wait... there's 4 of you?!? LOL. Yes, this is a great cover. Their version of perfect day is an even better cover - as Lou Reed himself put it: "I think Duran Duran's version of Perfect Day is possibly the best rerecording of a song of mine - I'm not sure that I sing as well as Simon sang it - I think he sings it better than I, if I could've sung it the way he did I would've, It wasn't for lack of trying, they recorded it the way I meant it which is a real big thrill for me so Thank you Duran Duran" - Lou Reed, 1995
And Duran got beat up by the music press so bad over this cover and the album that followed, cos to the music media they hated Duran. Funny how since 2011 especially it’s turned full circle and DD now gets all the plaudits they always fully deserved. Best band of all time, simple as that
I think what matters most -if it all- is that Lou Reed said that Duran Duran's Perfect Day cover is a how his song was actually supposed to sound. Who cares really about critics anyway, right? Good or bad. They are just opinions. Just keep making music and move forward.
it wasn't always like that... it started after their huge 1984 tour, which was sponsored by Pepsi, at the "wrap up party". The band didn't really want to be there and it went on a little long. The sponsors of the tour that were hosting the party insisted the band get up and say a few words each... John Taylor went last and he jokingly said, "I actually prefer Coke". That was the "turning point" when all of a sudden they found it harder and harder to get those "big sponsors", their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business - that's 80% of why music acts succeed. They still were able to ride their success for a few more years and had a few more huge hits - but they definitely burnt a few bridges that night.
@@billw715 yes, his quote was: "I think Duran Duran's version of Perfect Day is possibly the best rerecording of a song of mine - I'm not sure that I sing as well as Simon sang it - I think he sings it better than I, if I could've sung it the way he did I would've, It wasn't for lack of trying, they recorded it the way I meant it which is a real big thrill for me so Thank you Duran Duran" - Lou Reed, 1995
@@theadventuresofjimmycrapol8827 You've got quite an imagination. You're making up a story that has nothing to do w/Duran Duran & their success or about the "turning point" of their success. You've got it wrong. DD's "Seven And The Ragged Tiger Tour" in N.America was sponsored by Coca Cola & John Taylor said he preferred Pepsi when DD was at the Coca Cola HQ. Let's get that straight for one. Let' also get this straight. Coca Cola sponsored DD's N. American leg of their world tour to capitalize on DD's success. DD didn't need a sponsor for their tour. They never had a sponsor for their tours before or after this tour like the overwhelming vast majority of bands in the world don't get "sponsors' for their tours. Coca Cola saw an opportunity w/DD's hysteria & decided to sponsor the tour. Just like Pepsi decided to sponsor Michael Jackson's "Bad Tour" in 1988 & before that w/The Jackson's "Victory Tour" in 1984. These were rare sponsorship occurrences. You state "...Their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business - that's 80% of why music acts succeed. Was it really? Where are your sources to back up this claim? There is none. Its all conjecture & made up based on false pretenses. Your presumptions just demonstrated your lack of knowledge about the music industry & about is during this era. You're already wrong about JT & Coca Cola. You're wrong about "corporate sponsors" & their impact on music acts. You are wrong about the "turning point" of their careers as well. You have no evidence that JT "burned bridges" w/anyone & if he did, it would be w/one corporation, Coca Cola. Coca Cola's only impact was resigned to Duran Duran massive sold-out tour in the USA in 1983-84. That's it. They paid for & supported Duran Duran's tour & continuously did so despite JT's preference for Pepsi's statement. You add, "That was the 'turning point' when all of a sudden they found it "harder and harder" to get those "big sponsors", their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business ..." DD "found it harder & harder to get those "big sponsors?" For what, to pay for their tours? Are you a Millennial? You have no clue how the music business worked back before the turn of the century. Nobody got "big sponsors" in the music business & they still don't. It's was a rare "one-time" occurrence. Again, if a band did, it was to have them pay the band's tours & that's it & this was "extremely rare." The only important "corporation" vital to DD's success in the USA was their record label, Capitol Records- not Coca Coca paying for DD's 