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'ā 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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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duran-Duran
http://www.youtube.com/DuranDuran
http://www.youtube.com/07duranduran
http://www.myspace.com/duranduran
Lonely in Your Nightmare
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And soldiers coming home like shadows turning red
When the lights of hope are fading quickly then look to me
I'll be your homing angel, I'll be in your head
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
And there's heat beneath your winter let me in
And a passing glimmer warm beneath your skin
Please tread gently on the ground when all around you earth
Turns to fire
Only get a second chance when danger's on the wind
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I know you've got it in your head, I've seen that look before
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
And it's barren in your garden let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Because you're so lonely in your nightmare let me in
And it's cold out on your stone range let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Do, do-do, do do do do
Do, do-do, do do do do
In the lyrics to Duran Duran's song Lonely In Your Nightmare, the singer is offering solace to a person who is going through a difficult time. The opening line suggests that even when things are at their worst and promises have been broken, the singer is still available to provide comfort to the listener. The second verse speaks to the feeling of being isolated and alone, with the mention of soldiers coming home like shadows turning red suggesting perhaps a war zone, and the lights of hope fading quickly. The singer positions themselves as a "homing angel," ready to guide the listener through their troubles. The chorus is a plea to be let in, to be allowed to support the person in their time of need.
The bridge speaks to the fragility of life and the need to be cautious in dangerous times. The final verse seems to be an invitation for the listener to share their story, to reveal the "light and shade that made your name." The reference to a refuge turning one captive suggests that while the person may have built a safe space for themselves, it is ultimately a trap that is stifling their growth and progress.
Overall, the lyrics of Lonely In Your Nightmare speak to the human desire for connection and comfort in times of difficulty. The singer offers a listening ear and a supportive presence to someone who is feeling lonely and isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
Even on the darkest night when empty promise means empty hand
Even when things seem bleak and promises are not kept
And soldiers coming home like shadows turning red
Returning soldiers who are wounded and traumatized
When the lights of hope are fading quickly then look to me
When hope seems to be vanishing, turn to me
I'll be your homing angel, I'll be in your head
I'll guide you like an angel, and be with you in your thoughts
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
You're going through a tough time, and I want to help
And there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Even though you're cold, there's warmth inside of you that I want to share
I see the delta traces living lonely out on the limb
You're living alone, taking risks and feeling vulnerable
And a passing glimmer warm beneath your skin
But there's a moment of hope that you feel within
Please tread gently on the ground when all around you earth
Be kind and careful when things around you are difficult
Turns to fire
And everything is falling apart
Only get a second chance when danger's on the wind
Opportunities to make things right are rare, often only come with a sense of urgency
Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
It's rare and special when you find the right kind of help in difficult times
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I want to know all about you, the good and the bad, that reinforces who you are
I know you've got it in your head, I've seen that look before
I can tell you're capable and strong, and you have the determination you need
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same
Your methods of coping with loneliness may actually be trapping you
And it's barren in your garden let me in
You feel empty and alone, but I want to be a part of your life
And it's cold out on your stone range let me in
You feel isolated and vulnerable, and I want to be there for you
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY TAYLOR, JOHN TAYLOR, NICK RHODES, ROGER TAYLOR, SIMON LE BON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PunkyJessie
LYRICS
Even on the darkest night when empty promise means empty hand
And soldiers coming home like shadows turning red
When the lights of hope are fading quickly then look to me
I'll be your homing angel, I'll be in your head
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
And there's heat beneath your winter let me in
I see the delta traces living lonely out on the limb
And a passing glimmer warm beneath your skin
Please tread gently on the ground when all around you earth
Turns to fire
Only get a second chance when danger's on the wind
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I know you've got it in your head, I've seen that look before
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same
Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
And it's barren in your garden let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Because you're so lonely in your nightmare let me in
And it's cold out on your stone range let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
Do, do-do, do do do do
Do, do-do, do do do do
Allison Townes
From 1980 to 1983, from age 14 to 16, I absolutely hated school. I was painfully shy and had panic attacks every morning. All I had to look forward to was spending every weekend listening to and singing along to this album and especially the Rio album. Duran Duran helped me get through those hard years and I still listen to these excellent songs in 2017. Thanks you wonderful guys.
Sumptuous Ace
I felt the same way, this band really was therapy, bless em for what they did for me...
mrmedallis
Allison Townes Yes! Iām 50 and I still sing lonely in your nightmare all the time.
Neil Willis
i am 51 ... I love Duran Duran .... they saved me also
Matthew Dufur
21 fresh home from Germany. Still most creative other than Zeppelin in my lifetime. New Religion #1 from my Christian School upbringing.
bianchi1885
I'm 51 and heard this album practically every night 83-84.
Van Halen Rulz
My favorite Duran Duran song. John Taylorās bass playing is stellar.
Just Fauna
Yup. His bass made their music epic!
Nigel St Hubbins
Just an incredible album. Damn I miss being a teenager in the 80ās.
Big Tech Is Big Brother
A good album to crank up to 11.