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:
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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
Ordinary World
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you
What has happened to it all?
Crazy, some'd say
Where is the life that I recognize?
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Passion or coincidence
Once prompted you to say
"Pride will tear us both apart"
Well, now pride's gone out the window
Cross the rooftops
Run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
What is happening to me?
Crazy, some'd say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
(Just blown away)
Papers in the roadside
Tell of suffering and greed
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here besides the news
Of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
And I don't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Every world
Is my world (I will learn to survive)
Any world
Is my world (I will learn to survive)
Any world
Is my world
The song “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran is about the struggle of moving on after a relationship has ended. The first verse sets the scene with the singer coming home on a rainy day and feeling haunted by the ghost of his past lover. The chorus then reflects on the emptiness that the end of the relationship has caused, wondering where his recognizable life has gone and questioning his sanity. Interestingly, the singer is determined to move on and not cry for what has been lost. He is determined to find an ordinary world and learn to survive.
The second verse offers some backstory into the relationship, with pride being the thing that tore them apart. After it’s over, the singer once again reflects on the crazy feeling that has taken over and wonders where his friend is when he needs them the most. The chorus repeats again with the singer reiterating that he won’t cry for yesterday and that he’ll learn to survive by finding his way to an ordinary world.
The bridge of the song adds a bigger picture to the song. It points out that there is suffering and greed in the world and that we often forget about it to focus on other things. The final chorus brings a message of hope, with the singer stating that every world is his world and he will learn to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue
I returned from a gloomy day, possibly reflecting the current state of my life.
Thought I heard you talking softly
I imagined hearing your voice, which still haunts me.
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
I tried to distract myself by inundating my senses with entertainment.
Still I can't escape the ghost of you
Despite my efforts, I am still haunted by your memory.
What has happened to it all?
I wonder how my life changed so drastically.
Crazy, some'd say
Some might say that my predicament is insane or unbelievable.
Where is the life that I recognize?
I feel like the life I once knew is no longer there.
Gone away
Everything that used to bring me comfort and stability is gone.
But I won't cry for yesterday
I refuse to lament over the past.
There's an ordinary world
I realize that there is a normalcy to life that is still available to me.
Somehow I have to find
I need to discover and reach this ordinary world.
And as I try to make my way
I understand that the journey to attain normalcy will be difficult.
To the ordinary world
I need to find my way back to that normalcy.
I will learn to survive
I will acquire the survival skills to adapt to this new reality.
Passion or coincidence
Either my strong attraction to you or a coincidence may have initiated our relationship.
Once prompted you to say
You once told me that our pride could be a hindrance in our relationship.
"Pride will tear us both apart"
You warned me that our pride may cause a rift in our relationship.
Well, now pride's gone out the window
Now that we are apart, pride is no longer a factor.
Cross the rooftops
I imagine myself jumping from one rooftop to another in a desperate attempt to escape.
Run away
You have left me behind to deal with the aftermath.
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
You left an emotional emptiness that I'm struggling to fill.
What is happening to me?
I don't understand what's happening to me and my life.
Crazy, some'd say
Again, some may label me as insane or irrational.
Where is my friend when I need you most?
I feel alone and hopeless, with no one to turn to.
Gone away
Just like everything else, my friend is also gone.
And I don't cry for yesterday
I still refuse to cry for the past.
Papers in the roadside
The news articles I see on the street shed light on the world's sufferings and greed.
Tell of suffering and greed
These articles exhibit the world's problems, including pain and selfishness.
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
People are so preoccupied with their fears today that they forget about tomorrow.
Ooh, here besides the news
The surroundings are gloomy and depressing.
Of holy war and holy need
The world is also consumed by conflicts based on religion and elevated human wants.
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
Compared to the world's problems, my issue is just a minor concern.
Every world is my world
Despite the problems, every world is within my reach.
(I will learn to survive)
I am determined to adapt and live through any world I find myself in.
Any world is my world
I can create or adapt to any world that comes my way.
(I will learn to survive)
Again, I'll adapt and survive through any world that I encounter.
Any world is my world
No matter how limited or bleak the situation may seem, I can always find a way out.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Nigel Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Warren Cuccurullo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sidpheasant7585
Not 1, not a few, but millions.
But what is TRULY reaching out from the music is GOD, through the Holy Spirit.
The darkness tried to take the song from us, by associating it with "The Evil Within"
(Think that's by chance? Wrong. Nothing is by chance. Things have meaning)
1 John 5:19 - We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
This is what the song is all about, and the "emotions" actually ready to explode in countless people are the sure knowledge that the world is NOT as it should be, not just enough, not divine enough, not kind enough, not sacrificing enough; too much in the hands of godless elites presiding over the chaos that is ALWAYS the hallmark of the D*v*l.
Loving money and power and the monolith that keeps most of us down and out.
Something new, more ORDINARY, has to break out from this - like a new butterfly from the chrysalis.
ordinary truth (instead of the endless lies and fakery), ordinary love, ordinary mercy.
ordinary compassion.
Just what Jesus means.
Just what the Holy Spirit works endlessly for - giving us signs in nature, culture (as above), Scripture and rapture.
When the rapture comes it will be too late for many.
So the time is now, stefano!
@mknghorn
I found my poor sweet big brother dead in his bed on 7/30/20. That was the most devastating day of my life. I don’t remember the first few days after. But the Sunday after I put on my brave face and went to clean out his room and get it ready to be emptied. For some reason the moment I opened his door this song came into my head. I hadn’t thought about or heard it in literal years but there it was strong and clear every note and lyric. I burst into tears with the perfection of how exactly it captured what I’m going through. Thanks Duran Duran. My brother loved this song when we were teens. We both did.
@Hannahi757
Sorry for your loss!
@ambarishtiwari93
Sorry for your loss. Much love.
@scottsmith1906
Very sorry for your loss
@priscylonasia7703
Sorry for what happened to your brother. For your loss. He will continue loving you even if he's now in another dimension. Love love.❤️
@thestrengthwithin4249
Hello my friend I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, This song is actually about Simon Le Bon‘s friend David Mills who passed away in 1986, it is an absolute fantastic song,You are not on your own i to have lost a brother and a sister, sadly through suicide, they say time is a healer, but it’s not, Time accommodates,I am sending you my love and deepest warmest thoughts of sympathy to you stay strong and be brave 🌹🏴
@dustinmatthews387
Anyone still going back to this song in 2024?
@makeibajames8240
Been in rotation for the past few days ❤
@anchorthejoy
I lost 5 family members in 2023. It had a strong presence in my life in 2017 when I lost my brother and does even more so now. ❤
@afox1689
Just discovered this song this year. I have this on repeat while I'm drawing 🤟