I really just need to have Captain Chaotica!! start writing pages for me before she introduces me to things, because it would save me a lot of time and energy. So, here’s the deal: Chaotica either has really good taste, infectious enthusiasm, or a brainwashing machine. As I’ve said before, I spent the first decade and a half of my life listening to exclusively country and classical music. And then in a little less than half a decade, I discovered the merits of everything from Bobby Darin to Bread to Barenaked Ladies.
In 2005, CC seized upon a resurgence in my interest in all things musical in order to introduce me to her favourite groups: a little Roxy Music here, some Eurythmics there, a pinch of Robert Palmer for good measure, and finally her very favourite, Duran Duran. The first Duran song I heard (or rather, the first one I heard knowingly) was “Hold Back the Rain.” This was sometime in April. By the time I got home for the summer and found out that the band would be playing within 100 miles of where I live, I was already far enough gone to be willing to purchase a ticket.
That was also about the time that I discovered that one of my very favourite modern singles, “What Happens Tomorrow,” was also a Duran song.
Since then, I’ve heard almost all of their older (pre-split) songs, as well as their newest (post-reunion) songs, a small sampling of what went on between ’86 and ’01, and a relatively decent representation of the various solos and side projects that the band members were involved in. And since the concert (during which they played all night and only got better and more energetic as it wore on), I’ve seen a number of their videos and several interviews.
So why did I fall so hard and so fast for a group of 80’s teenybopper heartthrobs? Mostly because they make good, catchy, atmospheric, slightly off-beat music that almost always either makes me think or makes me stop thinking or cheers me up or creeps me out or gets my blood boiling or soothes me to sleep or any one of dozens of other wholly consuming responses. It may not be Tchaikovsky, but it’s effective. And you can definitely tell from the way they play that Simon, Nick, and the Unrelated Taylor Trio all love what they do, and there’s nothing I love so much as people who do what they love and do it well (I assume Warren and Sterling both fall into this category, too, but I haven’t heard much from them yet, and I certainly haven’t seen them live). There really is something in their 25+ years of music for anyone who can tolerate synth-driven music. And if you prefer a little more (or a LOT more) guitar/bass work, there’s always Power Station for you...
I would be lying if I said I didn’t also find myself at least a bit attracted to them. I mean, if intelligent, passionate, snarky, talented British musicians aren’t right up my alley, no one is. I have a particular fondness for Nick Rhodes and, rather more so, Roger Taylor, because I identify with them the most out of the group (not to mention I find the idea of a relatively quiet, calm, SANE drummer highly intriguing...) But there are things that I like very much about all five of the original/current members (and I’m sure the same could be said of the other two if I knew anything about them).
So, as I have fallen into the habit of doing, here are the lyrics to my five favourite Duran songs (or at least, my five favourites at the moment. Bear in mind I still haven’t heard much at all from the 15 or so Roger/Andy-less years, and my favourites list changes every couple of hours, anyway):
New Religion
What Happens Tomorrow
Friends of Mine
Secret Oktober
Girls on Film
And an Honourable Mention goes to Grey Lady of the Sea, which isn’t currently topping the list simply because it’s only Simon Le Bon, and thus doesn't really count as a Duran song.
Never going back there (never going back there again)?
Just _please_ don’t burn the place to the ground...
Page written August 6, 2005; posted September 3, 2005.
