Duran Duran are an English pop rock band who have recorded over 200 songs during their career. Since their formation in 1978, Duran Duran have credited all of their songs to all members evenly, apart from covers. [1] They emerged as members of the New Romantic scene with their debut album Duran Duran (1981). [2] [3] Produced by Colin Thurston, the album features a mix of synthesiser-led pop tunes ("Girls on Film", "Planet Earth") and more atmospheric tracks ("Tel Aviv"), influenced by artists such as David Bowie, Roxy Music, Japan and Chic. [4] [5] Its follow-up, Rio (1982), cemented Duran Duran as forerunners in the Second British Invasion, [6] Again produced by Thurston, the synth-pop and new wave record [7] [8] featured more experimentation than their debut, [9] combining faster, upbeat songs ("Rio", "Hungry Like the Wolf") with slower, atmospheric tracks ("Save a Prayer"). [10] [11] The band changed direction with Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), a dance-driven record [12] about, in Simon Le Bon's words, "an adventure story about a little commando team". [13] Between 1984 and 1985, Duran Duran worked with Nile Rodgers on a remix of Seven's "The Reflex" and "The Wild Boys", and recorded the title song of the James Bond film A View to a Kill (1985). [14] [15]
Contents
Rodgers returned to produce Notorious (1986), which saw Duran Duran change direction again with a more funk and brass-driven sound and more mature lyrics about introspection ("So Misled") and exploitation ("Skin Trade"). [16] [17] [18] The band continued experimenting with synthesiser-based funk, electronic, techno, and rock on Big Thing (1988) and Liberty (1990) with songs such as "All She Wants Is" and "Serious". [19] [20] Duran Duran remerged in 1993 with Duran Duran (The Wedding Album), a 1990s-style dance-pop record [21] containing songs such as "Ordinary World", "Come Undone" and "Too Much Information". [22] [23] It was followed by Thank You (1995), a covers album featuring renditions of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Melle Mel and Public Enemy. [22] [24] Medazzaland (1997) and Pop Trash (2000), both produced by TV Mania, continued the band's experimentation with electronica, hard rock, industrial rock, synth-pop, Britpop and soul. [25] [26]
Duran Duran have continued their musical experimentation into the 21st century. Astronaut (2004) returned to the synth-pop sound of the band's early years; [27] [28] Red Carpet Massacre (2007) featured contemporary pop production by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake (who guested on the single "Falling Down"); [29] and All You Need Is Now (2010) again returned to the dance and synth-pop stylings of their early years with production by Mark Ronson. [29] For the pop and dance-oriented Paper Gods (2015), Duran Duran worked with an array of guest collaborators, including singer Janelle Monae ("Pressure Off") and guitarist John Frusciante, with production by Ronson, Mr Hudson and old collaborator Nile Rodgers. [30] [31] [32] On Future Past (2021), the band worked with producer Erol Alkan and guitarist Graham Coxon, crafting a modern disco album with guest appearances from Tove Lo, Ivorian Doll and Chai. [33] Their latest release, Danse Macabre (2023), is a Halloween-themed record featuring originals, remakes of older material ("Night Boat") and covers of songs by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish and Talking Heads. [34] [35]
