Created by Nick Rhodes (keyboards) and John Taylor (bass) in Birmingham, England in 1978, it later add took in Roger Taylor (drums), Andy Taylor (guitar), and Simon Le Bon (lead vocals). The band has sold more than 100 million records over their more than 40 years of existence, making them one of the best-selling groups in history.
Their songs are often vivid, hook-laden pieces dance pop that have fared well on the radio, but what many remember best about Duran Duran is their iconic music videos. Though many of the videos were tongue-in-cheek, the band has never quite escaped the glamorous and decadent 'jet set' image that their early videos projected. Their flashy outfits and strident, art rock influenced music showed an immense debt to 70s English glam artists such as David Bowie and Roxy Music, yet the band grasped a sense of their own identity and became one of the keystones of the new romantic movement.
Their first singer and one of their original founding members was Stephen Duffy, and their original bassist was Simon Colley. Several drummers and guitarists were subsequently tried, as well as a handful of vocalists, after Duffy left Duran Duran early in 1979. The band felt that they had something special with vocalist Simon Le Bon, and the group smashed into the pop scene shortly afterwards when "Planet Earth", their debut single, was released on 2 February 1981.
"Planet Earth" became an immediate hit in the band's native U.K., reaching #12 on the U.K. Singles Chart on 21 February, and it did even better in Australia, hitting #8 there. Being Duran Duran's first Top 10 hit anywhere in the world, the song showed the group's interest in international stardom. The band's eponymous debut album came out promptly afterwards in June 1981. 'Duran Duran' hit #3 on the album charts and remained in the U.K. Top 100 for 117 weeks, achieving platinum status by December 1982. The initial United States release failed to generate much interest at first, but the group was a British sensation due to their strident mix of pop rock and electronic music.
Music videos for hit singles "Planet Earth" and "Careless Memories" were filmed in December 1980. As they also experienced considerable success with "Girls on Film", which hit #5 on the UK Singles Chart and #11 on the Australian Singles Chart, the group firmly grasped the opportunity to make a name for themselves in musical television. As their fame grew, some fans worried that Duran Duran could have peaked too early. They headed into AIR Studios in London in early 1982 anxious to somehow top themselves.
Band member John Taylor came up with the new album's title, 'Rio', as a product of his fascination with the flaunting sexuality and diverse atmosphere of Brazil. He later said, "Rio, to me, was shorthand for the truly foreign, the exotic, a cornucopia of earthly delights, a party that would never stop." The band had their own plans and ambitions for promotion and reunited with director Russell Mulcahy (who was behind the video for "Planet Earth") to plan out the release of a full length 'video album'— eleven videos in total. Totally dedicated to on-site filming, guitarist Andy Taylor even contracted a tropical virus and ended up hospitalized, thankfully getting better relatively quickly.
'Rio' was, simply, a commercial juggernaut. The band's second studio album, originally released worldwide on 10 May 1982, reached #2 in the UK and #1 in Australia. Massively popular in the U.S., it earned a gold disc on 1 March 1983 and went platinum on 26 April 1983, eventually reaching double-platinum status. As songs such as "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" received considerable airplay, critical acclaim also grew for the release. With MTV heavily playing the band's music videos, the album is still held as one of the best new wave albums ever. In April 2013, 'Rio' was even voted #3 in BBC Radio 2's 'Top 100 Favourite Albums of all time' list.
In 1985, Duran Duran performed "A View To A Kill" for the the James Bond film of the same name. The song appeared in the movie's title sequence and was also a best-selling single in its own right. In 1987, "Out Of My Mind" was featured at the end credits of the drama film 'The Saint' as well.
Like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran was among the earliest bands to work on their own remixes. From the very beginning, the band had a keen sense of style, and worked with stylist Perry Haines and fashion designers such as Kahn & Bell and Antony Price to build a sharp and elegant image, soon growing beyond the ruffles and sashes of the pirate-flavoured New Romantic look.
