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:
http://www.duranduran.com
http://twitter.com/duranduran
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duran-Duran
http://www.youtube.com/DuranDuran
http://www.youtube.com/07duranduran
http://www.myspace.com/duranduran
Leave a Light On
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm out on the dunes
Looking for a token
Something to prove
All I remember
Is more than a flame
In my fantasy fire
Whatever I need to redeem
Whatever you say
Even if I wait a lifetime
I know, I swear
If you leave a light on
If you leave a light on for me
I'll come there
You can leave a light on for me
In comes the morning
I'm stood in my track
Looking at the reasons
For me to head back
So unexpected
The kindness you've shown
That I will not forget it
Whatever I've done to receive
Whatever I need to redeem
Whatever you say
Even if I wait a lifetime
I know, I swear
If you leave a light on
If you leave a light on for me
I'll come there
You can leave a light on for me
You breathe the will into the weak
And coax the cage bird to fly free
You ease the lost cause out of me
With your sweet hand to bring me home
I'm not alone
I know, I swear
If you leave a light on
If you leave a light on for me
I'll come there
You can leave a light on for me
I know, I swear
If you leave a light on
If you leave a light on for me
I'll come there
You can leave a light on for me
In Duran Duran's "Leave a Light On," the lyrics portray a story of searching for redemption and finding hope in unexpected places. The singer is wandering in the dunes, looking for something to prove, and remembers a flame from their past that gives them comfort in their fantasy fire. They also think about what they need to redeem themselves and whatever has been done to receive it. The chorus repeats the idea of leaving a light on for them, promising that they will come back if a light is left on. The second verse shows the singer reflecting on the kindness shown to them and how it is unexpected but will not be forgotten. The bridge illustrates how the person they are addressing is compassionate and able to bring them out of their depression to help them find their way home. The song ends with the chorus once again, reinforcing the idea of the light being a beacon of hope and salvation.
Interpreting this song, it could be viewed as a plea for someone's help to guide them out of their darkness. The singer feels lost and is looking for something to restore their faith in themselves. They remember a time when they felt alive and needed to find that feeling once again. The singer recognizes that sometimes it takes the help of others to find the light amid the darkness and that it can come from anyone, even someone unexpected.
Overall, the song's message may be trying to convey a message of hope and trust that there is always someone willing to help you, no matter the circumstance.
Line by Line Meaning
So come the evening
As the night falls
I'm out on the dunes
I'm wandering in the desert
Looking for a token
Searching for a sign
Something to prove
Something to demonstrate
All I remember
The only memory I have
Is more than a flame
Is a powerful passion
In my fantasy fire
In my desire for a better life
Whatever I've done to receive
Whatever I've done to deserve
Whatever I need to redeem
Whatever I need to make up for
Whatever you say
Whatever your opinion
Even if I wait a lifetime
Even if it takes me forever
I know, I swear
I'm certain, I promise
If you leave a light on
If you keep the hope alive
If you leave a light on for me
If you give me a chance
I'll come there
I'll go wherever you are
You can leave a light on for me
You can keep the door open
In comes the morning
As the sun rises
I'm stood in my track
I'm standing in my place
Looking at the reasons
Examining the motives
For me to head back
To make me return
So unexpected
So surprising
The kindness you've shown
The compassion you have displayed
That I will not forget it
I will always remember it
You breathe the will into the weak
You inspire those who feel powerless
And coax the cage bird to fly free
And encourage the oppressed to break free
You ease the lost cause out of me
You help me let go of my hopelessness
With your sweet hand to bring me home
With your comforting touch to guide me home
I'm not alone
I have support
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: SIMON JOHN CHARLES LE-BON, NICK RHODES, NIGEL JOHN TAYLOR, ROGER TAYLOR, DOMINIC BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrea Ward
This is another beautiful song by a group who never fail to deliver. I have been a fan for 32 years and will be for the rest of my days. Love you boys xx
Timur Kovacs
@Andrea Ward Still alive? :)
Louie Moon
Absolutely yes!
Rodrigo Ferreira
Simples.Mas simples como são os amores impossíveis e o tempo que passa e extende a distância,até cansarmos de navegar e a Luz nos chamar pra voltar... I'll come there.
RDancer
Beautiful song. I can listen to it forever!
Eliane AL
Brazil - O ingleses sabem fazer música boa de ouvir com a alma. Que delícia de som. Banda da minha juventude que amo até hoje.
Joao Carmo
Concordo plenamente. Há melhores bandas e músicas britânicas que americanas, na minha opinião. I totally agree. There are better British bands and singers than American ones.
Margaret Reid
Great song! Great group--Their music never disappoints
Mario Custodio
Beautiful song! I'm a fan of Duran Duran since the 80s. And they still really cool!!
Robbie Williams
Another Master Piece from Duran Duran. Beautiful song. xx