1983-84 N. American tour. LOL. By JT stating he preferred Pepsi over Coca Cola is hardly a concern or thought for the corporation that mattered, Capitol Records. Capitol Records "is the machine" that has an investment in DD to put the band in its best position to succeed so they can maximize their profits? Why? So Capitol Records can make as much money out of the DD as possible. So, Capitol Records, despite DD being a money machine for them, is going to lose their "profits" in the band because JT said he preferred Pepsi to Coca Cola. Let's not be ridiculous. Let me give you a band's label's responsibility to a band they have under contract when touring & I'll use Capitol Records & DD for this example. Capitol Records would front DD for cost of their tours like they did in 1981 & in 1982 & the band would pay Capitol Records back from their tour profits or the through their music sales. That's how tours work. With Coca Cola, DD got a sponsor who paid for the band's tour as long as DD promoted Coca Cola during their tour. This is a money saving feature for Capitol Records & for DD. DD doen't have to have their label front th cost of the tour & the band gets to reap as much profit on their own w/out Capitol Records being involved. And Coca Cola gets to advertise to over 500,000 people nation-wide to DD concert-goers. I remember Coca Cola being written on the stage curtain before the curtain opened for Duran Duran's performance. The turning point in DD's career happened in 1986 when 2/5th's of the band did not completely return. When you lose 2 pivotal members of the group that's a big loss. Plus, DD went away from the sound they were known for- a synth-based dance-rock sound. They turned to more of a soul-based Motown sound that some fans did not comprehend or appreciate w/the Notorious album in 1986 & then their follow up album Big Thing in 1988 was more Jazz & House music oriented. Again, a sound that some and/or many DD fans who were used to synth-based dance-rock sound did not subscribe to. Plus, there was still no Andy Talyor & Roger Taylor in the band. That's the reality & not some false assertion about "sponsors' that had nothing, absolutely nothing to do w/the Music Industry but to sell their soft drink & because JT said he preferred Pepsi over Coca Cola. Let's get real.
@@billw715 wow - You seem to take this personally for some reason. LMAO. I mixed up Pepsi and Coke - big fucking deal buddy. Take your Ritalin. Did I make you cry or something? - lmao. I didn't "make up" anything. BTW - I have a marketing degree... I know how this works. I also have a poli-sci and history degrees as well (nothing to do with this subject - just thought I'd throw that in). I personally know Rob Baker and I knew Gord Downie's parents - which is how I met and got to know him too. I worked at the bank where Rob Baker held most of his money (The band is The Tragically Hip - one of Canada's biggest bands). I have spoken to Rob about the industry, even gave his son Boris tips on goaltending. I know how the music industry works. Many tours for many bands (not all) have sponsors. Many tours have multiple sponsors. It's not as rare as you claim it is. In fact, tours have sponsors more often than not. Especially when it's a big act and it's a "World Tour", there will be many sponsors, some for the whole tour and some for only certain legs of the tour. For example, INXS Calling All Nations Tour was sponsored by MTV, but only the USA. A beer company, Molson, if memory serves (could be wrong about that), was the main sponsor for the Canadian leg (I saw the Ottawa show). Why would the Jackson 5 take on a sponsor for their 1984 tour? Unless, get this, there was something in it for the Jackson 5 and the record label. I saw the Buffalo show of that Victory Tour - and yes, they did have a sponsor - but no mention of the sponsor in the tour program or the T-Shirts etc... May have been on the ticket stubs... It's a business decision. In DD's 1984 tour, which I saw the Montreal show - guess what? No mention of Coke on their programs or T-Shirts then either. But there was a presence at the shows. Even Taylor Swift (can't stand her) was going to have FTX (crypto) do a $100 Million sponsorship deal for her latest tour - but the talks broke down. An example of the lack of sponsorship with Duran Duran came during their 1987 Strange Behavior tour - they were going to skip Canada completely because of a lack of sponsorship for that leg of the tour - but David Bowie asked them to open for him on his Glass Spider Tour - and they accepted - I saw the Ottawa show, This was stated as such in an interview on Much Music (Canada's version of MTV). Simon said that and then added that the only reason they accepted was the chance to tour with Bowie - and he was one