing their own instruments to top the Billboard singles chart. The success of the song and "Manic Monday
" propelled Different Light to number two on the Billboard 200
chart, making it the group's most successful album.
On the American Top 40
Top 100 of 1987 radio show, host Casey Kasem
reported the song was added to the album as a joke, to which he added, "Some joke. Here's the punchline: The Bangles' sand dance of the ancient pharaohs walks away with the pyramid prize of the year!" contrasting how the song was added to the album with how popular it became, as it topped the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, which is the chart the American Top 40 was using at the time.
The song was also the Bangles' last non-cover Top 40 hit that wasn't co-written by at least one band member. Subsequent charted singles (with the exception of "Hazy Shade of Winter", which is a cover) were co-written by Susanna Hoffs and Debbie Peterson.
for "Walk Like an Egyptian" was nominated for Best Group Video in the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards
. It featured people dancing in a pose similar to the pose depicted in the Ancient Egyptian reliefs that inspired songwriter Liam Sternberg; while most of them are ordinary people, some famous figures were depicted dancing in that same pose through the use of simple special effects, like Lady Diana
and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi
. In a popular scene from the video, Hoffs was filmed in a close-up where her eyes moved from side to side, looking left and right. When asked about the scene in an interview with online magazine PlanetOut.com, Hoffs explained that she was actually looking at individual audience members during the video shoot, which took place with a live audience. Looking directly at individual audience members was a technique she used to overcome stage fright, and she was unaware that the camera had a close-up on her while she was employing this technique, switching between one audience member on her left and one on her right.
album. It featured new remixes for the song called Ozymandias Remix. With the group having parted ways by then, little promotion was made and it charted at a poor #73 in the UK.
the song enjoyed a surge in popularity among the younger population of protesters. Many support videos on the video-sharing website YouTube
feature the song as background music or in another important manner.
1986 release
Different Light
Different Light is an album by The Bangles released in January 1986. It is their best known album, with a Top 5 hit single and a No. 1 hit. The album's Top 40 sound was a departure from their earlier 60s-style sound...
by The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
in 1986.
Origin
Liam SternbergLiam Sternberg
Liam Sternberg is an American songwriter and producer best known for writing the Bangles hit "Walk Like an Egyptian". Sternberg first got noticed as part of the late '70s "Akron scene" which launched Devo and The Waitresses...
wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
s. The opening lyrics state, "All the old paintings on the tombs/They do the sand dance don't you know". The reference to the sand dance possibly refers to a music hall routine performed by Wilson, Keppel and Betty
Wilson, Keppel and Betty
Wilson, Keppel and Betty were a popular British music hall act in the middle decades of the 20th century who capitalised on the trend for Egyptian imagery following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Their stage act, called the "sand dance", was a parody of Egyptian postures, combined with...
where Wilson and Keppel danced around in the postures portrayed on the reliefs wearing the fez
Fez (clothing)
The fez , or tarboosh is a felt hat either in the shape of a red truncated cone or in the shape of a short cylinder made of kilim fabric. Both usually have tassels...
while Betty watched.
Sternberg offered his song to Toni Basil
Toni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...
, who turned it down. David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
, the producer of Different Light, took the song to the Bangles who agreed to record it. Kahne had each member of the group sing the lyrics to determine who would sing each verse, with Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
, Vicki Peterson
Vicki Peterson
Vicki Peterson is an American rock musician ....
and Michael Steele
Michael Steele (musician)
Michael Steele is an American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer. She performed with The Bangles and numerous other bands.-Career:Steele began her professional career as Micki Steele in the teen-girl band The Runaways, among the first all-female rock groups.Steele's stay in the Runaways was...
each singing lead vocals on a verse in the final version. Kahne did not like any of Debbi Peterson
Debbi Peterson
Deborah Mary 'Debbi' Peterson is the younger sister of Vicki Peterson, and the drummer of the all-girl group, The Bangles...
's leads and she was relegated to backing vocals. This angered Peterson and caused tension within the group as she felt the rest of the group wasn't being supportive to her, which was worsened by fact that the drumming in the song is done by a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
instead of Peterson, further diminishing her role in the song.
"Walk Like an Egyptian" was one of the songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Chart performances
"Walk Like an Egyptian" was released as the third single from Different Light. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in September 1986. The song reached a peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in November 1986 and reached number one in the U.S. on December 20, staying at the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, carrying it over into January 1987. The song is the first song by an all-female group playing their own instruments to top the Billboard singles chart. The success of the song and "Manic Monday
Manic Monday
"Manic Monday" is a song by the American pop rock band The Bangles, and the first single released from their second studio album Different Light . It was written by Prince, using the pseudonym "Christopher". Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984, he offered the song to The Bangles...
" propelled Different Light to number two on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, making it the group's most successful album.
On the American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
Top 100 of 1987 radio show, host Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
reported the song was added to the album as a joke, to which he added, "Some joke. Here's the punchline: The Bangles' sand dance of the ancient pharaohs walks away with the pyramid prize of the year!" contrasting how the song was added to the album with how popular it became, as it topped the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, which is the chart the American Top 40 was using at the time.
The song was also the Bangles' last non-cover Top 40 hit that wasn't co-written by at least one band member. Subsequent charted singles (with the exception of "Hazy Shade of Winter", which is a cover) were co-written by Susanna Hoffs and Debbie Peterson.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Walk Like an Egyptian" was nominated for Best Group Video in the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards
1987 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1987 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 11, 1987, honoring the best music videos from May 2, 1986, to May 1, 1987. The show was hosted by MTV VJs Downtown Julie Brown, Carolyne Heldman, Kevin Seal, Michael Tomioka, and Dweezil Zappa, and it took place at the Universal Amphitheatre...
. It featured people dancing in a pose similar to the pose depicted in the Ancient Egyptian reliefs that inspired songwriter Liam Sternberg; while most of them are ordinary people, some famous figures were depicted dancing in that same pose through the use of simple special effects, like Lady Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
. In a popular scene from the video, Hoffs was filmed in a close-up where her eyes moved from side to side, looking left and right. When asked about the scene in an interview with online magazine PlanetOut.com, Hoffs explained that she was actually looking at individual audience members during the video shoot, which took place with a live audience. Looking directly at individual audience members was a technique she used to overcome stage fright, and she was unaware that the camera had a close-up on her while she was employing this technique, switching between one audience member on her left and one on her right.
1990 re-release
In 1990, "Walk Like an Egyptian" was re-issued as a single in the UK to promote the Bangles' Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (The Bangles album)
-The Bangles:*Susanna Hoffs – rhythm guitar, percussion, vocals*Vicki Peterson – lead guitar, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals*Debbi Peterson – drums, percussion, vocals*Michael Steele – bass guitar, vocals-Additional musicians:...
album. It featured new remixes for the song called Ozymandias Remix. With the group having parted ways by then, little promotion was made and it charted at a poor #73 in the UK.
2011 Egyptian Revolution
During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
the song enjoyed a surge in popularity among the younger population of protesters. Many support videos on the video-sharing website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
feature the song as background music or in another important manner.
Cover versions
- A version by The ChipettesThe ChipettesThe Chipettes are a fictional group of anthropomorphic chipmunk singers first appearing on the cartoon series Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1983. In this and related materials, the Chipettes served as female featured characters in their own right, starring in numerous episodes...
, done in their signature style, can be found on their 1988 album Born to RockThe Chipmunks and The Chipettes: Born to RockThe Chipmunks and The Chipettes: Born to Rock is a music album by The Chipmunks and The Chipettes, released in 1988 on LP and in 1990 on CD and cassette by Quality Special Products...
. - In the summer of 1989, Henry ManciniHenry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
conducted the Utah Symphony in a concert at Snowbird Ski Resort performing the song from an orchestrated arrangement that he wrote. - In 1995 the German Metal band J.B.O.J.B.O.J.B.O. is a heavy metal band from Erlangen, Germany. J.B.O. was founded in 1989 by Vito C. and Hannes "G.Laber" Holzmann and is known for parodies of rock and pop songs...
recorded a spoof version called "Walk With an Erection" for their album "Explizite Lyrik" - Joe Queer and The Nobodys covered the song for a hidden trackHidden trackIn the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
on the 1998 compilation CD Hopelessly Devoted to You Too Vol. 2 from Hopeless RecordsHopeless RecordsHopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some...
. - A cover recorded by Deep ForestDeep ForestDeep Forest is a musical group consisting of two French musicians, Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet. They compose a style of world music, sometimes called ethnic electronica, mixing ethnic with electronic sounds and dance beats or chillout beats...
and featuring Beverly Jo Scott can be found on the soundtrack for the 2002 French film Astérix & Obélix: Mission CléopâtreAsterix & Obelix: Mission CleopatraAsterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, originally titled Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre, is a 2002 French-German film based on the comic book Astérix et Cléopatre by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo and a sequel for the 1999 movie Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar. It was the most expensive French...
. It is played during the closing credits of the film. - A cover recorded by the EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian singer HakimHakim (Egyptian singer)Hakim is an Egyptian folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.-Biography:...
, featuring a singer named Cleopatra is included on the 2004 album Desert Roses 3. - The song was covered by DominicanDominicanDominican may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the Commonwealth of Dominica, an island nation in the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean.** Demographics of Dominica** Culture of Dominica...
singer Wilman de Jesus in 2006. - It was covered by The Puppini SistersThe Puppini SistersThe Puppini Sisters are a vocal trio. Arion Berger described them as part of "Retro's futuristic vanguard" and described their sound as "swing-punk". The group has sought to be associated with a burlesque revival....
on their 2007 album The Rise and Fall of Ruby WooThe Rise and Fall of Ruby WooThe Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo is the second album of the close harmony trio The Puppini Sisters. It was released in the U.K. on October 1, 2007 and in the U.S...
. - A German languageGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
cover of the song was done by the GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Die ÄrzteDie ÄrzteDie Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
("Geh'n wie ein Ägypter"; the title is a literal translationLiteral translationLiteral translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original...
), which also features the Incredible Hagen on vocals. It was the first track and the first single from their 1987 album Ist das alles? (13 Höhepunkte mit den Ärzten)Ist das alles? (13 Höhepunkte mit den Ärzten)Ist das alles? [Is that all? ] is the fifth album by Die Ärzte. It is their first best-of album....
. The woman on the cover is Die Ärzte's mascot Gwendoline (from "Sweet GwendolineSweet GwendolineSweet Gwendoline is the main female character in the works of bondage artist John Willie, published largely in the 1950s and 60s, and possibly the most famous bondage icon after Bettie Page...
").
Although a video wasn't officially released, there is a video done for it. It was revealed in 2008 in an MTV-show about their videography, along with the video of "Bitte bitteBitte bitte"Bitte bitte" [Please please] is a punk song by Die Ärzte. It's the eleventh track and the third single from their 1988 album Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit.... It's about wanting to obey to a dominatrix....
". In the video, Bela and Farin play children, whom parents have put to bed to go out themselves. When they're gone, Bela and Farin get up and a party ensues. When the parents come back, they're in the bed again. - BassnectarBassnectarBassnectar is a freeform electronic music and dubstep artist, DJ, and producer based in Santa Cruz, California. He is known for his live performances and light shows, and actively supports the non-profit group Conscious Alliance....
released a remixed version in February 2011 commemorating the revolution in Egypt. - The defunct Grand Rapids, MI Pop-Punk band Molly covered the song on their album Sex Sells.
- The ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
rock band Linea 77Linea 77Linea 77 is an Italian nu metal band formed in 1993. "Inno All'Odio," a song from their fifth studio album, Available For Propaganda was featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 06...
produced a metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
version of this track. - The song was covered by IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Mediterranean Surf Rock band Boom PamBoom PamBoom Pam are an Mediterranean surf rock band from Tel Aviv.Tel Aviv based band Boom Pam was formed in 2003, plays a mixture of Mediterranean, rock and surf music in a format of a unique power trio consisted of Electric Guitar, Tuba and Drums...
, released in August 2011. - 2006 the french Girlband L5L5 (band)L5 was a French girl group playing pop music. The group is known for their participation in the French Popstars TV programme in its first season in 2001....
covered the song for there Best Of-album.
Live cover performances
- In 2007, KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
began performing this song while on her UK tour. A cover version of the song serves as a B-side to her single "If OnlyIf Only (KT Tunstall song)"If Only" is an alternative rock song performed by Scottish singer KT Tunstall. The song was written by Tunstall and Jimmy Hogarth for Tunstall's third album Drastic Fantastic . It was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2008...
", and is also available to owners of KT's album Drastic FantasticDrastic FantasticDrastic Fantastic is the second studio album by Scottish Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. It was released by Relentless Records on 10 September 2007 in the United Kingdom and 18 September 2007 in the United States and Canada. The album was leaked on P2P networks on 3 September 2007. "Hold On", the...
through the disc's OpendiscOpendiscOpendisc is an Enhanced Music CD application for enabling multimedia content when a compact disc is played on a personal computer. Opendisc asserts that its technology conforms to the Blue Book specification and does not contain copy-protection functions...
feature. - A version by The FeelingThe FeelingThe Feeling are a BRIT award-nominated English pop band from West Sussex and London. The band categorise their music as "pop".Following a limited release of their first single "Fill My Little World" in late 2005, the band entered the UK Singles Chart at #7 with their first full release "Sewn" in...
can be heard on the 2007 compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show is a 2-disc compilation album of BBC Radio 2 popular music recordings, released in the United Kingdom in July 2007...
