Duran Duran Deep Cuts
For this week’s music post, I thought I’d do something a little different. Since I’ve blogged about my all-time favorite band, Duran Duran, many times before, I thought I’d use this post to compile a list of favorite non-single deep tracks, with one from each album (not including compilations, live albums, or remixes).
For those less familiar with Duran Duran, the English pop rock band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England, they are renowned for blending vibrant dance rhythms with a sleek, futuristic edge, this Birmingham-born group helped redefine the pop-rock landscape with a uniquely cinematic sound. They fused influences from post-punk, funk, disco, and electronic music into a polished, danceable style that both echoed the energy of club culture and captured the melodic immediacy of radio-friendly pop. Their layered synthesizers, crisp bass lines, and dynamic grooves were not just catchy—in many ways, they paved the way for countless ‘80s and ‘90s acts to experiment more freely with crossover genres in mainstream music and became one of the best-selling bands of all-time with more than 100 million album sales worldwide and numerous #1 singles. Among their many accolades are two Brit Awards, two Grammy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022
Just as crucial to their impact was an attention-grabbing visual identity that proved revolutionary in the emerging age of music television. Their forward-thinking videos, often shot on film rather than videotape, embraced exotic locations, vivid color palettes, and stylish wardrobe choices, marking a stark departure from standard performance clips of the time. This high-gloss, escapist aesthetic helped fuel a wave of pop culture fervor, giving youth audiences something glamorous, modern, and aspirational to latch onto. Their imaginative, fashion-focused image—and willingness to push the boundaries of the music-video format—raised the bar for how bands could package and present themselves, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture’s intersection of music, video, and style.
Here are some deep tracks that showcase their depth and breadth of talent over the 4 decades (and going) that the band has been together:
Sound of Thunder – Duran Duran (Debut) (1981)
Hold Back the Rain – Rio (1982)
Shadows on Your Side – Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983)
Winter Marches On – Notorious (1986)
Palomino – Big Thing (1988)
Venice Drowning – Liberty (1990)
Shelter – Duran Duran (Wedding Album) (1993)
Midnight Sun – Medazzaland (1997)
Starting to Remember – Pop Trash (2000)
Point of No Return – Astronaut (2004)
Zoom In – Red Carpet Massacre (2007)
Too Bad You’re So Beautiful – All You Need Is Now (2011) (and a fan-made Night Version)
The Universe Alone – Paper Gods (2015)
