Back to the Beginning…Girls on Film – the Daily Duranie Review!

A few weeks back, we asked what else we could be doing here on the blog for all of you.  While we did not get many responses beyond “Love it, keep up the good work!”, we did get requests for more reviews.   We must admit, this was not something we were expecting to read.  We enjoyed doing our review of All You Need is Now, and while we’re certainly willing to spout our fountain of opinion(s), it was with surprise and just a little apprehension that we considered the prospect of reviewing ALL of their work.  Naturally, thirty years (or a bit more) have passed since the days of hearing Planet Earth for the first time on American radio.  We both agree that we’re listening to each song with a much different (and hopefully better tuned) ears than we might have when we first heard the albums for the first time – and perhaps this will be to the bands benefit. (in MOST cases)

So, approximately twice a month we will take a song, starting with the first self-titled album, and review it using the same methodology we used for All You Need is Now.  Since there are several different versions of albums out there – we will announce what version we are using for the review.  B-sides will also be included once we’ve completed the albums.  In the case of the first self-titled album, we agreed to use the Capitol Records version including Is There Something I Should Know, because it in fact is the album that the US was first exposed to the band – and it’s the first album that either of us had.  In the interest of full disclosure, neither one of us knew To The Shore until we either stumbled upon it on the internet, found it on a vinyl we didn’t already own, or otherwise.  Take a step back to 1981 and enjoy!

Girls on Film – Rhonda’s take

Musicality/Instrumentation:  When I listen to Girls on Film, one word comes to mind: Balance.  This was before the time it became vogue to allow bass and guitar to drift into the background behind Nick’s synths.  Who can forget John’s bass line – which provides the perfect answer to Andy’s driving riff…and Roger pulls it all together with a basic beat and tom action.  To be fair to Nick – his synths at times are often almost indistinguishable, yet when you really listen, you realize that his synths are creating the atmosphere, almost a filmy curtain, for the scene.  The song truly has perfect balance between all members.

Vocals: I’ve said it before and I am sure I’ll say it again – this was when Simon was at his best.  There is a depth to his voice and an ease with which he sings here that just hasn’t ever been replicated.  You can’t ever mistake Simon’s voice, and the way he is able to layer the harmonization is something that really marks Duran Duran’s music from anyone else.  There isn’t a single sign of whine here, and while we all know that this was from a time when the band had nothing but youth in front of them, his voice comes off with all of the maturity one would expect from a professional musician.

Lyrics: It’s very clear what the band intended to come across for this song, and Simon’s lyrics are spot on.  “Fuses pumping live heat twisting out on a wire”, “Wider baby smiling you just made a million”….these are the lyrics we’ve come to know and love.  In all fairness, I know that in the years since this song was first written Simon has come up with much more poetic lyrics, and in a lot of ways the lyrics here are almost juvenile in retrospect, but at the time – they were perfect, and I must give credit where credit is due.  There’s no mistaking what this song is about in any way.  I have to wonder what images would have come to mind if I hadn’t ever seen the video(s) for this song!

Production: When I think of what production is like today verses early 1980, I want to cry.  This song is a perfect example where everything was done right.  I can’t even imagine what would have happened to it if it were reproduced with every bit of technology that is available today.  This song IS balance, and it’s no surprise it’s as well-loved as it is.


Overall: There is something to be said for innocence and a lack of ego.  The song almost reminds me of what it’s like when a young band gets their first crack at recording and they’re all so excited to finally BE there that no one argues over how much of their part should be heard, therefore you’ve got a perfect balance because EVERYONE is heard.  (Oh wait.  This WAS the first album!) I have to admit that I miss these moments at times.  There is a sense of need, drive, sweat and tears in this music, and rather than coming off as sounding desperate, it really shows just how much this band wanted their moment.  Who knew it’d be 30 years???  The iconic camera click at the beginning is still sampled and used today…and every time I hear it I think of (and thank) Duran Duran.  The sound is iconic, and the song is the epitome of what we know to be Duran Duran. Girls, music and excess…and it stands the test of time.

Rating: 4.5 cocktails!

Amanda’s Turn:

Musicality/Instrumentation:  I am always struck by the clear instrumentation of Duran’s early work and this song is no exception.  You can clearly hear drums, bass, and guitar and I love, love, love how at different moments of the songs different instruments take center stage.  This I think is the genius of Duran-solid instrumentation with changes within a song to emphasis this quality.  It also showed how equal each member’s contribution was.  Speaking of contribution, who doesn’t love when Roger’s drums become the focus?  Who also can’t help but to see that man stick twirling at the same time?

Vocals:  The thing I love about Simon’s voice here is how raw he sounds without sounding strained or inexperienced.  He sounds pure, not made into some perfect vocalist by some machine.  His voice is clear and uniquely Simon.  He is able to hit that high note at the end of “shooting a star” in the way that we all know and love him for while still maintaining a solid performance through both the verses and chorus.

Lyrics:  In many ways, the lyrics to this song are the most interesting element yet despite the fact that rarely are they the focus for this song.  On one level, they seem simple with a chorus of repeating, “Girls on film.”  Yet, the topic of exploitation of models is woven throughout the verses.  Lines like, “Cause the crowd all love pulling dolly by the hair, by the hair and she wonders how she ever got here as she goes under again,” shows this well.  Yet, the lyrics also show the conflict with making money at the same time.  The lyrics aren’t preachy and yet have substance.  Of course, on the other hand, there are lines that really capture the essence of Duran’s sound and spirit:  “I sense the rhythms humming in a frenzy all the way down her spine”, “Fuses pumping live heat twisting out on a wire”, and “Give me shudders with a whisper take me high till I’m shooting a star”.  These lyrics are particularly fascinating considering that I have heard the Andy Wickett demo, which focuses on how they keep getting rejected by girls.  Can you just imagine how those would have gone over!?!

Production:  This is a category that I always find difficult to analyze but these early records will be even tougher as it seems to me that this is how it was supposed to be done.  Every element seems right.  I don’t hear one part over the other and the song is definitely able to be played loud without any distortion!  I suppose it would be interesting to compare the remastered version of this and see if anything was changed as I listened to the song today to review it on vinyl.  

Overall:  It is difficult to truly evaluate this song because it is so essentially Duran.  It is one of those songs that everyone (fans and non-fans, alike) can and do name when thinking about Duran.  To many of us, it is so very Duran like with the strong instrumentation, catchy chorus, and the topic of girls and models.  It simply is Duran, in many ways.  It always seemed to me that they tried to capture this spirit at other times in their career with some results more successful than others.  Yet, I do think that part of the reason this one worked SO well is because of their age.  Here they were, around the age of 20, talking about models and their experiences.  What did they know about models in 1980?  Not so much, which makes it all the more interesting.  I doubt that they started this song with the idea of making a song that would capture the Duran spirit, but they did.  It feels very natural whereas, at other times in their career, it feels much more forced.

Rating: 4.5 cocktails!