Duran Duran defined the sound of the eighties with their blend of synth-pop, funk, and rock, combined with iconic music videos. Here are the ten most essential tracks from the Wild Boys of Birmingham.
10. A View to a Kill
The only James Bond theme to ever reach the number one spot on the American charts. The song combines the tension of a spy film with the tight production of the eighties. A powerful testament to their global superstardom.
9. Notorious
After a turbulent period, the band returned with this funky track produced by Nile Rodgers. The brass and the tight bassline gave Duran Duran a more mature and danceable sound that still sounds fresh today.
8. Girls on Film
The song that put them on the map. With the distinctive camera shutter sounds and John Taylor’s energetic bassline, this was the blueprint for the New Romantic movement. The music video was controversial at the time, but the music is timeless.
7. Ordinary World
In the early nineties, the band made an impressive comeback with this beautiful ballad. Simon Le Bon delivers some of his best vocal work here in a song about loss and finding the strength to carry on.
6. New Religion
A fan favorite from the album Rio. This track showcases the more complex and darker side of the band, with a dialogue between different vocal lines and a hypnotic rhythm. It proves they were much more than just a poster band.
5. Planet Earth
Their debut single and the perfect introduction to their sound. The song contains the legendary line “Look now, look all around, is it any wonder,” which captured the excitement of a new musical generation.
4. Wild Boys
A bombastic and percussive masterpiece produced by Nile Rodgers. The song is grand, loud, and was accompanied by one of the most expensive and spectacular music videos of the eighties.
3. Save a Prayer
The ultimate synthesizer ballad. The dreamy melody and the melancholic lyrics about a fleeting encounter make this one of the most atmospheric songs in their repertoire. It remains a consistent highlight during their live concerts.
2. Hungry Like the Wolf
With its irresistible drive and catchy chorus, they captured global attention with this hit. The video, filmed in the jungles of Sri Lanka, turned them into MTV icons and defined the era of the superstar.
1. Rio
The song that summarizes everything Duran Duran stands for: glamour, speed, a fantastic bassline, and a saxophone solo you’ll never forget. It is a celebration of life and remains the ultimate pop song of the eighties.
