As a teenager, I loved Duran Duran. What was not to love — models in swimsuits, pulsating music, long hair, shoulder pads, boats, cars, and a hypnotic visual treat. For an impressionable teen, Duran Duran video were an addiction. And then the eighties were over and we all got old.
What was novel in their videos was commonplace on MTV. Their music wasn’t really that outstanding for them to withstand the shift. Duran Duran thought they were a rock band. They were nothing more than a pop-act. I still sneak a listen to Girls on Film, Hungry Like a Wolf, and Rio, but Duran Duran as a musical force are not all that exciting.
That is until this morning when I saw the video of Girl Panic, their newest single. This is pure old school Duran Duran.
Aa tongue in cheek look at Duran Duran themselves, the video has super models such as Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford playing the role of Duran Duran members. The hedonistic champagne life that made Duran Duran so huge in the 1980s is back. Sexy girls prancing around the television screen are back. The video is edgy and pulsating. The visuals are quite hypnotic. And no surprise, you can’t really hear the music or remember the song. There is no beat to remember, but the idea of Naomi Campbell as Simon Lebon… well that is worth watching.
There is no sign of Duran Duran themselves on the video. And I am just fine with that. As a Duran Duran fan, I don’t really want to see the geezer versions of Simon, Nick, John and Rodger. Where is Andy by the way? For now sit back and enjoy the video.
I assume you’re being facetious about the band itself not being in the video; all of the actual members are there and still looking good!
This video does a good job of convincing me that those supermodels are animatronic. How can they all look EXACTLY the same as they did in George Michael’s Freedom video TWENTY-ONE years ago.
Yup that is what I meant. I think it was funny to see the dress down version of the boys. That is not Duran Duran for me 😉
no! I’d much rather see the boys not these hooches! but I do love all the heels.
The heels have many meanings 🙂
Om,
Actually, the band makes cameo appearances throughout the video as “interviewers”, “hotel bell hops”, “party guests” & “photographers”. They don’t look like old geezers, just more mature versions of themselves- especial Simon who is sporting a beard. 😉
Thanks for posting this. I prefer Åkerlund’s work with Lady Gaga personally, but this is a nice attempt at doing something stylish with a fleeting song, as you yourself noted.
Cheers to the wild boys.
The best part of it is seeing Yasmin LeBon among them. Also, using the very first supermodels. Now the term doesn’t mean anything except that you’re a human stick insect.