Susanna Hoffs Reveals the Story Behind Her 1991 Album “When You’re a Boy”

 

In 1991, Susanna Hoffs — best known as the voice and rhythm guitarist of The Bangles — stepped out on her own with When You’re a Boy, her debut solo album. More than three decades later, Hoffs has opened up about the real story behind the project: a mix of creative ambition, personal discovery, and the heavy expectations of life after stardom.

The album, named after a line from David Bowie’s “Boys Keep Swinging” (which she covered as the final track), marked Hoffs’ bold move into independence following the Bangles’ breakup in 1989. Speaking in later interviews, the singer revealed that the title itself reflected the gender dynamics and cultural double standards she observed in the music industry at the time. “It was about what it meant to navigate the world as a woman in rock — how different it was ‘when you’re a boy,’” Hoffs explained.

Despite her confidence and artistic drive, Hoffs admitted that the transition to a solo career came with unexpected challenges. She recalled feeling the weight of expectation from record labels and fans who wanted another Bangles-style success. “I think I let myself get intimidated by the process,” she once said. “I didn’t assert myself creatively the way I wish I had.”

Still, When You’re a Boy produced memorable moments — including the bright, infectious single “My Side of the Bed,” co-written with hitmakers Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. The album blended Hoffs’ signature melodic pop sensibility with a sleek early-’90s production style. Yet critics were divided, some praising her voice and songwriting while others felt the record was too polished.

Looking back, Hoffs has expressed both pride and reflection on that era. For her, When You’re a Boy was more than just a debut — it was a personal experiment in finding her identity beyond the Bangles’ massive fame. It represented courage, vulnerability, and a creative voice learning to stand on its own.

Today, fans revisit the album not just as a pop artifact from 1991, but as a deeply human snapshot of an artist rediscovering herself after the spotlight dimmed