Save a Prayer — The Daily Duranie Review

We are moving towards the end of the Rio album.  Like Hungry like the Wolf, Save a Prayer is a song that instantly creates a response in fans.  It is well-known by the general public and a song that most of us have been listening to for a long time.  The song is one that is often stated by many fans as their favorite.  It is also, really, the band’s first ballad.  Thus, this week, we will try to step back from our own emotions and instant reactions to really take a look at this song.

Rhonda:

Musicality:  One thing that I have always appreciated in Duran’s music – they were unafraid to try new things, and the synthesized sound of what sounds very much like an Ocarina (but apparently is not, from what I have been told today) is something fairly unusual in 80s music. Backing up that melody, you can still hear Nick’s synthesizers in the mix, with that same loop continuing throughout the song, being allowed to come up in volume, and bend sound when appropriate. When I listen, it’s easy to pick up John’s bass as well, providing solid structure and depth. It’s the ying to the melody’s yang.  Roger’s drums are there, being felt rather than heard most of the time – which I can appreciate in a song like this.  Lastly, there is Andy’s guitar, which does not play a starring role at all in this song. Yes, there is a bit of a “solo” so-to-speak, but it is not meant as a “hey there look at me” moment. It is merely a backup “voice”, so to speak – and while I am typically one to yell for the guitar to be turned up, in this song, I cannot argue that the guitar does not occupy the proper place, allowing the lead voice and harmonies to be fully absorbed, and the music digested as a whole.

Vocals: I will go out on a limb here and say that I think this is one of Simons best recordings ever. His voice is simply beautiful here. Sure, there are a ton of harmonies and I would love to know how many tracks of vocals were done here, but his voice, in my opinion, is the star of the song – and it should be.  What I’d like to note here is that on some of the band’s work, the harmonies almost feel over done. They don’t feel natural – they feel forced just to give the song that “Duran Duran” sound. On this song, I think they are completely natural, in fact – when I was young, I really believed it must be the entire band singing with him. (Ah, to be 12 again…)  The lushness of the harmonies works extremely well with the structure of the song, continue to deepen the line of music, and let’s face it – no one harmonizes like Simon.

Lyrics: I love this song. I know that’s hard to believe because in recent years I’ve been one telling the band to put it away.  I might have even voted it off the Duranie-island at one point. (I can’t remember now, and no I’m not going to go look it up.)  I felt that the song…and I still FEEL…that the song was losing its effectiveness at shows. This song is so powerful, and the message is so poignant, I just felt as though people sort of stopped listening. Does that make sense? I’d rather see them put it away and pull it out on occasion to surprise and have it be this amazingly gorgeous moment between the fans and the band than have it be a song where I stand there and say “Oh, this again?”…because NO Duran song should be that way.  There are just way too many songs for them to play for anything to ever end up that way. (/end rant) This song is about living in the moment (there are a LOT of Duran songs that have that basic message in the lyrics. Interesting. Someone should write a book about that someday….), it’s about enjoying the place you’re in.  I don’t hear a very religious sort of message in there – although I am aware that some fans do.  For me, this song really is about loving the place you’re in and not thinking about the past or the future. I can’t help but relate this to touring or those infamous roadtrips I take with Amanda to see this band. For those few days: I am simply me. I’m not mom, I’m not a homeschooling parent, I’m not someone’s wife (well, I am…in case my husband is reading this..LOL), my point is that I’m Rhonda.  I get to just worry about me. Enjoy being me.  And yes, I have to say that I adore the that one-night stand line because (for me) it’s not REALLY about some guy using a really lame pick up line to get some girl, probably a gorgeous model as the case might be, into bed. It’s about saying “Hey, we’ve only got this one moment here. This one evening. Let’s make it something amazing and enjoy it.” That’s how those few days when I’m “touring” are for me.

Production: There is so much that could have gone wrong with this one.  They could have turned up the guitar in the mix….they could have gotten rid or buried the ocarina…Nick’s synths could have been way too far down…and those gorgeous harmonies and echo that gives a sort of warm ethereal feeling. Overall though, it is the little things.  Colin just seemed to have a sense of how to create emotion and feeling during production.  I don’t want to detract from the band’s talent, but even with an amazing song if it’s not recorded properly it will sound incredibly flat.  Just think of a lot of the bands of the 80’s that used synthesizers.  While there is a place for that one-dimensional, flat electronic sound – Duran never had that, and in addition to the band we can certainly thank production for that. Thankfully, Colin had a clear vision for how to communicate emotion without overdoing.