of the very few music artists they would opened for. You should read up more on Payolas and how it's evolved over the years. The preference for Pepsi statement was AFTER the tour had finished, at the wrap up party - according to both Andy and John's books. Yes, the most important corporation to DD in those days was Capitol records. I agree. Record companies welcome sponsors to share the costs of a tour... and quite often are the ones to actually court sponsors for tours. When a band does something stupid, like what JT did, that makes the record company's job harder in doing that. As a band, you need to behave, cooperate and tow the line. The main reason why Andy Taylor's solo career was stifled after a very promising start - in the recording studio for Thunder, he was everything but cooperative... In fact - he was so toxic the record label couldn't wait to rid themselves of him, the record got ZERO backing for the label and ended up being a flop despite the quality of the music. The news of his toxic behavior even reached DD when talking with record execs - this was filmed and included in a DD documentary. So, when a band member says something as dumb as what JT said, or show an unwillingness to tow the line like Andy did, then they do care - hate to break it to ya. *_Capitol Records "is the machine" that has an investment in DD to put the band in its best position to succeed so they can maximize their profits? Why? So Capitol Records can make as much money out of the DD as possible._* BINGO - which is why you don't piss off the sponsors, especially when it's a big one like Coca-Cola. Make no mistake - stories like that get around and yes, it make it harder for the record label to make as much profits off a band when no sponsors are willing to come in and share in the expenses. Why would a company advertise with a band that will turn around a say they prefer the competition? *_With Coca Cola, DD got a sponsor who paid for the band's tour as long as DD promoted Coca Cola during their tour. This is a money saving feature for Capitol Records & for DD. DD doen't have to have their label front th cost of the tour & the band gets to reap as much profit on their own w/out Capitol Records being involved. And Coca Cola gets to advertise to over 500,000 people nation-wide to DD concert-goers. I remember Coca Cola being written on the stage curtain before the curtain opened for Duran Duran's performance._* BINGO - and once again - this is why you don't piss off the sponsors, which in turn, pisses off the record label. I agree, that when Andy and Roger left it hurt the band and some fans didn't like the musical direction... BUT, at the same time, their label was not happy. Critics were never really on the DD bandwagon and couldn't wait to pile on... Don't forget Capital / EMI invested a lot into them, with their tours, excessive studio time in exotic locations and very expensive video shoots in even more exotic locations. JT has commented on numerous occasions that the single "Skin Trade" should have done better and was shocked it didn't chart better. It wasn't fully backed by the record label. You can argue the music direction was to blame, but if the label got behind it, it would've enjoyed more airplay. After the lack of support for Big Thing and Liberty (which was god-awful - that played a huge part) they were left for dead by the entre industry. Their so-called comeback album, "The Wedding album" was not backed at all by the record label at the recording / writing stage... they had to write and do the preliminary recordings of the album in Warren's living room ffs. A far cry from the "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" sessions, which took over a year in France and the Caribbean. Yes, had a lot to do with Taxes in the UK - but the label pays for that. Hell, DD's management company pulled the album from it's release schedule. The industry mocked their management company for backing "washed up artists" like DD and Meatloaf. Saved by Parlophone (under the EMI umbrella) the album was eventually released. Then the band did it again... the video for the song "Too Much Information" was banned by MTV, BBC and ABC... because DD called them out in the lyrics. And, surprise, surprise, the single was a flop when it really shouldn't have been following "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone". Then "Thank You" came out - which had 2 very good songs that should've been higher chart toppers - but again, the record company didn't get behind it. They had other priorities with newer music acts that didn't look to "bite the hand that feed me" as the lyrics go. Anyways... I don't think that we will ever agree, and we could argue until the cows come home. We both like DD and that's about the only thing.
I think that the dichotomy in the song is that it is told from two perspectives. The narrator is yelling at people to never start or try to quit. The upbeat aspect is how many people feel on a cocaine high. That is the cocaine lie.
The Original Song is called CAVERN by LIQUID LIQUID & that bassline is one of the ubiquitous basslines in modern music created by Doug Wimbish (Liquid Liquid). The White Lines version (written by Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson,) without Liquid Liquid's permission, of Cavern was recorded and released by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel through Sugar Hill Records. Liquid Liquid sued Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement and won.
🎉🎉🎉I've seen and heard this track 8 times live on there future past tour since September 2021 until July 2022 then saw um at the common wealth games Birmingham uk wow wow wow wow it's fantastic brilliant live the crowd go mad 😡 lol they never disappoint on there tours seen um 70 times now and another 3 cumin up Apr Manchester UK then London UK and Birmingham uk wow wow wow wow 🥰 don't stop 🛑 playing Duran Duran best band on planet earth 🌎🌍 ok keep um cummin cheers 😘🥂🥂 enjoy
I always thought it was odd that they chose to record this song when John Taylor had a very serious cocaine addiction at the time. And to have him do that little nose sniff at the start was a bit too in your face about his habit? IDK, it made me uncomfortable knowing what I know about his problems then.
You know you guys should do it all as a band on some reaction videos that would be cool, not saying that you're not already cool cuz you are, just saying.
Duran Duran covered this song for two reasons: It's a great song and it's also a message about the volatility of drugs in general. Also, when Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson wrote White Lines, it was not an anti-cocaine song. It was just a song about partying. To make it a commercially accessible track, they countered by adding additional lyrics such as "So Don't Do It".
Again, the original creators are Liquid Liquid. Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash covered Liquid Liquid's Cavern. "The bassline is taken from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band (featuring bassist Doug Wimbish - Liquid Liquid) COVERING "Cavern", a single by New York City band Liquid Liquid." "Some of the lyrics in "White Lines" ("something like a phenomenon") echoed lyrics from the song "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid ("slip in and out of phenomenon"), in addition to the note-by-note appropriation of the bass line from "Cavern" with a rapping track overlaid. Sugar Hill did not get proper clearance to use "Cavern," resulting in years of lawsuits, ultimately in Liquid Liquid's favor. As a result of the $600,000 judgment against Sugar Hill... Sugar Hill was the label that produced White Lines by "Melle Mel and Grandmater Flash."
Duran Duran's Thank You (covers) album was recorded off and on between 1992-1994. Thank You was released in April 1995 with the 2nd single off the album, White Lines, being released in July 1995. John Taylor entered rehab in November 1994 & got out of rehab on December 15, 1994. In 1996, when Duran Duran reconvened to make the Medazzaland album, Taylor quit during the recording sessions for this album. He was credited with four tracks on the record. Taylor announced to Duran Duran fans at the Duran Convention on January 19, 1997 that he was leaving the band. Thankfully this was temporary until he rejoined Duran Duran in 2001. I hope your bookeeping records are more accurate than your posts.
Duran does this song at almost every live show of theirs still to this day, and the crowd goes absolutely wild over it!
Duran Duran best band in the world!
wait... there's 4 of you?!? LOL. Yes, this is a great cover. Their version of perfect day is an even better cover - as Lou Reed himself put it:
"I think Duran Duran's version of Perfect Day is possibly the best rerecording of a song of mine - I'm not sure that I sing as well as Simon sang it - I think he sings it better than I, if I could've sung it the way he did I would've, It wasn't for lack of trying, they recorded it the way I meant it which is a real big thrill for me so Thank you Duran Duran"
- Lou Reed, 1995
Song kicks ass live.
Yessss! Heard it live at September 23rd Future Past tour and it was absolutely amazing!!!!!
The OG band that made the song sang with them
Thank you is the song to hear off the album!! Led zep loved it❤
And Duran got beat up by the music press so bad over this cover and the album that followed, cos to the music media they hated Duran. Funny how since 2011 especially it’s turned full circle and DD now gets all the plaudits they always fully deserved.
Best band of all time, simple as that
I think what matters most -if it all- is that Lou Reed said that Duran Duran's Perfect Day cover is a how his song was actually supposed to sound. Who cares really about critics anyway, right? Good or bad. They are just opinions. Just keep making music and move forward.
it wasn't always like that... it started after their huge 1984 tour, which was sponsored by Pepsi, at the "wrap up party". The band didn't really want to be there and it went on a little long. The sponsors of the tour that were hosting the party insisted the band get up and say a few words each... John Taylor went last and he jokingly said, "I actually prefer Coke". That was the "turning point" when all of a sudden they found it harder and harder to get those "big sponsors", their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business - that's 80% of why music acts succeed. They still were able to ride their success for a few more years and had a few more huge hits - but they definitely burnt a few bridges that night.
@@billw715 yes, his quote was:
"I think Duran Duran's version of Perfect Day is possibly the best rerecording of a song of mine - I'm not sure that I sing as well as Simon sang it - I think he sings it better than I, if I could've sung it the way he did I would've, It wasn't for lack of trying, they recorded it the way I meant it which is a real big thrill for me so Thank you Duran Duran"
- Lou Reed, 1995
@@theadventuresofjimmycrapol8827
You've got quite an imagination. You're making up a story that has nothing to do w/Duran Duran & their success or about the "turning point" of their success.
You've got it wrong. DD's "Seven And The Ragged Tiger Tour" in N.America was sponsored by Coca Cola & John Taylor said he preferred Pepsi when DD was at the Coca Cola HQ.
Let's get that straight for one. Let' also get this straight. Coca Cola sponsored DD's N. American leg of their world tour to capitalize on DD's success. DD didn't need a sponsor for their tour. They never had a sponsor for their tours before or after this tour like the overwhelming vast majority of bands in the world don't get "sponsors' for their tours.
Coca Cola saw an opportunity w/DD's hysteria & decided to sponsor the tour. Just like Pepsi decided to sponsor Michael Jackson's "Bad Tour" in 1988 & before that w/The Jackson's "Victory Tour" in 1984. These were rare sponsorship occurrences.
You state "...Their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business - that's 80% of why music acts succeed. Was it really? Where are your sources to back up this claim? There is none. Its all conjecture & made up based on false pretenses. Your presumptions just demonstrated your lack of knowledge about the music industry & about is during this era.
You're already wrong about JT & Coca Cola. You're wrong about "corporate sponsors" & their impact on music acts. You are wrong about the "turning point" of their careers as well.
You have no evidence that JT "burned bridges" w/anyone & if he did, it would be w/one corporation, Coca Cola. Coca Cola's only impact was resigned to Duran Duran massive sold-out tour in the USA in 1983-84. That's it. They paid for & supported Duran Duran's tour & continuously did so despite JT's preference for Pepsi's statement.
You add, "That was the 'turning point' when all of a sudden they found it "harder and harder" to get those "big sponsors", their music wasn't pushed by the music machine as hard (and in the music business ..."
DD "found it harder & harder to get those "big sponsors?" For what, to pay for their tours? Are you a Millennial? You have no clue how the music business worked back before the turn of the century. Nobody got "big sponsors" in the music business & they still don't. It's was a rare "one-time" occurrence. Again, if a band did, it was to have them pay the band's tours & that's it & this was "extremely rare."
The only important "corporation" vital to DD's success in the USA was their record label, Capitol Records- not Coca Coca paying for DD's 1983-84 N. American tour. LOL.
By JT stating he preferred Pepsi over Coca Cola is hardly a concern or thought for the corporation that mattered, Capitol Records.
Capitol Records "is the machine" that has an investment in DD to put the band in its best position to succeed so they can maximize their profits? Why? So Capitol Records can make as much money out of the DD as possible.
So, Capitol Records, despite DD being a money machine for them, is going to lose their "profits" in the band because JT said he preferred Pepsi to Coca Cola. Let's not be ridiculous.
Let me give you a band's label's responsibility to a band they have under contract when touring & I'll use Capitol Records & DD for this example.
Capitol Records would front DD for cost of their tours like they did in 1981 & in 1982 & the band would pay Capitol Records back from their tour profits or the through their music sales. That's how tours work.
With Coca Cola, DD got a sponsor who paid for the band's tour as long as DD promoted Coca Cola during their tour. This is a money saving feature for Capitol Records & for DD. DD doen't have to have their label front th cost of the tour & the band gets to reap as much profit on their own w/out Capitol Records being involved. And Coca Cola gets to advertise to over 500,000 people nation-wide to DD concert-goers. I remember Coca Cola being written on the stage curtain before the curtain opened for Duran Duran's performance.
The turning point in DD's career happened in 1986 when 2/5th's of the band did not completely return. When you lose 2 pivotal members of the group that's a big loss.
Plus, DD went away from the sound they were known for- a synth-based dance-rock sound. They turned to more of a soul-based Motown sound that some fans did not comprehend or appreciate w/the Notorious album in 1986 & then their follow up album Big Thing in 1988 was more Jazz & House music oriented. Again, a sound that some and/or many DD fans who were used to synth-based dance-rock sound did not subscribe to. Plus, there was still no Andy Talyor & Roger Taylor in the band.
That's the reality & not some false assertion about "sponsors' that had nothing, absolutely nothing to do w/the Music Industry but to sell their soft drink & because JT said he preferred Pepsi over Coca Cola. Let's get real.
@@billw715 wow - You seem to take this personally for some reason. LMAO. I mixed up Pepsi and Coke - big fucking deal buddy. Take your Ritalin. Did I make you cry or something? - lmao. I didn't "make up" anything. BTW - I have a marketing degree... I know how this works. I also have a poli-sci and history degrees as well (nothing to do with this subject - just thought I'd throw that in).
I personally know Rob Baker and I knew Gord Downie's parents - which is how I met and got to know him too. I worked at the bank where Rob Baker held most of his money (The band is The Tragically Hip - one of Canada's biggest bands). I have spoken to Rob about the industry, even gave his son Boris tips on goaltending. I know how the music industry works.
Many tours for many bands (not all) have sponsors. Many tours have multiple sponsors. It's not as rare as you claim it is. In fact, tours have sponsors more often than not. Especially when it's a big act and it's a "World Tour", there will be many sponsors, some for the whole tour and some for only certain legs of the tour. For example, INXS Calling All Nations Tour was sponsored by MTV, but only the USA. A beer company, Molson, if memory serves (could be wrong about that), was the main sponsor for the Canadian leg (I saw the Ottawa show).
Why would the Jackson 5 take on a sponsor for their 1984 tour? Unless, get this, there was something in it for the Jackson 5 and the record label. I saw the Buffalo show of that Victory Tour - and yes, they did have a sponsor - but no mention of the sponsor in the tour program or the T-Shirts etc... May have been on the ticket stubs... It's a business decision.
In DD's 1984 tour, which I saw the Montreal show - guess what? No mention of Coke on their programs or T-Shirts then either. But there was a presence at the shows.
Even Taylor Swift (can't stand her) was going to have FTX (crypto) do a $100 Million sponsorship deal for her latest tour - but the talks broke down.
