Save a Prayer

Last updated

"Save a Prayer"
Save A Prayer.jpg
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Rio
B-side
  • "Hold Back the Rain" (remix)
  • "Save a Prayer" (from the Arena)
  • "Careless Memories" (from the Arena)
Released9 August 1982 [1]
RecordedJanuary–February 1982
Studio AIR (London, UK)
Genre
Length
  • 6:05 (video version)
  • 5:32 (album version)
  • 3:45 (US single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Hungry Like the Wolf"
(1982)		"Save a Prayer"
(1982)		"Rio"
(1982)
Music video
"Save a Prayer" on YouTube

"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 (at the time) 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. [3]

Contents

"Save a Prayer" was not originally issued as a single in the United States, although the music video was very popular on MTV. An edited concert single version from "Arena" was finally released in the U.S. in January 1985 and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Composition

The song began with Andy Taylor and Nick Rhodes picking out chords together, and was then built around the sequencer track. [4] Simon Le Bon wrote the lyrics to the song while the band was on tour. The lyrics are about a chance meeting between two people that turns into a one-night stand. Le Bon has described the lyrics as "realistic, and not romantic". According to Le Bon, the chorus of the song was based on Gordon Lightfoot's folk song "If You Could Read My Mind". [5]

The verses of the song are in D minor, while the chorus is in B minor. It opens with an arpeggiated delay-treated synthesizer riff (created on a Roland SH-2), which plays in the background throughout the song. [6]

Critical reception

Cash Box said that the live version "attests to the faithful sound of Duran Duran’s show while betraying a certain sedimentary element of the arrangement, the harmonies are there as are the lush backing synthesizers, yet a muddy mix makes the original studio cut favorable." [7]

AllMusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco described the new wave ballad [8] in a retrospective review, as being "a lilting epic". He wrote: "The music maintains the stormily romantic quality of the lyric by combining meditative verses with an aching chorus that swells and ebbs in a way that perfectly captures the song's heartbreak." [9]

Retrospectively, music journalist Annie Zaleski described the song as "a moody ballad driven by lush, pirouetting keyboards and acoustic guitars, and a rhythm section that propelled the song forward with nuanced grooves." She wrote: "Duran Duran's blend of acoustic and electronic is one reason why "Save a Prayer" works so well. It also contributed to the song's success." [10]

Music video

The video was filmed by director Russell Mulcahy among the jungles, beaches, and temples of Sri Lanka in April 1982. [11] Scenes were filmed atop the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, among the ruins of a Buddhist temple at Polonnaruwa and the island's southern coastline, with Simon Le Bon appearing in Speedos.

The shoot was a difficult but memorable experience for the band. Le Bon, Roger and John Taylor went ahead to the location while Andy Taylor and Nick Rhodes were in London finishing mixes for the Rio album and B-sides. [12] They had almost no time after that was done to change clothes before catching their flight, and Rhodes wore the same leather jacket and trousers he had been wearing against the London chill. [13] [14]

When they arrived in Colombo, it was very warm, and Rhodes was uncomfortable in his clothing. Andy reassured him they would be in their hotel soon and could relax. The driver who met them in a flatbed lorry informed them it would be several hours' driving time to Kandy in the centre of the country, where the band were lodged. Along the way they were struck by the poverty they witnessed. [12] [14]

During the filming of the scene where the band members were riding elephants, a female elephant made a strange sound. One of the crew had recorded it, and found it funny enough to play back. It turned out to be the elephant's mating call, which led the elephant carrying Roger to charge downhill and attempt to mount the female. "It was funny as hell, but quite hairy for a moment," says Rhodes. [14]

While perched on a branch over a lagoon and miming playing his guitar, an intoxicated Andy fell into the water. He accidentally swallowed some, and had to be hospitalised during the band's subsequent Australian tour due to a tropical virus he contracted at that time. The band members all initially refused to do the scene where an elephant sprays water from its trunk onto one of them due to its homoerotic overtones; they finally settled on John since he was the band's pin-up boy. He would be teased about it for years afterwards. [12] "I didn't care," he wrote in 2012. "I loved it. It is one of my most treasured memories." [15]

Andy recalls in his memoirs that the shooting at the temple was very tense, since the country was on the verge of civil war and the temple's monks were impatiently waiting for their leader to arrive and address a large political gathering. The band members wore bare feet in deference to the temple's religious importance, frequently scorching themselves on the bare rock they were standing on. During some takes, the band members yelled "Fuck you, Russell!" instead of mouthing the lyrics. For one scene, Le Bon and Rhodes were dropped off from a helicopter that could not itself land on the monument. [14]

A live version of the song was released in 1985. On the live version Le Bon dedicates the song to Marvin Gaye, who had been fatally shot the day before the concert was recorded in April 1984. The video was taken from Duran Duran's Oakland, California, concerts that were filmed for the Arena (An Absurd Notion) video.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The UK release of "Save a Prayer" was backed with a remix of "Hold Back the Rain".

Versions

  1. "Save a Prayer" [single version] – 5:24
  2. "Save a Prayer" [album version] – 5:33
  3. "Save a Prayer" [video version] – 6:03
  4. "Save a Prayer" [Australian promo edit] – 4:10
  5. "Save a Prayer" [Brazilian edit] – 4:04
  6. "Save a Prayer" [US single version] – 3:44
  7. "Save a Prayer" [special edited version] – 3:55
  8. "Save a Prayer" [Japanese single version] – 4:00

Note: song differences

Formats and track listings

Live version

"Save a Prayer (US Single Version)"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Arena
B-side "Save a Prayer" (from the Arena) (edited)
ReleasedJanuary 1985
Recorded1982
Studio AIR (London)
Length3:45
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Colin Thurston
Duran Duran singles chronology
"The Wild Boys"
(1984)		"Save a Prayer (US Single Version)"
(1985)		"A View to a Kill"
(1985)

"Save a Prayer (Live)" is the fourth track from the album Arena . Capitol Records released an edited version as the B-side of the single "Save a Prayer" (US Single Version) in the United States in January 1985. The single peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending 16 March 1985.

The release was accompanied by a new live video, drawn from footage shot in 1984 for the concert film Arena .

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [16] 56
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [17] 40
Ireland (IRMA) [18] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [19] 35
UK Singles (OCC) [20] 2
Edited live version
Chart (1985)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [21] 19
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [22] 17
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [23] 82
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [24] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [25] 17
US Billboard Hot 100 [26] 16
US Cash Box Top 100 [27] 19
West Germany (GfK) [28] 27

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)Position
UK Singles (OCC) [29] 36

Certifications

Certifications for "Save a Prayer"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] Silver250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Duran Duran

Technical

Other appearances

The song has also appeared in the British TV series Sex Education (season 3, episode 2). [31]

Cover versions

Eagles of Death Metal version

"Save a Prayer"
Single by Eagles of Death Metal
from the album Zipper Down
ReleasedNovember 2015
Length4:40
Label Downtown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Joshua Homme
Eagles of Death Metal singles chronology
"Complexity"
(2015)		"Save a Prayer"
(2015)

A cover version of the song appears on Eagles of Death Metal's 2015 album, Zipper Down . [32] Duran Duran and Eagles of Death Metal played the song together on TFI Friday . [33] [34] Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, a Facebook campaign was launched to get the cover of "Save a Prayer" to number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. [35] Duran Duran have stated that they will donate all their royalties from the cover to charity. [36] Eagles of Death Metal's cover ultimately peaked at number 53 for the chart dated the week after the attack. [37]

Weekly charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [38] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [39] 11
France (SNEP) [40] 23
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [41] 73
Scotland (OCC) [42] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [43] 72
UK Singles (OCC) [44] 53

Other versions

In 2014, singer-songwriter David Mead released a cover version of the song on the multi-artist compilation album Here Comes the Reign Again: The Second British Invasion. [45]

In December 2019, Canadian electronic duo Bob Moses released a cover version of the song on their Unplugged EP.

In 2009, British singer-songwriter Kate Walsh released a cover version of the song on her album Peppermint Radio.

Sampling

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duran Duran</span> English pop rock 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".

<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>Greatest</i> (Duran Duran album) 1998 greatest hits album by Duran Duran

Greatest is a greatest hits album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released in 1998.

<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">Notorious (Duran Duran song)</span> 1986 single by Duran Duran

"Notorious" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released internationally by EMI on 20 October 1986 as the first single from their fourth studio album of the same name. It showcased a new direction for Duran Duran with a funk rock sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You Believe in Shame?</span> 1989 single by Duran Duran

"Do You Believe in Shame?" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 10 April 1989 as the third and final single from their fifth studio album, Big Thing (1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livin' on a Prayer</span> 1986 single by Bon Jovi

"Livin' on a Prayer" is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi from their third studio album, Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, performed strongly on both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band their first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and their second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

<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">(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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A View to a Kill (song)</span> 1985 single by Duran Duran

"A View to a Kill" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 7 May 1985. Written and recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, it became one of the band's biggest hits. It is the only James Bond theme song to have reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to number two for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart while stuck behind Paul Hardcastle's "19". The song was the last track recorded by the most famous five-member lineup of Duran Duran until their reunion in 2001 and was also performed by the band at Live Aid in Philadelphia, their final performance together before their first split.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinary World (song)</span> 1992 single by Duran Duran

"Ordinary World" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released in December 1992 by Parlophone, EMI and Capitol as the first single from their self-titled album (1993), commonly known as the Wedding Album. The ballad, both written by the band and co-produced with John Jones, reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and the Italian Singles Chart. It also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 in Iceland and Sweden, and No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's music video was directed by Nick Egan and filmed in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Moon on Monday</span> 1984 single by Duran Duran

"New Moon on Monday" is the tenth single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 23 January 1984 in the United Kingdom.

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">Election Day (song)</span> 1985 single by Arcadia

"Election Day" is the first single released by Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia.

<i>Zipper Down</i> 2015 studio album by Eagles of Death Metal

Zipper Down is the fourth studio album from American rock band Eagles of Death Metal. It was released on October 2, 2015. The first single, "Complexity", was made available for streaming on Pitchfork in June 2015. The entire album was made available to stream in an exclusive by NPR on their website, on September 23, 2015. "Oh Girl", "I Love You All The Time" and "Complexity" were previously on Boots Electric's first album Honkey Kong and were remade for Zipper Down.

References

  1. ↑ "1982: The Duran Duran Timeline". www.durandurantimeline.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Erlewin, Stephen (27 October 2023). Essential Duran Duran: Their 30 greatest songs, ranked. The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Duran Duran's Official Top 20 most-streamed songs revealed". Official Charts. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  4. ↑ John Taylor In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran 2012, chapter 33
  5. ↑ The Story of... 'Save a Prayer' by Duran Duran Smooth Radio 8 October 2019
  6. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (2021). Duran Duran's Rio. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 23. ISBN   978-1-501-35519-6.
  7. ↑ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 26 January 1985. p. 8. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "8EEZ Playlist: Duran Duran". Beat.
  9. ↑ Donald A. Guarisco. "Save a Prayer: Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (9 August 2022). "40 Years Ago: Duran Duran Gets Moody on 'Save a Prayer'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  11. ↑ Timmons, John (9 August 2023). Today's ear X-tacy: Duran Duran "Save A Prayer". Louisville Public Media. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Taylor, Andy (2008). Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran. London: Orion Publishing Group. p. 100. ISBN   978-0-7528-8338-0.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Andy (2008). Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran. London: Orion Publishing Group. pp. 102–04. ISBN   978-0-7528-8338-0.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Marks, Craig; Tannenbaum, Rob (2011). I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution . New York, NY: Dutton. p.  120. ISBN   978-0-525-95230-5.
  15. ↑ Taylor, John (2012). In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death & Duran Duran. London: Sphere. p. 178. ISBN   9780751549041.
  16. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 97. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  17. ↑ "Duran Duran – Save a Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Save a Prayer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Duran Duran – Save a Prayer". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Duran Duran: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Duran Duran – Save a Prayer %5BSpecial Edited Version%5D" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0506." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 2, no. 10. 11 March 1985. p. 10. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  24. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Duran Duran" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Duran Duran – Save a Prayer %5BSpecial Edited Version%5D" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of March 3, 1985". Billboard . Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 30, 1985". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Duran Duran – Save a Prayer [Special Edited Version]" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  29. ↑ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Singles". Chart File Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN   0-907080-73-1.
  30. ↑ "British single certifications – Duran Duran – Save a Prayer". British Phonographic Industry. 1 September 1982. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  31. ↑ Hunt, James (17 September 2021). "Every Song In Sex Education Season 3". Screen Rant . Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  32. ↑ "Josh Homme and Jesse Hughes Detail Eagles of Death Metal LP ZIPPER DOWN, Share Bonkers Cover". Pitchfork. 17 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "Eagles of Death Metal Performs 'Save a Prayer' With Duran Duran Days Before Paris Shootings: Watch - Billboard". Billboard.
  34. ↑ [HD] Duran Duran w/ Eagle Of Death Metal - "Save A Prayer" 10/30/15 TFI Friday. YouTube. 1 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  35. ↑ Jack Shepherd (15 November 2015). "Eagles of Death Metal fans launch campaign to get band to number one following Paris attacks". The Independent.
  36. ↑ "Duran Duran Will Donate All Proceeds From Eagles of Death Metal's 'Save A Prayer' Cover". Billboard .
  37. ↑ "UK Singles Chart, week of 20 November 2015". Official Charts Company. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  38. ↑ "EODM (Eagles of Death Metal) – Save a Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  39. ↑ "EODM (Eagles of Death Metal) – Save a Prayer" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  40. ↑ "EODM (Eagles of Death Metal) – Save a Prayer" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  41. ↑ "EODM (Eagles of Death Metal) – Save a Prayer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  42. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  43. ↑ "EODM (Eagles of Death Metal) – Save a Prayer". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  44. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  45. ↑ "Save A Prayer - Curry Cuts". Curry Cuts. 30 September 2014.
  46. ↑ Masterton, James (26 March 1995). "Week Ending April 1st 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  47. ↑ "Shut Up & Dance". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  48. ↑ "Shut Up and Dance – Save It 'til the Mourning After" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  49. ↑ Francis Preve. "Oscillators: Mixing and Blending". Beatport News. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  50. ↑ "Teddy Picker by Arctic Monkeys". SongFacts. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.