Planet Earth (Duran Duran song)

Last updated

"Planet Earth"
Duran planet earth.jpg
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Duran Duran
B-side "Late Bar"
Released2 February 1981 (1981-02-02)
RecordedDecember 1980
Studio Red Bus (London)
Genre
Length
  • 3:59 (single version)
  • 6:20 (night version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Planet Earth"
(1981)
"Careless Memories"
(1981)
Music video
"Planet Earth" on YouTube

"Planet Earth" is the debut single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981.

Contents

It was an immediate hit in the band's native UK, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on 21 February, and did even better in Australia, hitting number 8 to become Duran Duran's first Top 10 hit anywhere in the world. Along with the track, "Girls on Film", "Planet Earth" also hit the Top 40 on the US, dance charts.

The song later appeared on the band's eponymous debut studio album Duran Duran , released in June 1981.

About the song

"Planet Earth" begins with a mid-tempo synthesised sweep backed with sequenced electronic rhythm, but the real rhythm section of throbbing bass and crisp drums soon kick in. Muted guitar carries the up-and-down throbbing as the singer joins in.

The sequenced part on this song is a Prophet-5 synth, while a Roland Jupiter-4 and a Crumar Performer were used for strings and other sounds. [3] The flanging intro sound was the Jupiter 4 processed by an MXR flanger. [4]

Record World described the song as being a "simple, catchy cut" with "a flexible bass [that] sets the consistent, throbbing pulse" and "mechanistic keyboard lines." [5]

The song was the first to explicitly acknowledge the fledgling New Romantic fashion movement, with the line "Like some New Romantic looking for the TV sound".

The original demo had an extra verse at the end, as can be heard in the Manchester Square Demo version, released in 2009:

"I came outside I saw the nightfall with the rain, Sheet lightning flashes in my brain, Whatever happened to the world we used to know? I've got you coming over fear now."

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by future film director Russell Mulcahy, who would go on to direct a dozen more for the group.

Fairly primitive by the band's later standards, the video features the band (dressed in New Romantic fashions) playing the song on a white stage tricked out with special effects to look like a platform made of ice or crystal. Interspersed with the performance are shots of the band members alongside the four elements. The video focused closely on the band's faces. The instrumental middle section features two friends of the band from the Rum Runner nightclub nicknamed Gay John and Lavinya [6] dancing in their full New Romantic regalia. In an apocalyptic science-fiction style, various world facts slide cross the bottom of the screen as the video plays, including: "the area of the surface of the earth is 196,937,600 miles"; "247,860 people are born every day"; "the oldest known song is the Shadoof Chant"; and then it ends with a warning of "Doomsday." At the end of the video, lead vocalist Simon Le Bon leaps from the stage, caught in a freeze-frame shot above an apparently bottomless abyss.

The video was recreated in the music video for the Dandy Warhols' "You Were the Last High" (which was produced by Nick Rhodes, the band's keyboardist).

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

For most countries, the B-side track for the "Planet Earth" 45 is a concert favourite called "Late Bar" which was one of the earliest songs Duran Duran had written together after their classic Le Bon/Rhodes/Taylor/Taylor/Taylor line-up had solidified.[ citation needed ] However, the B-side track for the North American release of "Planet Earth" is "To the Shore".

Beginning with "Planet Earth", Duran Duran began creating what they called "night versions" for each of their songs; extended versions that were featured on their twelve-inch singles. Back in 1981, the technology to do extended remixes was still quite rudimentary, so the band chose instead to create a new arrangement of the song, loosely based on the version they were playing live at the time. This formed the basis for the "night" version.

The night version of "Planet Earth" appeared in place of the original on some early American releases of the Duran Duran album.

In addition to the 12", the night version of "Planet Earth" was included on the EPs Nite Romantics and Carnival .

For the 1999 remix album Strange Behaviour , EMI inadvertently unearthed unreleased alternative mixes of both "Planet Earth" and "Hold Back the Rain".

The alternative mix of "Planet Earth" called the "night mix" also appears on the special edition of Duran Duran, released in 2010.

Formats and track listings

7": EMI / EMI 5137 United Kingdom

  1. "Planet Earth" – 3:59
  2. "Late Bar" – 2:54

12": EMI / 12 EMI 5137 United Kingdom

  1. "Planet Earth" (night version) – 6:18
  2. "Planet Earth" – 3:59
  3. "Late Bar" – 2:54

CD: Part of Singles Box Set 1981–1985

  1. "Planet Earth" – 3:59
  2. "Late Bar" – 2:54
  3. "Planet Earth" (night version) – 6:18

CD: Part of Duran Duran: 2010 Special Edition (CD2)

  1. "Planet Earth" (night mix) – 7:00

Charts

As of October 2021 "Planet Earth" is the ninth most streamed Duran Duran song in the UK. [14]

Personnel

Duran Duran

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duran Duran</span> English band

Duran Duran are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor. After several early changes, the band's line-up settled in May 1980 as Rhodes, Taylor, singer Simon Le Bon, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor.