An example of the lack of sponsorship with Duran Duran came during their 1987 Strange Behavior tour - they were going to skip Canada completely because of a lack of sponsorship for that leg of the tour - but David Bowie asked them to open for him on his Glass Spider Tour - and they accepted - I saw the Ottawa show, This was stated as such in an interview on Much Music (Canada's version of MTV). Simon said that and then added that the only reason they accepted was the chance to tour with Bowie - and he was one of the very few music artists they would opened for.
You should read up more on Payolas and how it's evolved over the years.
The preference for Pepsi statement was AFTER the tour had finished, at the wrap up party - according to both Andy and John's books.
Yes, the most important corporation to DD in those days was Capitol records. I agree. Record companies welcome sponsors to share the costs of a tour... and quite often are the ones to actually court sponsors for tours. When a band does something stupid, like what JT did, that makes the record company's job harder in doing that. As a band, you need to behave, cooperate and tow the line.
The main reason why Andy Taylor's solo career was stifled after a very promising start - in the recording studio for Thunder, he was everything but cooperative... In fact - he was so toxic the record label couldn't wait to rid themselves of him, the record got ZERO backing for the label and ended up being a flop despite the quality of the music. The news of his toxic behavior even reached DD when talking with record execs - this was filmed and included in a DD documentary. So, when a band member says something as dumb as what JT said, or show an unwillingness to tow the line like Andy did, then they do care - hate to break it to ya.
*_Capitol Records "is the machine" that has an investment in DD to put the band in its best position to succeed so they can maximize their profits? Why? So Capitol Records can make as much money out of the DD as possible._*
BINGO - which is why you don't piss off the sponsors, especially when it's a big one like Coca-Cola. Make no mistake - stories like that get around and yes, it make it harder for the record label to make as much profits off a band when no sponsors are willing to come in and share in the expenses. Why would a company advertise with a band that will turn around a say they prefer the competition?
*_With Coca Cola, DD got a sponsor who paid for the band's tour as long as DD promoted Coca Cola during their tour. This is a money saving feature for Capitol Records & for DD. DD doen't have to have their label front th cost of the tour & the band gets to reap as much profit on their own w/out Capitol Records being involved. And Coca Cola gets to advertise to over 500,000 people nation-wide to DD concert-goers. I remember Coca Cola being written on the stage curtain before the curtain opened for Duran Duran's performance._*
BINGO - and once again - this is why you don't piss off the sponsors, which in turn, pisses off the record label.
I agree, that when Andy and Roger left it hurt the band and some fans didn't like the musical direction... BUT, at the same time, their label was not happy. Critics were never really on the DD bandwagon and couldn't wait to pile on... Don't forget Capital / EMI invested a lot into them, with their tours, excessive studio time in exotic locations and very expensive video shoots in even more exotic locations. JT has commented on numerous occasions that the single "Skin Trade" should have done better and was shocked it didn't chart better. It wasn't fully backed by the record label. You can argue the music direction was to blame, but if the label got behind it, it would've enjoyed more airplay.
After the lack of support for Big Thing and Liberty (which was god-awful - that played a huge part) they were left for dead by the entre industry. Their so-called comeback album, "The Wedding album" was not backed at all by the record label at the recording / writing stage... they had to write and do the preliminary recordings of the album in Warren's living room ffs. A far cry from the "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" sessions, which took over a year in France and the Caribbean. Yes, had a lot to do with Taxes in the UK - but the label pays for that. Hell, DD's management company pulled the album from it's release schedule. The industry mocked their management company for backing "washed up artists" like DD and Meatloaf. Saved by Parlophone (under the EMI umbrella) the album was eventually released.
Then the band did it again... the video for the song "Too Much Information" was banned by MTV, BBC and ABC... because DD called them out in the lyrics. And, surprise, surprise, the single was a flop when it really shouldn't have been following "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone".
