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
Tempted
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the flow
You requiring a little bit more
To excite
You will go
Gettin' busy
On the floor
When you really got to prove it
Finally, you will know
What it is you're turnin' on
That it's going to tempt you
Oh yeah
Like you know it's meant to
Oh yeah
Devil gonna tempt you
Oh yeah
How much do you want to
Oh, oh
Get back to London
Comin' undone
When you ride the underground
Some misguidance
Breakin' silence
Got your body started now
And you love the way you're moving
When you really got to prove it
Finally
It's what you do
What it is you're turning on
That it's going to tempt you
Oh yeah
Like you know it's meant to
Oh yeah
Devil gonna tempt you
Oh yeah
How much do you want to
Oh, oh
That is going to tempt you
Oh yeah
Like you know it's meant to
Oh yeah
Devil gonna tempt you
Oh yeah
Devil gonna tempt you
Oh yeah
If you want to know
Oh yeah
Do you want to know
Oh yeah
What it is you're turning on
What it is you're turning on
If you want to know
What it is you're turning on
Do you want to know
What it is you're turning on
The lyrics of Duran Duran's song "Tempted" seem to be describing a scene in a club or party where the singer is observing someone who is getting into the music and dancing. The first verse suggests that this person is beginning to let loose and really feel the music, but is still searching for something to excite them even more. The second verse adds some detail about the location of this party, which is apparently in London and involves riding the underground. The singer also notes that this person seems to be feeling some conflicting emotions ("misguidance") but that their body is still moving to the music.
The chorus is where the song's title comes in, as the singer warns that this person will be tempted by something (presumably something related to the music and dancing). The repetition of the phrase "oh yeah" in the chorus creates a catchy hook, and the addition of "devil gonna tempt you" adds some ominous undertones. Overall, the song seems to be celebrating the joy of dancing and music, but also acknowledging that there can be some danger or temptation associated with those things.
Line by Line Meaning
You been a risin'
You have been steadily improving and achieving more.
Feel the flow
There is a sense of ease and rhythm in your life.
You requiring a little bit more
You are looking for something to push you further or give you a new experience.
To excite
To feel alive and stimulated.
You will go
You will take action and pursue what you desire.
Gettin' busy
You are actively engaging in something and putting in effort.
On the floor
In a social setting, likely a dance floor, where you are moving and engaging with others.
All about the way ya move it
The way you physically express yourself is significant.
When you really got to prove it
When you feel like you need to prove your worth or ability.
Finally, you will know
After experiencing something new or challenging, you will gain a deeper level of understanding.
What it is you're turnin' on
What is exciting and motivating you.
That it's going to tempt you
The exciting thing you are pursuing will be tempting and potentially dangerous.
Oh yeah
An expression of confidence and excitement.
Like you know it's meant to
It feels fated and inevitable to pursue what is tempting you.
Devil gonna tempt you
The temptation can be seen as coming from a sinister or negative force.
How much do you want to
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how much you want to give in to the temptation.
Get back to London
Returning to the familiarity of home and daily life.
Comin' undone
Feeling like something within you is unraveling.
When you ride the underground
Taking public transportation in the city.
Some misguidance
Feeling confused or uncertain.
Breakin' silence
Being bold and breaking free from quiet acceptance of circumstances.
Got your body started now
You are feeling energized and ready to take action.
And you love the way you're moving
You are happy with how you are expressing yourself and your physical movements.
It's what you do
Your actions and choices determine your experience.
That is going to tempt you
The temptation will continue to be a powerful force in your life.
If you want to know
If you are curious and want to understand more deeply.
What it is you're turning on
What is motivating and exciting you.
Do you want to know
Are you truly interested in understanding more fully.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON JOHN CHARLES LE BON, NICK RHODES, JOHN NIGEL TAYLOR, ROGER ANDREW TAYLOR, FLOYD NATHANIEL HILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind