A few studio tricks were employed to get a distinctive sound for this song. The synthesizer was hooked up to an arpeggiator, which is a tool that creates an arpeggio effect by automatically stepping through a sequence of notes. Also, keyboard player Nick Rhodes made the sound at the beginning of the song by placing some metal rods on the strings of a grand piano, playing the instrument, then recording the sound backward.
The girl who laughs in the song was the girlfriend of Nick Rhodes.
The video did a great deal to frame the image of Duran Duran as international superstars. Shot off the coast of Antigua while the band were vacationing there (they got along so well at the time they even vacationed together), they appeared wearing expensive suits while riding a yacht. The character Rio appears as an exotic-looking woman (sometimes wearing body paint) that is the object of their affections. The colorful video stood out on MTV, which didn't have many videos at the time and played it often.
The clip was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who did most of the band's videos around this time. He wrote the script around the yacht scenes because one of Duran Duran's managers decided he wanted to yachting in Antigua, and since the band was already vacationing there, they went to them to shoot the video.
In an interview with Q magazine (February 2008) the band were asked to respond to the criticism that their videos "sold a lifestyle." Singer Simon Le Bon replied: "No! "Rio" wasn't a lifestyle, it was total fantasy. You don't wear a silk Anthony Price suit on a boat with some painted chick running around. It was a comedy video. None of us had boats. It was a greedy reaction to the hard times that had gone before."
Nick Rhodes recalled the filming of the song's video to Observer Music Monthly November 2008: "We were on holiday in Antigua, staying next to each other, like the Monkees. We were rung up and told, 'Stay there, we're bringing a film crew.' I only like boats when they're tied up, and you can have a cocktail without spilling it. We were initially going to shoot the video for 'Rio' indoors and we'd had Antony Price make these beautiful suits for us. I remember thinking: 'Oh my God, that sea water, it's going to ruin all this silk.'
With a sail boat, you're off into the distance and it takes a while to turn round. I was glad to get off. Simon Le Bon loved it, climbing as far as he possibly could along the prow. He always had an action man side.
John Taylor threw Andy Taylor off the side - a bit of a premonition, that, because Andy would leave the band in 1985 - and there was a real moment of horror later when the director Russell Mulcahy was filming with Reema, the girl in the video, and a gust of wind shattered a giant mirror next to her. She only had a couple of scratches."
The song at one point had the title "Amy A-Go-Go." When Simon Le Bon and John Taylor were on the UK show Songbook, Le Bon explained: "When we went in to make the second album, when we were starting thinking about it, you (Taylor) came up with the title 'Rio' and said, 'I think this sort of says it all in kind of a Roxy Music cool sort of way.' And we were like, 'Yeah!' It absolutely, does. And we'd been to America and it had a lot of references to America in it. And I'd seen this girl working as a waitress in a cocktail bar. And I just started writing on the back of a napkin about how she was, and that's what turned into the verse."
Bassist John Taylor told the A.V.Club that for the song's complicated arrangement, which "shifts gears several times," the band were thinking along the lines of Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 tune, "I Wanna Take You Higher."
"Moving on the floor now babe you're a bird of paradise.
Cherry ice cream smile I suppose it's very nice."
The song starts off with a couple of lines set in Birmingham, England, rather than the Brazilian beach. Simon Le Bon explained on social media: "I was in a restaurant in the middle of town and I saw this waitress literally swanning across the floor, and that was how the lyric was born."
The "Rio" album cover holds up very well (especially in the context of '80s design), with Rio depicted in an illustration by Patrick Nagel, whose work often appeared in Playboy magazine - that's how Duran Duran's manager discovered him. Nagel had never done an album cover before, but was happy to try.
Rio
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a bird of paradise
Cherry ice cream smile
I suppose it's very nice
With a step to your left and a flick to the right
You catch that mirror way out west
You know you're something special
And you look like you're the best
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
I've seen you on the beach
And I've seen you on TV
Two, of a billion stars
It means so much to me
Like a birthday or a pretty view
But then I'm sure that you know it's just for you
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Hey now (woo)
Look at that did he nearly run you down
At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive
You make me feel alive, alive, alive
I'll take my chance 'cause luck is on my side
Or something, I know what you're thinking
I'll tell you something, I know what you're thinking
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twists across a dusty land
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand
And I might find her if I'm looking like I can
Oh Rio, Rio hear them shout across the land
From mountains in the north, down to the Rio Grande
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
The song, Rio by Duran Duran, is an upbeat and catchy pop tune that has enjoyed immense popularity since its release in 1982. The melody is infectious but the lyrics aren't so straightforward - the song tells the story of a girl named Rio who dances on the sand and shines like a star. The opening verses describe her moving gracefully on a dance floor, where she catches everyone's attention with her radiant smile and confident charm. When the chorus comes along, the song takes on a more ethereal vibe, as it likens Rio to a twisting river that navigates through dusty land. Her radiance shines bright like the star she is, and she's the embodiment of energy and glory. She dances across the Rio Grande, leaving a trail of admirers in her wake.
The second verse of the song takes on a more introspective tone, as the singer expresses how he has seen Rio on the beach and on TV. She’s just like one of the billion stars we see in the night sky, but she exudes something special that makes her stand out. It’s like a pretty view or a birthday present that holds so much significance to us. The lyrics highlight how Rio has captured the imagination of so many people around the world, which accounts for her immense popularity. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing how Rio is a free spirit that doesn't need to understand, but just like a rising star, one can find her by looking up.
