In my quest to complete the blog, I scanned facebook and the boards for any bit of news to report on – and I found a new video! It’s posted on Duran Duran’s Youtube channel, and it’s to Before the Rain. It’s all over facebook and the boards now, but in case you haven’t seen it – here’s the link.
Naturally, I watched the video. I have to say, Gavin Elder has outdone himself. Yes, the video is of a photo shoot, but the video really works with the music well. (the background and perhaps the subjects didn’t hurt either.) This band combined with black and white video is just stunning. I love seeing them laugh, and I think it’s interesting to see them all look with such great attention to detail at their proofs from the shoot. Vanity? Maybe. Rock stars? Definitely. There was actually a glimpse of what I feel is a very rare thing these days – and that was Nick with a full smile. Teeth and all. I miss seeing that these days. He has such a lovely smile, and yet we really don’t see that very often – just the smallest of grins usually, so it’s a treasure to see a full smile. I know most of the shots end up on the cutting room floor, but I’m very curious about those white hats – hopefully we’ll see one or two of those pictures at some point!
While watching the video, I was thinking about how entwined the bands career has been with fashion. I don’t have to recite much of the bands history with their Anthony Price suits and the New Romantic era…or even how they’ve played shows during Fashion Week in Milan to prove my point. Yet fascinatingly enough, this blogger knows almost nothing about fashion. That’s right. I know almost nothing. I realize this must be a shock, so go ahead and take a breath or two. I’ll wait.
Here’s the reality: I know what I like. I’m casual. I love denim. I love t-shirts. I wear flip-flops or athletic shoes on a daily basis. I’m pretty sure that if Nick Rhodes showed up at my house, he’d take one look at my wardrobe closet, grab my Duran Duran albums, posters and what-not, and be on his way. I wear makeup, but on any given day my makeup consists of eyeliner and mascara. That’s it. Sometimes I feel as though I’m a big faker who snuck in under the radar of whomever is the big judge of Duran Duran fans. I have to try really hard when I go to Duran Duran shows, and that begins with telling myself that no, I really cannot possibly wear tennis shoes to the show – even though we ALL know that they are the most comfortable! (you can’t even begin to imagine my joy when I started noticing, and oh yes, I *did* notice, that Nick started wearing sparkly athletic shoes of some sort on stage. Bless. Him.) I try to start noticing what people are wearing, and I do go shopping. I just have to go against my gut instinct to put on a rock t-shirt, jeans and some old converse tennies and be on my way.
That said, I don’t rock the Mom jeans. Pleats and I haven’t been friends since I was in about the second grade and pleated skirts were all the rage. I really am against wearing a clothing fashion that I have photographs of myself wearing back in the 80’s (leggings and I broke up YEARS ago), and mostly – I just take a good hard look at myself in my mirror before I leave each day. That’s about where my sense of style begins and ends, to be honest. I read something once about how Nick (and I’m sorry if it seems as though I’m picking on him – I’m really not!) admires people for taking chances with their fashion. My idea of taking chances is god forbid buying something off the rack without trying it on first. That IS risky when you’ve had 3 children!!! *gasp*
When I go to a Duran Duran show, I’m amazed at everything I see. I admire the women who can still pull off purple hair in their 40’s and still look their children in the eye – I have a feeling mine would just laugh. I wish I were that way….I aspire to be that way. The hairstyles are amazing – I couldn’t ever pull off anything edgier than the very slight A-line haircut I’ve got going on right now, otherwise my hair would truly be wearing ME. I love the way women will wear stilettos to a GA show and then look as though they’re still having fun the entire night. There’s no way my feet would respect me in the morning after being treated that way. My feet insist on flats, and since it’s the only way we continue to get along – they win. So I watch and admire from afar.
I really don’t know how I got past the guards when I became a Duran Duran fan. I’ve never bought a Vogue magazine, much less spent any kind of time pouring over what the latest designer fashions may be. Never mind the fact that at least for most of my life – finances dictated that I shop from the discount rack. I’ve learned to love nice things as I’ve grown older, but fashion is still my downfall. It’s my little confession. What’s yours?
I bet a lot of Duranies don't know much about fashion. I suspect that, for a lot of us, part of the appeal of Duran is that they are something we are not – fashionable. That said, I appreciate looking nice at the shows. I don't have much reason to step up my game so it is a nice change. 🙂
-A
My daily wear is jeans or capris, tshirt and flip flops. Sometimes a cami is layered under a deep v-neck. Yes, stepping up my game is a must at shows. I attended one a few years ago in Grand Prairie (Dallas area) and only had time to leap out of the house in what I had worn all day, and not even a makeup touch up. It did not sit well with me; I felt uncomfortable and out of place.
