I haven't posted here in ages, I know. The truth is I've been busy working on my new website, Deena Roth Photography. However, I am so excited about Duran Duran's new album, I had to share it here!
Needless to say, I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of Duran Duran's Paper Gods on Friday! Although the first five released tracks have been on constant replay around here for some time, now that I've heard the album in its entirety, I can say that I'm officially blown away. Since I found out that the album was streaming on Soundcloud yesterday, it has been my soundtrack whilst photo editing, so I've listened to it at least half a dozen times. It's an eclectic mix of sheer brilliance that was definitely worth the wait.
More than ever, I am dying to see Duranlive again, but sadly I will need to start getting more photo contracts and also find a source of steady income (something I have been working on vigorously for the last year with no luck) before I can afford to attend any shows. In the meantime, I will continue to jam to this genius album and live vicariously through my friends who are lucky enough to attend shows. xoxo
Anyone who really knows me knows that every day is Duran Duran Appreciation Day to me. However, this year I'm doing something extra special in honour of my favourite band of all time...
In less than a week, I will be graduating from an intensive one-year Professional Photography program at Inter-Dec College. My final project -- for my Photoshop class -- is a series of three photos, paying homage to the women of Duran Duran videos of the Rio era. Last week, I shot The Chauffeur. Yesterday, I shot Hungry Like The Wolf and today, I'm shooting Rio.
Obviously, being a struggling artist/poor student, I couldn't afford to fly to London, Sri Lanka and Antigua. So, The Chauffeur was shot in the parking garage at my school in Montreal, Quebec and Hungry Like The Wolf on Mount Royal, also in Montreal. Today, I'm heading to Archambault Lake in St.Donat, Quebec where my uncle has a small sailboat that will substitute for the Eilean. I couldn't think of a better way to spend DDAD 2014!
I'd like to thank the talented models, makeup artists and hairstylists who helped make this dream become a reality. I have spent several weeks organising my teams, scouting locations and finding the right wardrobe and props to pull these shoots off. Of course, I've also been working on projects for all my other classes as well as building my portfolio and mounting an exhibit with my classmates that will take place on August 15th, 2014.
My only hope is that Duran Duran know just how much they are appreciated by an up and coming photographer in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For over thirty years, they have inspired me and in all honesty, it was because of them that I found the courage to end a 15 year teaching career and follow my passions by embarking an a whole new career path. So, thank you Duran Duran.
It's been over a year since my last blog entry. I could say that I've been busy with other things, which I have, but that's no excuse, is it? Still, it's my excuse and I'm sticking with it! Haha! In any case, I'm making a conscious effort to be more consistent and prolific starting NOW!
Simon Le Bon's Save A Prayer pick!
Now, I will pick up where I left off. I can't begin to describe what an extraordinary experience the Great American Duranadventure was. There were lots of highs -- like catching Simon Le Bon's guitar pick! -- and also lows -- Nick Rhodes became very ill, so they had to cancel the last six shows of the tour, including the Chicago show I had tickets to -- but I still got to see three unforgettable shows, explore places I had never been to before, and most importantly, I got to spend time with my friends. As the band are working on their 14th studio album, I find myself dreaming of my next Duranadventure. Who knows where it will take me? One thing is for certain, Duran Duran remain my perpetual source of inspiration, and the incredible friendships I am so grateful to have built through them continue to grow. You can see all the photos from my adventures here: Memphis, Biloxi, New Orleans, New England and Chicago.
Almost immediately after returning from my travels, I started a new job as an Early Childhood Educator at Ecole Montessori International. The job took up a lot of my energy, and taught me a lot of valuable lessons. My contract ended at the end of June and I will not be returning next year. But... that's a whole other story.
Moz performing at Terminal 5
The autumn brought even more adventure! In October of last year, I had the opportunity to fly to New York for the weekend -- where I was fortunate enough to see Morrissey in concert once again -- and meet up with two of my dear Duranie friends. It had been years since I'd been to New York and although it was a whirlwind trip, it was an unforgettable one. The only bit I didn't like was when I had to bid my friends farewell. I had to get back to work, but they stayed on for John Talylor's In The Pleasure Groove book reading and signing.
Chatting with the lovely John Taylor
A short while after that trip, I found out that John would be doing a book reading and signing in Toronto. I managed to get some time off work and booked a last-minute flight and hotel. I got to meet three of my fellow-Canadian Duranie friends at the event, and I made some new friends, too. As luck would have it, my plane landed just a couple of hours before John's, so I greeted him with flowers at Pearson International Airport. I have a very dear friend to thank for that information! You know who you are...
Unfortunately, I was so nervous that I forgot to ask for a photo, even though I was holding my camera in my sweaty palm. At least I found the courage to speak to him this time, unlike at Incheon International Airport in Korea, a surreal experience that I never blogged about... but I should. In fact, I will! I also plan on blogging about the Great American Duranadventure in more detail. I realise it's been over a year, but it's still very fresh in my mind and this stuff has got to be documented! But I digress... John was extremely gracious, both at the airport and at the book signing. He even remembered where I was from and wished me a safe flight back to Montreal! What a sweetheart. Click here to see all my photos from this extraordinary experience.
Gangwa Island, South Korea, 2008
Gondolas, Venice, Italy, 1993
In other news, this September, I will be embarking upon an entirely different sort of adventure. I'm going back to school! After close to fifteen years in the teaching field, I have decided to pursue a lifelong passion and will be studying Professional Photography at Inter-Dec College. I have a lot to learn, but in the meantime, I have been trying to build a name for myself online. You can visit my website here: Beautiful Colours. And yes, the name I chose happens to be a song by Duran Duran. No big surprise there. I would be profoundly grateful if you'd take the time to check out my Facebook Page and click "like" if you are so inclined. I am both nervous and excited about starting school in a matter of weeks. The support I have received thus far from my friends as well as from fellow artists is overwhelming.
Please stay tuned. I promise not to wait a year before my next blog entry. ♥
They say that you never forget your first love. Well, you could say that my first love was Duran Duran. They have had more of an impact on my life than any other band ever has and that's saying a lot, because I've listened to and admired an eclectic and vast mix of musical artists over the years, but to this day, the only band that I have ever truly idolised is Duran Duran.
I was born in 1970 and grew up in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. When I was 12, we moved to the suburbs and I started high school. At first, I had high hopes, but Grade 7 ended up being a very difficult year. Not only was I coping with my parents’ separation and trying to fit in at a new school, but it was also the year that I discovered just how cruel teenage girls could be. Basically, my first year of high school ended with me in tears, begging my mother to change schools. Hesitantly, she agreed and for me, it was a fresh start and also the beginning of a new chapter in my life. The year was 1983, I was 13 years old and suddenly, the soundtrack of my life changed dramatically. Duran Duran came into my life when I needed them most.
Initially, I was drawn to their music. Then, I was captivated by their videos. Of course, hormonal teen that I was, I couldn’t help but notice their incredibly good looks but, it was their fascinating personalities that really got my attention. The more I learned about Duran Duran, the more I could relate to them. My whole life, I had felt like I was different and here were these five handsome lads, telling me that it was okay. Moreover, I found out that I wasn’t alone. Making friends at my new school was easy now that I had Duran Duran on my side.
I saved my allowance and babysitting money and headed to the unchartered territory of the local record store. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had already released not one, but two albums: the ground-breaking, self-titled debut Duran Duran (1981) and the brilliant Rio (1982). I bought them both, took them home and revelled in their magic. A few months after my obsession began; they released their third album, the atmospheric Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983). That wasn’t enough for me, though. I was insatiable. I spent my weekends hunting down rare import singles and 12” long-versions. They had opened a portal to a world that I longed to embrace; a world where riveting melodies collided with surrealist lyrics, a world of boundless joy that soothed my teenage soul.
I watched every video show televised in Canada: Video Hits, Good Rockin' Tonite, Friday Night Videos, praying that the Fab Five would make an appearance. I anxiously awaited each new issue of BOP!, Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, Smash Hits, etc. I bought every book or fanzine on Duran Duran that I could find. My bedroom walls (including the ceiling) were adorned with Duran Duran posters. I was the only one of my friends to own Sing Blue Silver & Arena and I watched them over and over. I wrote fan-fiction (back in the days when I didn’t even know it was called fan-fiction) about them that was so popular at my high school that I had to make loads of photocopies every time I wrote a new chapter. Kids who I didn’t even know would approach me in the hall to ask when the next chapter would be out.
Over the next few years, they continued to influence me in many ways. I coloured my hair because of them, wore jazz shoes, emulated Simon Le Bon’s dance moves and generally took a keen interest in anything they talked about or recommended. For instance, I doubt that I would have ever watched the sci-fi cult classic Barbarella (1968) if it weren’t for Duran Duran. I read Voltaire because of the song Last Chance on the Stairway. I discovered the world of Andy Warhol because of Nick Rhodes.
Through Duran Duran, I became a scholar of pop-culture and learned all that I could about the musical artists and the movements that had inspired them to create their unique sound. Let’s face it; I was born in 1970, so I was a little kid when movements like Glam-Rock, Disco and Punk happened, but Duran Duran indirectly turned me on to bands from all of those eras. Moreover, as a teen in the 1980s, I became well-versed in the world of New Wave music and listened to a lot of Duran Duran’s contemporaries such as Japan, Aztec Camera, Echo & the Bunnymen, OMD, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Nik Kershaw, The Psychedelic Furs and Depeche Mode, just to name a few. Nonetheless, I wasn’t nearly as fanatical about any of them as I was about Duran Duran and anybody who knew me as a teen could certainly vouch for that!
I truly believe that I would not be the person that I am today if it weren’t for them. If it hadn't been for Duran Duran, would I have learned to express myself through clothing and attitude and delved into the world of youth subcultures? Would I have developed such a passion for music? Would I have become an avid reader of thought-provoking literature? Would I have started keeping a journal, writing poetry and short stories? Would I have started going to museums and art galleries on a regular basis while most other teenagers were hanging out at the mall? Would I have attended drama school? Would I have taken singing lessons? Would I have had the courage to travel on my own and to live abroad? The list of ways that they changed my life is endless and the answer to all of these questions is a resounding NO!
When drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor left the band in 1986, I was devastated. I must admit that shortly after Notorious (1986) was released I took a break from Duran Duran and went through a deep, dark and rather depressing Goth phase. I mostly listened to The Cure, Bauhaus, The Smiths, Joy Division, and dressed in black every day and hid from the sun and read gothic novels and did seriously strange things to my hair and was generally gloomy. When I was 17, I went through a Mod phase that lasted until I was in my early-20s. I have fond memories of those phases in my life and I believe that I had to go down those roads in order to grow as an individual. All of these things are a part of who I am, but it all started with Duran Duran.
In retrospect, although I have been inspired by many other musical artists, I can honestly say that the pure joy that Duran Duran bring to my life is something that I have never been able to truly find elsewhere. In that way, just like their music and their five distinct personalities, they are, and always have been unique. Furthermore, I often think that I would have never found the inspiration or the courage to become part of those youth subcultures had it not been for Duran Duran. I never stopped listening to their music and long after the posters came down, the lessons Duran Duran taught me have lingered. To this day, I am unafraid to always be myself. I have led a rather unconventional life and refuse to be bound by the rules of society.
