“Return” by Strange Names Is the Soundtrack to the Alternate Ending of ‘Mannequin’

Strange Names by Dan McMahon.

Have you watched Mannequin recently? WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN’T SEEN MANNEQUIN?! Were you born in the 90s or something? Well that’s no excuse. If you’re unaware, let me tell you: Mannequin is a superb slice of cinema from 1987 which stars Andrew McCarthy (swoon) as a window dresser who falls in love with a mannequin—played by Kim Cattrall—who magically comes to life, transported from her life as a princess in ancient Egypt. Yeah. That’s the plot. Little shout out to the 80s for financing such fantasy and also for making non-traditionally handsome dudes like Billy Crystal rom-com leads (hello When Harry Met Sally). Not everyone’s dreamboat is Channing Tatum, ferchrissakes.

But I digress. The point is, the soaring song that sums up the whole film is Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” It’s sparkly and synthy and overtly romantic, in an us-against-the-world kind of vein. What’s the connection to “Return” by Brooklyn-via-Minnesota trio Strange Names? Well, sonically it pulses with the drivetime freedom of the 80s—those giddy guitars! Those merry-go-round-keys! If this song was a scent it’d be a freshly washed white t-shirt mixed with the smell of your lover’s neck. Except if this soundtracked the credits of Mannequin it would be an entirely different film, one where Cattrall’s character is a bit of a flake, and although McCarthy played along for a while—because Cattrall is a babe—ultimately he found the self-esteem to say no to her Egyptian-princess-reincarnated-as-a-mannequin flakiness. He put his foot down and he strolled out the door (possibly wearing a pastel trench, but, hey, it was the 80s).

Mannequin

“I’m not your springtime fantasy…” sing Strange Names, made up of Fletcher Aleckson, Francis Ximenez, and Liam Benzvi (good names, a little strange!). Really? Go on: I’m in the mood for spring fling.

Want more? “I Can’t Control Myself” is another excellent taster, plus their debut album Use Your Time Wisely is out via Frenchkiss on 5.19.

Kim Taylor Bennett is available for spring flings, clearly, and she’s on Twitter.