Criminally Underrated: A Duran Duran Deep Dive Part II

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Entertainment, Music | 196 comments

In the last post, I promised we’d get into Duran Duran’s moodier side.

The band released their eponymous first/first eponymous album in 1981. While a success in the UK, the US market wasn’t buyin’ it. The album was re-released in the US in 1983, with one of the songs featured in this article replaced by the poppy earworm “Is There Something I Should Know?” (one of my least favorite of their entire catalogue). This album also features well-known hits “Planet Earth” and “Girls on Film”.

Let’s take a deep dive into 1981’s Duran Duran:

To The Shore” (the song replaced by “Is There Something I Should Know?”) features such incomprehensible lyrics as:

Words are falling to the floor
Glands stand pouring fruit tree
Now they glisten on the waterline
See how you are at the shore.

Simon Le Bon, the band’s main lyricist and frontman said, years later:

“Whenever I listen to “To The Shore” I am completely nonplussed as to what it is really about. I think I was going through an experimental/impressionistic phase with my lyrics. I didn’t really care what the words actually meant; rather, what people read into them was the important factor, like a sort of Rorschach test”.

“(Waiting for the) Night Boat” is one of the band’s creepiest. According to Le Bon, he wrote the lyrics while waiting for the bus late one night. I love that it’s just a simple daily experience that inspired a whole kind-of ghost/zombie/horror storyline. I’ve linked here to the music video, which is also one of my favorites. Directed by Russell Mulcahy, and filmed in Antigua, it must have cost a fortune. Simon Le Bon gets his Shakespeare on in this one, with a recitation from Romeo & Juliet. John Taylor’s bass is, as always, a cut above.

Next up, the band’s first big US hit album, the incredible Rio. I may have to do more than two songs from that one.

About The Author

KK, Plump & Unfiltered

KK, Plump & Unfiltered

In this house, we believe: Bigfoot is real; I am going to kiss him; He will be my lover; I will be the little spoon; Me and Bigfoot will fuck and you can't stop us

196 Comments

  1. Spudalicious

    “Untz. Untz. Untz. Untz.”

    The firstiest of firsts has come in first.

    I’ve never been a big Duran Duran fan, but I will hear you out.

    • MikeS

      Great First. I can tell you’ve been watching me.

      • Chafed

        You are a much better role model than the pregnant dude.

      • Brochettaward

        A Firster isn’t a role model because they give someone a slap on the ass after they First and say good job. We lead by example.

        MikeS just wants to touch another dude’s ass.

  2. DEG

    Words are falling to the floor
    Glands stand pouring fruit tree
    Now they glisten on the waterline
    See how you are at the shore.

    “Louie, Louie” is more comprehensible.

    OT: From the deadthread:

    I’m back in NH.

    Thanks to ron, Evil Sheldon, and Rat on a Train for meeting up with me at Gourmeltz on my trip down to NC.

    Folks, pick your spouse wisely.

    Did I miss anything over the last ten days or so?

    • Drake

      Good prep for the State of the Union. How many needles are in Biden’s ass right now?

      • rhywun

        His pupils are going to dilate all the way around his eyeballs.

    • Chafed

      Did I miss something about picking a spouse?

      • DEG

        No.

        It’s advice.

      • Fourscore

        Marriages last when the two people involved realize they can’t do any better.

      • R C Dean

        The old one speaks wisdom

      • Ownbestenemy

        I’m told I’m out on Zooms and my wife is in. With friends like these

    • R.J.

      Not too much. Some balloon thing, we shot it down with a $400,000 missile.

      • Rat on a train

        The Atlantic is safe.

  3. Shpip

    Words are falling to the floor
    Glands stand pouring fruit tree

    Well, I think I’ve found what to write on my Valentine’s Day card.

    • Chafed

      Has she sought the kids’ forgiveness?

      • Lackadaisical

        ^this.

        Fuck that.

    • rhywun

      Interesting read.

      • Tundra

        Seconded. After all these years, I still don’t know how I feel about the guy, but I think we could have a beer.

      • rhywun

        We definitely share an “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. I’m not sure it’s a Gen X thing so much as just getting old.

      • Zwak says Your Husband is a Polar Bear, Skinny.

        I read it a couple days ago, and he seems to be sad and resigned.

  4. Tundra

    Somehow I ended up with a Euro copy of Duran Duran, but I’m not sure To The Shore is much of an improvement over ITSISK.

    I absolutely love Night Boat, though. Definitely foreshadowed the best songs off Rio.

    Great series, KK! Thank you for taking us back.

    • Spudalicious

      It’s interesting. I graduated high school in ’81. Duran Duran was on the radar, but not much past Rio.

      • Tundra

        I was ’85. They were massive. Me and my friends were music assholes, so we had been listening to them for awhile before Rio broke. Obviously MTV helped them hugely.

        I saw them in February of 1984. Honestly one of the best shows I ever went to. I think if they were ugly they would have had more cred.

      • rhywun

        Class of ’88.

        Duran Duran were a girlie band in my town. No male would admit to liking them in larger company. Most of the music I discovered, I discovered on my own.

        Though props to Eric wherever-you-are for turning me on to Tangerine Dream in the mid-eighties.

      • Sensei

        Never got in to Tangerine Dream.

        Was friends with all metal heads, but recognized the talent in Duran Duran despite their teasing.

      • whiz

        ^^ This!

        Tangerine Dream is topnotch.

      • rhywun

        Eric was a bit of a loner, Rush nut. I’d go to his house to play with his TRS-80 (with a modem!) and we’d listen to Men Without Hats and TD. He must have left when I went to Germany for 11th grade and I never saw him again.

      • whiz

        Rush, too? I listen to both Rush and TD during my workouts.

      • Rat on a train

        Class of ’88
        Hitler Youth?

      • rhywun

        What do you think I was doing in Germany in ’85?

      • Not Adahn

        ^this.

        Gender-conforming dudes liked Van Halen.

      • rhywun

        Van Halen was respected but if you weren’t walking around with a Judas Priest or Iron Maiden t-shirt you might as well have been drinking mineral water.

      • UnCivilServant

        Teenage social signalling was too taxing to figure out, so I’m glad I was chronically uncool and didn’t have to fret it.

      • Gender Traitor

        My musical tastes were woefully out of step with those of my peers. I was lucky to find a handful of other weirdos from whom to get moral support.

      • Zwak says Your Husband is a Polar Bear, Skinny.

        ’89er here, and they were considered a chick band.

      • MikeS

        ’90. Same.

      • Muzzled Woodchipper

        ‘94. They were totally gone by high school, but loomed large in my youth. They were everywhere.

  5. R.J.

    I like the apocalypse zombie vibe of that video. I personally would not wear light colored clothing while boating.

  6. R.J.

    Next meetup in the Bearded Hobbit tour is on February 12th, 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

    It will be at The Lazy Dog in Plano, 8401 Preston Road, Plano TX 75024.

    • Cowboy

      Wish i could make it, but Plano is too damn far. One day we will have a meet up in Houston.

    • Sensei

      I only realized decades later how good he was.

    • rhywun

      Heh that was fun

    • Tundra

      Looks pretty safe to me.

      • pistoffnick

        Can attest that the Legion in Bovey, MN has that same Hanoi Jane sticker in the urinal.

  7. Rebel Scum

    I don’t understand why American representatives are wearing lapel pin that have the US flag next to a foreign flag. If you are going to mix flags it should be the US national flag with the flag of the state* who’s delegation you are part of.

    *It really should be only your state flag…

    • Rebel Scum

      Only a few minutes in and I am completely disgusted and my calm is damaged. *turns off sotu*

      • The Hyperbole

        Which is why I haven’t watched/listened to any politician’s speechifying in years, it’s truly liberating. There’s old fashioneds to drink and books to read.

