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
Notorious
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No-no-notorious
I can't read about it, burns the skin from your eyes
I'll do fine without it, here's one you don't compromise
Lies come hard to disguise
Let me to fight it out, not wild about it
Lay your seedy judgments, who says they're part of our lives?
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you're lonely, don't monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don't believe it
That's why I'll do it again
No-no-notorious
Girls will keep the secrets, so long as boys make the noise
Fools run rings to break up, something they'll never destroy
Grand notorious slam, bam, and who really gives a damn
For a flaky bandit?
Don't ask me to bleed about it, I need this blood to survive
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you're lonely, don't monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don't believe it
That's why I'll do it again
No-no-notorious
Notorious
Notorious
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you're lonely, don't monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don't believe it
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you're lonely, don't monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don't believe it
That's why I'll do it again
No
No-no
That's why I'll do it again
No-notorious
Yeah, that's why I'll do it again
No-no-notorious
Yeah, that's why I'll do it again
No-notorious
No-no-notorious (yeah, that's why I'll do it again)
No-notorious
No-no-notorious
The lyrics to Duran Duran's song "Notorious" revolve around the idea of defiance and rebellion against authority. The song's title itself seems to be a play on words, with the word "notorious" generally being associated with negative connotations, such as infamy or disgrace. However, in this context, the word is used to represent something positive, something to be proud of, a badge of honor. The singer is saying "no" to the constraints and limitations imposed by society, particularly those who control the money and the media.
The lyrics reveal a sense of distrust towards the establishment and its power structures, with lines such as "You own the money, you control the witness" and "Lies come hard to disguise". The singer is wary of the promises made by those in charge and is unwilling to compromise their beliefs or succumb to the expectations of others. There is a sense of defiance, with the repetition of "No-no-notorious" and the determination to "do it again" despite efforts to quash their rebellious spirit.
Overall, the song seems to be a call to arms for those who feel marginalized or oppressed, encouraging them to stand up for themselves and fight against the status quo. With its catchy beat and memorable lyrics, "Notorious" remains a classic example of Duran Duran's unique sound and message.
Line by Line Meaning
No-no-notorious
Emphasizing the rebellious and non-conforming nature
No-no-notorious
Repeating the above sentiment
I can't read about it, burns the skin from your eyes
I refuse to be blinded by the media and sensationalism, which have the potential to harm me
I'll do fine without it, here's one you don't compromise
I am able to manage without compromise, except for what is important to me
Lies come hard to disguise
It is difficult to conceal deceit, as it has a way of evidenced itself
Let me to fight it out, not wild about it
I prefer to confront my issues head-on, rather than avoiding them
Lay your seedy judgments, who says they're part of our lives?
I urge you to stop passing judgments that are unnecessary and not meant for us
You own the money, you control the witness
Money has the power to maneuver the narrative and to influence what is perceived as true
I hear you're lonely, don't monkey with my business
I am disturbed by your rumors and lack of involvement, therefore please mind your own business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
You use your profits to vindicate your actions, thereby conceal the truth
I need this blood to survive
This is my passion, my life, and my livelihood
Girls will keep the secrets, so long as boys make the noise
Women will keep the secrets/aspects hidden as long as men are loud, violent, and make a fuss about it
Fools run rings to break up, something they'll never destroy
The foolish attempt to break up an indestructible bond, to no avail
Grand notorious slam, bam, and who really gives a damn
A grand and notorious event that nobody cares for
For a flaky bandit?
Is it worth it for the unreliable and dishonest individual?
Don't ask me to bleed about it, I need this blood to survive
Do not expect me to be affected by something negatively that is imperative to my survival
No-notorious
Stressing the importance of staying true to oneself
Notorious
Emphasizing the rebellious and non-conforming nature
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
You use your profits to vindicate your actions, thereby conceal the truth
No
A negative assertion of reassertion
No-no
Stressing the seriousness of the refusal or rejection
That's why I'll do it again
I will maintain my beliefs and actions despite opposition or criticism
No-notorious
Stressing the importance of staying true to oneself
Yeah, that's why I'll do it again
Affirming the decision to maintain one's beliefs and actions
No-no-notorious
Repeating the above sentiment
No-notorious
Stressing the importance of staying true to oneself
No-no-notorious (yeah, that's why I'll do it again)
Reiterating the importance of staying true to oneself, making one's own decisions, and not conforming to societal norms or expectations
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Nigel Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon John Le Bon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@QUIX4U
Delightful, yet another of their [HQ] (High Quality) total analogue decodable surround sound tracks.
This isn't just L+R but U&D, I&O, F&B
Where L+R is basic stereo 2ch left & right, whilst this can be instantly played (simultaneously) as all 6 of these others:
U&D, I&O, F&B
Where U&D = Up & Down, I&O = In & Out, with F&B = Front & Back
Anyone with the "correct" analogue decoding gear - can simultaneously play this video's audio in all those channel pairings (as well as many more).
This is exquisite when played U&D (via a set of "Up & Down" speaker positionings).
Up & Down, means exactly that, being the ability to place one set of speakers in a stereo configuration, whereby ONE speaker set, is placed / installed vertically ABOVE (or below) the other set
The lead vocals & kick-drums are heard ABOVE the middle area, whilst the backing vocals and reverb drums are heard BELOW the other set
A speaker set-up, in that configuration, allows everyone (near & far) to hear all effects of surround sound, without having to move anywhere across or around a listening area.
All content comes directly at you - from a vertical (sound) pairing of TWO completely different channels.
Something I have "played-with" whenever playing WITH any stereo content I've ever bought, or listened too - since 1965.
Sadly (or somewhat happily) I live in the lowest extremities of this world, so I haven't had to be deafened by the HYPE that stereo must be listened to in a specific way.
My way is far better than one side & another.
Why?
Well because at best all the listener hears is ONE SIDE or the other, or the middle summation of those two.
UP & DOWN channels are literally worlds apart.
NEITHER has the same content as the other
To tell you anything more than that would be to breach my own TRADE SECRET (that of how & why & WHERE I can find, all 64.77 million (total) ANALOGUE decodable surround sound channels.
Suffice to say - all content is inherently buried DEEP inside any otherwise normal 2ch stereo commercial audio.
No one can decode it correctly, without my 1965 invention (decoding) technique.
@normatible9795
Time to induct duran duran into Rock and roll hall of fame
@thescottishcrusader2781
It's sad that they induct non-rock acts but they're still waiting. If you look at last year when they inducted their heroes Roxy Music the crowd cheered louder for Duran Duran!
@annaboss3631
Nick You're beautiful in Notorious too❤❤❤❤❤
@thescottishcrusader2781
@Anna Boss thanks but I'm not Nick Rhodes 😢😢
@vantastic9367
No doubt
@inabind416
Norma Tible But not on the strength of this song. My least favorite of Duran Duran
@daisymenjivar4238
I happened to be a teenager in the best decade of all times. Long live the 80s
@Mama-Dee1969
69 baby here and yea we did I saw them when I was I think 10 or 11 opening for blondie It was a GREAT decade cheap concert tickets and THE BANDS omg I only hate I missed Queen and Journey with steve perry :D
@Mama-Dee1969
@@sunderland2023 I do not disagree it was their experimental stage having just done power station and Arcadia and they are good I enjoy them I just still deepluy love the first 3 albums they were perfect to me at least
@chrissimpson6701
Best decade hands down.