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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Ball Of Confusion
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Rap on, brother, rap on.
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout love thy brother is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
humiliation, obligation to our nation
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today (yeah, yeah)
The sale of pills is at an all time high
young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Cities aflame in the summer time, and oh the beat goes on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors,
Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul,
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve ev'rything, and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today. (yeah, yeah)
Fear in the air, tension ev'rywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatle's new record's a gas,
and the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation,
and the band played on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors, mod clothes in demand,
population out of hand, suicide too many bills, hippies movin' to the hills
People all over the world are shouting end the war and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today
"Ball of Confusion" by Duran Duran sheds light on the chaotic social and political circumstances that prevailed in the 1980s. It proclaims a sense of bewilderment regarding the social, political, and economic systems that caused the alienation of people. The lyrics showcase the prevalent racism in society and the deep-seated violence that arises from it. It further emphasizes the hypocrisy of political leaders who promise change but do nothing to achieve it. The song talks about the marginalization of indigenous people and the soaring unemployment rate that left people struggling to make ends meet. In the chorus, the phrase "Ball of Confusion" describes the state of the world, a dizzying array of changing concerns that affect every aspect of people's lives.
In conclusion, "Ball Of Confusion" reflects the prevailing mood and social consciousness of the 1980s. It openly addressed the social, economic, and racial issues that were plaguing society at that moment in time. Through its powerful lyrics and lively tune, the song energizes people and motivates them to unite to bring about change.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
People movin' out, people movin' in.
People are leaving and entering different areas.
Why, because of the color of their skin.
This is often due to discrimination based on race.
Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide
It's difficult to escape from the challenges and problems of the world no matter how fast you move.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Some people feel that retaliation or revenge is the only way to solve conflicts.
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Politicians often promise freedom or solutions to problems but may not be able to deliver on those promises.
Rap on, brother, rap on.
Keep speaking out and fighting for justice, even when it's difficult.
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout love thy brother is the preacher
Religious leaders are often the only ones promoting love and unity among people.
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
People may not be willing to learn or understand different perspectives on issues.
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
These are various social issues that need to be addressed and overcome for the benefit of the country and its people.
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today (yeah, yeah)
The world is a confusing and chaotic place, full of problems and challenges.
The sale of pills is at an all time high
Drug use is a widespread problem.
young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Young people may have unrealistic expectations and dreams that are difficult to achieve.
Cities aflame in the summer time, and oh the beat goes on
There are riots and unrest in cities, and the cycle of conflict continues.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
There is destruction and decay in society, while taxes are being collected.
City inspectors, bill collectors,
Bureaucrats are monitoring and managing city life and expenses.
Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul,
These are different movements and issues that are shaping society.
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
Society is rapidly advancing technologically, while children are exposed to issues and experiences beyond their years.
Politicians say more taxes will solve ev'rything, and the band played on.
Politicians make promises and take actions that may not actually solve society's problems.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
It's difficult to predict where society is heading and what the future holds.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
The singer is frustrated by the state of the world and hopes to communicate this to listeners.
Fear in the air, tension ev'rywhere
There is a general sense of unease and conflict in society.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatle's new record's a gas,
There are economic struggles, but also cultural achievements and entertainment to distract people from them.
and the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation,
People may feel unsafe and marginalized in society, but some communities are relatively safer.
mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide too many bills, hippies movin' to the hills
These are various cultural and social trends in society that are unfolding.
People all over the world are shouting end the war and the band played on.
There are calls for peace and an end to war, but society seems to continue on its current path.
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you
The singer wants to connect with listeners and share in their experiences and struggles.
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today
The world is full of chaos and confusion, and it's difficult to know what the future holds.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind