JT was a teenage heartthrob, I am GUILTY. I think I contributed to the lack of respect for him. On the other hand, I wish I could remember who said it. Sometimes the little girls get it right.
@@loosilu And I never gave him his due either. And I used to joke that Nick Rhodes was the cutest chick in the band. Now he's one of my favorite pop keyboardists of the 80s.
He had only played bass for two, at most, three years when Rio came out. The playing on their debut album the year prior to Rio has amazing bass on it as well and from an even younger and less experienced bassist.
It’s also amazing to think how young they were at the time too. Simon LeBon (singer) was just 23 at the time, John Taylor (bassist) and Roger Taylor (drummer) were 21, Andy Taylor (guitarist) was 20, and Nick Rhodes (keyboardist) was just 19. They were all so incredibly talented
John Taylor is criminally underated as a bass player. As a big fan of theirs since 1981, you really need to look at their entire catalog as it is extremely deep and varied. Come Undone, Friends Of Mine, Hold Back The Rain, The Chauffeur(Sing Blue Silver), Tel Aviv, Wild Boys, The Reflex, Planet Earth, A View To A Kill...all great songs. PS. this is the song that broke Duran Duran in the US. They went on to take the remainder of the 80's by the balls.
@@gregghelmberger I think it is one of their most under rated songs, IMO. Have always been able to put this on and just totally groove to it. You are absolutely correct about it being a vibe and I live for it!
@@joetspaulding That is a lot of the criticism he gets but I think that he has been, literally, the driving force of the band for the entirety of the band's life. Thank you for speaking up for bass players. :)
A great 80s band to check out r INXS. 80s music that hasn’t aged. ‘Need you tonight’ ‘new sensation’ and ‘Never tear us apart all bangers from the ‘Kick’ album
All great ones by INXS but "Disappear" is my personal favorite. Seeing the performance at Wembley Stadium with about 80k people bopping up and down to it is something else.
This is something, that I wanted to mention. Duran Duran were a part of the first generation of music videos on MTV. The greatness of the musicianship is one thing, now add to that the images conveyed in the music videos. something spectacular.
There's a reason that Duran Duran is getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year with by far the most fan votes! They have had such incredible music for decades! Another old Duran Duran brilliance to check out is "The Chauffeur."
Power Station - Some Like It Hot. Two of the guys from Duran Duran and Robert Palmer. This is still my turn the volume away up, roll the windows down, and feel the breeze while driving song.
I'll credit "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" for prepping Alex to give his first S rating to an 80's song to "Rio". That song probably should have gotten an S too, but at least it broke through the glass ceiling in Alex's mind to pave the way for this S.
And inspired the styles in the TV show Miami Vice. NBC Entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff was said to have written a simple note - “MTV Cops” - to direct his staff to come up with a new show. Whether that story is true or not, that’s what Miami Vice was.
Actually it was the other way around. “RIO” video change the way how music is viewed. Much more dynamically. No longer you had to stare at your favorite band play in studio or some place droll. How bands are marketed and promoted. It made music videos more contextual and artistic. No matter how artsy or how ridiculous the themes were. You remember the song and the video together without knowing it separately.
@@bagelj I think the band looked cool and the song slapped. MTV was new enough where videos had overpowered impact. If your video looked interesting it was easier to watch over and over. Beautiful people on sailboats talking about a filthy Mexican river.
This review cleared my sinuses, corrected my GI, unloaded my dishwasher and folded my laundry. Killer reaction, review and introduction to one of the deepest 80's catalogs this side of The Police, Tears for Fears and MJ. Add my vote for "Planet Earth", "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Union of Snake", "New Moon on Monday" and the "The Reflex" to what is likely going to be a barrage of hits mentioned in this comment section. 40+ years and still churning out bangers, 20+ top 40 singles, induction into the RRHF and over 100mil records sold...a beyond relevant band then and now.
@@allenlunde7908 another banger for sure but I just went with the absolute top of my list. Otherwise, my hands would've given out from exhaustion if I went for every favorite of theirs. For sure that, but also "Come Undone", "Ordinary World", "The Chauffeur", "Hold Back the Rain", "Last Chance on the Stairway"... I mean, where do you stop?!
Taylor the bassist, has a wonderful youtube channel breaking this all down for us. Wonderfully generous in sharing. As a 13 year old girl at the time, I enjoyed the songs…they were promoted for their looks too, and had almost boy band vibe. But I had NO IDEA, how good the musicianship actually was.
One of the best songs of the 80s, for sure. Keep exploring the 80s classics by Echo and the Bunnymen, Talk Talk, Psychodelic Furs, Depeche Mode, The English Beat, etc. OMG. Great party music in the days when parties were all about the music and MTV.
@@sophiecat14 , two of the better 80s bands; I would recommend 'Living In Another World' to start for Talk Talk, because I don't think they'd like the SONG Talk Talk as much.
@@lisasmithline1386 I totally agree. Such A Shame might be another good start. I wonder if they already know It’s My Life. Talk Talk is one of my all time favourite bands. Their music never gets old. Ahead of their time, for sure. It breaks my heart that we lost Mark so soon.💔
Glorious playlist you've listed there! I mourn the untimely loss of *Mark Hollis,* and I wish more people reacted to Talk Talk's genius. I thank the 80s for creating my eclectic musical tastes - from Depeche Mode, to Kate Bush, via Tears For Fears, Echo and The Bunnymen, to Madness, Ian Dury, The Jam, Eurythmics, and The Police. The Charts (and by default, ToTP) were sometimes a perplexing mix of punk, disco, ska, easy listening, novelty, schmaltzy syrup, (latterly) SAW, and downright weird, but I can't help thinking in hindsight that we were the better for it. The Charts now - perhaps as a reflection of the industry - seem far more monolithic.
Boz Scaggs “lowdown” should be 1 on the bass poll. David Hungate was on that record, who ended up being the bass player for Toto. David Paich (keys and co write) and Jeff Porcaro (drums ) are other Toto band members played in this song.
Growing up in the 80s there were a whole lot of bands I thought would stand the test of time, and Duran Duran was not one of them. I always thought Duran Duran was enjoyable but forgettable teen-girl pop. Now it's 40 years later and I can't remember the names of all those "important" bands and Duran Duran has only gotten stronger. There are very few 80s bands I still listen to but Duran Duran is definitely one of them.
This song is way better than I remember. Maybe there's something about SEEING a song first on MTV, instead of just HEARING it, that distracts from or discounts the music itself.
I was made fun of growing up for loving both Duran Duran and Bon Jovi and largely the charge was that they wouldn't last for 5 years. Now, both are going to be in the Rock Hall together. I'm not bitter...nor proud... :) but the vindication feels awfully good.
Guys - you weren't alive in the 80's - it was the best decade for everything - you keep hate'n on it - why? Just for music, it had the greatest variety, talent, & vibe - we had a damn good time then - didn't matter if you were into glam rock, metal, hiphop, punk, synth pop, r&b - mullets, flat tops, dreadlocks, mohawks & everything in between - nobody cared - great time to be alive esp. for teens/20's - Rio is an elusive gamma girl type that everyone wants or admires, but can't quite reach - awesome song! D.D. was an 80's powerhouse - great musicians & songwriters for a decade of excess & limitless fun - and watch the video - this was huge on MTV -
@@CH-gb7hfGhost notes on bass are notes that are muted while they are plucked to give a percussive sound. Really adds flavor to the groove. I know ghost notes from the drums being a long time drummer. They are soft/barely audible notes that can really spice up a drum groove.
In the early 80’s if you were a “rocker” it was NOT cool to like Duran Duran, just like in the disco era The Bee Gees… lol. Luckily over the years I’ve come to enjoy both.
There were some rocking “pop” bands in the 80s and your bias, Alex, has kept you from some very choice morsels. Dig down into INXS, and start with “Don’t Change.” I can’t imagine you being disappointed. Hutchence had Jagger charisma and the rest of the band could drop a pocket like few others in the decade.
If you need a clearer point for spinning “Don’t Change” here’s Ned Ragget’s review of the song for All Music Guide: “The Andrew Farriss synth part that starts the song is momentous enough, a Brian Eno-inspired effort that captures a slow, melancholic mood in its propulsive descent. Then a sudden guitar sting heralds the entry of the rest of the band with a bang, and in that instant "Don't Change" becomes not merely INXS' eternal anthem, but one of the best rock songs of the '80s, period. The sheer focus and drive of the band at this point in their career was simply awesome and the six members put it all together here with nary a flaw -- all the strength of prime heavy metal welded to post-punk's energy and topped it off with a perfect, memorable pop gloss. Michael Hutchence's singing is what holds everything together and sends it to a new height, slightly cryptic lyrics aside, showing a showman's sense of holding an audience and knowing just when to turn it on more. Kirk Pengilly, though, needs some credit -- that's him backing Hutchence on the chorus and, at the end, delivering the title twice on his own to wrap up the song with a final, beautiful kick.”
I am thinking Alex might enjoy DM's later albums, perhaps Ultra or Playing The Angel. I remember seeing a Black Celebration album cover in one of Andy's videos so I assume he's more into their 80s albums.
@@Meandmymirror Same here! Super tough choice... maybe Stripped, Blasphemous, Strangelove, Policy, Enjoy, I Feel, Walking, In Your Room, Barrel, A Pain, Wrong....
Reading through the replies and their suggestions, am the only who likes their early stuff (pre-1988)? Anyone else who thinks that "A Broken Frame" is one of the most impressive sophomore albums of all time? I know, Alex would hate most of it, but they did some great work, even moreso considering they were late teens/early twenties at the time.
You know Alex is into it when he has that figure eight head swing going! His idea of Duran Duran was exactly my idea of Duran Duran back when they were brand new. Much like disco, which I hated at the time, I have come to enjoy Duran Duran more now mainly because of nostalgia. You need to do a crossover with Professor of Rock and see if he can get Alex to appreciate the 80s more. If he can't do it, no one can. As far as bass, Duran Duran's bass player actually gained respect from me back in the day when he laid down some great bass-lines as part of the supergroup Power Station. You should definitely check them out. Robert Palmer was their lead singer and they had hits with "Some Like it Hot" and their really awesome cover of T-Rex's "Bang a Gong".
I would loooove some Robert Palmer on the channel. The Bang a Gong cover [Power Station days] is awesome. I prefer it to the original. I had to buy the album. And some early Palmer stuff like Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley. His version of Every Kind of People also has super bass, from former Motown bassist Bob Babbit (who I am a huge fan of). Someone in a comment (or maybe on Discord?) brought up Palmer's song Johnny and Mary, and it's wonderful lyric writing. But Johnny and Mary sounds dated and needs someone to cover it and update the sound.
I had wrongly assumed that A&A had done some Robert Palmer and would know who that is but after all your comments I did a search and I can see it looks like they haven't. Absolutely, besides PowerStation they need to do some Robert Palmer solo stuff! I wonder if they've even heard of him.
Not only was the bassist great, but the guitarist also played in Power Station and was one of the most sought after behind the scenes session players of the 80s I read
Then you must listen to Duran Duran's Rio and Girls On Film. Rio, is the song that the majority of people reference when they talk about John Taylor and his bass playing in Duran Duran.
Duran Duran was marketed to teen girls because they were good looking. This caused a lot of guys to blow them off. It wasn’t until I was in college in the 90s that I came to appreciate them. Plus, they’re named after the bad guy from Barberella!
As a teen throughout the 80’s (thank God!), even with having always leaned towards heavier rock…Rio is EASILY the S-tier song of the 80’s…if not DD, themselves, as the S-tier band of the 80’s…The Fab Five. Even if you’re not a devout DD fan, they’ve earned their due respect for the fact of being one of the most prominent players of the 80’s. They encompass, they embody that which the 80’s were! And this is coming from a Maiden/Priest dude! Shout out to the very underrated drummer of DD Roger Taylor. Well done fellas!
Straight up, I'll say -- I never liked Hungry Like the Wolf. I was 14, I did NOT like the video, and Duran Duran did nothing for me as heart-throbs. As songs go, it's fine, like yeah, it's iconic 80s. Meanwhile, though? I've had a long time to think about it, and Rio is my favorite song of the 80s. Obviously, those are my teen years, I have a lot of songs from the 80s I love. (And a lot of bands I loved more than Duran Duran, on the whole.) But if you made me pick just ONE song from the 80s, it's this one, it's Rio.
More than just these two. The big songs were rio rio, the reflex, union of the snake, wild boys, a view to a kill, notorious, ordinary world, come undone... and hungry like the wolf
@@lecannois How you gonna stand there and abuse "Is There Something I Should Know" and especially "New Moon on Monday" for "Union of the Snake" and "Wild Boys"? The video for New Moon was brilliant. Especially the long version of it, a great short film.
Duran Duran was highly underrated. Pick an instrument and follow it through each song and you realize how great a band they are. Check out The Chauffer, New Religion and Save a Prayer.
I don't think Duran Duran was underrated. When I was in high school they were absolutely huge(yes, I'm old). I think it was for this reason that I hated them. They were way too popular. I was also heavily into hardcore punk at the time. But, I' ve learned to really appreciate them over the years. Also, Keep up the great work guys. Love your channel.
It's like I woke up in an alternate universe. Given Alex's opinion of 80's music, if I had to pick one band I was sure I'd never see on this channel, it would've been this one. If 80's music was a band, that band might be Duran Duran. lol So happily surprised :)
Great base line in "Strawberry Letter 23" Brothers Johnson's version. The song is easily worth listening to in a review and I bet you havnt heard of it before.
Best "80s" bassist is Mark King of Level 42. Equal parts jazzy, funky and poppy, he is a master of the instrument. My favorite songs are "Something About You" and "Running In The Family", but there are killer bass lines in songs like "Hot Water", "Lessons In Love", "Micro Kid" and "The Chant Has Begun".
It's a cultural requirement that you watch the video. You won't be disappointed. Duran Duran mastered the synth and until this came out, the world had never heard synth used like this before. Same can be said about the video. It's visually stunning and broke ground for it's camerawork.
If you love basslines from the 80s Level 42 are the go to group full of complex and amazing sounding basslines from lead singer and bassit Mark King. songs like Something About You, Love Games, Lessons In Love, Running In The Family, Hot Water They have so many great songs in such a unique style of their own. You Should Check them out!
Great shout,Mark King is as funky as all hell with that bass slap he possesses. The SunnGoes Down is my favourite of theirs,so so funky and loose,love it,love the band.
Next Duran Duran song “Girls on Film” and it has a nasty baseline for bonus points. As for another 80’s masterpiece in bass, The Police - Spirits in the Material World…crazy good.
