all the way down her spine
I can sense the rhythm humming
In a frenzy
All the way down her spine
Ring a bell? For those who find these lines strangely familiar, I bet you’d remember the film clip. Who amongst us can’t recall the spectacular “Girls On Film”, hypnotising to my pre-teen self and many of my age group, and still guaranteed to raise a smile at parties…and maybe more than a smile ;)
I saw Duran Duran live last night. For those of you asking ‘who?”, please leave the room immediately, and shut the door behind you – I don’t need any smart comments saying they weren’t even born. The 80s were famous for many things – lurid colours, the birth of Goth, fingerless lace gloves, Michael Jackson looking human – but mostly for tacky as hell pop music. And nothing else will get me on the dance floor.
I remembered all the lyrics. I remembered copying the hilarious New Romantic dancing, watching their yacht-hopping playboy filmclips on “Countdown”…but most of all, I remembered John Taylor.
Their bass player was the first man to ever make make my inner strumpet sit up, and take notice. I swooned over the others – and personally, despite his spectacularly daggy dancing last night, I would still leave room for Simon le Bon – but John Taylor…..oh my lord…..for an 11-year-old, it was a startling awakening.
I recall watching him in the “Hungry Like The Wolf” filmclip, bare-chested as he ran through a Sri Lankan marketplace, panting and sweaty, and thinking….hang on…what’s happening to me?! And the child in me started packing up her place at my table, exiting with a wink and a sly “you won’t be needing ME anymore” over her shoulder.
You don’t forget that. You don’t forget the freedom and exhilaration that comes from dancing to your favourite band as you straddle the line between child and adult, blissfully unaware that you have to crawl through adolescence to get there, before Duran Duran and Culture Club gave way to The Exploited and Pantera, before wide eyes gave way to a furious scowl.
Unfortunately, you also don’t forget the image of Duran Duran in matching shiny suits, standing behind a bank of keyboards like they were channelling Devo, or the sight of their back up singer in a vintage 80s dress made of silver foil, or the choreography that hasn’t changed since then – and really should have. Or looking around at the crowd and having your friend murmur “you realise this is our peer group?”
But I don’t think I want to.
Now, if anyone hears that Spandau Ballet are touring, can you let me know?
butchart
or grace slick….. nobody can sing about raw orgasmic emotion better than miss slick… i offer up “MANHOLE” circa 1973…... (somewhere in there).......................b
PJ Ryan
awesome ! i’m glad you enjoyed .. i wanted to go to the festival that had Duran Duran and Roisin Murphy (Moloko) playing in Melbourne .. but couldn’t get there :(
ah yes .. the 80’s .. i remember them well :)
bellmusker
That festival also has the Jesus and Mary Chain, so I was tempted too. However, I can’t really cope with festivals – a vestige of my years of agoraphobia – so the solo gig was exactly what I needed.
adgray
I missed them first time round and probably will again this time round too – one day I’ll have money and time at the same moment to indulge in such delights of life
What an amazing memory of realising the power of sexual attraction. I cant remember when I did but I have a sneaky suspicion it involved Gene Kelly or Rock Hudson [yes I know now he was gay but I didn’t then!] most likely Gene Kelly because I felt so jealous of Olivia when she got to dance and sing with him in Zanadu!
But then I was always into alternative stuff – Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Folk and Medieval music. Rock was all the same to me – loud!
Yet I do have my fave songs and Crowded House, Men at Work, Duran Duran, Devo Sting [+Police], Super Tramp, Zeplin & Bowie, all feature in these as do belatedly ACDC, LRB, Sky Hooks & Sherbet. Even Adam Ant and [blushing] Barry Manilow & John Denver
But I guess my 2 all time faves are Barbra Streisand [ that woman’s voice is just superb] Cleo Lane [That woman is all vocal instrument! what she cannot achieve with her throat is not achievable!] and John Farnham not only for his vocal ability and his choice of songs but because I have met him and he is the most wonderful all round decent bloke anyone could hope to know. [must write up the report on meeting him :o)]
See what you’ve evoked me to write? lol is it as long as your entry yet??? lol
Don’t we just all identify with culture and that is why we are above the other animals in the food chain … so why does the government and the education system value sporting prowess above Humanity / Culture?
Sorry for the long post :o) Keep Happy :o)
Paul Louis Vil...
LOL! Thanks for the flash backs Rain!
I can see myself sitting in my cousins bedroom, listening to a TEAC 3 in 1 blasting out Duran Duran, The Eurythmics and Human League! :D
adgray
Oh yes the Eurythmics and the Corrs U2 and Enya
Dragon and … bloody h@*# what was that group Bob Geldorf led? lol
:o) Are we making a bibliography of rock bands? lol
I also loved RedGum and Parradiddle and Bushwackers and .... enough Lyssa lol
Lisa Jewell
Love the 80’s the only music I care to get down on the dance floor to…..
hehe love this, Bell….
bellmusker
Boomtown Rats was Bob Geldof’s band, hehe, but I came in too late for that. I only knew him from Live Aid – which I stayed up all night watching. Soooooo exciting….
It was a strange time when my cheesy 80s fascination began to give way to my punk tendencies, and I tried to combine the two; with limited success. I’m not sure how many girls had ripped stockings and Sex Pistols shirts, as well as a Boy George barbie doll. Which I still have, but alas, not in the original box. What was I thinking?!
Mummified
I love Duran duran, they fronted for Robbie Williams a few years back at the Telstra dome and I danced madly while shouting the lyrics – huge fun. Obviously, I then left before Robbie Williams came on… I’d seen what I came to see.
drpepper73
Thanks for taking me back to my childhood. Man, I don’t care what anyone says…I miss the 80’s.
bellmusker replied
So do I! Although I don’t miss all that fluorescent clothing….the sight of hot pink still makes me sick to my stomach. Just you wait until I come back to the States; you and I will be dancing to Duran Duran at the airport! So happy to see you posting sweetheart
x x x x