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.
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A Matter Of Feeling
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you deal, Do crowds make you feel lonely?
What do you say?
When people come and try to pin you down?
Aquaintainces smile, but that's no understanding.
How after a while, you keep falling off the same mountain.
Try to explain it, but nothing really gets that high.
Steal away in the morning, love's already history to you
Just a matter of feeling.
This moment's madness sure to pass
And tears will dry as you're leaving
Who knows you might find something to last..
Emotion's a game , saved up for a rainy Monday
But you laugh just the same, 'cause it's been pouring on Sunday;
Call up your numbers and never let the zeros let you down.
How does it feel?
Is time to heavy to hold, whatever you decide for the moment is holy,
whenever you slow down to see life is passing by.
Steal away in the morning, love's already history to you
Just a habit you're forming, this body's desperate for something new
Just a matter of feeling.
This moment's madness sure to pass
And tears will dry as you're leaving
Who knows you might find something to last..
(You can..)
Steal away in the morning, love's already history to you
Just a habit you're forming, this body's desperate for something new
Just a matter of feeling.
This moment's madness sure to pass
And tears will dry as you're leaving
Who knows you might find something to last..
A matter of feeling..
A matter of feeling..
A matter of feeling..
A matter of feeling..
The lyrics to Duran Duran's song A Matter Of Feeling touch on the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the struggle to find meaning and fulfillment in life. The first verse explores the feeling of being surrounded by people, yet still feeling lonely and misunderstood. The second verse delves into the idea that sometimes no matter how much we try to explain our struggles to others, they still don't fully understand the depth of our emotions. The chorus suggests that it's all just a matter of feeling, and that the madness and tears will eventually pass.
The bridge of the song adds a layer of complexity to the lyrics by suggesting that our emotions are not always consistent and can be saved up for a future date, like a rainy Monday. The line "whatever you decide for the moment is holy" is a powerful reminder that we have the power to create meaning in our lives by choosing how we spend our time and energy. The final repetition of the chorus seems to hold out hope that we can still find something meaningful in life if we keep searching.
Overall, the lyrics to A Matter Of Feeling tap into a universal human experience of struggling with our emotions and trying to find our place in the world. It offers a message of hope, while acknowledging the ups and downs of the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel, when everyone surrounds you?
What is your emotional response to being surrounded by people?
How do you deal, Do crowds make you feel lonely?
How do you cope with the feeling of loneliness that crowds might bring?
What do you say?
What words do you use to express yourself?
When people come and try to pin you down?
How do you react when people try to limit or define you?
Acquaintances smile, but that's no understanding.
People may seem friendly, but they don't really know you or understand what you're going through.
How after a while, you keep falling off the same mountain.
Despite your best efforts, you keep making the same mistakes or facing the same obstacles.
Try to explain it, but nothing really gets that high.
You attempt to articulate your struggles or emotions, but no one fully comprehends the depth of what you're going through.
Steal away in the morning, love's already history to you
You leave early in the morning because the love you once had is no longer present or meaningful to you.
Just a habit you're forming, this body's desperate for something new
You're seeking out new experiences or relationships out of habit, as your body craves excitement and novelty.
Just a matter of feeling.
Your actions and decisions are driven by your emotions, no matter how illogical they may seem.
This moment's madness sure to pass
The current chaos or turmoil in your life will eventually fade away.
And tears will dry as you're leaving
As you move on from the past, you will become less emotional and more composed.
Who knows you might find something to last..
There's always hope that you will find something or someone that lasts, despite the transience of your current situation.
Emotion's a game , saved up for a rainy Monday
You bottle up your emotions like a game, waiting for a time when they will be more useful or productive.
But you laugh just the same, 'cause it's been pouring on Sunday;
Despite the fact that you've been through a lot, you still maintain a sense of humor and composure.
Call up your numbers and never let the zeros let you down.
Reach out to your contacts and don't be discouraged by those who don't bite or don't offer the support you need.
Is time to heavy to hold, whatever you decide for the moment is holy, whenever you slow down to see life is passing by.
Time may seem like a burden, but every decision you make in the present is important; when you take a moment to reflect, you realize that life is fleeting.
A matter of feeling..
Ultimately, your choices and actions are guided by your emotions.
Lyrics © Tratore
Written by: SIMON JOHN CHARLES LE BON, NICK RHODES, JOHN NIGEL TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind