Duran, Duran

Duran Duran
Written by: Carla Wright
Photographs by:Carla Wright




When the words "Duran, Duran" are mentioned to me, I automatically go back in time to the early 90's. I was 10 and watching MTV when I first saw the video for "Come Undone".



If you have ever seen the video, the video is about this young woman who is trying to break free from her chains (while "drowning" underwater). The video flashes back to a woman pulling a vodka bottle out and a "9-5" cross dressing "business" man. That's what the video shows; that, however, is not what I remember. All I remember from the video is "the mermaid chick" (as I would refer to the woman who was trying to break free from her chains). I had to go back on you tube and watch the video for the first time in many years to "jog" my memory. I'm quite ashamed to admit that I thought all these many years, that the woman was a mermaid.



That's my point though, when I say "all these years" in reference to Duran, Duran; the band existed before I was even born. I grew up listening to Duran Duran and how every time one of their songs would come on the radio, I would think about "the mermaid chick" and never really understanding (till now) the significance of the "mermaid chick". Duran Duran is so engraved in my memories of the early 90's, that I honestly couldn't have imagined growing up without having listened to them.



On Monday night at Mizner Amphitheatre, I was reminded again about my childhood and how much I respect Duran Duran as a band. From the classic pieces of "Hungry like a wolf" and "Come undone" to "Falling down" off their latest album "Red Carpet Massacre", it was a great evening.





South Florida weather cooperated once again, as the Duran Duran audience soaked in the warm heat of an inevitable hot summer. With clear night skies and a full moon, Duran Duran played a non-stop amazing show. Simon displayed explosive energy throughout the set while John and Roger Taylor played to adoring crowd of fans jumping up and down and dancing on top of their chairs.





I didn't participate in the "standing on chairs and dancing" part of the evening, but I did admire the couples that were at the show. I admired the crowd in general. When Duran Duran came on stage, the audience's faces' were that of pure glee (you know when someone you really like walks into the same room as you). That's the smiles and cheers that people had on their faces for the whole set of Duran Duran. You have to respect that. You have to respect when an audience sings louder than the band. You have to respect a band that still has a strong following almost 30 years after they started.





Even if you aren't a Duran Duran fan, you have to respect them as a band. Music wouldn't be the same without Duran Duran and the British pop wave invasion in America and neither would the "concert" experience.


If you missed Monday night's performance, hopefully Duran Duran will return soon. Then, maybe, you too, will experience all that defines Duran Duran.



Just don't expect any mermaids.