Although the group never disbanded, it went through several line-up changes over the years - American guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (formerly of Missing Persons) was also a member of the band from 1989 to 2001, and drummer Sterling Campbell was a member from 1989 to 1991. John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor all returned in 2001 and created a stir among music media and the band's fans. Duran Duran released the first album from the reunited line-up, Astronaut, in 2004, which was in turn followed up by many sold out shows in England, most notably Wembley Arena, where a live DVD of the tour was filmed in 2004/2005.
In October of 2006, it was announced on Duran Duran's website that Andy Taylor had left the band. The band's latest album, 'Red Carpet Massacre' was released in November 2007. They performed the album live in New York City on Broadway at the Barrymore Theater, for what was originally scheduled as an unprecedented 10-night run. A stage hand union strike shortened the run by a few nights, but Duran Duran were able to re-schedule the shows elsewhere. They went on to tour the world, ending their successful run in December of 2008.
2008 also saw the release of a new DVD that documents the making of their now-classic "Rio" album (called "Classic Albums: Rio (Collector's Edition)"), and a book called "Would Someone Please Explain?"- a compilation of questions from the "Ask Katy" area of their popular website.
Duran Duran returned at the end of 2010 with their 13th album, the digital and self-released album All You Need Is Now which debuted at number one on the iTunes charts in many countries (including the USA). The physical version of the album will be released with bonus tracks in February 2011. The album was produced by Mark Ronson.
2015 saw the band return with the album Paper Gods, which was led by the single "Pressure Off" featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers. The album was the band's first top 10 chart success in the U.S. in over 20 years, and also reached number 5 in the U.K.
Official Websites:
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02 My Own Way
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
April showers get out of my way
Fear of flying, no not me
I'm never bothered, what you say
Someone's kid just lives for today
It ain't your problem anyway
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
Number one
Public figure, what a pain
Just puts another rattle in your brain
Take another green but it's not the same
Now you're on the Sandlane everyday
Dancing with the bulls in any old way
Running like a fox to keep up with me
'Cause I've got my own way
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
I'm on Forty-fifth between Sixth and Broadway
Seven UP between Sixth and Broadway
'Cause I've got my own way
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
I can find my own way
'Cause I've got my own way
Just how I like it
The lyrics of Duran Duran's "My Own Way" speak to the singer's independence and desire to live life on their own terms. The opening lines describe seeing someone at an air race and wanting to move past the rainy weather. The singer then asserts that they have no fear of flying and dismisses any naysayers who might criticize their choices or lifestyle. The chorus emphasizes the singer's ability to find their own way in life and not rely on the opinions or expectations of others.
The second verse continues this theme of independence, with the singer describing the difficulties of being a public figure and feeling like their thoughts are being crowded out by others. They contrast this with their own freedom to dance and run as they please, confident in their own choices and beliefs. The mention of specific locations in New York City further reinforces this sense of being in one's own world.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you at the air race yesterday
I noticed you at the air race event yesterday
April showers get out of my way
I don't want any rain to interfere with my plans
Fear of flying, no, not me
I am not scared to fly
I'm never bothered, what you say
Your words don't affect or bother me
Someone's kid just lives for today
Some people only care about living in the moment
It ain't your problem anyway
You shouldn't be worried about other people's problems
'Cause I've got my own way
I have my own approach to things
I can find my own way
I am independent and can navigate through situations on my own
Number one
The most successful or popular
Public figure, what a pain
Being a famous person is not easy
Just puts another rattle in your brain
It adds to the stress and pressure of being a celebrity
Take another green but it's not the same
Drugs may temporarily help, but they can't solve your problems
Now you're on the Sandlane everyday
You're constantly chasing after me
Dancing with the bulls in any old way
You're willing to take risks and dance to your own beat
Running like a fox to keep up with me
You're trying hard to keep up with me
I'm on Forty-fifth between Sixth and Broadway
I am located on that street corner
Seven UP between Sixth and Broadway
Another reference to the same street corner
Just how I like it
This is exactly what I want or prefer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY TAYLOR, JOHN TAYLOR, NICK RHODES, ROGER TAYLOR, SIMON LE BON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sami bouhadida
One of their top ten songs. DD and Rio are DD's best LPs ever.❤❤❤
Matt Ma
Truly very spiritual uplifting~
Pauli Merjaniemi
Graat Song 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