Although the obsession subsided somewhat in 1986, I continued to follow Duran Duran’s career over the years. I saw them in concert for the first time in 1987, after Roger & Andy had left. They were touring with David Bowie on the Glass Spider Tour. I was thrilled to finally get to see them, as I’d missed my chance when they came to Montreal in 1984 on the Sing Blue Silver Tour. I’ve watched Sing Blue Silver so many times that it almost feels like I was there, but sadly, I wasn’t. It’s a long story. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I never seemed to be in the right place at the right time, I didn’t get to see them again until 2008, on the Red Carpet Massacre Tour, when they came to Seoul, South Korea, where I was living at the time. I got to see them again in Seoul in March of this year and had the honour and privilege of writing about that incredible experience here: DURANASTY.COM.
At the beginning of the new millennium, when the original five members announced that were getting back together, I was totally stoked. I absolutely loved the album Astronaut (2004) which was the only album that they released as the reformed original five. This was my chance to finally see the original line-up that had been such a huge part of my formative years! I was living in Japan in 2005 and I bought VIP tickets to their show in Fukuoka. Sadly, Roger Taylor injured his foot and the Japanese tour was cancelled. Needless to say, I was thoroughly gutted.
Fast forward to 2011… Duran Duran re-entered my life at a time when, once again, I needed them most. It wasn’t the first time that I took out my Duran Duran vinyl collection (of course, I own their entire discography on CD and have uploaded everything to iTunes, but there's nothing like the sound of vinyl) and gave it a spin. It wasn't the first time that I took the old videos off the shelf and watched them. It wasn't the first time that I delved into all the old books and posters and clippings. The simple fact that I've kept all of these things over the years says a lot about how much I will always cherish this band. They’re not just a band; they’re like old friends who are always there for you when you need them the most. I was inspired by their latest album, All You Need is Now, because they have truly returned to their roots with this one and it reminded me how much I love them.
What they’ve accomplished with All You Need is Now (2011) is nothing short of astonishing. They've managed to replicate the magic of their early sound yet produce an album that is extremely relevant and fresh. Not to mention, the message behind the title track resonates deeply with me. The last few years of my life have been difficult: failed relationships, an ailing father, difficult work situations, moving around from place to place, in some ways feeling just as lost as I did when I was a teen… none of it matters. All that matters is NOW and what you do with the moment that you are in. That being said, on April 26th, 2011, I got to see Duran Duran live at a very intimate venue in Montreal during their
All You Need is Now promotional tour. Hearing them perform the new songs live, alongside their classics, was an experience that I can only describe as magical. It was an evening I will never forget.
After that show, I re-activated my long dormant Twitter account and started following Simon Le Bon and John Taylor. I can’t begin to explain the thrill of being in (kind of) direct contact with these men who have had such a profound impact on my life. My fascination with Simon, the charismatic frontman who has always been my favourite member, is just as strong now as it was almost 30 years ago. I’ve been bitten by the Duran Duran bug all over again and this time, it’s for good! My life is simply better with them in it. Not only have I re-connected with my favourite band, but I have connected with so many wonderful Duranies in the last year and a half. They have become an integral part of my life and I am grateful to have made such incredible friends. Their love and support means the world to me. I can't believe that I am finally going to get to meet some of my new friends very soon...
A few months before leaving Korea, I found out that Duran Duran would be returning to North America shortly after my planned return. I decided that I was going to attend as many shows as possible. I am going to four shows on this last leg of the All You Need is Now Tour, will be visiting seven American cities (six of which I've never been to) and will be meeting up with friends, old and new alike, along the way. I’m leaving in less than a week and my first show, in Memphis, is in one week from today! Needless to say, I’m incredibly stoked about what I’m calling my Great American Duranadventure!
Today is Duran Duran Appreciation Day. I hope that what I've written explains, to a certain degree, why I appreciate them so very much. I'd like to dedicate this blog entry to Friends of Mine. You know who you are...
Anyone who knows me well is fully aware that music is an integral part of my life. Okay, so I never quite got that band I envisioned back in high school up off the ground. I do, however, have a book full of poetry and song lyrics and I am known to spontaneously burst into song quite frequently. I also have a rather impressive musical library and have attended far too many concerts to list here. Not to mention, I worked in two different record stores during the late 80s and early 90s, both of which went bankrupt long ago, but I loved those jobs. My point is, without music, my life would be empty.
That being said, despite my diverse musical tastes, nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to a Duran Duran concert. Why? Because, for me, they started it all. They were the first band that I ever loved, that I could truly call my own. This was not my older siblings' music. This was my music. They opened a portal to a world where riveting melodies collided with surrealist lyrics; a world of boundless joy that soothed my teenage soul. They came into my life when I needed them most; during those tumultuous early teenage years. They taught me that it was okay to be different. I honestly believe that I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for Duran Duran. This is why, when it comes to Duran Duran, it's not just about the music. Only a true Duranie can understand: a Duran Duran concert is much, much more than a concert. It's an intensely emotional experience, to say the least. Strangely enough, I have only had the pleasure of seeing them live four times and the first two shows I saw were over 20 years apart. This was not a choice, but rather, a matter of not being in the right place at the right time, but I digress. In any case, All You Need is NOW!
Simon at Le National, Montreal, April 2011
As I mentioned in my last post, I hadn't seen Duran live since April 2011, at their unforgettable show at Le National in Montreal. Shortly after that whirlwind tour, Simon Le Bon lost the top of his vocal range, for reasons that will forever remain a mystery. It was a devastating blow that came at the worst possible time, as they were still on such a high from the North American promotional mini-tour of their brilliant album, All You Need is Now (2010) produced by the uber-talented Mark Ronson. Furthermore, they were getting set to begin an impressive European summer tour which was scheduled to start in July and run through mid-September and included dates across the UK and continental Europe, all of which were postponed, due to Simon's vocal problems. Devoted fans (including myself) across the world sent an outpouring of support to our beloved frontman and waited, with bated breath, for news of his recovery, as he spent several weeks consulting with numerous doctors as well as a vocal therapist.
