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.youtube.com/DuranDuran
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http://www.myspace.com/duranduran
Rio Part One
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving on the floor now babe 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.
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 T.V.
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
Hey now (wow), look at that. Did he really 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
I tell you something I know what you're thinking
I 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
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
The first verse of Duran Duran's Rio Part One invites us into a vividly imagined world where a woman is compared to a 'bird of paradise' dancing on the floor. Her confident steps and playful moves are mirrored in the lyrics' syncopation and melody, and we are drawn into a world where the singer is utterly captivated. The lyrics note that she looks like she's the best - this is a world where appearance is everything, and beauty is all that matters.
The second verse takes us beyond the dancefloor and out onto the beach and TV screens. Here, the woman is compared to 'a billion stars' - a reference to the vastness of the universe, but also to the extent to which she shines out from the rest of humanity. The chorus is a joyful celebration of this woman, whose name is Rio and who dances across the sand and across the Rio Grande. The song hints at a sense of danger and adventure as well, with lyrics that reference 'the lawmen' arriving and the singer declaring that he'll take his chance because 'luck is on my side'.
Rio Part One is a triumphant and energetic ode to a woman who is confident, beautiful and free-spirited. The song invites us into a world where anything is possible, and where simply dancing on the sand can be a transformative experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Moving on the floor now babe you're a bird of paradise.
You are graceful and captivating as you dance.
Cherry ice cream smile I suppose it's very nice
Your smile is sweet and pleasant to see.
With a step to your left and a flick to the right
Your dance moves are subtle yet impressive.
You catch that mirror way out west
You notice the reflection of your beauty in the distance.
You know you're something special and you look like you're the best.
You are aware of your uniqueness and confidence shines in your appearance.
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand.
The woman's name is Rio and she is dancing on the beach.
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land.
Her dance moves are fluid and resemble the river's course through the desert.
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
When she is at her best, she puts on a spectacular performance.
Oh Rio Rio dance across the Rio Grande.
Rio dances her heart out, moving from the river to the mountains for all to see.
I've seen you on the beach and I've seen you on T.V.
I've admired you in person on the beach and on television as well.
Two, of a billion stars, it means so much to me
Despite being one of many stars in the world, you are special to me.
Like a birthday or a pretty view
Seeing you is like a beautiful sight or a special occasion.
But then I'm sure that you know it's just for you
I understand that my admiration is one-sided and directed solely towards you.
Hey now (wow), look at that. Did he really run you down?
Oh wow, I just saw that happen. Did that car actually hit you?
At the end of the drive, the lawmen arrive you make me feel Alive alive alive
The scene of the car accident makes me feel alive with adrenaline and excitement.
I'll take my chance 'cause luck is on my side
I will take risks because I believe good fortune is in my favor.
I tell you something I know what you're thinking
I can sense what you're thinking and want to address it.
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Rio's name is being reiterated along with her dance location from earlier.
Just like that river twists across a dusty land.
The comparison of her dance moves to the river's twists and turns is repeated.
And when she shines she really shows you all she can.
Once again, her exceptional performances are being emphasized when she is at her best.
Oh Rio Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Rio's name is repeated with her dancing location from earlier, implying that her passion for dance knows no bounds.
Her name is Rio she don't need to understand
Rio's name is reiterated once again, along with the idea that she doesn't need to comprehend how much she is admired.
I might find her if I'm looking like I can
There is a chance that I can find Rio if I put in enough effort and make myself appealing to her.
Oh Rio Rio hear them shout across the land
Rio's name is repeated once again, and it's implied that her dancing has garnered her a lot of attention and praise.
From mountains in the North down to the Rio Grande
The attention that Rio receives is spread across various regions and different kinds of people.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFFREY ALLEN BAXTER, PAT SIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gmail4218
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...😮😮