Line by Line Meaning
Moving on the floor now, babe
As you gracefully dance, it's clear you're feeling good
You're a bird of paradise
You exude beauty in a way that's pure and natural
Cherry ice cream smile
Your cheerful expression is something to be savored and enjoyed
I suppose it's very nice
It's a simple pleasure that we all can appreciate
With a step to your left and a flick to the right
Your movements are fluid and confident, making a lasting impression
You catch that mirror way out west
You've got a sense for style and an eye for detail that's truly impressive
You know you're something special
You're fully aware of your unique, undeniable allure
And you look like you're the best
You carry yourself with an air of sophistication and effortless grace
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
She's carefree and full of life, personifying the city's spirit
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
Her movements are fluid and dynamic, echoing Rio's geography
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
In moments of true joy, her radiance shines brightest
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Her energy and spirit embody the city's vitality and vibrancy
I've seen you on the beach
I've witnessed your stunning beauty in a natural setting
And I've seen you on TV
You've captured my attention and sparked my imagination through media
Two, of a billion stars
While you may be one of many famous people, you still stand out in my eyes
It means so much to me
Your presence in the world is a source of inspiration and joy for me
Like a birthday or a pretty view
You're a fleeting moment of beauty, like a special day or scenic panorama
But then I'm sure that you know it's just for you
The beauty of who you are is something that's entirely yours, and can't be duplicated
Hey now (woo)
I'm taking notice, and ready to engage
Look at that did he nearly run you down
I'm noticing these little details about our surroundings, and trying to protect you
At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive
We're both pushing boundaries and taking some risks
You make me feel alive, alive, alive
I'm feeling more passionate and connected to the world through you
I'll take my chance 'cause luck is on my side
I'm willing to take calculated risks since I feel like I have good fortune on my side
Or something, I know what you're thinking
I'm not totally sure what's going on, but I have a sense of what you're thinking and feeling
I'll tell you something, I know what you're thinking
I understand you in a way that makes me feel confident and closer to you
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
She's a symbol of freedom and movement, vivacious and captivating
Just like that river twists across a dusty land
Her movements are unpredictable and exciting, like Rio's winding currents
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
When she's feeling happy and fulfilled, her light shines brightest
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
She's a beacon of hope and joy, expressing Rio's verve and passion
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand
She's comfortable in her own skin and doesn't require other's validation or approval
And I might find her if I'm looking like I can
I'm inspired and motivated to seek out this sense of liberation and inner peace
Oh Rio, Rio hear them shout across the land
Her exuberant voice echoes across the city, inspiring others to follow suit
From mountains in the north, down to the Rio Grande
Her influence is felt throughout the region, from the highest peak to the fertile lowlands
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
This joyful, carefree melody reflects the song's themes of liberation and uplifting energy
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
It's a musical refrain that reinforces the song's message of joyful abandon and free-spiritedness
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
A playful, sense of joy and optimism infuses this repeated melody, inviting listeners to join in the celebration
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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AMAZING FACTS:
In 1982, the British media dubbed Duran Duran the "Fab Five" because teen girls had not been so enthusiastic about.a band since the Beatles.
The band was the most played on MTV from 1982 to 1984.
They were the first major MTV artist to use 35MM film and professional directors for their videos.
The group was formed in 1978 by 17-year-old John Taylor and 15-year-old Nick Rhodes. LeBon joined in 1980.
Three of the bandmates met as workers in a bar. The entire band ended up performing there, where they were discovered.
The band was Princess Diana's favorite.
All of the band's members were straight, unlike the majority of other 1980's male pop stars.
Three of the band's members had the same last name despite not being related to one another.
The bandmates entered their own lookalike contests and actually lost once.
Nick Rhodes scored 780 on his math SAT's.
The three Taylors have worked as studio musicians for major artists such as Madonna and Stevie Wonder.
Most of the band's hits were written as poems by Simon LeBon at age 16 to 17.
The bandmates performed their own stunts. While filming the video for "Save a Prayer" in Sri Lanka, Andy Taylor fell from a tree into a lake, swallowed some of the polluted water, and was hospitalized for an infection from it.
LeBon almost drowned while filming the video for "Wild Boys" but a navy diver saved his life. LeBon denies it but several witnesses say otherwise.
Starting at age six, the photogenic LeBon starred in several major television commercials.
Milton Bradley made a Duran Duran board game called "Arena", the name of the band's 1984 live album.
All band members except Nick Rhodes did not want to wear makeup and unisex clothes but their manager talked them into it.
LeBon was born in 1958, the same year as Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna.
@subaruairbag
Was praying for a daughter and got confirmed today, was driving home with the wife and this song came on, we will be naming her Rio ❤
@jeremywilliams8909
Congrats to Duran Duran on being part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2022! So very well deserved.
@actarusfleed6607
They fully deserve it 100000000%
@davidschlessinger9945
and overdue
@theunconventionalist....7226
Fosho.....
@diogeneslantern18
@@davidschlessinger9945 For sure. Phenomenal band. Absolutely professional and the vanguards of their time.
@jenniferjones188
One of my favourite bands of the 80s so well deserved ... class
@bjs001001
John Taylor is a sick bassist. The bass line in this song is just masterful.
@artboz6711
he s cute extremely attractive all of em r❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@frankt285
He added a fusion jazz line to the song...😮😮