When the band announced another North American tour scheduled to begin at the end of September and run through the end of October, we all rejoiced, regardless of whether we were able to attend or not. It wasn't easy, knowing that they were headed back to my hometown of Montreal while I was so far away, but I was thrilled that Simon was ready to hit the stage once again. The band also played a series of special rehearsal shows in the UK in September before embarking on the North American tour. I can't begin to describe how relieved and ecstatic I was to hear, from friends who were lucky enough to attend the rehearsal shows, that Simon was back in top form.
Waiting for my favourite band on Planet Earth
Of course, all of this happened after I had already begun a very restrictive one-year contract in Seoul, South Korea. Over the next few months, thanks to social networking, I lived vicariously through my friends who attended shows in North America in September and October, then later in the UK for the re-scheduled shows throughout the month of December. Duran Duran also re-scheduled some of the European dates and I followed my friends' experiences at shows in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium and Slovakia in January. When the band announced plans for an Australian tour, I started to get really excited, as it's closer to Asia and in the past, they've always announced Asian tour dates around the same time as Australian tour dates. When they announced tour dates in Singapore and Hong Kong, I immediately started looking into flights. I soon figured out that neither my pocketbook nor my restrictive work schedule would allow me to attend those shows. I was gutted. I kept my fingers crossed. Then, the first week of January, they announced that they would be playing Seoul on 12th March! I was over the moon! I walked around in a dream-state for the next two months...
Members of Duran Duran Korea Fan Club
Duran Duran have only played Seoul three times in their entire 30+ year career. They came here for the first time in 1989 on The Electric Theatre Tour, promoting their Big Thing (1988) album. It took almost 20 years for them to come back to the Land of the Morning Calm. I was lucky enough to be living here at the time and I attended the electrifying show at Seoul Olympic Gym in April 2008 as part of The Red Carpet Massacre Tour, celebrating their 2007 album of the same name. At the show, and on local television, they promised that they wouldn't wait as long to come back here again and, to my delight, as well as to the delight of all the dedicated Korean fans, they kept their promise...
Me and my sign outside Seoul Olympic Hall
On 12th March 2012, the energy and anticipation in Seoul Olympic Hall, as I waited, along with thousands of adoring Korean fans, was palpable. There I stood, second row centre, still in my dream-state, swaying to the sounds of the enchanting instrumental Return to Now. When the band took the stage, the crowd went wild! The haunting, opening notes of the atmospheric Before The Rain, off their magnificent, latest album All You Need is Now, sent shivers down my spine. Then, when Simon started to sing, I lost myself completely in his extraordinary, pitch-perfect voice, not to mention, his mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes. At that moment, I told myself, there is no place on earth I'd rather be.
Next, they launched into the New Romantic anthem that put them on the charts back in 1981, their first single, Planet Earth, featuring what is perhaps Duran Duran's sexiest basslineeverby Bass God John Taylor. This song always gets the whole audience dancing and despite the packed crowd, I joined in on the boisterous revelry, of course. Their next song was the phenomenal Bond theme song, A View to A Kill and yes, we danced "into the fire" and got all revved up for the amazing title track off All You Need is Now, which holds a special place in my heart, as the message of this song resonates deeply with me for a multitude of reasons.
Play the f**king bass, John
When Simon came down into the crowd, searching for, "A man who can sing," I knew exactly what the band had in store for us. He chose a male fan to sing the intro to The Reflex, as the supremely talented Nick Rhodes played the familiar keyboard tune from one of my favourite singles ever. I reckon I was singing, "Ta na na na," much louder than the lucky man who got to share the microphone with Simon... something I can only dream of doing someday. Sigh. Nonetheless, it was an extraordinary moment and once again, I danced and sang my little heart out!
Simon Le Bon & John Taylor
I should mention that while I was queued-up, in the garage of the venue, I had noticed two girls handing out bright pink sheets of paper with the Duran Duran logo printed on them. Everyone was making paper airplanes, so I asked them why. One of the girls told me that the plan was to launch the airplanes onto the stage during the song Come Undone, which I found rather odd, so I asked her why. She said, "I just really love that song." Fair enough. I can't begin to describe the perplexed looks on the band members' (especially Simon's) faces when that happened. As much as I enjoy the song, I also found myself having a personal, internal giggle, as I tend to walk around Seoul in a perpetual state of confusion myself, so it was particularly funny (to me) to see the looks of "What? Why?" on their faces. Naturally, when Simon licked his fingers after the line, "Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingers..." I totally came undone! And yes, I do know that Simon wrote the song for his stunning wife Yasmin, but hey, a girl can dream...
The Controller - Nick Rhodes
Their next song was the disco-flavoured, Larry Levan inspired, Chic influenced tune Safe (In the Heat of the Moment) off the brilliant All You Need is Now. The album track features a rap by Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters. In the live show, the lovely Anna Ross amazed us with her rapping skills. It's an energetic and playful song that I dare you not to dance to! Honestly, I can't get enough of the new album and I kind of wish they had played as many tracks off it as they did at the Montreal show at Le National, but believe me, I'm not complaining, because their next song was Is There Something I Should Know, which I hadn't heard live since 1987. What a thrill it was hearing it live again after all these years!
Next, they played another track off the new album; Girl Panic! an enthralling song that is infused with their classic, 80s New Wave sound, yet (like the entire album) feels entirely fresh and relevant. The lyrics were written by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and it's one of my favourite tracks on the album. The stunning video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, featuring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Yasmin Le Bon was banned by MTV (as if they even play videos anymore) and has become an Internet sensation with over 5 million views on YouTube.
The live performance was accompanied by a montage of clips from the superbly stylish video, but I must admit that I was too distracted by Simon's exuberant dance moves to really notice. Needless to say, I was thrown into a Girl Panic!
This was followed by what is probably my favourite track off All You Need is Now, the breathtaking The Man Who Stole a Leopard. This song simply transports me and if I were to try and describe it, I'd say it's a cross between The Chauffeur, David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World and William Blake's poem The Tyger, but that's just me. Apparently, the song was inspired by The Collector, a disturbing 1965 film starring Terence Stamp, that I have always loved. In a November 2010 interview, Nick Rhodes compared it to The Velvet Underground's The Gift. On the album, the song features string arrangements by Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist and vocalist Owen Pallett as well as vocals by alternative R&B singer-songwriter Kelis, which were performed beautifully by Anna Ross live. Furthermore, performed live, the song requires some audience participation, in the form of a series of hand claps, while drummer Roger Taylor sneaks out from behind his drum kit to clap along with us. The song concludes with a fabricated news story written by Nick Rhodes and spoken by British journalist Nina Hossain (who also lends her voice to the wonderful album track Blame the Machines) and in the live show, she appears on the big screen situated behind the band, superimposed before the image of a magnificent leopard. I had never had the pleasure of hearing it live, so I was absolutely delighted!
John Taylor & Simon Le Bon
Things really got funky with the title track off Notorious (1986), the first album released by Duran Duran as a trio, after the departure of Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor. This ground-breaking album was produced by the brilliant Nile Rodgers. There was a time when this song, the first single off the album, was somewhat bittersweet for me. In retrospect, I realise how silly that sounds, especially since there is no mistaking the simple fact that this song, as well as the entire album, is pure genius. I recently came across this little bit of history (from my hometown of Montreal) on Wikipedia:
When the track made its debut on Montreal radio station CHOM during the October 20, 1986 edition of the nightly radio show Rock And Roll News, DJ Randy Renaud declared that by the next night, the song Amanda by Boston (which had been holding on to the number one spot on CHOM's charts for several weeks) could "kiss the number one spot goodbye." Sure enough, by the next night, CHOM had received enough requests for the song that it supplanted Amanda from the #1 spot on the stations nightly countdown show, The Top Six At Six.
As if things were not already sufficiently heated-up, the band then exploded into their energetic cover of Grandmaster Melle Mel's White Lines. It may not be my first choice off 1995's covers album, Thank You, but it certainly is a treat to experience live, infused with unabashed energy and bringing the crowd to a whole new level of frenzy. They actually played this song at their last show in Seoul and I personally enjoyed it this time even more than the last time.
Gave me goose bumps when he sang Ordinary World
I think it was around this time that Simon started speaking in what I can only describe as a cartoon character (or perhaps even Muppet-like) voice. I normally hang on his every word, but I can honestly say that I have no idea what he said, as the giddy crowd was roaring with laughter. He then returned to his normal speaking voice, which took on a much more serious tone, as he reminded us how fortunate we all are to live "good lives" while others on our planet are suffering. The crowd remained respectfully silent as he dedicated the exquisitely melancholic Ordinary World to the people of Syria. This was a show highlight for me because, when Simon hit those supernaturally high notes at the end of the song, it was made abundantly clear that his incredible voice is stronger than ever. Any fan who has not had the pleasure of seeing them live since the recovery of his voice, please believe me when I say: you can stop worrying. He's back and he's better than ever.
My favourite photo of the night
Next, the band exploded into the iconic Hungry Like the Wolf, and the crowd went mental! It's always exciting to hear this song live, not only because, as an adolescent in Canada, it was one of the first Duran Duran songs I ever heard, but because it truly showcases what talented musicians they truly are. Now would be a good time to say that while I do, of course, miss original guitarist Andy Taylor, this Duran Duran, consisting of four of the founding members: keyboardist extraordinaire Nick Rhodes, eternally funky bass player John Taylor, supremely gifted drummer Roger Taylor and phenomenally charismatic lead vocalist Simon Le Bon also features the excellent Dom Brown on lead guitar, the exquisite Anna Ross on backing vocals and the wonderful Simon Willescroft on saxophone and let me say that this tight group of musicians are, in a word... sublime. Not only do they sound fantastic, but there is an unmistakable sense of camaraderie and joy on that stage that shines through for every single member of the audience and I have no words to describe just how amazing that feels and how much it means to me to be a part of it, however small.
Wild Boys never lose it!
If any song could embody that feeling of jubilation, it's got to be Reach Up (For the Sunrise), the first single off 2004's Astronaut, as well as the first single to feature all five of the original band members since 1985's A View to a Kill. I absolutely love hearing this song live! It's simply exhilarating to sing along with the entire audience, as we triumphantly thrust our hands into the air along with our beloved frontman.
Next, the band plunged into the raw intensity of The Wild Boys with reckless abandon and, well, so did I. I vividly remember the day the cutting-edge video for their twelfth single, which appeared on 1984's live album Arena, was released. Whenever I hear this song, the memories of being a 15 year-old, gawking at Simon Le Bon strapped to a windmill flood my brain. This was not the first time I'd heard the song live, but it was the first time that I got to hear it combined with a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax and it was bloody brilliant! Yes, I did have that t-shirt when I was 15, and yes, I wish that I still did. The band left the stage after this song, but it wasn't too long before they came back for an encore...