.
Sampling
- American producer Diplo remixed "Walk Like an Egyptian" with the beat from British artist M.I.A.M.I.A. (artist)Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
's song "Fire Fire" on their debut collaboration Piracy Funds TerrorismPiracy Funds TerrorismPiracy Funds Terrorism Volume 1, usually referred to simply as Piracy Funds Terrorism, is a mixtape produced by British recording artist M.I.A. and American DJ Diplo featuring vocal tracks intended for M.I.A.'s debut album Arular mashed up with samples of other recordings. The mixtape was produced...
in 2004. - The BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock group The Laddz used the tone of the song for support of the England national football teamEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in a chant called "Chant Like an English Fan". The single was originally written for the 2006 FIFA World Cup2006 FIFA World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
and was re-released for the 2010 World Cup.
Appearances in other media
- In the episode "420420 (Family Guy)"420" is the twelfth episode of the seventh season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It premiered on Fox in the United States on April 19, 2009. The title of the episode is a reference to the term "420" used in cannabis culture; "420" premiered the day before April 20 , on which a...
" from Family GuyFamily GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, Carter Pewterschmidt sings his own version of this song. - The advertisements for a Chilean lotto-like game called "La Piramide", used a cover version with altered lyrics to reflect on the name of the game.
- Mary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
and Ashley OlsenAshley OlsenAshley Fuller Olsen is an American actress, fashion designer, producer, and author. She co-founded luxury fashion brand The Row and the more affordable line Olsenboye with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen and started her own fashion company called Elizabeth and James...
, dressed as Egyptians, sing their own version of the song. - In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show episode, "The Ten Koopmandments", the song is featured when Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad are being chased by a Goomba mummy and being attacked by a Cobrat and a Phanto.
- The song was available to download for Rock BandRock BandRock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
on November 17, 2009. - In the episode "The Way We Almost Weren't" from Hannah MontanaHannah MontanaHannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
, Miley's mother sings a line from the song while wearing headphones. - A condensed version of the song is used in the Bill MaherBill MaherWilliam "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
film ReligulousReligulousReligulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
in a sequence showing the similarities betweenJesus Christ in comparative mythologyThe study of Jesus from a mythographical perspective is the examination of the narrative of Jesus, the Christ of the gospels, Christian theology and folk Christianity as a central part of Christian mythology....
JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the Egyptian God, HorusHorusHorus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists...
. - The song was played on the "Dancing with the Stars" episode on April 5. It was danced by Jake and Chelsie with the quickstep.
- The song was featured in Totally Spies! The MovieTotally Spies! The MovieTotally Spies! The Movie is a 2009 French animated action comedy film produced by Marathon Media and Studio 37...
when Sam, Clover & Alex move around like Egyptians while trying to hide from the Principal. - The song (with original video) can be selected in the videogame "Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2";and Just Dance 2
- Quoted extensively in the song Hora Bucharestu vs Narodno Kolo by EstradasphereEstradasphereEstradasphere was an experimental band that originated in Santa Cruz, California during the late 1990s. The band, which in its last incarnation was based in Seattle, consisted of 6 multi-instrumentalists from a variety of musical backgrounds trained in disciplines ranging from classical music and...
- In the first chapter of the manga series Mai, the Psychic Girl, the main protagonist Mai Kuju sings the chorus to the song while she is taking a bath and again while walking to her room wearing a towel.
Track listings
1985 release- 7" single
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (3
- 21)
- "Angels Don't Fall in Love" (3:21)
NEWLIN
- 12" maxi
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (extended dance mix) (5
- 48)
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (dub mix) (5:17)
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (a capella mix) (2:47)
NEWLIN
1986 release
- 7" single
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (3
- 21)
- "Not Like You" (3:05)
NEWLIN
- 12" maxi
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (extended dance mix) (5
- 48)
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (dub mix) (5:17)
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" (a cappella mix) (2:47)
- "Angels Don't Fall in Love" (3:21)
NEWLIN
Peak positions
| Chart (1986/87) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 1 |
| French Singles Chart | 15 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 2 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 46 |
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart | 73 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 | 63 |
| UK Singles Chart 1986 in British music This is a summary of 1986 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:The first number 1 single of 1986 was the breakthrough hit for London synthpop duo the Pet Shop Boys. Their song "West End Girls" had climbed the charts during late 1985 and reached... |
23 |
| End of year chart (1987) | Position |
| Dutch Top 40 | 64 |
| Billboard Top 100 | 1 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Gold |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
Silver |
| Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Platinum |