Overall: I’d forgotten how gorgeous this song really is. That’s what I mean by playing a song to death though, and I really wish the band would just LISTEN. They’re killing off their own music when they play the same basic greatest hits setlist tour after tour after tour.  It is OK to let people leave the venue wanting to hear ________.  I know this because I’ve done it myself for years and years (pick any obscure song that they never really play), and yet I still keep coming back. Fascinating thought. Regardless, my point is that doing the review gave me the opportunity to refresh my ears and appreciate the music and the message once again. I can’t honestly think of anything about this song that I don’t like, yet it’s difficult to give it five cocktails.  Why?  I think it has everything to do with it being overplayed, and I have to forget that as I review…which is not easy.  Is the song really perfect?  I think it might be as close as it can get.

Rating:  I’ve got to give it five cocktails!

Amanda:

Musicality/Instrumentation:  As we all know, this song starts out with the beautiful keyboard sounds before the other instruments join in.  The drums do exactly what they should by moving the song from one part to the next leading the listener.  Of course, Nick is still very much present with his signature twist of the knob, called a bender, that creates that sound that we all know and love and can easily spot Nick using in a live performance.  Yet, the real beauty seems to come from Andy’s guitars.  His guitar here isn’t a hard rock, pay attention to me and only me sort of guitar.  No, it is more subtle, more beautiful.  Truly, early Duran is often referenced in the tug-of-war between Nick and Andy.  In songs like Planet Earth, they are doing more call and response.  Here, they seem to be working together and, as the song goes, they really were in the writing and recording of this one.  This isn’t to say that John isn’t there as he is but it takes a good listen to notice him as the beautiful melody and guitar is typically noticed more.  Of course, like every Duranie from the 1980s, I can’t help to think of the visual while listening to the music.  It does seem to sound like that exotic, tropical, beach filled Sri Lanka.  It sounds warm and beautiful.

Vocals:  While the music is very beautiful, the listener is still drawn to Simon once the vocals begin.  These are classic Simon vocals with him venturing into his lower range, at times, during the verses.  The first chorus is such that it is all Simon until the end when “more voices” join in, creating a much stronger emotion in the listener.  Then, second verse includes more backing vocals with the “doo doo”s and such.  The second chorus like the second verse has stacked vocals, making it a much fuller sound, much more dramatic.  The background vocals are noticeable throughout the rest of the song, but don’t take anything away from it.  They feel rather natural and works to create emotion, I think.  The end continues with the “doo doo doo” along with Simon singing “Save a prayer” over and over again.  As a child, I remember getting this part in my head and it wouldn’t let go.  It was probably a sign that I should run far away from this band.  Ha!

Lyrics:  The lyrics to this song always give me mixed feelings.  People have obviously thought of the lyrics as “beautiful” and in some sense, they are.  Yet, it is about a one night stand.  It isn’t some religious statement, which I have read more than a few times.  Now, of course, I get that the idea is about going after one’s dreams, living in the moment, not letting fear stop you.  That’s nice but there is a part of me that can’t get past the one night stand part.  Are we sure this isn’t just some guy trying to convince some woman to go to bed with him?  I know.  I know.  It is one line.  That shouldn’t taint the whole song and it really doesn’t.  I love many other lines from the song.  Lines about looking for a thrill and knowing where to go definitely reminds me of touring.  I know that if I go on tour, it will be a thrill, no matter what.  I also love the idea of not dreaming but living.  That is a solid message.  As I said, though, the lyrics result in mixed feelings for me.

Production:  When I think of production, I tend to think of the little things.  Who had the idea to include more stacked vocals in the second verse and chorus?  Who suggested the “doo doo” addition?  If it wasn’t the producer, was he the one to know how much to include?  How loud they should be in the mix?  This, of course, reminds me of the story about how Nick stayed back in the UK to be there for the finishing mix of the album while the rest of the band headed to Sri Lanka to do those videos.  Then, Nick came later wearing all leather and sweating from the non-air conditioned heat.  My point here is really how Colin seemed to know, to sense, when to add, and when to allow the song to flow without adding anything.  It would be so tempting to do too much, especially with a ballad like this.  Luckily, he didn’t do too much.

Overall:  This is a tough song to review.  Like every other Duranie on the planet, as soon as I hear the song I think of the video or think of it played live with everyone having their lighters or cell phones out.    Those images are permanently etched into my brain.  The video is beautiful.  The image of them standing in a line at the end of the video looking up at the giant statue is one of my most favorite shots ever of the band.  Yet, at the same time, I’m not a big ballad person.  There has to be something more, something different for me to really love it (think Before the Rain here people.)  On top of that, I shy away from any song that seems to have a ton of hype around it and this one does.  Some fans go absolutely crazy for it.  It is hard to separate all of that to really think about the song.  Musically, it is beautiful and I do love the backstory with Andy and Nick.  Some of the lyrics really grip me while others make me cringe.  The vocals create a lush, emotion filled impact despite whatever shortcomings in the lyrics.

Cocktail Rating:  4 cocktails!