Gemini Rising

1980's Sounds - Duran Duran

Written for:

FORUM

The Soundtrack of Your Life  (18+) Every February, you're invited to chronicle the music that has influenced your life! #1970896 by Jeff

#6 - 1980's Sounds - The 2nd British Invasion

It was the early 80's and I was ready to grow past the Beatles, but instead of looking at American artists, it was the British artists that caught my vibe. Bands like Duran Duran, Culture Club, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, The Thompson Twins, The Cure, Wham! Kajagoogoo, Bananrama, The Police, and Soft Cell had the beat I wanted to explore.

First band up - Duran Duran

I heard Hungry like the Wolf and I was hooked! Their sound, their vibe, their look was a perfect balm for my teenage soul. I bought the Rio album and played it over and over (fresh off of my exploration of Lennon's music). The music was upbeat and the lyrics were curious. I'd never heard lyrical word play like I heard Simon LeBon sing. Of course, the guys were all gorgeous and I quickly became a John Taylor fan. Multiple friends liked Simon. Another friend liked Roger. Their music videos took me to places I'd never seen before and probably would never go to. Simon's lyrics gave the music depth that my teenage soul needed to hear.

This was the age of early MTV and my friend, Carol and I, loved hanging out and watching the "new" videos. I'd stay at her house for about an hour after school and we'd hope to see our favorites - Duran Duran included. My friend loved "Hungry Like the Wolf."

Rio was the album that defined my friends and me.

One song on the album - Lonely in Your Nightmare really spoke to me. My high school quote was taken from that song:

"It must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind you need."

The title says it all - My parents went through a divorce. My mother remarried and I din't like the new husband at all. We did not mesh. I was lonely in my nightmare. And when Simon sang, it was like someone was reaching out to me. My friends helped to make the nightmare better.

Ah, the angst we feel when we're young like that. How emotions run so much higher, and yet, are pure and true and raw.

Lonely in Your Nightmare has echo'd through my life throughout the years. There were times I suffered through intense Loneliness. This song is one of the definitive songs of my life.

LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE
Duran Duran