Song of the Week: Planet Earth

Before Duran Duran became stadium-filling, teen idol, superstars, they were perhaps the first new romantic band that really made an impact on me. It was funny, back in 1982, when I was just coming into the FM radio orbit, leaving AM radio behind, I enjoyed Duran Duran. I wasn’t very aware of Rio when it came out in 1982, because it wasn’t being played on the alternative FM radio to which I was listening. I was seeing the videos and thought the songs were still great, but it was obvious—based on their absence from alternative radio—that they were no longer alternative enough. By 1983, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger, they were ‘mainstream ‘and it wasn’t cool to like them any longer—at least not in the circles I travelled.

My secret? For a time, I had a girlfriend who loved Duran Duran—at least from Rio on—and so I could enjoy Duran Duran while claiming disinterest. Yes, I was a lemming. I mean, I can’t think of anyone in my teenage years—even those who were the ‘leaders’—who was immune to groupthink/peer pressure/whatever. So I played the game, pretended I didn’t like them, but didn’t complain when my girlfriend put on Duran Duran.

That original album—Duran Duran, with both ‘Planet Earth’ and ‘Girls On Film’—was fantastic. And I don’t think it was that far away from what we got on Rio. It wasn’t that Duran Duran changed their sound. Maybe a little. But they got some great videos, were very handsome young men, and so found an audience.

Hate the game, don’t hate the player.

It’s great they were as successful as they were. They had a huge impact on the music of the 1980s, and I’m glad I’m old enough—or mature enough—now to be able to say that I love their music. They’re a great band who deserved their success.