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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Night Boat
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the edge of the quay
No light flashes on the water for me
Fog in my mind darkens in my eyes
Silently streaming for a distant sound
Ripple river yellows
Rising for a breath of breeding and drowns
Stillness overcomes me in the night
I'm waiting
Waiting for the night boat
(Whoa)
I'm waiting
Waiting for the night boat
Shutters all through me shutter away
Echo me, echoe me (echo me)
Am I alone or is the river alive
'Cause it echoes me, echoes me, echoes me
I'm waiting
Waiting for the night boat
(Whoa)
I'm waiting
Waiting for the night boat
Waiting (waiting)
Waiting for the night boat
(Whoa)
I'm waiting (waiting)
Waiting for the night boat
Waiting for the night boat (woah)
I'm waiting
Waiting for the night boat
I'm waiting for the night boat
The lyrics to Duran Duran's song "Night Boat" depict a sense of isolation, loneliness, and anticipation. The singer is standing on the edge of a quay, surrounded by darkness and fog, waiting for a night boat to arrive. The water around them is still, and they are left with no company except for their own echoing thoughts. The river seems to echo back their words, making them wonder if they are truly alone or if the river is alive.
This song could be interpreted in multiple ways depending on the listener's perspective. The night boat could symbolize waiting for something important, whether it be a physical boat or a metaphorical representation of personal or emotional fulfillment. The fog and darkness represent the uncertainty and lack of clarity in the situation, leaving the singer feeling overwhelmed and alone. The echoing effect of the river could symbolize the singer's own thoughts and feelings, bouncing back at them and amplifying their sense of isolation.
Overall, "Night Boat" is a haunting and introspective song that captures the essence of anticipation and isolation. The lyrics and melody work together to create a sense of unease and longing, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing
The persona is standing on the edge of the quay.
On the edge of the quay
The persona is standing on the edge of the quay.
No light flashes on the water for me
The persona cannot see any light reflecting on the water.
Fog in my mind darkens in my eyes
The persona is confused and doesn't have a clear vision.
Silently streaming for a distant sound
The persona is quietly waiting for a sound that is far away.
Ripple river yellows
The river water forms ripples and seems yellowish.
Rising for a breath of breeding and drowns
The river is rising slowly and is drowning.
Stillness overcomes me in the night
The persona feels a sense of stillness in the night.
Listen to the rising water moan
The persona can hear the sound of the rising water.
I'm waiting
The persona is waiting for something.
Waiting for the night boat
The persona is waiting for a boat that sails only at night.
(Whoa)
An exclamation indicating a strong emotion.
Shutters all through me shutter away
The persona is trembling, and the tremors are disappearing.
Echo me, echoe me (echo me)
The persona is shouting, and the sound is echoing back.
Am I alone or is the river alive
The persona is unsure if they are alone or if the river is a living entity.
'Cause it echoes me, echoes me, echoes me
The persona's voice is echoing back to them.
Waiting (waiting)
The persona is still waiting.
Waiting for the night boat
The persona is waiting for a boat that sails only at night.
(Whoa)
An exclamation indicating a strong emotion.
I'm waiting (waiting)
The persona is still waiting.
I'm waiting for the night boat
The persona is waiting for a boat that sails only at night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY TAYLOR, JOHN TAYLOR, NICK RHODES, ROGER TAYLOR, SIMON LE BON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind