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 Much Information
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information.
The pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need.
It's too much information for me.
Hey, T.V. child, look into my eyes.
Here by intervention, I want your attention.
Promotion boy in a suit and tie; he want you to use it.
You're too shot to lose it.
A cola manufacturer is sponsoring the war.
Here comes the news with love from me to you.
Destroyed by A.B.C.
I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information.
The pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need.
It's too much information for me.
Turn on the tube, hits you with a groove.
Advertisin' muzik, we want you to choose it.
These teeth are white, trainers UltraBrite.
This band is perfect, just don't scratch the surface.
We covered all the angles, the survey people said.
Just put us on the cover, we'd be smilin' anyway.
This video was made with love to you.
Destroyed by B.B.C.,
I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information.
The pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need.
It's too much information.
Destroyed by M.T.V.,
I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information.
The pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need.
It's too much information for me.
Dilate your mind. Dilate your mind.
Dilate your mind. Dilate your mind.
Got to give it to me.
Got to listen to me.
Got to give in to me.
Now, I'm on the line.
Got to give it to me.
Got to listen to me.
Got to give in to me.
Now, I'm on the line.
I try. Yes, I try.
Why should I try?
'cause I try.
Why should I try?
I try. Yes, I try.
Why should I try?
'cause I try.
Why should I try?
The lyrics of Duran Duran's "Too Much Information" discuss the overwhelming presence of media in our lives and how it can be destructive at times. The band takes a cynical look at the media's influence on our lives, particularly through the lens of television, advertising, and surveys. The song is full of critique, with lines like "the pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need" and "these teeth are white, trainers UltraBrite, this band is perfect, just don't scratch the surface."
The song is an appeal to those who are drowning in the deluge of messages from the media. It asks us to "dilate your mind" and see beyond what is presented to us. The repetition of "got to give it to me" and "got to listen to me" can be interpreted as a plea for people to focus on the things that truly matter instead of getting caught up in the hype. The song also shows a clear frustration with the media, evidenced by the line "I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information."
Overall, "Too Much Information" is a commentary on the role of media in our lives and how it can lead to a disconnection from reality. It encourages listeners to be aware of what they are exposing themselves to and to think critically about the messages they receive.
Line by Line Meaning
Destroyed by M.T.V.,
The overwhelming amount of information and advertising from MTV has ruined my ability to think critically and make my own choices.
I hate to bite the hand that feeds me so much information.
I feel conflicted because I don't want to criticize the source of information that I rely on, but at the same time, I am being overwhelmed with too much propaganda.
The pressure's on the screen to sell you things that you don't need.
The advertisements on the screen are specifically designed to make you feel like you need products and services that you really don't need at all.
It's too much information for me.
The constant bombardment of advertising and propaganda is just too much to handle and is overwhelming me.
Hey, T.V. child, look into my eyes.
I want to connect with the viewers of television and urge them to think for themselves instead of being manipulated by the media.
Here by intervention, I want your attention.
I am intervening to get your attention and urging you to think critically about the information that is presented to you.
Promotion boy in a suit and tie; he want you to use it.
Advertisers in flashy suits are trying to convince you to buy their products and services, regardless of whether you need them or not.
You're too shot to lose it.
The advertisers are trying to make you feel like you'd be missing out if you don't buy their products, even though that's not really true.
It's pumpin' down the cable like never so before.
The amount and intensity of propaganda and advertising that we see on TV is stronger than ever before.
A cola manufacturer is sponsoring the war.
Big corporations are using their influence and financial clout to push their own agenda and interests, even if it means sponsoring conflicts and wars.
Here comes the news with love from me to you.
Even the news that is presented to us is biased and often manipulative, and is designed to get us to believe certain things and buy certain products.
Dilate your mind. Dilate your mind.
I am urging you to open your mind and think more critically about the information and propaganda that is presented to you.
Got to give it to me.
I am urging you to pay attention to what I am saying and think critically about the information that is presented to you.
Got to listen to me.
It's important that you listen to me and others who are urging you to think for yourself and not be manipulated by propaganda and advertising.
Got to give in to me.
I want you to give in to the idea of thinking critically and not just blindly accepting the propaganda and advertising that is presented to you.
Now, I'm on the line.
I am taking a stand and trying to break through the noise of propaganda and advertising to get you to think for yourself.
I try. Yes, I try.
I am trying my best to communicate the importance of thinking critically and not being manipulated by propaganda and advertising.
Why should I try?
It can be hard to break through the noise of propaganda and advertising, but it's important to keep trying to get people to think critically and make their own choices.
'cause I try.
I am committed to fighting back against propaganda and advertising and helping people think more critically about the world around them.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN TAYLOR, NICK RHODES, SIMON JOHN LE BON, WARREN CUCCURULLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ninja
This is Duran Duran’s most underrated and best album to date they’ve had. Every song should have been a single. My favorites are Shelter, To Whom It May Concern, Sin of the City, Love Voodoo, Come Undone & Too Much Information.
Thomas Ley
Big Thing, Liberty and The Wedding Album: their most reviled three albums - but to me their best. They hit a really good streak then. But of course, I'm not a die-hard, just a casual fan.
xXMetal_HeadXx
I love, UMF, Too much Information, Come Undone and Drowning man
Mark Stanford
The production on this album was remarkable. Brilliant album. The big sound of the drums in this song are class.
Ninja
Agree! This is Duran Duran’s most underrated and best album to date they’ve had. Every song should have been a single. My favorites are Shelter, To Whom It May Concern, Sin of the City, Love Voodoo, Come Undone & Too Much Information.
AC72CH
they said ,that they recorded it at home with a portable studio equipment ,i guess...brilliant
Maury Agui Gal
this song predict the destruction of MTV and Televisión. now we can choose our music through internet. Genious Duran Duran!
旧名A B 新名kamiyama-chairdesklamp
Didn't "predict"; this came out in '93--MTV (I call it now MisNomer Television) was already in decline big time. And more and more broadcast (note he mentions BBC, too) radio and TV time was already beginning to go to commercials, cutting programation time. Decline of broadcast (TV and radio) maximised in the early 2000s, but it began about ten years before, around when this was released.
Actually, the first "reality" TV show as we know them, those ones where you're supposed to take joy in a bunch of "not actor" real people getting drunk and fighting, was Real World, on "MTV" in '94, I think.
Dave Micklon
VERY underrated song. Always loved it.
Ninja
Agreed!! This is Duran Duran’s most underrated and best album to date they’ve had. Every song should have been a single. My favorites are Shelter, To Whom It May Concern, Sin of the City, Love Voodoo, Come Undone & Too Much Information.