The shoe dilemma is a big one. I have an adorable pair of high heeled sandals, but decided against them for tonight's gen. adm. show. It will be a comfy pair of boots for me.
Have you noticed on this tour that Simon and John are more casual? John has been wearing a black polo with a white shirt under, and Simon the black button down. Very non-descript. I don't blame them. It has to get hot up there.
Amanda
You made me laugh today. Because I am just like you jeans and t-shirt with sneakers… and you know what I do believe this is sexy in his own way. Nothing more sexy than a beautiful round curve in a jeans or a t-shirt that reveals a nice breast or some cool muscles.Ok it look more like Bon Jovi than Duran Duran but I think that this is part for the show. They wear that as some orhers like Freddie Mercury was using ballet outfit. We love Duran Duran for the music not for the way they are addicted to fashion. But I do admit that in that video they look great. At the beginning they said they were doing a clip for each song. I hope this is going to be true. Before the rain is my favorite song on the album (surely not yours, too Warren type song) 😉 this was a joke mmmm. Did you catch them at Ellen yesterday? There is some clip on her site. Do you like Networker Nation? I think it's great a bit heavyer, it could make a very cool first song for the show.
@Patrick – You'd better sit down, because I actually DO like Before the Rain. However, I didn't love it at first, but the more I listen to it the more I appreciate it. I'm going to have to really listen to that song though because I never really thought about it being a “Warren” type of song until you mentioned it. Interesting though! I like Networker Nation, it's taken a few listens to grow on me. One song that I didn't like AT ALL to begin with (and I really shouldn't give this away because Amanda and I will review it…but that's OK) is Early Summer Nerves. I love the music on this one though. Pure funk, and it's really good. I don't think it's a “show” song, but it's a song that I really kind of like!
@Amanda – I have noticed they seem a little less buttoned up at shows, which for me is fine. Like I said, Nick is in tennis shoes…we're on the right track here! 😀
Just as long as no one tells Nick about my lack of fashion sense…we're all good. Shhhh!!!! 😉 -R
Ok Rhonda I will not tell Nick when I will be with him 26th of april in Montreal (Yesssssssssss) Early summer nerves is… let say interesting the music is great but I just don't understand what's happening with dear Simon… he lose his voice as when he does the end of Ordinary World live… but why if it's studio?
Too Close to the Sun is very experimental, maybe in a jazzy way.Not everyone is going to appreciate. Lots of deformation on the voice track. Those two songs are not the most acheived of the album but do have their interest. It remind me a bit of Silent Icy river. They sound a bit like demos.
Hey this is great! You like Before the Rain. I think it could had been a Warren song but all songs by Warren were Duran Duran songs anyway, he was very good in the melody and experimental side of Duran. That dark side they do have half of the time. People tend to remember them for the party Girls on Film, Rio, Reflex etc. But even on the fist album they were dark (and i love that part) Friends of Mine, Nightboat, and so many other including The Chauffeur, Union of the Snake etc. Warren was very good with them for that side. I think that one major problem they got later was more when John left or when he was into to much drugs to be effective. I beleive that people misinterpret the problem there, it was not Warren is was the lack of the fucking bass 😉 But hey I am a big fan so this is my point of view. Anyway there isn't a bad record of Duran Duran. That's what amazed me each time.
Pat
Pat
I kind of get the feeling that with both Too Close to the Sun and Early Summer Nerves that they were going for more of a “demo” feel to them. Neither of the songs are going to be widely released (considering that they were done as the exclusive tracks on the Best Buy Deluxe version), so I think that afforded them the opportunity to be a little more creative and experimental. I would agree though that the album does have lots of experimentation on it, although it's not so overpowering or “out there” that it's a turn off to the fan base, which I think is where Medazzaland might have went wrong for many.
My favorite Duran album of all time is the very first one, and you are right – it's dark in places and I really love that. (it's also the reason why I enjoy the Arcadia album) I thin the main difference between that first album, and the later albums that Warren played on is that Warren's guitar style isn't that dirty American rock that Andy played. His style is cleaner and more aesthetic, and I actually prefer the balance of Andy's rock sound to Nick's synths…mixed in with John's groove on bass. I just like that balance, and the balance that Dom does with them as well. It's all good though, that's why we're fans right? -R
Indeed… I love the songs Andy made with the band so much great songs Union of the Snake, Wild Boys, Friends of Mine, Careless Memory, Rio, etc. Don't very like the guy, but hey I am not dating the band mmmm.;-)
I am a bit surprised that you seem to think that Warren is not dirty too. In fact he is dirtyer (and no I am not talking about those xxx videos… oh boy… strange idea)So as I am a nice guy I offer you that little clip I found on youtube just for the pleasure of dirty great music ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6usH8b9ixQQ&feature=related
Pat