      • straffinrun

        Gotta admit, I’d totally attend a speech given by a certain Austrian* if you gave me a time machine.

        *Intentionally left vague because misinterpretation is a staple of old white guy humor.

      • creech

        Was Hayek known for speechifying?

      • Zwak says Your Husband is a Polar Bear, Skinny.

        Von Clausewitz?

      • Rebel Scum

        I don’t think Mozart was much of a speaker.

      • Shpip

        If Constanze Mozart looked anything like Elizabeth Berrien did in the movie (NSFW) then I can’t blame ol’ Wolfgang for not leaving the house much.

      • Gustave Lytton

        I’m not sure Mozart really commanded his audience like Liszt did.

      • Rebel Scum

        The problem with Mozart is that he was liszt all the time. But I hear he was in good spirits when he passed…

      • Chafed

        Arnold didn’t give many speeches. But he has plenty of catch phrases.

      • Rat on a train

        Maximilian Schell?

      • KSuellington

        Ive been experimenting with different bitters in my old fashioneds and Manhattans over the past months. Fee Brothers makes some mean bitters. I like their standard one a lot and I have been getting good results mixing their Black Walnut Bitters with a few dashes of Angostura. The Peychauds is nice for a change, makes a totally different drink. Out of the several vermouths I have tried for Manhattans, including Carpano Antica, I gotta say the Noilly Prat is my fav, which is great as it’s on the cheap side.

      • R.J.

        I intend to start experimenting with vermouth next. I have been enjoying the Fee Brothers bitters I got this month.

      • KSuellington

        Nice RJ, glad you’re enjoying. I’ve tried four or five different vermouths and the Noilly seems to perform the best for my taste in Manhattans. I’d like to try some Punt y Mes as it’s often mentioned as a great vermouth. I’ll probably have to hit BevMo to try and find that one.

        And yes, I would also rather poke my eye with a sharp object that watch the SoTU speech, especially so with Joe.

      • R.J.

        I just cranked out another movie post and half of another “State of TV in 2023.” Far better use of time than listening to Biden.

      • R.J.

        Hear hear!
        *Bangs old fashioned glass in table

      • MikeS

        Ditto!

      • rhywun

        I would rather stick a hot poker in my eye than watch that shit.

      • Rebel Scum

        I used to be diligent about getting the bullshit from the source, particularly with the spectacle known as the state of the union. I watched a few Bush ones (was teen at the time). And I was sure to watch all of the Obama sotu’s, starting during my political awakening/self-education* while in college. Of course, I watched Trumps. Those were at least a bit fun because of the TDS crowd. Since getting into my thirties my bs tolerance (from the gov’t/politicians in particular) has diminished considerably.

        *Which is when I discovered ‘Reason’. That seems to have turned out well…

      • rhywun

        There is no pleasing me.

  8. straffinrun

    Simon has that lounge singer hard slide when hitting lower notes. It works. Weird to listen to 80’s music and the (what they thought) futuristic sound effects. Thought it’d be all lasers-n-shit but here we are 40 years later lobbing barrages of good old fashioned artillery 24/7 at each other.

    • Sensei

      You had various synths in the 60s and 70s, but cheap polyphonic (multi note) solid state gear exploded in the 80s.

      Hence the use and abuse.

      https://youtu.be/_me2yfR7Jfk

      • straffinrun

        I’ve managed to avoid X JAPAN for decades. I’m not breaking my streak now.

      • Sensei

        Good plan. I was amazed how derivative it was.

      • rhywun

        Never heard of it.

      • straffinrun

        Imagine noise but with less charm.

      • Sensei

        And tight leather. Although that might work for rhywun.

  9. straffinrun

    BTW, that “last post” link doesn’t seem to link to anything.

  10. Tundra

    Just threw in The Sure Thing to keep the ’80s vibe going!

  11. Lackadaisical

    Anyone heard anything in regards to treating vaccine or COVID related long term side effects?

