Most of the music on the current incarnation of the album was completed in late 2006 after the departure of band member Andy Taylor, when music producer Timbaland began working with the band.
For the week of 19 November, Red Carpet Massacre debuted at #36 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 29,000 copies in its first week. However, the following week the album fell to #116. For the week of 26 November, the album debuted at #44 in the UK, becoming the 2nd poorest UK Chart entry in the band's career, after Pop Trash from 2000. The album entered the Italian chart at #10. As of 2 May 2008, the album has moved 88,000 copies in the U.S. The album spent only three consecutive weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. Also in the U.S., it was completely ignored by critics.
It was the band's only other album released with Epic Records. The band parted ways with Sony Music in 2009.
The band did its initial recording for its follow-up to Astronaut with producer Michael Patterson between September 2005 and April 2006. Roger Taylor said in March 2006, "The record will be in some ways a homage to our roots as a band, more direct and a return to our dance and 'new wave' origins", and that they had brought fifteen tracks to near completion.
The record was provisionally titled Reportage and expected in late May 2006 with a summer tour to follow, but as reported in Billboard, the new album was delayed as guitarist Andy Taylor had a falling-out with the rest of the band for unknown reasons, and eventually the material was shelved altogether in favour of recording Red Carpet Massacre.
In early October, vocalist Simon Le Bon announced that the band had recorded three songs with famed hip hop producer Timbaland, his protégé Nate "Danja" Hills and engineer Jimmy Douglass at Manhattan Center Studios during September. Trade magazine Billboard reported that one of those tracks was "Nite-Runner", featuring Justin Timberlake, which at the time was expected to be the first single from the album. Two additional songs on which the band worked with Timbaland were titled "Skin Divers" and "Zooming In". Also mentioned were two other tracks: "48 Hours Later" and "Transcendental Mental", that were not used on the album.
Andy Taylor did not perform at any of Duran Duran's October shows and had not participated during the New York sessions with Timbaland, and on October 25, a message posted on the band's site announced: "As of last weekend the four of us have dissolved our partnership and will be continuing as Duran Duran without Andy, as we have reached a point in our relationship with him where there is an unworkable gulf between us and we can no longer effectively function together."
Dominic Brown, who had taken Taylor's place at several previous missed concerts in the past, was hired as Duran Duran's guitarist, taking part in the recording sessions. Brown has since performed with the band as their full-time touring guitarist.
Taylor told Rolling Stone magazine that he was in favour of a more electric sound, whereas Simon Le Bon wanted to go in a different direction involving people like Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland. In addition, Taylor wrote in his autobiography that in the renewed bickering between himself, Nick Rhodes and Simon LeBon grew worse, and it was not helped by Taylor's emotional state following the death of his father, later diagnosed as clinical depression.
According to Taylor's autobiography, the final straw came when he discovered that the band's management had not been able to secure a working visa for him to record in the United States. The other band members maintained that they fully expected him to show up for the recording session with Timbaland, but that he became incommunicado and was unreachable by phone or e-mail, leaving them no choice but to continue on without him.
The band decided to rewrite the whole album following Taylor's departure. Fourteen songs had been completed for Reportage but according to Simon Le Bon: “When we sat down and listened to what we had done on our own, we didn’t feel we had a lead track, so we got in touch with Timbaland, who was the only producer out there that we knew we all liked."
Following the New York sessions in September, Duran Duran moved to Metropolis Studios in London with Danja and Douglass for the next sessions. According to tabloid newspaper The Sun, in March 2007 Duran Duran had one track left that needed a female vocal, and they were trying to arrange to work with Nelly Furtado, Lily Allen and/or Britney Spears. Ultimately, a female vocal on the album never came to be, however.
In June, Duran Duran announced on their official website that they were recording yet another track with Justin Timberlake, titled "Falling Down". However, it was "Nite-Runner" that the band decided to debut live at the much-anticipated fan-club only Hammerstein Ballroom concert in New York City on 17 June, and Le Bon was still touting it as the probable first single in a post to the band's official website. Several other album tracks ("The Valley", "Red Carpet Massacre", "Skin Divers" and "Box Full O' Honey") were played over the sound system at the concert, but were not performed live.
Following the New York concert and a listening party for the media at which the album title was announced, band members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor went back to England to work on some mixes for the album and perform at the Concert for Diana and the Live Earth concerts in London. They completed one more recording session in New York and then returned to London to put the finishing touches on the album before its release.
Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor slammed Sony for turning the work on their 2007's album Red Carpet Massacre into "a nightmare". According to him, the record label wanted to make their record "a bit pop" and forced them to collaborate with Timbaland, which turned out to be a painful experience.
"We delivered an album to Sony that was a natural-sounding, almost rock album, and they were like: "We need something a bit pop, do you fancy doing a couple of tracks with Timbaland?" That whole project was a nightmare", he claimed.
