About a month ago, I wrote a blog here where I compared and analyzed the fans’ ranking of Duran Duran singles to their actual chart position (in the US). While people were interested in the results, they were also interested in how the fans’ ranking compared to the UK charts. After all, Duran Duran is from the UK and we know that their chart success there was different. While I absolutely plan on comparing the fans’ result to the UK charts, I also want to take the time to really compare the UK charts to the US charts.
Single Chart Peak in US Chart Peak in UK
All She Wants Is 22 9
All You Need Is Now Did not chart Unknown
A View to a Kill 1 2
Burning the Ground Did not chart 31
Careless Memories Did not chart 37
Come Undone 7 13
Do You Believe in Shame 72 30
Electric Barbarella 52 23
Falling Down Did not chart 52
Girls on Film Did not chart 5
Girl Panic Did not chart Unknown
Hungry Like the Wolf 3 5
I Don’t Want Your Love 4 14
Is There Something… 4 1
Meet el Presidente 70 24
My Own Way Did not chart 14
New Moon on Monday 10 9
Notorious 2 7
Ordinary World 3 6
Out of my Mind Did not chart 21
Perfect Day Did not chart 28
Planet Earth Did not chart 12
The Reflex 1 1
Rio 14 9
Save a Prayer 16 2
Serious Did not chart 48
Skin Trade 39 22
Someone Else Not Me Did not chart 54
Sunrise 89 5
Too Much Information 45 35
Union of the Snake 3 3
Violence of Summer 64 20
What Happens Tomorrow Did not chart 11
White Lines Did not chart 17
Wild Boys 2 2
While I knew that Duran had a lot more success in the UK for the singles accompanying their first album, I didn’t realize how successful those reunion singles were in the UK. Here in the US, Duran Duran couldn’t get played on a radio station no matter what in 2004. I distinctly remember how much The Killers were getting played during the Astronaut era but Duran couldn’t get played. I didn’t get it. I still don’t. Musically, there isn’t much difference between the two bands. Why play one and not the other? Is it the age thing? What does this say about America versus the UK?
Across the board, the UK has been MUCH, MUCH kinder to Duran Duran. For example, there are a number of songs that charted in the UK that didn’t here. Likewise, the ones that charted in both places tended to do better there than here. In fact, the only songs that Duran did better in the US were: Ordinary World (3 vs. 6–still very close results), Notorious (2 vs. 7–still close), I Don’t Want Your Love (4 vs. 14—Hmmm…), Hungry Like the Wolf (3 vs. 5–super close), Come Undone (7 vs. 13–close), and A View to a Kill (1 vs. 2). Thus, the only times that Duran did better in the US was when they had a super successful hit on BOTH sides of the Atlantic. There has never been a song that has been successful in the US that hasn’t been successful in the UK. The only song that really surprised me, in terms of its success was I Don’t Want Your Love. I’m surprised that it did that well since it followed Meet el Presidente, which went no where. That said, I do remember it getting played quite a bit on MTV. I wish I also had the number of times the video was played on MTV to compare. That would be super fascinating.
So, what jumps out at you? What did you learn?
-A
I’m surprised at how many of my faves didn’t even chart in the US.
Interesting comments. However don’t forget the UK is so much smaller than the U.S. You have to take that into account when calculating. I remember the lack of AirPlay in the UK well. The last time they were on Radio 1’s A list was TWA era. As for Thankyou, why Perfect Day was the lead single just astounds me. I do know why but it’s very sad really. Who knows, if White Lines was the lead single we could have a different story…I loved the album anyway!
I learnt that if you are a European artist, it’s a little hard to you to sell well in the American market.
Beyond being awesomely talented, you must be humble, patient, modest and of course lucky to be appreciated there for some time.