Then "Thank You" came out - which had 2 very good songs that should've been higher chart toppers - but again, the record company didn't get behind it. They had other priorities with newer music acts that didn't look to "bite the hand that feed me" as the lyrics go.
Anyways... I don't think that we will ever agree, and we could argue until the cows come home. We both like DD and that's about the only thing.
I would love for your response for Duran Duran’s Night Boat and the Chauffeur
I think that the dichotomy in the song is that it is told from two perspectives. The narrator is yelling at people to never start or try to quit. The upbeat aspect is how many people feel on a cocaine high. That is the cocaine lie.
Just kick-Ass in the 80`s, and with the DD, Treatmeant still Kick-Ass
I've seen them play "White Lines" in cocert and it sounds so great live!
The Original Song is called CAVERN by LIQUID LIQUID & that bassline is one of the ubiquitous basslines in modern music created by Doug Wimbish (Liquid Liquid). The White Lines version (written by Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson,) without Liquid Liquid's permission, of Cavern was recorded and released by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel through Sugar Hill Records. Liquid Liquid sued Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement and won.
🎉🎉🎉I've seen and heard this track 8 times live on there future past tour since September 2021 until July 2022 then saw um at the common wealth games Birmingham uk wow wow wow wow it's fantastic brilliant live the crowd go mad 😡 lol they never disappoint on there tours seen um 70 times now and another 3 cumin up Apr Manchester UK then London UK and Birmingham uk wow wow wow wow 🥰 don't stop 🛑 playing Duran Duran best band on planet earth 🌎🌍 ok keep um cummin cheers 😘🥂🥂 enjoy
Simon is a really great performer 💥 please look Too much Infirmation song from Duran Duran,it is awesome 💥🔥💘
White Lines is one of the best anti-drug pieces ever.
Were Dolly’s headphones on?
I always thought it was odd that they chose to record this song when John Taylor had a very serious cocaine addiction at the time. And to have him do that little nose sniff at the start was a bit too in your face about his habit? IDK, it made me uncomfortable knowing what I know about his problems then.
You know you guys should do it all as a band on some reaction videos that would be cool, not saying that you're not already cool cuz you are, just saying.
Duran Duran covered this song for two reasons: It's a great song and it's also a message about the volatility of drugs in general. Also, when Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson wrote White Lines, it was not an anti-cocaine song. It was just a song about partying. To make it a commercially accessible track, they countered by adding additional lyrics such as "So Don't Do It".
They have the original creators of this song, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash, on the song and in the video...
Again, the original creators are Liquid Liquid. Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash covered Liquid Liquid's Cavern. "The bassline is taken from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band (featuring bassist Doug Wimbish - Liquid Liquid) COVERING "Cavern", a single by New York City band Liquid Liquid."
"Some of the lyrics in "White Lines" ("something like a phenomenon") echoed lyrics from the song "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid ("slip in and out of phenomenon"), in addition to the note-by-note appropriation of the bass line from "Cavern" with a rapping track overlaid. Sugar Hill did not get proper clearance to use "Cavern," resulting in years of lawsuits, ultimately in Liquid Liquid's favor. As a result of the $600,000 judgment against Sugar Hill... Sugar Hill was the label that produced White Lines by "Melle Mel and Grandmater Flash."
This was just before John left the band to get treatment for, you guessed it, cocaine addiction.....
It was after not before! Also alcohol!
Duran Duran's Thank You (covers) album was recorded off and on between 1992-1994. Thank You was released in April 1995 with the 2nd single off the album, White Lines, being released in July 1995. John Taylor entered rehab in November 1994 & got out of rehab on December 15, 1994.
In 1996, when Duran Duran reconvened to make the Medazzaland album, Taylor quit during the recording sessions for this album. He was credited with four tracks on the record. Taylor announced to Duran Duran fans at the Duran Convention on January 19, 1997 that he was leaving the band. Thankfully this was temporary until he rejoined Duran Duran in 2001.
I hope your bookeeping records are more accurate than your posts.