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
I always look forward to Simon's band introductions during the delectable Girls On Film, but I also start to feel sad because I know that the party will soon be coming to an end. Nonetheless, I, along with the entire crowd, enjoyed every blissful minute of this forever popular, sexy signature song. I've been promised a professional video of this, along with Rio, filmed by a cameraman friend of one of my new Korean Duranie friends. In the meantime, I have no footage, so for those of you who may be unfamiliar, the phrase "Play the fucking bass, John," is an awful lot of fun to chant and I highly encourage you to try it. Also, you should know that Nick Rhodes is “The future of the human race, man. Comes from outer space, man. Got such a pretty face, man. Can I come over to your place, man?” When Simon jumped down into the crowd and asked if anybody could introduce him, I can assure you that I raised my hand and calmly suggested, "ME!" Then, he said, "In Korean, of course," so I put my hand down and said, "Oh. Not me." In retrospect, I should have said, "Je peux te présenter en français, Simon," because that might have got his attention. Anyway, the first Korean girl he asked just gave him a blank stare. He gave up and walked right in my direction. My heart skipped a beat. He chose the girl standing directly in front of me. On impulse, I decided to put my arm around him. I mean, this man, whom I've adored from afar for nearly 30 years of my life, was standing right there beside me. How could I not? It's okay. He'll choose me next time. Tee-hee.
The last song of this spectacular show was the iconic Rio, featuring the most memorable sax solo of the 80s, performed on stage by the talented Simon Willescroft. It was our last chance of the evening to fully appreciate the magic that is Duran live and I embraced it with every fibre of my being. It's been a week and a half since the show ended and I'm still on cloud nine. The really good news is that I'll be back in North America in the autumn, just in time for the second leg of the North American tour. I'm so pleased that the boys thought of waiting for me. I will try to see as many shows as I possibly can, because honestly, there's no place on earth I'd rather be. ♥
I've been living in Seoul (again) for a little over seven months and I don't think that I need to say how excited I was when I found out that Duran Duran would be coming here as part of their All You Need is NOW tour. I've been counting down the days for the last two months and NOW, the show is just a couple of days away. I don't think I'll truly believe it until I'm standing in that (hopefully) first row!
I last saw Duran Duran on 26th April (drummer Roger Taylor's birthday) 2011 at Le National in Montreal as part of their promotional tour of the new album. It was a night I'll never forget. They came back to Montreal in October of last year on the official AYNIN tour. I was in Seoul, hoping with all my heart that they would announce a date here...and they did! I've been living vicariously through all my friends who were fortunate enough to attend shows over the last few months and now...my time has come! I'm incredibly stoked! Stay tuned for my full report...
Have you ever felt like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time? Well, this is how I've been feeling lately. Why? Because I'm in South Korea, consumed by a job that I'm not particularly happy in (there are things that I love about the job, like my students and co-workers, but things that I hate and am not at liberty to discuss because I've signed a confidentiality agreement that prevents me from doing so) and Duran Duran are currently touring North America. This isn't the first time that I've missed them because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, because I'm now following their every move via social networking, and have recently made lots of amazing friends who are attending these shows, it's affecting me in a big way.
From February 2004 until August 2005, I lived in Japan, where I had some of the most memorable experiences of my life and met some of my closest friends. During this time, Duran Duran released the Astronaut album and embarked upon a world tour. I was totally stoked when they announced dates in Japan, especially since this was my chance to finally see the original line-up live. Although I've been a fan since 1983, due to a variety of reasons, at this point, I had only see them once in 1987, after Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor had left. I bought a VIP package through the Duran Duran fan site and was going to see them in Fukuoka. Unfortunately, Roger broke his foot and the Japanese leg of the tour was cancelled. They did end up playing the Summersonic Music Festival (in Tokyo and Osaka) in August 2005 and I was going to go with my friend Miyuki, but ended up leaving Japan for a teaching stint in Egypt (I ended up leaving that job and fleeing the country after 40 days, long story) so couldn't go.
In 2008, I was living in Seoul, South Korea (still not sure why I came back) and I had the opportunity to see Duran Duran at the Olympic Gym during their Red Carpet Massacre tour. It was an amazing show and the energy was palpable, as they hadn't been to Korea since 1989. Unfortunately, I attended that concert with two of the most horrendous people on the face of the earth. There I was: singing, dancing, revelling in the magic that is Duran Duran, and they made fun of me the whole time. I still don't know why they even attended the concert and I should also mention that I stopped talking to these two people shortly after that experience. That night, I vowed to never attend a Duran Duran show with non-Duranies again. Nonetheless, I am thrilled that I got to see them and of course, I'm hoping with all my heart that they will come back to Seoul while I'm here.
I'm also extremely grateful that I got to see them in Montreal in April of this year. It was my first time seeing them in such an intimate venue and it was one of the most memorable nights of my life. Words simply cannot describe how phenomenal that show was. I took my wonderful 19 year-old niece Liana, who has since turned 20, to see them and needless to say, she was blown away. I don't think she will ever fully realise just how lucky she was to be fourth row centre at her first Duran Duran concert! For me, it was totally surreal to be that close to the band that shaped my adolescence and continues to have a profound impact on my life - a dream come true! That night, I was definitely in the right place at the right time.
That being said, I need another fix! They haven't announced any tour dates in Asia and I've been dreaming about the possibility of them coming here. Still, I have to accept the possibility that they may not come to South Korea at all. However, they might come to Japan or China and that's not too far way. Although I don't get any vacation days, apart from a week off at Christmas, I will find a way to see them if they play anywhere near here, especially since there is a (slight) chance that two of my dearest Duranie friends may be coming to Japan (this is all hypothetical, of course, since we don't even know if they'll be making it to Asia) to see them too. Mark my words!
I've also been dreaming of spending my Christmas break in Sri Lanka. I've been looking into flights and hotels (that I totally can't afford) and I even bought The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka recently. I've wanted to visit Sri Lanka since I first saw the video for Save a Prayer back when I was only 13 years old. When I lived in Japan, I visited Thailand. When I last lived in Korea, I visited my friends in Japan. I highly doubt that I will ever live in Asia again and although Seoul is quite a long way from Colombo, it's a hell of a lot closer than Montreal! I haven't booked anything yet, but I'm seriously considering it.
