My drive home isn’t that long but I do like to plug in the handy dandy mp3 player and hit shuffle. Which songs popped up first? Now, I’m sure that none of you will be surprised to hear that I have a lot of Duran and Duran related songs on there. It isn’t all Duran, though, so it is still weird when I get a bunch of their songs in a row, which is what happened today. The first song was Friends of Mine. Then, I got the Diamond in the Mind version of the Reflex followed up by Planet Earth. One thing that struck me as begin singing along loudly (I’m sure the drivers in the cars thought I was crazy but I’m excited that it is Friday and I was enjoying the tunes!) is the lyrics.
Most Duranies would agree that Simon’s lyrics can be pretty awesome so this is not a new idea, to say the least. I’m also sure that many of you are well aware of our love of the lyrics since we frequently use a lyric to title blog posts. We like lyrics so much that we are also using lyrics to separate sections in our book as the words often can explain exactly what we are talking about. Anyway, what struck me today is how their lyrics can be grouped into categories. For example, there are a ton of lines relating to space, which I realized during Planet Earth. Here are some that popped into my mind:
*”And we’re gonna go to space kid coz I’m leaving with an astronaut” –Astronaut
*”Falling into space at the time of time” –Big Bang Generation
*”And the planet turns” –Sunrise
*”And you sway in the moon” –All You Need is Now
*”I light my torch and wave it for the new moon on Monday” –New Moon on Monday
Obviously, I could go on and on with that theme. So, what other themes are there? I’m sure that we could find a ton of lyrics about every emotion out there. What about partying? There has to be a ton on that. Two immediately pop into my head.
*”There’s an all-night party in room 7609″ –Late Bar
*”All night parties, cocktail bars” –Secret Oktober
Those examples seem pretty obvious. What about lyrics that could be used to explain fandom? Those are the ones I’m especially interested in. I can think of a couple of lines from AYNIN that remind me of fandom:
*”Thought that I could resist but the leopard in you silently preyed on me” –The Man Who Stole a Leopard (the leopard represents the coolness of Duran)
*”I may be a deluded fool but still fascinated” –Too Bad You’re So Beautiful
Now, I’m completely distracted by this idea of lyric themes and placing lyrics in these themes or categories. I’m so distracted that I’m struggling to even finish the blog as more and more themes keep popping up in my head. Heck, maybe, this would make a good daily game once the album polls are done. Although, there is so much material there that I don’t know if we will ever finish (grumble…dang productive band…). Alas, I think I should put this out to the rest of you guys so that you all can be just as obsessed about this idea as I am. What themes do you see or can you find within their lyrics? Of course, I would love, love, love to see what lyrics remind you of fandom!!! This would help us out and provide you hours of entertainment! Thank you in advance!!! 😀
-A
I've noticed there are quite a few lyrics pertaining to ghosts or being haunted by something, or even the idea of it, if not the actual words.
I heard you speak my name
Heard you singing The Stones
Maybe heard you laughing in a line of static
On my telephone – Big Thing(ghostly voices)
Came in from a rainy Thursday
On the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV
And the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you – Ordinary World
And I could be so sorry
For the way it had to go
But now I feel your presence
In a way I could not know
And I wonder
Do you ever feel the same
In whispering darkness
Do you ever hear my name?…
…How could you dare
To become so real
When you're just a ghost in me–Out of My Mind
Obviously those three songs deal with the death of Simon's friend David Miles so it isn't any wonder there is a theme there.
An hour since the sundown
The ghosts are creepin in
Are gathering around me
Like starlings in the wind
Dark shapes gather round
Voices like my brother's
Are whispering to me
But I don't know these others
Who want to set me free – Chains
At the sharp end of the view
The edge of me and you
And all good sense had tread no further
And as the ghost will shiver trees
How I'm trembling on my knees
But I'm still drawn on by the murmur – Box Full O' Honey
There also seems to be quite a bit of weather imagery, rain, wind, snow, ice, clouds and some of the warmer stuff too. 🙂
As for the space imagery, it seems to me that Simon and Nick, especially Simon, are very interested in the idea of space. One of Simon's most admired people is Carl Sagan I believe. Remember Girl Panic was originally going to be space-themed too. 🙂 But they've both written space themed lyrics.
You are absolutely right about the ghost themes and weather as well. Great lyrics that you picked out! As for space, Simon and Nick may be into it but I think it was a popular topic/theme when the band formed. David Bowie did stuff related to space and they did take the name from the sci-fi movie, Barbarella.
-A
I like the theme about fame and modern life he touches in Networker Nation, Other people's lives, Being Followed etc.
“Yeah, it's just a story
But it keeps me hanging on
For the needy soul
The glory hole confessional
I got to see what's going down”
“looking for the real world
with my facebook friends”
“I'm not alone, being followed
Someone always watching what we do
Never alone, but I'm in the shadows
I dream things I don't want you to know”
Fame is definitely a theme! I might touch on that one soon, too!
-A