Roger Taylor added: "The thing was, we got an opportunity to work with Timbaland, so we thought: "Great, let's go for it". When Timbaland saw the guitar and the bass and the drums come in to the studio, I think he was mortified, because everything's in a box for those guys".
This is slight at odds with the interviews with the band on the DVD which came with the Deluxe Edition of the album. In it they praise Timberlake, Timbaland as well as producer Danja.
"Falling Down" was the first, and ultimately only single released from the album. "Skin Divers" was planned to be released as the second single. "Nite-Runner" was also planned to be the possible lead single from the album. It is unknown why it was shelved.
The album received mixed reviews from critics, and is second lowest-selling Duran Duran album in the band's history. Only Pop Trash has sold fewer copies.
The Valley
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the stream with everyone
These are moments of our lives
On a wondering river
Going on together
Many journeys to arrive
I've been walking
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
Through the city
And the towers
Turning minutes into hours
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
When I think I'm being strong
And I lose direction
Then the light starts looking mischievous
Finding revelation
Out of desperation
Always stretching time
But it's never long enough
Think your happy
Think your free
Maybe we're just
Comfortably decieved
But I'm runnin'
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
Through the city
And the towers
Turning minutes into hours
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
I've been runnin'
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
Through the cities
And the towers
Turning minutes into hours
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I believe it!
The song "The Valley" by Duran Duran is an introspective look into the journey of life, accompanied by its many ups and downs. The lyrics suggest that life is a river with twists and turns, and we are all in it together. The first verse speaks to the fleeting moments of life, where we are always on the go and constantly moving, yet still feel like we have so much more to do. The chorus speaks to the singer's journey through different terrains and obstacles, including valleys, tall grass, shadows, cities, and towers. There is a sense of urgency in their tone, as they try to find their way and make the most of every moment.
The second verse continues this theme of a journey, with the singer walking through valleys, tall grass, and shadows, searching for something they can feel and believe in. They are running through the city and the towers, trying to turn minutes into hours, and find meaning in their life. There is a sense of desperation in the lyrics, as the singer realizes that time is short and they need to make every second count. The final verse speaks to the idea that we may think we are happy and free but are just comfortably deceived. The singer acknowledges that life is not always easy, but they are still running through the valley, searching for something to believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
These are days of Hit and Run
These times are chaotic and hasty, with people constantly rushing around.
In the stream with everyone
Everyone is caught up in the busy, fast-paced nature of these times.
These are moments of our lives
These times are important and significant, and make up a part of our lives.
On a wondering river
Life is like a river, constantly moving and changing, and it's unpredictable where it will take us.
Going on together
We are all in this together, navigating this river of life.
Many journeys to arrive
There are many paths and destinations we may find ourselves on during this journey.
I've been walking
The singer has been going through life, experiencing all it has to offer.
Through the valley
The artist has been through difficult times and struggles in life.
Through the tall grass
The artist has faced challenges and obstacles along the way.
And the shadows
The artist has experienced darker moments and feelings.
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
The singer is aware of the journey they've been on and believes it is necessary for their growth and understanding of life.
Through the city
The artist has also experienced the fast-paced, complex nature of city life.
And the towers
The singer has seen the tall buildings and structures of the city, representing the modern world.
Turning minutes into hours
Time seems to move quickly in these times, with so much happening in a short amount of time.
When I think I'm being strong
The singer sometimes believes they are capable of handling anything.
And I lose direction
But when faced with difficulties or obstacles, the artist may become lost and uncertain of where to go.
Then the light starts looking mischievous
The idea of finding a solution or a way out becomes tricky and uncertain.
Finding revelation
Despite this, there is always a chance for the singer to have an epiphany or uncover something new.
Out of desperation
This realization often comes from a place of desperation or extreme need.
Always stretching time
The artist feels like they are constantly trying to find more time to complete everything they need to.
But it's never long enough
Despite their best efforts, time always feels insufficient.
Think your happy
The artist questions whether people truly are happy in these times of chaos and rush.
Think your free
The singer also wonders whether people are actually as free as they think they are.
Maybe we're just
It's possible that the artist's doubts are valid and everyone is not as happy and free as they claim to be.
Comfortably decieved
People may be deceiving themselves into thinking they are happy and free when they are really not.
I've been runnin'
The singer has not just been walking, but running, through life's journey.
And I feel it, I can see it, Yes I need it, I Believe it!
The singer still strongly believes in their journey, despite the difficulties they've faced.
Through the cities
The artist continues to experience the hectic nature of city life.
And the towers
The tall buildings still stand, representing the obstacles and struggles the artist faces.
Turning minutes into hours
Time still flies by too quickly in these times, with so much happening in so little time.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON JOHN CHARLES LE BON, NICK RHODES, JOHN NIGEL TAYLOR, ROGER ANDREW TAYLOR, FLOYD NATHANIEL HILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind