DURAN DURAN - NEW MOON ON MONDAY

NEW MOON ON MONDAY

DURAN DURAN

SONGWRITER: DURAN DURAN

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: SEVEN AND THE RAGGED TIGEER

LABEL: EMI RECORDS

GENRE: NEW WAVE

YEAR: 1983

Duran Duran (/djʊˌræn djʊˈræn/) are an English new wave band formed in Birmingham in 1978. The band were one of the most successful acts of the 1980s, but by the end of the decade, membership and music style changes challenged the band before a resurgence in the early 1990s. The group were a leading band in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US in the 1980s. They achieved 14 singles in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart Mand 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and have sold over 100 million records worldwide.

When the band emerged they were generally considered part of the New Romantic scene, along with bands such as Spandau Ballet and Visage. However, Duran Duran would soon shed this image by using fashion and marketing to build a more refined and elegant presentation. The band have won numerous awards throughout their career: two Brit Awards including the 2004 award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a Video Visionary Award from the MTV Europe Music Awards. They were also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The video age catapulted Duran Duran into the mainstream with the introduction of the 24-hour music channel MTV. Many of their videos were shot on 35 mm film, which gave a much more polished look than was standard at the time. They also collaborated with professional film directors to take the quality a step further, often teaming up with Australian director Russell Mulcahy for some of their most memorable video offerings. In 1984, the band were early innovators with video technology in their live stadium shows.

The group was formed by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor, with the later addition of drummer Roger Taylor, and after numerous personnel changes, guitarist Andy Taylor (none of the Taylors are related) and lead singer Simon Le Bon. These five members featured the most commercially successful line-up. The group have never disbanded, but after the departures of Andy and Roger Taylor in 1986, the line-up has changed to include former Missing Persons American guitarist Warren Cuccurullo from 1989 to 2001 and American drummer Sterling Campbell from 1989 to 1991. The reunion of the original five members in the early 2000s created a stir among the band's fans and music media. Andy Taylor left the band once again in mid-2006, and guitarist Dominic Brown has since been working with the band as a session player and touring member.

Seven and the Ragged Tiger is the third studio album by English new wave band Duran Duran. It was released on 21 November 1983 by EMI. It was the band's first and only number-one album on the UK Albums Chart, and would prove to be the last studio album for the band's most famous line-up until 2004's Astronaut.

Vocalist Simon Le Bon said the album "is an adventure story about a little commando team. 'The Seven' is for us—the five band members and the two managers—and 'the Ragged Tiger' is success. Seven people running after success. It's ambition. That's what it's about." 

Shake up the Picture

The lizard mixture

With your dance on the eventide

You got me coming up with answers

All of which I deny

I said it again

Could I please rephrase it?

Maybe I can catch a ride

I couldn't really put it much plainer

But I'll wait till you decide

Send me your warning siren

As if I could ever hide

Last time la luna

I light my torch

And wave it for the new moon on Monday

And a fire dance

Through the night

I stayed the cold day

With a lonely satellite

Breaking away

With the beast of both worlds

A smile that you can't disguise

Every minute I keep finding

Clues that you leave behind

Send me from these reminders

As if I'd forget tonight

This time la luna.