There's also my "light at the end of the tunnel" dream: I want to do a one-month, intensive yoga teacher training course in Thailand once my Korean contract ends in August 2012. I know that I'm a good teacher, but I'm fed up of teaching ESL so... why not learn to teach something that I'm passionate about and that's good for my physical and mental well-being? I've let so many other dreams go. I'm going to make this one happen!
Last but not least, there's my dream of finally getting my shit together and writing a book. I've had some crazy experiences in my life and people are always saying, "You should write a book!" I totally fucking should! In fact, I'm going to start writing it NOW! Well, when I say NOW what I really mean is...once this week is done and I've finished writing those 60 bloody report cards! Uh-oh. I said something negative. I also probably shouldn't have mentioned the confidentiality agreement but...woteva. I like to live on the edge.
He's always been an enigma, hasn't he? This is one of the many reasons that I've loved Duran Duran's frontman Simon Le Bon since 1983. Sure, I could gush over his devilish good looks or rave about his distinctive and mesmerising voice or go on and on about his charismatic stage presence, but today I would like to discuss my favourite part of Simon Le Bon: his mind.
I'm not just talking about the creative mind that has been delivering poetic, thought-provoking lyrics for over 30 years. He has a razor sharp wit that has been making me laugh out loud since I was 13 years old. He reveals his soul when telling us how a former choirboy became an atheist. He has an online Book Club. He ponders the absurdity of collective nouns for birds. Let's face it, he's not your average pop star.
Believe it or not, I'm not calling him an enigma because I don't understand him. On the contrary, it scares me just how much I do understand him. Or at least, what I know of him, after years of meticulously studying performances, interviews, articles and now... Twitter.
I swear, I didn't believe that he really was on Twitter. I'd had an account since 2009, but had never really used it. I was satisfied with Facebook. I'll admit that I didn't bother to "get to know" Twitter. That was, until I finally realised that @SimonJCLeBon and @thisistherealJT really were on there! Duran Duran brought me there, and now I can't get enough of the place!
Normally, I am a learned person. I am well-educated. I have diverse interests. I'm well-travelled. I can keep up with most of the subjects that Simon tackles on Twitter because we share similar interests. Of course, he kind of loses me when he starts talking about reality TV or sports, but you know what I mean. When it comes to anything related to the arts; whether it's pop-culture or high-culture, in my regular life, I can keep up my end of the conversation. I actually like talking about psychology and philosophy. When someone is sarcastic or uses innuendo, I get it. As an English teacher, I am especially fond of wordplay. I thrive on that shit. So... why is it that when Simon tweets I turn into a bumbling idiot?
I re-activated my long dormant Twitter account and started following Simon Le Bon and John Taylor at the end of April, shortly after seeing Duran Duran live at an intimate venue called Le National in Montreal on (Roger Taylor's birthday) 26th April, 2011. It was an unforgettable experience. For your enjoyment, here is a video of one of the evening's many highlights:
I digress. So, the first time I tweeted Simon Le Bon was on 29th April 2011. I have been tweeting him regularly ever since. The first (and only, thus far) time that he acknowledged my Twitter-existence was on 17th June 2011. More on that later, but first, this is where the enigma thing comes into play. For the life of me, I can't seem to figure out Simon's tweeting patterns. I doubt that I ever will. My philosophy is to just keep tweeting and expect nothing. That way, I won't be disappointed and any response is a pleasant surprise. It isn't always easy, but I actually try to make this my life philosophy. I am simply always myself, sending positive energy into the universe (and now the Twitterverse) and expecting nothing in return. If I get negative energy back, I block it out and if I get positive energy back, I accept it with open arms. There will always be people who "get" me and people who don't. This is going to sound childish, but... I just really want Simon Le Bon to "get" me. I know that I'm over-thinking this. Forgive me.
John Taylor's tweeting patterns are easier to figure out. He tries to answer as many questions as he can. He provides his tweetpeeps with lots of useful information and often posts twitpics. He lets us know about the book he's currently reading, the music he's listening too, the events he's attending, etc. He sometimes wears his heart on his sleeve, which makes him all the more endearing. Of course, he can't possibly reply to all of the tweets he receives. I can't even do that and I'm just a regular person with a little over 100 followers! Still, I've noticed that he sometimes answers questions or responds to interesting tweets hours after they've been posted. Believe me, I was totally stoked when he tweeted me (again, only once, but who's counting?) on 9th June, 2011, especially since it was in reference to the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit now running at MMFA.
Now Simon, he's a whole other story. First of all, his tweets read like a Jack Kerouac novel in a stream-of-consciousness kind of way. Don't get me wrong, I love this about the man. Apparently, I'm not alone. His tweets have attracted a lot of attention in cyberspace. For instance:
Not to mention, he's got close to 40,000 followers! Therefore, I can, to a certain degree, understand why his choices of who to respond to appear so arbitrary. I've noticed that he often replies to the first person who responds to something he's tweeted. He has a tendency to respond to ridiculous tweets, usually with a sarcastic remark. He also likes to correct improper grammar or bad spelling - something I secretly wish I could do, but I tend to bite my tongue, as I'm not a celebrity so people would just get pissed-off at me. When I happen to be online at the same time as him, I try hard to compose myself (and stop shaking like a leaf) and tweet something witty, but I am usually beaten to the punch by a faster typist. I often miss his "tweet times" because of time zones (and my ridiculous sleeping patterns) so he probably never even sees 90% of my replies and mentions. Still, I wish that I could have a better understanding of how to get (and keep) Le Enigma's attention. As I mentioned earlier, it's probably better not to try and understand.
