Kiss Goodbye is a 41 second stand-alone prelude to Last Day on Earth, and it features Nick on Keyboards. When we say we review an album, we review the whole thing, including the 41 seconds of Kiss Goodbye, so let’s get into it!
Audio
Rhonda
The thing is, these little interludes are synonymous with Duran Duran. The general public might not recognize or know it, but these short tunes are just one of a zillion things that set this band apart from any other I follow. Typically, these short instrumentals are one way to highlight the keyboards, and “Kiss Goodbye” is no different. It is all about creating a soundscape. The synths come up slowly, taking almost a full twenty seconds before a melody is heard. This is what makes Nick such an outstanding composer and player – he knows how to create a mood. The melody reminds me a bit of the instrumental, “That Fatal Kiss”, and with this one being named “Kiss Goodbye”, I’ve often wondered if there isn’t a connection. Naturally, the best part of this interlude is the end as it dreamily fades. In the next moment, the listener is audibly smacked in the face by the jarring beginning chords of Last Day on Earth, which we will review next week.
I’m really not sure if Pop Trash really needed this extra 41 seconds in order to feel complete, but I recognize the artistic license by including the song on the album. Additionally, I have to admit that I enjoy the way “Kiss Goodbye” fades away in one instant with “Last Day on Earth” loudly announcing its arrival in the next. That sort of thing keeps the listener guessing, I suppose. While I don’t think that “Kiss Goodbye” is the greatest way Duran Duran has ever featured synths, I still appreciate the way the band creates a mood, and then instantly changes it.
Amanda
This song is quite the 42 seconds. It is really amazing how much is done in just 42 seconds. As Rhonda pointed out, it is one that is focused on the keyboards, which starts slowly until it feels all-encompassing creating a mood. I’m not sure exactly what I’m supposed to feel but it feels big, dramatic, emotional despite the lack of words and vocals. The title, of course, also implies something monumental. “Kiss Goodbye” feels very final. Putting that into context, it is the second last song of the album. It appears right before the final track, “Last Day on Earth,” which also focuses on an ending. Then, when I think about it in the context of the band’s history, it feels even more dramatic. This album was, after all, the last album with Warren, the last album with just Simon, Nick and Warren.
What would this album be like without this brief interlude? I’m honestly not sure it would change that much. The beginning of “Last Day on Earth” is pretty jarring, no matter if it was “The Sun Doesn’t Shine Forever” or “Kiss Goodbye” right before it. That being said, I like the 42 seconds of song. I like the mood that is created. Is it the best thing Duran has even released? It would be hard to be amazing with the shortness of the song but it is enjoyable for what it is worth.