YES!!!! This song as well as Roundabout where what made me buy a bass guitar. Everyone in this band is killer and doesn't get the credit they should since they were seen as a slick "boy band." Of course the bass is killer, but Nick Rhodes really knows how to layer in the 80s keyboards in a way few others can. That killer arpeggio with the drums just runs this song.
I spent my whole '80s childhood shitting on Duran Duran, but it had nothing to do with whether I liked the music. It is because they had the most annoying teeny bopper fans in pop history. I had several friends who had at least one entire bedroom wall covered with pin-ups of Duran Duran from Tiger Beat magazine or whatever, LOL. That didn't mean I wouldn't turn up their songs when they came on the radio, but I couldn't be seen in public admitting that I liked Duran Duran even if I thought - to your point about Nick Rhodes - that "Save A Prayer" was one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard in my life, and his playing is a big reason why. I have issued many public apologies to the band as a more well-rounded adult.
“Things Can Only Better” by Howard Jones is in this wheelhouse. Fantastic chorus, funky bass, came out in ‘85, I think. I was a rocker chick back then, but he and Duran Duran were part of my record collection.
They actually were the 80’s equivalent to the Beatles in terms of fanfare and attention. That is what they meant. They did not mean the music equivalent.
As somebody who hated Duran Duran back in the 80's, it was good to reappraise this. It was much better than I remember and weirdly reminded me of Roxy Music at their best. Art Pop, let's say.
What I remember most about Duran Duran is the FASHION. Yes, I remember the MTV videos, but there was a clique of guys at my high school who shopped at Merry Go Round at the local mall and dressed EXACTLY like Duran Duran -- the jackets, the pants, the hair, the whole look. At the time, it seemed perfectly normal; in hindsight, it's hilarious that some kids in the mid-80s Atlanta suburbs were Duran Duran clones.
As a drummer myself, who has to exist in the pocket with the bass, Duran Duran has one of the best pockets I've heard. As for phenomenal bass lines, another 80s song is Big Time, by Peter Gabriel. The bass line in that is f'ing NUTS. And it was created by having the drummer play the bass strings, with his sticks, while the bassist played the neck. They wanted a super percussive sound to the bass, and that's how they achieved it. Also, bassist was Tony Levin, who is one of the best bassists to ever play.
If you love bass lines then check out the Stranglers-peaches, The Jam also have a ton of great bass lines, Start, going underground, Town called malice, in the city the list goes on, The Jam are one of the greatest 3 piece bands that ever was.
I grew up in the 80's and at the time, I felt like Duran Duran was a band made for girls. Fast forward to early 2000's, my wife wanted to see them perform so I sucked it up and thought I'd keep an open mind. They absolutely blew me away. That gig was easily at the top of my list of live shows I'd been to and I've been to many before and since. I've seen them at least a half a dozen times by now and they never disappoint.
@@Himmiefan I think I can answer that. It was a boy band, according to my classmates in the mid-eighties, the ones who listened to Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Judas Priest. All the members were [gay] (not the word they used, but I'm not going to repeat the epithet), and just because they were gay, they were unlistenable. It was okay if the girls listened to that sort of noise, but if you didn't listen to Black Sabbath, you were not cool. (Yeah, Rush, Subdivisions). I was the only boy who didn't follow through with the edict, so I was shunned. Bringing up Freddie Mercury or Rob Halford would not have helped, either. If there's any vindication, my brother-in-law who listens to Rammstein to mellow out told me his favourite bassist is John Taylor. Hates the music but gives full props to the talent.
My husband surprised me with tickets to see them in 2007 and his jaw was on the floor. Like you, he was never a fan but said it was probably the best live show that he had ever seen. (And we were indie rock/scene hipsters, so went to LOTS of shows but never any pop music.)
@@richardkralick3062 Duran Duran became my favorite band in 1982 and they still remain my favorite today. It's interesting how some "metal heads" or "rockers" did not like Duran Duran for the reason you specified. It's interesting how none of the DD are and yet, these "metal heads" and "rockers" were idolizing Rob Halford from Judas Priest and singing his lyrics. Some of them I am sure liked Queen as well. The irony.
Duran Duran is one of those rare bands that both were HUGE commercially, I mean mega pop stars, and also incredibly technical on their playing. Yes, this is absolutely an S tier song. But it's not their only S tier, Save a Prayer I'd put as S, and The Chauffer.
It is one the all-time great basslines. It’s a shame it’s so low in the mix. I wish it were remastered with the bass as prominent as this. But that line…chef’s kiss. Norman Watt-Roy played so many iconic lines at that time.
John Taylor is one of the most underrated bassists in rock and roll. Duran Duran's native musicality and great lyrics put them in a class by themselves. They still make for great listening today.
A&A, you'll love their "Hungry Like the Wolf", ""Girls on Film" and "Union of the Snake"!!!. Their music videos are always very good. Songs with great bass lines poll must include Funkadelic or Parliament. Bootsy Collins also played with James Brown in the early 1970s.
Dudes.... Depeche Mode.... DO IT UP!!! As for Duran Duran, yes they are megastars of the 80's, but back at the beginning of MTV, they got NO love from the industry. The fans were nuts over them, but for some reason they just didn't get the airplay they deserved. To me they are easily in my top 10 favorite bands that I feel really shaped the 80's sound, and transcended above the standard synth new wave sound that was really settling in, mid decade. My dream song that you guys do? "To Live & Die In L.A" by Wang Chung
Another great band from the 80's - they actually started in the late 70's - that (I believe) you haven't reviewed yet is U2. There is a killer bass line on the song "Two Hearts Beat as One". Please review that song - you won't regret it.
I truly feel sorry for anyone who didn't grow up in thr 80s listening to the music. Such an evolution of synth music at the end of a punk era. There were a load of cheesey songs too, but the majority was cutting edge. Along with new romantic, add the hip hop scene too. Just bliss
Wow. That’s saying a lot. While I loved the pop DD, when their ballad, Ordinary World hit the scene I had NO idea who it was. Thought it was a new group it sounded so different.
So stoked you loved this tune. What a great band! They have a 90's song called Ordinary World that is just stunning and of course from the 80's: Girls on Film, Hungry Like the Wolf, Is There Something I Should Know and many many more! Aussie bands you should check out: Midnight Oil, Men at Work, Crowded House and INXS! Great way to start out the week and the last few weeks of Summer. Cheers Gents!
Fun fact. Duran Duran are probably the only band that had 3 people with the same surname who weren't related to each other. John Taylor on Bass, Andy Taylor on Guitar and Roger Taylor on Drums. Not forgetting Simon Le Bon on Vocals and Nick Rhodes on Keyboards. I've seen them live about 5 years ago and were still fantastic.
Great 80s basslines: "Kyrie" - Mr. Mister (Richard Page); "My City Was Gone" - The Pretenders (Tony Butler); "Under The Milky Way" - The Church (Steve Kilbey).
Duran Duran had the limitation that they were really good looking and got treated like a boy band despite the fact they had musical integrity. As for other great bass lines, you gotta hit “My Sharona” by The Knack. Great base line, even better guitar solo.
I never realized how much of this song relied on the bass before, that guy was pretty damn busy in this song. Of all of Duran Duran's albums Rio is the true classic, in my opinion.
I'm so glad you checked them out. Hard rocker here from the 70's as a teen but in my 20's, no matter how much I resisted at first, I HAD to fall for this group! Andy Taylor is the lead guitarist, still playing in his own band at 61 yrs of age but he was terribly underrated all these years. John Talyor is one of the finest bassists around. Nick Rhodes, on synthesizer and the drummer and lead singer...on point, as always. Thanks for this great video. In your personal time, be sure to check out the official video.
If this song changed your mind about the 80’s, then I have to wonder what you’d think about a handful of tunes off of U2’s Joshua Tree album. You’ll rethink your “S” rating on Rio once you hear U2, for sure!
My Sharona by The Knack (1979 but helped usher in the 80s) has a good bassline hook and one of the most underrated guitar solos of all time. Peace from PA ✌
Yes. William, Elvis Costello has many amazing albums of very interesting creative songs. One of the greatest artists ever. You named some of my favorites. Also, “The Angels Want To Wear My Red Shoes”. The albums “Imperial Bedroom” and “King of America “ are epic masterpieces.
You have to look at the 80's this way; 1980-1985 is some incredible mixing and engineering, it's post 1985 where digital recording comes in and everyone fought to get the cleanest, most polished sound possible. But even then, there are masterworks; such as Duran Duran's I Don't Want Your Love (especially the single mix.)
Oh men Duran Duran has great bass lines!! Planet Earth, My Own Way, Hold Back the Rain. John Taylor is a ridiculous good bass player. So glad you guys are giving the 80s another chance! Cheers
Duran Duran they were a Big Big part of the 80’s as well as Tears for Fears and many others … So many great Music Genre’s in the 80’s .. Lived in the LA Music sphere of influence… You had your choice of radio stations playing killer music … Was a great time to be in my 20’s ..
There is much to dislike about the 80’s but there is more to love that’s for sure. Duran Duran were a tight band and have a lot of great tracks. Talk Talk is also amazing. Songs like Life’s What You Make It, The Rainbow , I Believe In You are great. The beginning of Post rock.
7 min 43 seconds in. "I was wrong about the 80's" If you guys take time to like this to sit down with bands after bands of the 80's, you find banger substance, and you will find the amount of banger songs goes on and on into the night.This coming from a 51 yr old 80's kid who took time and found The Beatles and got my mind blown into the next galaxy. Keep 'em coming. Great reactions!
True about the 80s, but something seemed to go wrong from about 1990 onwards though. It is not that there is nothing of interest after that date, but the interest definitely thins out a bit.
@@simonjones7727 - Agreed. I'm not deaf, there's still great artists and songs in each of the subsequent decades, but none are as prolific as the 80's ---amount of great artists and amount of great songs.
@@simonjones7727 - ...and I'm not being generation centric. Yes 80's is when I grew up, but that's why I gave a nod to The Beatles, and will give a nod to Death Cab For Cutie and many others from later decades. I'll even say the 60's were pretty dang stacked with lots of great artists and songs, but the 80's I feel were the most stacked with quantity of great artists and songs.
They're still going strong - a few years back, they did an album called Paper Gods - the song "Pressure Off" featuring Janelle Monae would be worth visiting as a modern track from Duran Duran. There are some amazing songs that came from that period - and as someone who grew up in the 70's and 80's - I guarantee you'll find more S-tier tunes among them.
Simple Minds' 1982 album "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" is full of great bass lines. "Promised You A Miracle" and "Glittering Prize" are two very good examples to start with.
Something to put in perspective with the 80s synth stuff is that most of the keyboardists (like Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran) programmed their own sounds (patches).On a lot of liner and production notes you'll see a credit for programming, as it was a huge job. Even as preprogrammed patches became more common during the decade, they were rarely used without modification (sometimes major). A lot of patches that sound weird now were part of the search for new and interesting sounds. Some fell flat, some became iconic. Besides the actual mechanics of the patches, they also had to program any effects. The most distinctive keyboard part of "Rio" was made possible by an arpeggiator, which required input by Rhodes to get the desired effect. And since it's directly related, they also programmed their own sequencers, which could be tedious beyond measure given the technology of the time.
This is my karaoke hero song. 😂 The other great bass line from the 80s is Talk Talk, "It's My Life". That bass line literally changed my life. This song still has secrets for you. Really tune in to the synths next time. There are so many variations and counter melodies happening there. The way Duran Duran used synths as a core aspect of their sound and arrangements while never being ABOUT the synths was way ahead of their time. Those percolating, arpeggiated synth lines throughout the Rio album.. *chef's kiss*
I was a 'Duranie' back in the day and while I enjoyed the music, I'll admit it was mainly hormone-based at the time. But now in my 50s and revisiting them, I can appreciate the musical artistry of the individuals involved and appreciate them in a more evolved and impactful way. Glad you like them, there are many memories from my teens where they were the musical backdrop. One of my favorite base lines from the 80s you can check out, is found in New Order's 'Blue Monday' - another epic band and song from that era.
Oh god this is one of my all-time favorite songs! It's the sound of my young, fun days when dancing was my life. I sure hope you like it. Thanks, gents!!! Edit- yay!! You dug it!! Omg Alex you were SO wrong about the 80's and i LOVE you for saying that! Can you imagine the rush of "moving on the dancefloor like a bird of paradise"? Great times!!
@@llw1066 yes! I sure miss the MTV days. And going to dance clubs. Such fun times! My late husband and i would spend evenings watching MTV, drinking beer and dancing around the living room.
What tends to be forgotten about these days is how great they were as a live band. If you haven't watched their performances on The Old Grey Whistle Test, I think it is a double of Night Boat and Anyone out there. Absolutely fantastic
I don't think Duran Duran's live shows were ever to be forgotten not have I ever heard this to be a concern. I've mostly read great reviews of their shows since the early 80's and I, myself, have been to multiple DD shows each decade since the 80s.
Growing up in the 80’s,it seemed most dudes hated Duran Duran because almost all,and I mean all,the girls we were in school with LOVED them. As I got older ,I started to appreciate their musicianship and then revisited their repertoire . I began telling my musician friends on how awesome John Taylor’s baseline was in this song. Some of those guys are old punk rockers and will occasionally cover this song and others by DD.
I was in college in the later 80s and was proud about my obsession with them, they were releasing Big Thing and I had people coming up to me to whisper in my ear 'hey, I like that song'
Alex gave an S-tier to an 80’s song. The first bell of the apocalypse has just been rung. 😂
🤣😂🤪
I am so happy and proud of him to admit he judged 80s music without really listening to it
👏🙌😂
LMFAO! 🤣😂😂😂😂
@@joe34012 😆 "There's a 'glitch' in the system"
The 80's wouldn't have been the 80's without Duran Duran.
Truth
Rio is one of the coolest songs ever made. John Taylor killing the bass at 21 years old!
"Every?"
JT was a teenage heartthrob, I am GUILTY. I think I contributed to the lack of respect for him. On the other hand, I wish I could remember who said it. Sometimes the little girls get it right.
@@loosilu And I never gave him his due either. And I used to joke that Nick Rhodes was the cutest chick in the band. Now he's one of my favorite pop keyboardists of the 80s.
He had only played bass for two, at most, three years when Rio came out. The playing on their debut album the year prior to Rio has amazing bass on it as well and from an even younger and less experienced bassist.
The bass during the sax exchange is ridiculous.
It’s also amazing to think how young they were at the time too. Simon LeBon (singer) was just 23 at the time, John Taylor (bassist) and Roger Taylor (drummer) were 21, Andy Taylor (guitarist) was 20, and Nick Rhodes (keyboardist) was just 19. They were all so incredibly talented
This is a great band not taken seriously enough because they were gorgeous.
John Taylor is criminally underated as a bass player. As a big fan of theirs since 1981, you really need to look at their entire catalog as it is extremely deep and varied. Come Undone, Friends Of Mine, Hold Back The Rain, The Chauffeur(Sing Blue Silver), Tel Aviv, Wild Boys, The Reflex, Planet Earth, A View To A Kill...all great songs. PS. this is the song that broke Duran Duran in the US. They went on to take the remainder of the 80's by the balls.
The Chauffeur is so often forgotten, but talk about a vibe you can lose yourself in. What a great song.
@@gregghelmberger I think it is one of their most under rated songs, IMO. Have always been able to put this on and just totally groove to it. You are absolutely correct about it being a vibe and I live for it!
this is popular to say but as a bass player, trust me no one disrespects him as a bassist. maybe people like to say this because it is pop music...
@@joetspaulding That is a lot of the criticism he gets but I think that he has been, literally, the driving force of the band for the entirety of the band's life. Thank you for speaking up for bass players. :)
Love Reflex!
A great 80s band to check out r INXS. 80s music that hasn’t aged. ‘Need you tonight’ ‘new sensation’ and ‘Never tear us apart all bangers from the ‘Kick’ album
INXS 🔥👍
DON'T CHANGE is the first INXS song to hit
Love INXS
All great ones by INXS but "Disappear" is my personal favorite.
Seeing the performance at Wembley Stadium with about 80k people bopping up and down to it is something else.
By my side is also great by INXS
Duran Duran also had some of the most iconic 80s music videos.
This is something, that I wanted to mention. Duran Duran were a part of the first generation of music videos on MTV. The greatness of the musicianship is one thing, now add to that the images conveyed in the music videos. something spectacular.
I didn't foresee Duran Duran being the band that won Alex over to the 80's, but here we are.
Bass line baby
😂
Lol
This song has gained more appreciation over time for its quality but the song that sent them into the stratosphere was Hungry Like The Wolf
Took time because they were so far ahead of their time. They would still be a popular band if they came out today.
The Reflex
Hungry Like the Wolf was simply outstanding when it came out. Well worth a listen.
This is my pick.
agreed but i think they would have rather relistened to rio instead but it does not hurt to check it out.
a song that became the North Carolina State University "theme" song during their winning run for the 1983 NCAA basketball championship.
There's a reason that Duran Duran is getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year with by far the most fan votes! They have had such incredible music for decades! Another old Duran Duran brilliance to check out is "The Chauffeur."
They are?! Finally!
And are still going strong, selling out gigs everywhere
The Deftones do a great cover of The Chauffeur
Chauffeur an all time great.
Great video with Peri Lister.
Power Station - Some Like It Hot. Two of the guys from Duran Duran and Robert Palmer. This is still my turn the volume away up, roll the windows down, and feel the breeze while driving song.
Yes, the true definition of a banger!!
The first Power Station album with Robert Palmer on vocals was one of the iconic killer records of the 1980's.
I'll credit "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" for prepping Alex to give his first S rating to an 80's song to "Rio". That song probably should have gotten an S too, but at least it broke through the glass ceiling in Alex's mind to pave the way for this S.
Absolutely and surely ‘sowing the seeds of love’ or ‘Woman in chains’ must get TFF to the S Tier.
Most Tears for Fears songs should deserve an S
@@scifimonkey3 Change would be a better candidate, those songs are... not it.
The 80's was full of complex and experimental music. Retrospectively, the decade offered an awesome array of music.
I vividly remember this video on MTV. They were on a yacht sailing on the water. Singing, playing sax, tropical 🏝❤️I always loved Duran Duran
And the paint all over the women!
And inspired the styles in the TV show Miami Vice. NBC Entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff was said to have written a simple note - “MTV Cops” - to direct his staff to come up with a new show. Whether that story is true or not, that’s what Miami Vice was.
Wasn’t it shot in Sri Lanka or was that Hungry like the Wolf?
That was an awesome ground breaking video. Those were great days to be young.
@@raymondmassie4898 I’m pretty sure all of those videos were shot there.
Duran Duran was gigantic in large part because of MTV. They looked cooler than everybody and their sound was so perfect for the time.
Yeah, they were IT!
Actually it was the other way around. “RIO” video change the way how music is viewed. Much more dynamically. No longer you had to stare at your favorite band play in studio or some place droll. How bands are marketed and promoted. It made music videos more contextual and artistic. No matter how artsy or how ridiculous the themes were. You remember the song and the video together without knowing it separately.
@@bagelj Cannot agree more. The video was like a 5 minute feature film. Absolutely brilliant. I hope they watch the video, it's so important.
@@bagelj I think the band looked cool and the song slapped. MTV was new enough where videos had overpowered impact. If your video looked interesting it was easier to watch over and over. Beautiful people on sailboats talking about a filthy Mexican river.
MTV was in large part thankful for DURAN DURAN, you mean
This review cleared my sinuses, corrected my GI, unloaded my dishwasher and folded my laundry. Killer reaction, review and introduction to one of the deepest 80's catalogs this side of The Police, Tears for Fears and MJ. Add my vote for "Planet Earth", "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Union of Snake", "New Moon on Monday" and the "The Reflex" to what is likely going to be a barrage of hits mentioned in this comment section. 40+ years and still churning out bangers, 20+ top 40 singles, induction into the RRHF and over 100mil records sold...a beyond relevant band then and now.
Where’s “Girls on Film?”
@@allenlunde7908 another banger for sure but I just went with the absolute top of my list. Otherwise, my hands would've given out from exhaustion if I went for every favorite of theirs. For sure that, but also "Come Undone", "Ordinary World", "The Chauffeur", "Hold Back the Rain", "Last Chance on the Stairway"... I mean, where do you stop?!
Love this!!
Save A PRAYER if they haven't reacted to it yet. Fabulous video as well.
@@allenlunde7908 I am all in favor of A&A watching Duran Duran videos, but they can't do THAT one!
Taylor the bassist, has a wonderful youtube channel breaking this all down for us. Wonderfully generous in sharing.
As a 13 year old girl at the time, I enjoyed the songs…they were promoted for their looks too, and had almost boy band vibe. But I had NO IDEA, how good the musicianship actually was.
I was 15 and I totally agree with this!
Same here!
One of the best songs of the 80s, for sure. Keep exploring the 80s classics by Echo and the Bunnymen, Talk Talk, Psychodelic Furs, Depeche Mode, The English Beat, etc. OMG. Great party music in the days when parties were all about the music and MTV.
Lots of great suggestions!!
My favourite ~ Talk Talk.
Thanks for suggesting it!
Also, Depeche Mode ~ exquisite!
@@sophiecat14 , two of the better 80s bands; I would recommend 'Living In Another World' to start for Talk Talk, because I don't think they'd like the SONG Talk Talk as much.
@@lisasmithline1386 I totally agree. Such A Shame might be another good start.
I wonder if they already know It’s My Life.
Talk Talk is one of my all time favourite bands. Their music never gets old. Ahead of their time, for sure.
It breaks my heart that we lost Mark so soon.💔
Glorious playlist you've listed there! I mourn the untimely loss of *Mark Hollis,* and I wish more people reacted to Talk Talk's genius.
I thank the 80s for creating my eclectic musical tastes - from Depeche Mode, to Kate Bush, via Tears For Fears, Echo and The Bunnymen, to Madness, Ian Dury, The Jam, Eurythmics, and The Police.
The Charts (and by default, ToTP) were sometimes a perplexing mix of punk, disco, ska, easy listening, novelty, schmaltzy syrup, (latterly) SAW, and downright weird, but I can't help thinking in hindsight that we were the better for it. The Charts now - perhaps as a reflection of the industry - seem far more monolithic.
yep
Hungry Like the Wolf, Girls on Film, Union of the Snake, The Reflex... I could go on and on. These guys were monsters in the '80s 🔥
I hipe they watch the videos, so important! but not girls on film because that cannot happen on YT, lol
Union of the snake
The reflex
2 of my favorites!
Boz Scaggs “lowdown” should be 1 on the bass poll. David Hungate was on that record, who ended up being the bass player for Toto. David Paich (keys and co write) and Jeff Porcaro (drums ) are other Toto band members played in this song.
Baby Love -Mothers Finest. Wyzard is a great bass player.
Indeed!
Loved Silk Degrees album especially with Lido Shuffle.
@@davidburkett4005 the drums are so far up in the mix, but then again it's Jeff Porcaro so why the hell not.
The bass playing on "Free Ride" by the Edgar Winter group is top tier.
Growing up in the 80s there were a whole lot of bands I thought would stand the test of time, and Duran Duran was not one of them. I always thought Duran Duran was enjoyable but forgettable teen-girl pop. Now it's 40 years later and I can't remember the names of all those "important" bands and Duran Duran has only gotten stronger. There are very few 80s bands I still listen to but Duran Duran is definitely one of them.
Yeah - I am right there with you. Spot on.
People should maybe pay more attention to the taste of teenage girls. They were right about the Beatles after all. 😉
I saw them eight or ten years ago,and they are still tight as hell.We’re seeing them again next month.
This song is way better than I remember. Maybe there's something about SEEING a song first on MTV, instead of just HEARING it, that distracts from or discounts the music itself.
I was made fun of growing up for loving both Duran Duran and Bon Jovi and largely the charge was that they wouldn't last for 5 years. Now, both are going to be in the Rock Hall together. I'm not bitter...nor proud... :) but the vindication feels awfully good.
Guys - you weren't alive in the 80's - it was the best decade for everything - you keep hate'n on it - why? Just for music, it had the greatest variety, talent, & vibe - we had a damn good time then - didn't matter if you were into glam rock, metal, hiphop, punk, synth pop, r&b - mullets, flat tops, dreadlocks, mohawks & everything in between - nobody cared - great time to be alive esp. for teens/20's - Rio is an elusive gamma girl type that everyone wants or admires, but can't quite reach - awesome song! D.D. was an 80's powerhouse - great musicians & songwriters for a decade of excess & limitless fun - and watch the video - this was huge on MTV -
"Something About You" by Level 42 has a deadly bass line. Killer 80's track.
One of the best songs ever written - so sophisticated, funky and timeless!
Mark King is a bass god.
I suggested the same thing, that song slaps base (pun intended)
Yeah always loved that one! Hope the boys react to it!
Yes!!!!
The bassist is John Taylor. A too often overlooked player. What makes his basslines great is his consistent use of ghost notes.
You can tell how much he was influenced by Bernard Edwards. RIP to both, and glad they got to work together.
@@davidallanhardin RIP to both? John is still alive.
@@kennet7837 Oh that's right, John left the second Power Station project. it was Robert Palmer who died after.
What's a ghost note Kennet?
@@CH-gb7hfGhost notes on bass are notes that are muted while they are plucked to give a percussive sound. Really adds flavor to the groove. I know ghost notes from the drums being a long time drummer. They are soft/barely audible notes that can really spice up a drum groove.
In the early 80’s if you were a “rocker” it was NOT cool to like Duran Duran, just like in the disco era The Bee Gees… lol. Luckily over the years I’ve come to enjoy both.
I hated them in the 80s. I was so wrong.
I guess it depends on what you mean by "rocker". I always thought of Duran Duran as a " new wave" band which was certainly rock to me.
Rush fan as a h.s. kid in the 80's, guilty as charged. I have learned the error of my ways.
Same thing for me but not because i was a rocker but because my thing was electronic music.
My sister turned me onto them. And she loved Def Leppard😅
There were some rocking “pop” bands in the 80s and your bias, Alex, has kept you from some very choice morsels. Dig down into INXS, and start with “Don’t Change.” I can’t imagine you being disappointed. Hutchence had Jagger charisma and the rest of the band could drop a pocket like few others in the decade.
I love that man! Michael Hutchence ims the guy I would want to dance with more than any other rocker! I’ve been asking for inxs for a long time
Don't Change is great, but The One Thing is better.
I love The One Thing,and I Send A Message
INXS is legendary. Don't Change is one of my favorite songs of all time. I love Burn For You also.
If you need a clearer point for spinning “Don’t Change” here’s Ned Ragget’s review of the song for All Music Guide:
“The Andrew Farriss synth part that starts the song is momentous enough, a Brian Eno-inspired effort that captures a slow, melancholic mood in its propulsive descent. Then a sudden guitar sting heralds the entry of the rest of the band with a bang, and in that instant "Don't Change" becomes not merely INXS' eternal anthem, but one of the best rock songs of the '80s, period. The sheer focus and drive of the band at this point in their career was simply awesome and the six members put it all together here with nary a flaw -- all the strength of prime heavy metal welded to post-punk's energy and topped it off with a perfect, memorable pop gloss. Michael Hutchence's singing is what holds everything together and sends it to a new height, slightly cryptic lyrics aside, showing a showman's sense of holding an audience and knowing just when to turn it on more. Kirk Pengilly, though, needs some credit -- that's him backing Hutchence on the chorus and, at the end, delivering the title twice on his own to wrap up the song with a final, beautiful kick.”
Listening to Duran Duran wouldn't be complete without listening to "Ordinary World" and "Save A Prayer"
My favorite Duran Duran song is " ♡ Ordinary World♡". It's actually one of my favorite songs by anyone.
Same with me and I still listen to it all the time.
Tied with Come Undone for me.
Agree. Just found 4 brothers from another mother.
A beautiful song.
Oh yes, Depeche has so many amazing, atmospheric masterpieces, I'm certain Alex would be blown away...
Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth. Those are some of my favorites.
I am thinking Alex might enjoy DM's later albums, perhaps Ultra or Playing The Angel. I remember seeing a Black Celebration album cover in one of Andy's videos so I assume he's more into their 80s albums.
My favorite band of all time I don’t know which song they should start with
@@Meandmymirror Same here! Super tough choice... maybe Stripped, Blasphemous, Strangelove, Policy, Enjoy, I Feel, Walking, In Your Room, Barrel, A Pain, Wrong....
Reading through the replies and their suggestions, am the only who likes their early stuff (pre-1988)? Anyone else who thinks that "A Broken Frame" is one of the most impressive sophomore albums of all time? I know, Alex would hate most of it, but they did some great work, even moreso considering they were late teens/early twenties at the time.
You know Alex is into it when he has that figure eight head swing going! His idea of Duran Duran was exactly my idea of Duran Duran back when they were brand new. Much like disco, which I hated at the time, I have come to enjoy Duran Duran more now mainly because of nostalgia. You need to do a crossover with Professor of Rock and see if he can get Alex to appreciate the 80s more. If he can't do it, no one can. As far as bass, Duran Duran's bass player actually gained respect from me back in the day when he laid down some great bass-lines as part of the supergroup Power Station. You should definitely check them out. Robert Palmer was their lead singer and they had hits with "Some Like it Hot" and their really awesome cover of T-Rex's "Bang a Gong".
I would loooove some Robert Palmer on the channel. The Bang a Gong cover [Power Station days] is awesome. I prefer it to the original. I had to buy the album. And some early Palmer stuff like Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley. His version of Every Kind of People also has super bass, from former Motown bassist Bob Babbit (who I am a huge fan of). Someone in a comment (or maybe on Discord?) brought up Palmer's song Johnny and Mary, and it's wonderful lyric writing. But Johnny and Mary sounds dated and needs someone to cover it and update the sound.
Good shout about JT bass lines with power station, he was superb
Don’t forget Andy Taylor, who’s guitar I feel added a lot to The Power Station, too.
Yes! Robert Palmer, some like it hot!!
I had wrongly assumed that A&A had done some Robert Palmer and would know who that is but after all your comments I did a search and I can see it looks like they haven't. Absolutely, besides PowerStation they need to do some Robert Palmer solo stuff! I wonder if they've even heard of him.
Honest to god, that bass. I never “heard” it before. Definitely kickass.
Not only was the bassist great, but the guitarist also played in Power Station and was one of the most sought after behind the scenes session players of the 80s I read
Then you must listen to Duran Duran's Rio and Girls On Film. Rio, is the song that the majority of people reference when they talk about John Taylor and his bass playing in Duran Duran.
Duran Duran was marketed to teen girls because they were good looking. This caused a lot of guys to blow them off. It wasn’t until I was in college in the 90s that I came to appreciate them.
Plus, they’re named after the bad guy from Barberella!
As a teen throughout the 80’s (thank God!), even with having always leaned towards heavier rock…Rio is EASILY the S-tier song of the 80’s…if not DD, themselves, as the S-tier band of the 80’s…The Fab Five. Even if you’re not a devout DD fan, they’ve earned their due respect for the fact of being one of the most prominent players of the 80’s. They encompass, they embody that which the 80’s were! And this is coming from a Maiden/Priest dude! Shout out to the very underrated drummer of DD Roger Taylor. Well done fellas!
I'm a huge Duran Duran fan. I like just about all of their songs but my #1 is Ordinary World. I just love that song and the video.
Ordinary World is a perfect track to show what a mature Duran Duran sounds like.
Me too. That guitar solo is the shiz❤
Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf are Duran’s “legendary” songs….definitely worthy of S Tier….good job boys and Andy nice job converting that A+ to a S
Can we convince them to watch the video? That was a HUGE part of it
Straight up, I'll say -- I never liked Hungry Like the Wolf. I was 14, I did NOT like the video, and Duran Duran did nothing for me as heart-throbs. As songs go, it's fine, like yeah, it's iconic 80s. Meanwhile, though? I've had a long time to think about it, and Rio is my favorite song of the 80s. Obviously, those are my teen years, I have a lot of songs from the 80s I love. (And a lot of bands I loved more than Duran Duran, on the whole.) But if you made me pick just ONE song from the 80s, it's this one, it's Rio.
More than just these two. The big songs were rio rio, the reflex, union of the snake, wild boys, a view to a kill, notorious, ordinary world, come undone... and hungry like the wolf
@@lecannois How you gonna stand there and abuse "Is There Something I Should Know" and especially "New Moon on Monday" for "Union of the Snake" and "Wild Boys"? The video for New Moon was brilliant. Especially the long version of it, a great short film.
And for a killer bass line, "Spirits in the Material World" by the Police
Duran Duran was highly underrated. Pick an instrument and follow it through each song and you realize how great a band they are. Check out The Chauffer, New Religion and Save a Prayer.
I don't think Duran Duran was underrated. When I was in high school they were absolutely huge(yes, I'm old). I think it was for this reason that I hated them. They were way too popular. I was also heavily into hardcore punk at the time. But, I' ve learned to really appreciate them over the years. Also, Keep up the great work guys. Love your channel.
New Religion!
It's like I woke up in an alternate universe. Given Alex's opinion of 80's music, if I had to pick one band I was sure I'd never see on this channel, it would've been this one. If 80's music was a band, that band might be Duran Duran. lol So happily surprised :)
Me, too! And I was sure he would HATE it! 🤣
This is a masterpiece the vocals, the bass, the keyboards, the sax, the drums, the guitar its perfect!
Not a second is wasted.
Great base line in "Strawberry Letter 23" Brothers Johnson's version. The song is easily worth listening to in a review and I bet you havnt heard of it before.
The bass breakdown in Stomp is truly insane!
I agree to both of these comments.
When you’re right, you’re right.
Best "80s" bassist is Mark King of Level 42. Equal parts jazzy, funky and poppy, he is a master of the instrument. My favorite songs are "Something About You" and "Running In The Family", but there are killer bass lines in songs like "Hot Water", "Lessons In Love", "Micro Kid" and "The Chant Has Begun".
The Level 42 song World Machine had a great bass line as well.
Come to think of it that was a pretty thick bassline on that big hit they had, Something About You. I haven't heard the others.
It's a cultural requirement that you watch the video. You won't be disappointed.
Duran Duran mastered the synth and until this came out, the world had never heard synth used like this before.
Same can be said about the video. It's visually stunning and broke ground for it's camerawork.
80's kid here - I love that y'all loved the song! Suggestion: Gary Wright. Love Is Alive. Excellent bass line.
Although it is a good song, I believe everything on that album is keyboards except of course vocals and drums. But still a good bass line!
Yessss...great base line
If you love basslines from the 80s Level 42 are the go to group full of complex and amazing sounding basslines from lead singer and bassit Mark King. songs like Something About You, Love Games, Lessons In Love, Running In The Family, Hot Water They have so many great songs in such a unique style of their own. You Should Check them out!
Level 42, still one of my fav bands!!!
Great recommendation.
Oh yeah, great band to recommend for them. Something About You is one of my favorite pop songs.
Great shout,Mark King is as funky as all hell with that bass slap he possesses.
The SunnGoes Down is my favourite of theirs,so so funky and loose,love it,love the band.
Mark King is a god of slap bass.
Meant to add the A&A should also check out Japan for Mick Karn’s incredible fretless bass
Next Duran Duran song “Girls on Film” and it has a nasty baseline for bonus points.
As for another 80’s masterpiece in bass, The Police - Spirits in the Material World…crazy good.
SitMW is the song that made me want to be a bass player.
If you review Girls on Film, it's gotta be the Night Version remix. The alternate ending is the bomb.
It's hard to concentrate on the bass with Stewart's insane drumming on the song.
YES!!!! This song as well as Roundabout where what made me buy a bass guitar. Everyone in this band is killer and doesn't get the credit they should since they were seen as a slick "boy band." Of course the bass is killer, but Nick Rhodes really knows how to layer in the 80s keyboards in a way few others can. That killer arpeggio with the drums just runs this song.
I spent my whole '80s childhood shitting on Duran Duran, but it had nothing to do with whether I liked the music. It is because they had the most annoying teeny bopper fans in pop history. I had several friends who had at least one entire bedroom wall covered with pin-ups of Duran Duran from Tiger Beat magazine or whatever, LOL. That didn't mean I wouldn't turn up their songs when they came on the radio, but I couldn't be seen in public admitting that I liked Duran Duran even if I thought - to your point about Nick Rhodes - that "Save A Prayer" was one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard in my life, and his playing is a big reason why. I have issued many public apologies to the band as a more well-rounded adult.
@@joeday4293 "Save a Prayer" takes me straight back to one of my firs thigh school dances. I can just smell the Drakkar Noir and Jean Nate.