<i>Rio</i> (Duran Duran album) 1982 studio album by Duran Duran

Rio is the second studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 10 May 1982 through EMI. Produced by Colin Thurston, the band wrote and demoed most of the material before recording the album at AIR Studios in London from January to March 1982. The band utilised more experimentation compared to their debut album, from vibraphone and marimba to the sound of a cigarette being lit and cracking ice cubes. Andy Hamilton played a saxophone solo on "Rio".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Rhodes</span> English musician and keyboardist of Duran Duran (born 1962)

Nick Rhodes is an English keyboardist and producer, best known as a founding member and the keyboardist of the band Duran Duran.

<i>Duran Duran</i> (1981 album) 1981 studio album by Duran Duran

Duran Duran is the debut studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 15 June 1981 through EMI. Produced by Colin Thurston, it was recorded in London and Oxfordshire between December 1980 and January 1981. The instrumental tracks were recorded quickly, but vocalist Simon Le Bon initially struggled to sing in the studio, leading to discussions about replacing him before EMI employee Dave Ambrose intervened.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Undone (Duran Duran song)</span> 1993 single by Duran Duran

"Come Undone" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released in March 1993 by Parlophone and Capitol as the second single from their seventh studio album, Duran Duran (1993). With their commercial and critical success reestablished by the previous single "Ordinary World", "Come Undone" continued to showcase more of the band's entry into the adult contemporary radio format.

<i>Carnival</i> (Duran Duran EP) 1982 EP by Duran Duran

Carnival is a dance music EP by British band Duran Duran, originally released in various markets around the world in September 1982 by EMI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Is There Something I Should Know?</span> 1983 single by Duran Duran

"Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 14 March 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Careless Memories</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"Careless Memories" is the second single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981. It reached no. 37 in the UK and no. 60 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skin Trade (song)</span> 1987 single by Duran Duran

"Skin Trade" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released in January 1987 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Notorious (1986). It showcased a drastic change from their previous singles, with R&B influences, brass solos and funk guitar riffs, in addition to a Prince-style falsetto from lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save a Prayer</span> 1982 single by Duran Duran

"Save a Prayer" is a song by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 9 August 1982 as the third single from their second album Rio (1982). It became Duran Duran's biggest hit on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number two. As of October 2021 "Save a Prayer" is the sixth most streamed Duran Duran song in the UK.

<i>Pop Trash</i> 2000 studio album by Duran Duran

Pop Trash is the tenth studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. It was released on 19 June 2000 by Hollywood Records. Pop Trash was the band's first release after parting ways with EMI, with whom they had been signed since 1981. It was also the last to feature the trio of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo. The CD album went out of print in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls on Film</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"Girls on Film" is the third single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 13 July 1981. It became Duran Duran's first top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 5 in July 1981, and an international hit reaching the top 20 in several countries, including number 1 in Portugal, number 4 in New Zealand and number 11 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Own Way (song)</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"My Own Way" is the fourth single by English new wave band Duran Duran, originally released on 16 November 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Reach Up for The) Sunrise</span> 2004 single by Duran Duran

"(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. It was released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Astronaut (2004) and their 31st single overall. It was the first single since "A View to a Kill" in 1985 to feature all five of the original members of the band. The song was sent to US radio on 30 August 2004 and was issued physically over the following few months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungry Like the Wolf</span> 1982 song by Duran Duran

"Hungry Like the Wolf" is a song by English new wave band Duran Duran. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Colin Thurston for the group's second studio album, Rio (1982). The song was released on 4 May 1982 as the band's fifth single in the United Kingdom, and 8 June 1982 in the United States. It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio (song)</span> 1982 song by Duran Duran

"Rio" is the seventh single by English rock band Duran Duran. It was first released as a single in Australia, in August 1982, followed by a UK release on 1 November 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union of the Snake</span> 1983 single by Duran Duran

"Union of the Snake" is the ninth single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 17 October 1983.

Meet <i>El Presidente</i> 1987 single by Duran Duran

"Meet El Presidente" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 13 April 1987 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album, Notorious (1986). It reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart and stalled at number 70 in the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Promise (Arcadia song)</span> 1986 single by Arcadia

"The Promise" is the third single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band Arcadia. It was released by Parlophone in 1986 as the group's second UK single. It peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Live from London</i> (Duran Duran) 2005 video by Duran Duran

Live from London is a concert film by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. It was filmed during the course of the last two of five sold-out nights at Wembley Arena in April 2004, during the band's first global tour after the reunion of the band's original five members.

References

  1. Zaleski, Annie (15 June 2021a). "40 Years Ago: Duran Duran Take First Steps to Fame on Debut LP". Ultimate Classic Rock . Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  2. Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "1981.1". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 247. ISBN   978-1-915841-45-2.
  3. "Synth songs". duranduran.com. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. "P.E. synth". duranduran.com. 1 March 2002. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 4 July 1981. p. 20. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. Lupton, John. "GAY JOHN & LAVINYA - PLANET EARTH" . Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. "The World's Music Charts (Song artist 100 - Duran Duran)" . Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  9. "Infodisc : Tout les Titres par D". Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Planet Earth". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  11. "Duran Duran: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 84.
  13. "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. 4 January 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2022 via Imgur.
  14. "Duran Duran's Official Top 20 most-streamed songs revealed". Official Charts. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022.