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
Too Bad You're So Beautiful
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must have flowers in my brain
The same mistake I made before
But I′m a hostage to that face of yours
Lay me on your bed
I watch you smoke my cigarette
I wish you knew what's in my head
Too bad you′re so beautiful and so complicated
I may be a deluded fool but still fascinated
Too bad you're so beautiful when I'm king of nothing
This can only go one way
Ice queen on top of the mountain
Give me the freeze, minus 20 and counting
My Luna dreams, how do I stop them?
But it′s not your problem, when you′re above it all
Lay me on your bed
I want to stroke your sleepy head
I wish that I was you instead
Of being just your weekday friend
Too bad you're so beautiful and so complicated
I may be a deluded fool but still fascinated
Too bad you′re so beautiful when I'm king of nothing
This can only go one way
King of nowhere speaks another line
In the low light I′m here to entertain
When it starts to rain I'm a lucky man
Too bad you′re so beautiful and so complicated
I may be a deluded fool but still fascinated
Too bad you're so beautiful when I'm king of nothing
This can only go one way
Ahh-ah
Too bad, it′s too bad you′re so, oh-oh-oh-oh
Beautiful, mm-mm-mm
Beautiful, oh-oh, it's too bad
Just too bad, it′s too bad
Beautiful, oh-oh, it's too bad
Just too bad, it′s too bad
The lyrics to Duran Duran's song "Too Bad You're So Beautiful" narrate a bittersweet love story, one where the singer acknowledges the beauty and allure of the person they desire, yet faces complications and complexities in their relationship. The opening lines hint at a pattern of making the same mistake repeatedly, suggesting a recurring attraction that may not be entirely healthy or sustainable. The mention of having "flowers in my brain" speaks to being overwhelmed by emotions and infatuation.
The lyrics further express the frustration of being captivated by someone's face, indicating that physical beauty is both a draw and a trap for the singer. The desire to be more than just a friend is apparent, as they yearn for a deeper connection and intimacy with the person who possesses such magnetism. However, the repetitive refrain of "Too bad you're so beautiful" highlights the struggle and irony of desiring someone who is simultaneously admired and complicated.
The second verse introduces the metaphor of an "ice queen on top of the mountain," depicting the person of interest as distant and unattainable. The mention of Luna dreams suggests that the singer's infatuation is dream-like, perhaps fueled by fantasies that may never materialize. Although the singer acknowledges that their desires and dreams are not the other person's problem, they still long for closer proximity and the opportunity to be more than just a weekday friend.
The final lines of the song emphasize the singer's position as "king of nowhere" and highlight their role as a source of entertainment. The reference to the rain symbolizes both vulnerability and luck, hinting that even in their longing and desperate situation, the singer finds solace and gratitude.
Overall, "Too Bad You're So Beautiful" explores the frustration, fascination, and longing that arises from being attracted to someone who is both captivating and complicated. It delves into the internal struggle of wanting more from a relationship and the dynamics that prevent the singer from fully realizing their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I go again
I am repeating the same pattern
I must have flowers in my brain
I have romantic thoughts and ideas
The same mistake I made before
I am making the same error as in the past
But I'm a hostage to that face of yours
I am captivated by your beauty
Lay me on your bed
Let me be close to you
I watch you smoke my cigarette
I observe you enjoying something of mine
I wish you knew what's in my head
I desire you to understand my thoughts and feelings
I could be more than just a friend
I have the potential for a deeper relationship with you
Too bad you're so beautiful and so complicated
It is unfortunate that you possess both beauty and complexity
I may be a deluded fool but still fascinated
Even though I may be foolishly mistaken, I am still captivated
Too bad you're so beautiful when I'm king of nothing
It is unfortunate that you are attractive when I have nothing
This can only go one way
There is only one possible outcome
Ice queen on top of the mountain
You are aloof and unattainable
Give me the freeze, minus 20 and counting
You are emotionally distant, and I feel frozen out
My Luna dreams, how do I stop them?
My moonlit fantasies, how can I put an end to them?
But it's not your problem, when you're above it all
It does not concern you, as you are detached from it
Lay me on your bed
Allow me to be close to you
I want to stroke your sleepy head
I desire to caress your tired head
I wish that I was you instead
I long to be in your position
Of being just your weekday friend
Instead of being merely your acquaintance during the week
King of nowhere speaks another line
I, who have no influence or power, say another meaningless phrase
In the low light I'm here to entertain
In dim illumination, I am here to amuse and distract
When it starts to rain I'm a lucky man
When difficulties arise, I consider myself fortunate
Ahh-ah
Vocalization without a specific meaning
Too bad, it's too bad you're so, oh-oh-oh-oh
It is unfortunate, very unfortunate that you possess such qualities
Beautiful, mm-mm-mm
You are aesthetically pleasing
Beautiful, oh-oh, it's too bad
You are beautiful, but it is unfortunate
Just too bad, it's too bad
Simply unfortunate, very unfortunate
Beautiful, oh-oh, it's too bad
You are beautiful, but it is unfortunate
Just too bad, it's too bad
Simply unfortunate, very unfortunate
Writer(s): Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Nicholas Hodgson, Dominic Brown, John Taylor
Contributed by Landon W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.