Lately on the boards, there have been a run of reviews posted for everyone to see and comment on. Along with these reviews (most have been relatively positive), have been varying discussions about the charts. I’ve read everything from “this will never get airplay, much less see chart status”, to the very hopeful “I hope it goes straight to #1!”
My question: does it really matter?
This is one of the few times when I would love to either have the chance to ask the band, or be a fly on the wall during one of their “band meetings”. (What? Don’t they have those?!? :D) Is the band at the point where it no longer matters to them how it charts? Can you ever really be at that point if you expect to earn a living in a band?
Realistically though, I throw the question out to you, the fans. Does it really matter if the album does well? Does it somehow validate your feelings about the band to see that it does well? Why does it bother us so much when someone writes a poor review?
I think that at this point in my life, there is a very large part of me that doesn’t care at all. I like what I like, and if the reviewers don’t like it – clearly they have no idea what good music really is. I think that as far as the charts go, there is SO much crap out there that is amazingly high on the charts – stuff that I wouldn’t listen to even if it was the last piece of music on earth – that I don’t think the charts are even a good gauge of what’s out there. That said, yeah, it’s always nice to know that I’m not the only human on the planet that thinks All You Need is Now is kick ass good music. We humans need our validation, don’t we?
Sure, I’d love to see the band be on top – but the plain and simple fact is that with a lot of their fans, they already are.
Now if they’d just release some tour dates….I have plans to make, flights to book, plotting to do!
-R
Exactly, my thoughts also. It doesn't really matter if the album does well or not. You know why? Because aynin is simply stunning. I dont't think also that it's a Rio remake or whatever you wanna call it. But… DD have never been this grandiose (musically speaking) for a long time. And yes, that aspect is reminiscent from the Rio days, long gone by, now. Yes, fear not, YOU'LL LOVE the new album 😉
I like the way you think, enitupsar! I don't think it's Rio, part 2 – but I do believe that the spirit that the band had in them back when they wrote and recorded Rio is definitely alive and well in All You Need Is Now, and that alone is pure victory! 🙂 Thanks for posting! -R
Hey there, my name is Rio and I used to dance on the sand. Yeah, I'm pushing 50 nowadays and it's not easy 😉 Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I'm back. Well, sort of, you know… I never really left the band. I was like a ghost to them boys. Everybody kept seeing me (the fans, in their wildest dreams) even though I was pretty invisible throughout the late 80's and all of the 90's and all of this millenium first decade, actually. But I was there on stage with them all those years. Sometimes whispering into Nick's ear when he was lost in the synth keyboard playing some chorus chords or just trying to find me, all over again, like it was 1982. But I never let them see me again. Until now, 2010. Yeah, I thought this was the right year to get back into the light of the world. With Ronson in the studio and all that jazz about Rio part 2. That made me real curious. What would happen if I just walked into the studio like it was 1982 all over again? Would the boys even recognize me? After all, as I said, I'm pushing 50 and I'm not that pretty anymore. Life does this to you, you know what I mean?
Anyways… On some forgotten day last March I went to London and just walked right into the studio. Being a ghost is helpful in achieving this without raising security alerts 😉 and the first thing I did was take a long hard look at the four durans and made myself visible after almost 28 years. They were jamming some weird sounds and the first to notice me and stop playing was Roger. You should have seen his face! I think he made the same face he did on the Rio video when a crab hit! Anyway, they all stopped playing and just looked at me, recognizing me, I think, instantly. Then Ronson came from the mixing desk and we began to talk.
The result of that conversation is the All You Need is Now album. Yes, I still have my charms intact, judging by the musical results of being a muse again for Duran Duran. 28 years later…
Love,
Rio
To enitupsar, well said. I enjoyed “Rio”'s comment.
Hey enitupsar (rasputine backwards…like that) – want my job?? You're much better at it than I am!!! 😀
Welcome back Rio. You were missed. 😉 -R
Hey Rhonda, thanks for offering your job to me!!! But, unfortunately I can't accept 🙁 Sorry 🙂 and thanks for enjoying looking at Rio in an unusual way. Maybe she'll comment more on your posts. Who knows?
Rio (and yourself of course!) are more than welcome to post anytime. I'm actually pretty glad you didn't accept my job – Amanda might have come looking for me since we're in the middle of writing a book, which is another blog for another day! -R