Duran Duran Appreciation Day 2017

Every year, on August 10th, Duran Duran fans (or Durannies) from around the globe come together to appreciate the music of Duran Duran. Now for some bizarre reason I've missed out on today 2 years in a row so this time, I was certain to prepare myself. I definitely put it down to neglecting my Twitter account for so long. It's taken me a long time to catch up with people I used to be close to. The first people I met on there were DD fans, some I still speak to, today. I'm proud to call the majority of them my friends.

Duran Duran: Uniting generations of fans since 1981.
From left: John, Roger (both Taylor), Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor

But anyway...I've loved DD for years, five almost, I discovered them when I went into Year Nine in secondary school. I honestly think now, in retrospect, 2012 was the pinnacle year for me to get into the 80s and all the good things that came with the decade, mainly the music, the bizarre but wonderful hair and make up and the hilarity of classic British sitcoms. Some mothers do indeed 'ave em! The first Duran Duran song I listened to was Save a Prayer; it was on a compilation of '80s love songs that I'd been given by my father when he was clearing out some junk and I thought it was really good, to say it was only the 3 minute version, not the full one you find on Rio. Yesterday marked 35 years since it entered the charts as a single, fun fact. The first album I got was Seven and the Ragged Tiger, on LP,  slowly completing the collection to this date. My one regret is that I wish I'd gone to see them live on the Paper Gods tour back in 2015. My best friend went to the Cardiff event and commented how incredible they still are. Envious much! That's what I get for being broke.

I would also say I've taken much style inspiration from the group. John Taylor, whatever hair length and colour he dyed it, always suited him. He was the reason why I dyed my hair bright red at age 14. Nick Rhodes showed, being male, he could flaunt make up just as well as a female! I'm not afraid to try any colour of lipstick but I'm still hugely rusty at doing eyeliner...getting there, hopefully. One step at a time I'm getting closer to preventing people thinking that I've been punched in the face. If anyone knows where I can get a decent quality 'Change Life' tee at a good price, please let me know in the comments or tweet me at @SigourneyVox - I need one for my collection, just in case another 80s weekend happens near me. I've got plans!

So, for this year's DDAD, I'm going to be playing every single Duran Duran album that I own, and swapping my regular George Michael appreciation tweets for this group, just for one day (so don't panic, I haven't gone off him! 😉) My goal is to do more with each passing year, build on my collection and keep sharing the love, that's if I remember the day of course!

Here's what's spinning on the decks tonight!

We're living on a big thing!

My beloved LPs will be first - starting from the top that is!

I'm really glad I got a record player the Christmas before last - there were a whole trove worth of treasures sitting in a box, gathering dust, and there was nothing to unleash their forgotten sound on, now there is, blast from the past here I come.

To all the others celebrating DDAD17 alongside me, have a good one!

Yours truly,

Sigourney

A Thought For This Weekend

RE: Tony Hadley Leaves Spandau Ballet

Yesterday Tony Hadley released a statement to the press stating that he had left Spandau Ballet and would no longer be a member of the group. The official Twitter page for the group would also share this, hours later. Twitter and Facebook were full of mixed reactions, some wishing him the best of luck, some wondering if there was another underlying reason, and others were understandably upset as this was a band they had been following for many years, like myself, even though, I am considerably quite young. To be honest, it's really saddening, but sometimes, things have to come to an end. I have lots of happy memories listening to such an iconic group growing up, and feel quite fortunate to have seen them once, on the last tour. I bet you, the reader, have many too. Most of the followers on my Ultravox/Spandau Ballet Twitter fan page got to see them in their 80s prime, and have spoken about how amazing they were. I wish I was that lucky.

Sheffield Arena March 6th 2015

With all that being said, best of luck in whatever you decide to do next, Tone.

- S

P.S. A very happy Independence Day to all of my American readers!

Review of Soul Boys of the Western World (Blog Mirror)

(Mirrored from an old blog dated 12/10/14)

As most of you know, the UK premiere for the all new Spandau Ballet documentary "Soul Boys of the Western World" premiered in cinemas all across the country last Tuesday, with a special live performance following that. When I was sitting watching the film with my friend, I was very surprised that there was only roughly 20 people dotted around the cinema, not many at all! I guess Yorkshire isn't home to, if any, Spandau fans. It took forever to come on, and when it did, first impressions did last! The opening part where each member discussed how they took interest to music, where they grew up in the Swingin' Sixties was really good. They were all quite cute as little boys, especially Steve Norman, where my friend was literally drooling! I liked where they all had a chance to speak, their own personal opinion about the band. The best bit, in my eye, was when they were discussing the making of the True album in the Bahamas. Definitely plenty of eye candy there, ladies! I noticed that their fan base had a higher proportion of women. Maybe because there's (at the time), five good looking men on stage, flaunting themselves in skin tight leather and luxury Anthony Price suits. Towards the middle of the film, when it flashes back to 1979 when Gary says "We don't want to lose each other" - who could possibly think he was foreshadowing the band's demise! This is the first time I've heard this - but Gary Kemp? A bully? I can't believe he picked on Tony Hadley like he did! But take it from personal experience, not everyone gets on with him. Enjoyed the bit about The Krays and Spandau living their separate lives in the 1990s, but when it got to the court case in 1999, from what I've read in "I Know This Much", it was a very stressful period in the band's history. Ten years later when they reformed, I breath a huge sigh of relief. I haven't even discovered Spandau Ballet yet (I was 10 in 2009) but a band as good as this by certain needs an excellent comeback and oh boy they sure did! What a fantastic film and a cracking good way to end it!

I was very disappointed that they only got the chance to answer only 3 questions, it would have been better if they could have answered more. 

I think the highlight of the whole night was the actual live performance at the end. TCALSS and Chant No.1 have been given a brand new, upbeat, 21st century punk sound - it was great!! It sounded just as good as the original eighties version! True and Only When You Leave were good as well!! I wish I was there in front of them!

Overall, it was a really good night and I highly recommend the film to new and old Spandau Ballet fans. 5/5!!! 

Six Months On...The Legacy Continues...

On Sunday it would have been George Michael's 54th birthday. It also marked six months since his tragic passing from heart and liver failure on Christmas Day. I would have made a post then, but I'm still quite emotional from the event, and other things came up at the very last minute so that was a bit of a push back for me but I promised myself I would get on the computer and write something.

It was very enlightening to see people flock to Highgate and Goring to pay their tributes, oh I wish I had some cash and a big toe that wasn't broken so I could go down there and show my personal respect to a man I found truly inspiring. It's nice to know his beloved dogs are okay too and are receiving the best care. However a few weeks ago I did make my own advance tribute video dedicated to him, which I don't doubt that some of you have seen already. Others have made brilliant ones too. I suggest you check out the one created by Twitter user Lady Sunshine here.

Sorry it's been a short post today, but stay tuned for the next one.

- S

Happy Birthday John Taylor!

A very happy birthday to the legendary Duran Duran bass player John Taylor, who celebrates his 57th birthday today. Duran Duran was one of the first 80s bands that I listened to alongside Spandau Ballet from the get go and John certainly had enabled me to have big dreams about my hair. First brown, then red, and then hopefully black at the end of next month. Might add a little blonde too.

All the best on your special day!

Time to crack out the Duran Duran records and partayy!

- S

Discovering... Level 42

I discovered the band Level 42 on YouTube recently. One of their videos was in my recommended feed and I decided to check them out. The song was Lessons in Love, and after I watched it, I was really impressed with them. I found one of their records in the loft, and gave it a blast the same night. By the end of the week I had played Running in the Family from side to side and was more than eager to delve into their anthology to see what other music they had produced! My best friend had been a fan of their work for many years and was more than happy to suggest tracks for me to listen to. He said that the frontman/bass player, Mark King, was truly iconic and his bass skills were out of this world, I agree!.

So, for those of you who don't know who they are, Level 42 are an English band, who had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s, So far I've only listened to the early eighties stuff and have yet to enter the realms of their '90s content. Here's a pic if you're new to them.

Top: Boon Gould, Phil Gould
Bottom: Mike Lindup, Mark King

In the space of a few short months I've really gotten to like their music and would recommend them to any newcomer to the 1980s, if you're looking for a blast for the past, or if you simply just fancy a change from what you normally listen to. Here are my favourite tracks so far. I'll provide their YT links so you can give them a whirl, if you desire.

1. Lessons in Love (1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt7mtdLha-c

2. Leaving Me Now (1985) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqvM0hneovs

3. Something About You (1985) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpdQQoc-gkk

4. It's Over (1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD1Yuev8xYw

Four tracks seems like a sparse amount to recommend, but like I said earlier, I'm still a newbie to the band and my list, in time, will surely expand, so watch this space! There's just something about them I really like. See what I did there? Pun intended, sorry not sorry!

- S