    Bloating increased sensitivity to foods as potential side effects?

      • Lackadaisical

        Thank you

    • Chafed

      Dr. Steven Phillips seems to focus on long covid. He tweets quite a bit and has a substack.

      • Lackadaisical

        Thanks

    • Tundra

      That’s great!

  12. Zwak says Your Husband is a Polar Bear, Skinny.

    DD was considered a “girl” band, although at my high school it wasn’t uncommon to see cheer leaders with Cure t-shirts. But, I had total hero worship of a friends older brother, which got me into The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Smiths. By the time we were juniors it was mostly hard-core and associated bands: FEAR, DRI, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, TSOL, with some Cult and a bit of Led Zepplin. By senior year it was Jane’s, fIREHOSE, Husker Du/Bob Mold, and the like, moving to the harder college type bands. Unsurprising, as it was a college town with a great college radio station.

    I still cannot listen to “classic rock” radio, as I have heard all of it too much. So, getting some DD in the mix is cool, as I haven’t OD’d on it.

    • pistoffnick

      fIREHOSE was one of my favorite bands.

      • Tundra

        Ragin’, Full On is one of the best albums ever recorded.

      • pistoffnick

        Yes, yes it was.

      • Tundra

        One of my favorite deadlift songs.

  13. LCDR_Fish

    So Matt from Gourmeltz texted me today to say that someone was asking to see me at his place today. I posted on Sun that I wouldn’t be back for a couple weeks. Or was it not a Glib?

    • R C Dean

      Not me. I’m in Pahrump.

    • Chafed

      Insert *It’s a trap! Gif here*

      • rhywun

        Greetings, fellow grilled cheese enthusiasts!

    • Shpip

      Hobbit came through, wanted to meet up with Glibs. Didn’t work out for him. He’s on his way back to New Mexico now, seeing some of our gang in Dallas in a few days.

      I was hoping to see him during his Florida swing, but was out of town when he came to my part of the state.

      • Lackadaisical

        I didn’t even know he came down here. Guess I was too busy to set his posts.

    • Tundra

      Hobbit.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      I walked in and didn’t see anyone likely so I asked the bartender, “Do you know what a Glibertarian is?”

      “Nope”

      “Do you know LCDR Fish? He’s a friend of the owner’s.”

      “Let me ask my sister; she’s married to the owner.”

      Wife came out talking on the phone and said something like, “Joe is on his way.”

      Had some beers and great wings and left. Oh, and a couple of tee shirts.

      • Rat on a train

        Sorry, I couldn’t make it. My wife came home sick. I had to feed the kids and all.

  14. R C Dean

    Dedthred callback:

    Elizabeth Holmes should be pretty/attractive, but there is just something off about her.

    And I say that even though she is obviously intelligent, and I find that to be a big turn-on.

    • Chafed

      It’s her eyes. I’m not be snarky. That’s what makes her look like she might kill you in your sleep.

      • Gustave Lytton

        She goes in heavy for the eyeliner & mascara which highlights those. That and the hyper psycho personality.

        Her “natural” courthouse pics are much more attractive.

    • MikeS

      I had the same thought, and the same confusion.

    • Lackadaisical

      I think she’s pretty average looking.

      It’s amazing what the right make-up, correct angles and post processing can do.

      After reviewing her pictures I agree with Gustave. But I also think she’s pretty plain without the make-up. She’s starting to get older as well.

  15. Mojeaux

    I will see your Duran Duran “To the Shore” and raise you Crowded House “Pineapple Head.”

    • Zwak says Your Husband is a Polar Bear, Skinny.

      Speaking of Crowded House, here is Neil Finn listening with rapt attention to one of my favorites:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FIw7ERlVxU

    • one true athena

      wow there’s a song I haven’t heard in an eternity!

      I now wanna go look up some video of Neil Finn’s touring with Fleetwood Mac just to see what that was like.

  16. rhywun

    LOL I saw this just before I jumped the hell away from SOTU.

    • Chafed

      Looks like you got away just in time.

      • rhywun

        Looking forward to reading about all the whoppers tomorrow morning.

    • Brochettaward

      I didn’t even realize that shit was going on.

      I’m guessing it will be the lowest rated SOTU in a while.

      • Lackadaisical

        Yeah, I only heard it was going to happen a few hours before. Started to get curious, realized it would just be another pack of self aggrandizing lies and decided to do something more productive.

      • rhywun

        I kept going No please don’t step on one

      • Lackadaisical

        Stepping on baby animals is the worst.

        I once accidentally stepped on a baby bird that had fallen out of it’s nest. The worst part was that it didn’t die immediately, but it’s intestines shot out. That’s when you have to man up and finish the job.

  17. hayeksplosives

    I didn’t “get” Duran Duran at the time. Now I have a little nostalgia for them but that’s mostly about becoming an adolescent and then teenager in the 80s.

    Nice analysis, KK!

  18. hayeksplosives

    Anyone looking for some clean comedy that is genuinely funny might want to check out Nate Bargatze.

    His latest, a stand up routine in Arizona, was delightful. I saw it on Amazon prime but there might be other sources,

    • Lackadaisical

      He’s not bad.

      I’m a big fan of the dry bar comedy YouTube channel. All clean stuff, mostly unknowns but they’re not bad. Sometimes the audio is a little too tuned in to the crowd, but what do you expect for free?

  19. Lackadaisical

    My wife and I were talking politics. Especially how people get taken in by folks.

    For example Modi’s group in India is just using nationalism for a smoke screen to rob the place (through things like Adani’s group). Biden is doing the same (Penn Biden center and a hundred other things). I mentioned that the nice thing about Trump was that he was a wolf in wolf’s clothing. Even most of his supporters (but probably not the true believers there even) could see he was a liar, just in it for self aggrandizement.

    Honestly, Biden’s level of lying (speech stealing, lying about his kids death, lying about grades and his background) is more egregious. But people somehow still swallow all the bullshit. He isn’t even smart enough to put enough truth into his lies to make them believable beyond a first glance.

    • Lackadaisical

      It’s scary to be ruled by narcissists. We ended wondering who is really running the country since Biden is clearly demented to some degree.

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        That is the question, now isn’t it?

        Lately it seems like it’s Yellen.

      • Lackadaisical

        What makes you say that?

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        She’s been on a whirlwind global tour to shore up Treasury buying and solidify the US/NATO bloc. It’s not Harris, it’s not Biden, Klain is out. The other option is Blinken, but if that were true the nukes would already be flying.

    • Sean

      😃

      • UnCivilServant

        I bought a bunch of new ties, and I feel oddly spiffy.

      • UnCivilServant

        Well, time to go into the office and be spiffy there.

        See you guys when my commute’s over.

      • Lackadaisical

        New job going well, then?

  20. Sean

    Mornin, you people.

  21. Lackadaisical

    Anyone have a gauge on the economy or stocks?

    I’m starting to become cautiously optimistic. Seems like nothing can derail the economy and I don’t understand why. Stocks go up or down mostly based on what the Fed says.

    Rates are still going up, but they seem to think they’ll have it whipped without big jumps in rates now… This is good news, but at the same time I saw that job numbers have been revised down and people are borrowing more..

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      I’m in prep mode for a downturn that i think is about nine to twelve months out.

      • Sean

        Yeah. I’m not optimistic.

      • Lackadaisical

        That’s what I thought 9-12 months ago.

        Now I’m just confused. We did have that downturn that totally wasn’t a recession because reasons. So maybe my gauge on the economy isn’t THAT far off, but I did think everything was going to go to hell, not be that mild.

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        Tom Luongo seems to have a pretty good handle on it. He’s been taking the Zero Hedge contingent to task for bein overly black-pilled in the short term.

        Past that event horizon of about nine months, it’s all highly uncertain though. There’s a lot of things that come into play.

