Duran Duran - The Reflex. Apparently their biggest worldwide hit. What do you think of it?

gotcha. : )

 

Flex ... Flex ... Flex !

I love it but I REALLY like the album Paper Gods, it is one of their best.

 

"Come Undone" and "Ordinary World" would be in my top 5/10 Duran singles. A shame the album wasn't that great. They had a string of great singles in the 90's. "Perfect Day" is another

 

It's very hard to find a nice 80's or 90's CD of the debut that 1. Sounds good and 2. Includes "To The Shore" which was removed to make way for ITSISK

 

You also need to factor in Arcadia and The Power Station as two quasi Duran Duran albums. Had they not split we would have gotten a killer Duran album in 1985. Still they weren't exactly prolific '83 - '85

 

Power Station? A "quasi DD album"?

 

Well perhaps not Not a fan?

 

Sure it is. Just like the other half of the band doing the Arcadia album. Two very different records, to be sure.

 

Let's review history a bit: By late 1983, new wave was over. The quirky new-wave sound popularized by Devo, the English bands, and especially ones from Los Angeles, was over with. Evidence this with what was popular at the time, ever with White audiences: Stray Cats, Yes, Men At Work, Joe Jackson (who turned into a lounge lizard), Van Halen, Lionel Richie, The Romantics, Michael Jackson, Prince, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Billy Joel...even the bands that you would think would be new wave were suddenly sounding more rock. The new-wavers were still there, but they were dwindling in popularity. They had all peaked in the summer of '83, and America was ready for rock again. Soon, even Sheena Easton would abandon new wave, as her last new wave hit was "Telefone (Long Distance Love-Affair)", and that was also in late 1983.

For the R&B side, they were trying to capitalize on new wave a bit too late. Shalamar had a major hit with "Dead Giveaway", but that was pretty much their commercial end apart from one or two more R&B hits. As much as some R&B artists may have dabbled in new wave, by late '83, they were all back in standard R&B mode.

I said hip-hop. I stand by that. By mid-1983, many White artists, as well as Black artists, were remixing their music to sound more hip-hop. Remember that the breakdancing fad was in full swing, hence "The Reflex" remix, and even Hall & Oates' "Adult Education". A year later, they would still be capitalizing on hip-hop by teaming up with Arthur Baker with singles from their "Big Bam Boom" album.

I know you love to argue, but you aren't gonna win this one!

 

For me, the outstanding song is "The Union Of The Snake". It's the R&B vibe that I like about it.

 

Was it that obvious?

Even if we ignore the fact that Robert Palmer co-wrote many songs on the album, nothing.... and I repeat nothing.... that doesn't include Simon's vocals could ever be called "a quasi Duran Duran album". That Power Station album is awful. And hasn't aged well.

 

Like many, I saw that Reflex video about 700 times a day on MTV. I liked it ok, but I hated the snare sound. Hated. It was like someone whacking an empty 55 gallon drum.
Someone played me the 12", which was even worse, six minutes of why-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi that made me reach for my revolver.
Finally got the LP. Placed the needle down, expecting to need Excedrin Hospital Strength to quiet my head pain---what? What's this? THIS SOUNDS GREAT. Not 5 reverbs on everything. Tighter. Leaner. Yes!
Never listened to the single again.

To my ears, at least part of it must be about coke:
"I'm on a ride and I wanna get off
But they won't slow down the roundabout
I sold the Renoir and the TV set
Don't wanna be around when this gets out"

Maybe "the reflex" is that temptation or inability to resist, or that ADHD impulsivity that gets you in such hot water.


Dan

 

I prefer Arcadia but liked some of the Power Station stuff. "Some Like It Hot" is a great single.

 

Favs

1. Save A Prayer
2. Rio
3. View to a Kill
4. Ordinary World
5. Hungry Like the Wolf

 

A bit different topic: whenever I heard Madonna's music, I think about Duran Duran. DD must have been an influence on Madonna?

 

I also like the song Perfect Day and the cool acoustic version of that too. I also like A View To A Kill along with Ordinary World and Rio.

 

I think the comment to which I replied wanted us to semi-ignore the side projects.

Those definitely helped keep DD in the spotlight even if the band themselves didn't do a lot over that period...

 

Yeah, I'm the one in this discussion who loves to argue. Pot, kettle, Grant!

I don't hear one iota of "hip hop" in "The Reflex"!

 

The Power Station and Arcadia were enjoyable side Duran efforts.

 

This guy seems to have it figured out...

Song Beneath the Song: “The Reflex” by Duran Duran | The Weeklings

 

You can't see the breakdancers during the middle breakdown part? I can.

 

The Judas Priest review made me smile....
Regarding The Reflex....I'm stereotypical that I prefer their early singles/albums.
The 83 to 85 years passed me by.
I thought Notorious was a welcome return to form.

 

I always thought Notorious was more 'plastic soul' than a return to New Wave. Certainly Seven is closer to Duran Duran Classic than Notorious was.

 

Exactly