Duran Duran
Video and music pioneers.Yes, I am talking about Duran Duran. They were the first musical group to use and embrace music videos. Not only was DD successful on the radio but they are remembered best for their iconic music videos. I have to admit I was obsessed with the group and in love with John Taylor.
Dubbed “The Fab Five” by British newspapers, in no time at all, Duran Duran were kings of the pop charts. If you grew up in the 80’s and 90′, how could you not know who Duran Duran was? One of the first music videos and songs, which took the charts by storm, was “Hungry Like the Wolf” from the album, RIO. Still to this day, I have people who didn’t even like DD tell me that they liked/loved this song.
Duran Duran was a group of five fabulous guys: Nick Rhodes (keyboards), John Taylor (bass), Roger Taylor (drums), Andy Taylor (guitar), and Simon Le Bon (lead vocals); none of the Taylors are related.
Formed by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, in Birmingham, England in 1978. There first album, titled Duran Duran, was released in 1981 on EMI. They first gained notoriety in the US with their raunchy music video for “Girls on Films“.
At the end of 1983, the band finally released Seven and the Ragged Tiger. An album which included singles like “New Moon on Monday” and “The Reflex“. 1984 found Duran Duran on top of the world and touring the first 4 months of the year. However, halfway through the year, the band began a long break.
Duran Duran’s hiatus, originally intended as a long break from the hectic Duran Duran lifestyle, continued into 1985. However, band members were soon anxious to record new music, leading to a supposedly temporary split into two side projects.
John Taylor and Andy Taylor, along with Robert Palmer (who was later replaced with Michael Des Barres) and CHIC drummer Tony Thompson formed Power Station.
Meanwhile, Nick Rhodes and Simon LeBon formed Arcadia with Roger Taylor doing some drums for the project.
A View to a Kill – Duran Duran meets James Bond
Duran Duran were never the same after the hiatus was over. Roger Taylor remarked that, “It wasn’t a good atmosphere at all. We had split into the Power Station and Arcadia, and egos were rampant.” As a result, the band’s image as a whole was off-balance when they regrouped to contribute “A View to a Kill“, for the 1985 James Bond movie of the same name. This single remains the only Bond theme to go to Number 1 on the US charts, and it also remains the highest-placed Bond theme on the UK chart, reaching Number 2. The song was accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek “spy” video that had the band scampering all over the Eiffel Tower and it also included scenes from the movie. The lead singer ended the video by introducing himself as “Bon. Simon Le Bon.” It was the last single they would record together as the original five-piece for 20 years. *(this paragraph borrowed from wikipedia)
After 25 years, Duran Duran are still around and planning to release a CD in May of 2007.
There is much more to Duran Duran’s tale but I wanted to highlight the parts that meant the most to me. They helped start a new kind of music. AND most importantly, during my teenage years, helped me cope and gave me something to obsess and dream about. I still listen to their music and watch the video thanks to YouTube. (Check out YouTube for a trip through memory lane or maybe to discover some great new music you haven’t heard yet.)
For more information on Duran Duran you can visit wikipedia and also:
Duran Duran’s official fan community
Duran Duran’s MySpace – the myspace features some of their songs. I am digging the “Out of My Mind Remix”
Special thanks to whomever created the Duran Duran page on Wikipedia and to Duran Duran.
The pictures and videos on this page are not my property and are borrowed from YouTube and Duran Duran’s Myspace page.
Highlander: the series
If you ever were fortunate enough to watch and love this series, you will never forget these immortal words:
“I’m Duncan MacLeod, of the Clan MacLeod”
Duncan Macleod was born in Glenfinnan, on the shores of Loch Shiel (Highlands of Scotland) on the Winter Solstice, in 1592.
I found this great video on YouTube that someone made from the series finale using the song Bonny Portmore as sung by Laura Creamer from the Highlander Volume 2 CD. A lot of people reference Loreena McKennit as the singer of this song but she was not for the movies or the series. She recorded the song after it was used for Highlander.
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy/sci-fi television series featuring Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul), of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander of the title. An offshoot of the Highlander movies, Highlander: The Series centered on the life of Duncan, who is a clansman to the main character from the movies, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). Christopher Lambert made a single appearance in the first episode to ensure continuity, but his character was barely mentioned in the rest of the series. The series was a Canada/France co-production that was filmed in both countries. The primary Canadian location was Vancouver, British Columbia. The series became a very popular cult television show, with a strong following years even after production ceased in 1998. (source)
I chose to use this description from wikipedia because I found it saying pretty much what I planned to say anyways. I do believe however in giving credit where credit is due. For more about Highlander: The Series check out Wikipedia.
This was one of my favorite shows in the 90’s and still is. I laughed and I cried right along with Duncan. I can remember Tessa’s and Richie’s deaths like it was yesterday. I can remember Duncan aka Adrian Paul avatars being used my innumerable males on the Internet on forums and chat places to attract women. Ahhh the good ol’ days…..
She saved the world a lot!
The original video featured in this post has since been deleted from youtube. It was a wonderful tribute of the episode, “The Gift” from BTVS when Buffy died. If you want to hear the song, click HERE.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer or BTVS had and/or has such a cult following. It was especially popular when it was on TV.
I will never forget the day that Buffy died.
Here’s a video using “Hello” by Evanescence from YouTube. It’s the final fight scene from the season 5 finale.