        But I think commodity inflation is here to stay now.

  22. Scruffyy Nerfherder

    The TLDL version of the SOTU.

    “Hey Ukraine, sorry, you fucked up and trusted us.

    Let’s go to war with China!”

    • Lackadaisical

      They’re both right.

      Romney is an asshole for bringing what should be an intra -party discussion into the press. But he sucks so that’s not surprising. Gotta be the most likable republican to the Democrats after all.

      • rhywun

        Gotta be the most likable republican to the Democrats after all.

        That schtick is getting tedious. Why hasn’t he switched parties already? I don’t get it.

    • Grosspatzer

      Santos will probably land at NBC News. They have a certain fondness for cheaters and liars.

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        For the official conservative view on things.

    • Grosspatzer

      Negotiate a treaty? Unconditional surrender or we nuke you!

      • Rat on a train

        I was speaking of negotiations with the virus.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      During the pandemic, many restaurants and gyms operated outside in parking lots. They will be able to continue outdoor activities until March 1, 2024. After which, they will need additional county approvals

      We made you move outside, now you must move back inside.

      “What’s your dirt doing in my hole Private?”

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      We view racism as a mortal sin

      Whereas racism is being down-defined to general assholery.

      • Rat on a train

        Catholics and their mortal/venial sin. I don’t recall reading a breakdown in the Bible.

    • rhywun

      Ass-covering.

  23. Grosspatzer

    Mornin’, reprobates!

  24. Shirley Knott

    Mornin’ all y’all.

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, Shirley, ‘patzie, Roat, Ssccrruuffyy, Sean, Lack, and U!

      Time to check my lab results from yesterday’s checkup. ::braces self::

      • Grosspatzer

        Mornin’

        I have it on good authority that all will be well.

        Off to another Dr. appointment with Mrs. Patzer. I’m getting better at pushing the wheelchair around, I rarely crash into walls any more. Hip replacement can’t come soon enough.

      • Gender Traitor

        Thanks, ‘patzie! Cholesterol showing kinda high, so I may have to have the “NO STATINS!!!” fight with this new doc.

        Got a date for Mrs. P’s surgery?

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        Tell the doc that if they haven’t read the current data on statins already then you need a new doctor.

      • Gender Traitor

        My personal policy is to be leery of taking any medication that has its own TV commercial.

      • UnCivilServant

        So… Creantix isn’t right for you?

      • Gender Traitor

        NO!!

        By the way, you’re looking spiffy today.

      • UnCivilServant

        👔

        I was looking for just a necktie, but the computer’s heiroglyph collection is limited.

      • Grosspatzer

        Wait, there are medicines that don’t have commercials?

      • UnCivilServant

        Most of them, especially after the patent has expired.

      • Sean
      • UnCivilServant

        Whoever designed that pacakging knows nothing of the lore.

      • Sean

        Embrace the scent of Pestilence when burnt

        o.O

      • Grosspatzer

        Two weeks. Good luck with the Doc, statins suck.

      • UnCivilServant

        “Based upon how much you watched the electronic fish, we’ve concluded that you are part cat. Other than that, you should be feline fine.”

      • Gender Traitor

        ::purrs, knocks coffee off end table::

  25. Grosspatzer

    Are mainstream broadcast TV outfits permitted to air regular programming during a SOTU address? If I were in charge, I’d totally do that. Ratings would go through the roof, and you could probably charge Super Bowl level rates to advertisers. For the record, I continued my decades long streak of not watching Big Brother.

    • Rat on a train

      You aren’t into sitting through propaganda speeches?

  26. Tres Cool

    suh’ fam
    whats goody

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, homey! Only working half a day today, then off to an appointment with my hair doctor! 👩‍🦰

  27. Cowboy

    Morning yall.

    At the gym. Why do weights have to be so heavy and unlike my soft and comfortabls bed?

    • R C Dean

      I’m betting your bed is also pretty heavy.