Instead, I will imagine that it is still circa 1984, when all my conversations with Simon Le Bon took place inside my head (or on the pages of my journal) and the very thought of him noticing me was enough to make me swoon. I will recite my mantra: Keep tweeting and expect nothing. I will keep sending him positive vibes and interesting links and witty remarks, etc. and not be envious of the people who get regular tweets from him. Some of them are my Twitter friends, so I try to live vicariously through them. It's best to let him remain an enigma, isn't it?
That being said, allow me to recount the story of how I did finally manage to get his attention on Twitter. For two days, I had been trying to send him an article about a woman who blamed her GPS when she drove herself into a swamp. The story caught my attention because it reminded me of the brilliant song Blame the Machines off the latest Duran Duran album All You Need Is Now. If you haven't purchased it yet, I highly recommend that you do. It's a work of genius!
Anyway, I was experiencing yet another bout of insomnia when I saw that Simon was online. It was around 5:00 am in Montreal (10:00 am in the UK) and I still hadn't slept. I used cut and paste from a previous tweet and sent the article to him, hoping that he would see it but expecting nothing in return. Suddenly, I saw that he had indeed noticed and had retweeted my tweet! I nearly passed out. I composed myself and thanked him for the retweet, then realised that I hadn't included the link to the article! I tried sending him the link. I felt like a nincompoop.
I've met loads of interesting people on Twitter. However, nobody gets me the way that fellow insomniac Duranie @ladygrinning does. Therefore, I started tweeting her about what had just happened. I said, "Did you see the retweet, Maya?! I just about plotzed! I'm verklempt. But I forgot to add the link." Notice the Yiddish? I don't actually speak Yiddish (although my grandmother did) but Simon Le Bon causes me to speak in tongues. Guess what happened next? He saw what I had tweeted Maya. He responded with: "Well go on then, post it." Of course, I started freaking out again, frantically searching for the link. I sent it to him three times. No reply.
Meanwhile, he started getting all philosophical, in a surrealist way. He tweeted, "This is not SimonJCLeBon," followed by, "In the René Magritte sense at least," then, "Ceci n'est pas SimonJCLeBon." I was so busy trying to find the stupid link that I missed out on all this. Maya didn't. She replied to Simon with, "Magritte was a tortured genius," to which he replied, "You must be thinking about the other Magritte." Now, both Maya & I started freaking out in our 14 year-old selves kind of way. We freaked out so much, in fact, that our sleep deprived selves didn't even catch on to what he was saying. Obviously, he was referring to Magritte's Treachery of Images meaning that the other Magritte (who Maya called a tortured genius) would be the one who lived and breathed between 21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967. D'uh! So...you see what Simon Le Bon does to us? He reduces otherwise well-informed, clever women into piles of pre-pubescent mush. Will this ever change? Will I ever become complacent enough with Simon Le Bon's presence on Twitter to react to his online self in a mature, composed way? Not bloody likely.
Addendum: The day after I wrote this, Duran Duran announced that they have been forced to reschedule their entire European Summer Tour. I have been following this story ever since Simon Le Bon first started experiencing vocal problems in May of this year. My heartfelt wishes go out to him, the entire band, their employees and of course, the fans who had purchased tickets. The timing is horrible, as they were on such a roll, but Simon's health comes first. At least, he is on the road to recovery. That's what is most important. I've signed three virtual cards so far: two for Simon and one for Duran Duran. I will continue to send positive vibes to Simon, Nick, John, Roger and Dom. I feel foolish and self-centred for worrying about getting tweets from Simon whilst he's going through this rough patch. All will end well, I'm certain. xoxo
Last night, I went to the opera for the first time in my life! I saw Bizet’s Carmen at the Seoul Arts Center with Gen. I enjoyed the performance, but I was lost, since the dialogue was in Korean and although the libretto was of course performed in the original French, I was only able to catch words here and there, because I am not accustomed to the operatic style of singing. Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience and made me feel very grown-up and civilized. I have always wanted to clap my hands and shout, “Bravo!” Another dream fulfilled.
Speaking of dreams and things to look forward to, I am going to see Duran Duran in April at the Seoul Olympic Park! I'm especially stoked because I never got to see them live when they came to Montreal in 1984. I was only 13 and I wasn't allowed to go. I did see them open for Bowie in 1987, but sadly, haven't seen them since. Then, in 2005, I was living in Japan, when I found out that I'd finally get my chance to see the original line-up (Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor & Andy Taylor). I purchased VIP tickets to their show in Fukuoka. I was devastated when I found out that the Japanese leg of the tour had been cancelled. So, you can see why I'm pretty stoked about seeing them here in Seoul (even though Andy has left the band). It's been a long time and I've missed them...
I was a mega Duranie during my formative years, between the ages of 13 and 16, and I still have a soft spot for them. They remind me of my early teenage years, when I was all sweet and innocent. They were the first band I ever loved. Duran Duran were responsible for the beginning of my true appreciation of British music and were most likely responsible for turning me into an Anglophile. Then again, that particular obsession probably started way earlier, because my older brothers used to listen to the Beatles, the Who, and of course, Bowie and I would sneak into their room when they weren't home and play their albums.
However, Duran Duran were the first band that I could truly call my own. I saved my babysitting money to buy their albums and spent my weekends hunting down rare import singles and long-versions. To this day, my Japanese import single of Planet Earth (Late Bar b-side - awesome!) is one of my most prized possessions. I anxiously awaited each new issue of BOP!, Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, etc. I bought every book on Duran Duran that I could find. My walls (including the ceiling) were adorned with Duran Duran posters. I watched every video show televised in Canada: Video Hits, Good Rockin' Tonite, Friday Night Videos, praying that the Fab Five would make an appearance. If I was lucky, they played a video. If I was super lucky, I got an interview too! I was the only one of my friends to own Sing Blue Silver & Arena and watched them over and over. "I mean, gimme a wristbaaaand!" I still have a crush on Simon Le Bon. He will always be my first true love.
