Rio – Duran Duran

Happy Friday! I remember listening to Duran Duran on the radio in the car on the way to school when I was a kid pretty vividly; in particular, I remember really liking “Hungry Like the Wolf,” but that was about the extent of my Duran Duran knowledge until coming across “Rio” a few years ago. Yes, I know Duran Duran were one of the biggest bands in the world during the ’80s, but I never really gave them a fair shot until college. I think I had written them off in my head for whatever reason, probably due to an unjust (or very just depending on who you ask) disrespect for ’80s pop music. But Rio is a damn good album. John Taylor seriously is one of the best bass player’s I’ve ever heard. I could’ve gone with a couple different tracks as usual, but the title track is far and away my favorite. I’m including a really cool video of Taylor breaking down the bass part that is a lot of fun to watch.

For “Rio” we’ve got Simon Le Bon on vocals, Nick Rhodes on synth, John Taylor on bass, Roger Taylor on drums (not related, and no, not that one British drummer named Roger Taylor, this is the OTHER British drummer named Roger Taylor whose band also got huge in the 80s) and on guitar Andy “Betyoucan’tguesshislastname” Taylor. Also not related.

For me, someone not super versed in ’80s pop, this feels like a perfect representation of the best that era had to offer. Groovy, synthy, poppy. Even down to the sax solo. (Which kicks ass.)

The ambient sound you hear before the music gets going is actually the sound of Nick Rhodes throwing small metal rods onto piano strings and then reversing the recording.

The album cover is pretty iconic in itself, again representing the era with one of its most prolific artists, Patrick Nagel. Patrick actually served in the military, being a member of the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War.

Little stuff like that is so interesting to me; I love “pointless” trivia, especially when it comes to music.

Link to song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTizYn3-QN0

Link to live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jo3xtNyxUc

Link to bass breakdown by John Taylor. Very cool – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtcLKAGN-II