@@joeday4293 "Save a Prayer" takes me back to one of my first high school dances. I can almost smell the Drakkar Noir and Lean Nate when I hear it.
@@bitslammer Or Polo by Ralph Lauren. 😆
Let's not forget Andy Taylor's unique guitar sound. I didn't enjoy the band's output as much after he left.
“Things Can Only Better” by Howard Jones is in this wheelhouse. Fantastic chorus, funky bass, came out in ‘85, I think. I was a rocker chick back then, but he and Duran Duran were part of my record collection.
Yes - I don’t know if the boys will get to S tier but Howard Jones is legendary 80s that holds up well today.
Hell yes!
Howard Jones is awesome!
Did you like Thompson Twins?
@@ZEPnALE TT are great!!
I remember a bunch of music critics proclaiming Duran Duran the new Beatles. Didn't quite work out that way, but their fans were happy at the time.
They actually were the 80’s equivalent to the Beatles in terms of fanfare and attention. That is what they meant. They did not mean the music equivalent.
As somebody who hated Duran Duran back in the 80's, it was good to reappraise this. It was much better than I remember and weirdly reminded me of Roxy Music at their best. Art Pop, let's say.
Same Old Scene is the best DD song DD never did. It's like the blueprint is just right there.
What I remember most about Duran Duran is the FASHION. Yes, I remember the MTV videos, but there was a clique of guys at my high school who shopped at Merry Go Round at the local mall and dressed EXACTLY like Duran Duran -- the jackets, the pants, the hair, the whole look. At the time, it seemed perfectly normal; in hindsight, it's hilarious that some kids in the mid-80s Atlanta suburbs were Duran Duran clones.
There were GIRLS at my girls high school who dressed like Duran Duran.
@@loosilu I didn't see that, but the dudes who dressed like Duran Duran DID get the girls. They knew what they were doing.
As a drummer myself, who has to exist in the pocket with the bass, Duran Duran has one of the best pockets I've heard.
As for phenomenal bass lines, another 80s song is Big Time, by Peter Gabriel. The bass line in that is f'ing NUTS. And it was created by having the drummer play the bass strings, with his sticks, while the bassist played the neck. They wanted a super percussive sound to the bass, and that's how they achieved it. Also, bassist was Tony Levin, who is one of the best bassists to ever play.
Don't forget his live version of "Your Eyes" w/. Paula Cole as one of his backup singers.
His most famous song from the 80s was In Your Eyes, so very much worth a reaction.
@@loosilu I think they reacted to Supper's Ready back from his Genesis days. They'd probably be surprised to see how he changed/grew as an artist.
@@loosilu Also, Manu Katche's drumming on that track is insane.
Best pockets ? Level 42 -Phil Gould's drumming is on it.
Duran Duran owned the 1980’s. Practically Beatles level of mania around them.
Old school fan here. The whole Rio album is incredible, it stands the test of time. The video is lots of fun too!
I had the life size band poster on my wall:)
This was EPIC! Heck. Yes. Welcome to the other side, Alex!!!!
🥰
If you love bass lines then check out the Stranglers-peaches, The Jam also have a ton of great bass lines, Start, going underground, Town called malice, in the city the list goes on, The Jam are one of the greatest 3 piece bands that ever was.
Start!
“Save a Prayer” is one of their lesser songs but my favorite of them, “New Religion” has some great bass work.
Yass! That song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it!
Love New Religion!!
Save a Prayer has always been my favorite by them.
New Religion is wonderful
I grew up in the 80's and at the time, I felt like Duran Duran was a band made for girls. Fast forward to early 2000's, my wife wanted to see them perform so I sucked it up and thought I'd keep an open mind. They absolutely blew me away. That gig was easily at the top of my list of live shows I'd been to and I've been to many before and since. I've seen them at least a half a dozen times by now and they never disappoint.
A "band for girls?" As if that's a thing and if so, why would it be bad, dude?
@@Himmiefan I think I can answer that. It was a boy band, according to my classmates in the mid-eighties, the ones who listened to Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Judas Priest. All the members were [gay] (not the word they used, but I'm not going to repeat the epithet), and just because they were gay, they were unlistenable. It was okay if the girls listened to that sort of noise, but if you didn't listen to Black Sabbath, you were not cool. (Yeah, Rush, Subdivisions).
I was the only boy who didn't follow through with the edict, so I was shunned. Bringing up Freddie Mercury or Rob Halford would not have helped, either.
If there's any vindication, my brother-in-law who listens to Rammstein to mellow out told me his favourite bassist is John Taylor. Hates the music but gives full props to the talent.
My husband surprised me with tickets to see them in 2007 and his jaw was on the floor. Like you, he was never a fan but said it was probably the best live show that he had ever seen. (And we were indie rock/scene hipsters, so went to LOTS of shows but never any pop music.)
@@richardkralick3062 Duran Duran became my favorite band in 1982 and they still remain my favorite today. It's interesting how some "metal heads" or "rockers" did not like Duran Duran for the reason you specified. It's interesting how none of the DD are and yet, these "metal heads" and "rockers" were idolizing Rob Halford from Judas Priest and singing his lyrics. Some of them I am sure liked Queen as well. The irony.
Green Onions by Booker T & The MG's has a killer bass line and is an all-around great jam.
YESS!!!
Duran Duran is one of those rare bands that both were HUGE commercially, I mean mega pop stars, and also incredibly technical on their playing.
Yes, this is absolutely an S tier song. But it's not their only S tier, Save a Prayer I'd put as S, and The Chauffer.
New Religion.
Converted!!! If there was one 80s song to convert Alex this was going to be it 😂
It’s all about the bass!
John Taylor shreds it in Rio!
"Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" by *Ian Dury & The Blockheads* (Norman Watt-Roy on bass) deserves a spot in the "best basslines" poll.
hit me slowly hit me quick . . .
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
It is one the all-time great basslines. It’s a shame it’s so low in the mix. I wish it were remastered with the bass as prominent as this. But that line…chef’s kiss. Norman Watt-Roy played so many iconic lines at that time.
Fantastic bass in that song.
Clever Trevor...
John Taylor is one of the most underrated bassists in rock and roll. Duran Duran's native musicality and great lyrics put them in a class by themselves. They still make for great listening today.
A&A, you'll love their "Hungry Like the Wolf", ""Girls on Film" and "Union of the Snake"!!!. Their music videos are always very good.
Songs with great bass lines poll must include Funkadelic or Parliament. Bootsy Collins also played with James Brown in the early 1970s.
Great bass lines-One Nation Under A Groove by Funkadelic
Bootsy Collins had his own band with the greatest name-Bootsys Rubber Band.
surfie on indie radio yes. heard bootsys new single keep that funlk alive has a good guitar solo
I think Duran Duran got a bit unfairly scoffed at in the 80's for being a little too popular with teenage girls.
Dudes.... Depeche Mode.... DO IT UP!!!
As for Duran Duran, yes they are megastars of the 80's, but back at the beginning of MTV, they got NO love from the industry. The fans were nuts over them, but for some reason they just didn't get the airplay they deserved. To me they are easily in my top 10 favorite bands that I feel really shaped the 80's sound, and transcended above the standard synth new wave sound that was really settling in, mid decade.
My dream song that you guys do? "To Live & Die In L.A" by Wang Chung
My all-time favorite band
Another great band from the 80's - they actually started in the late 70's - that (I believe) you haven't reviewed yet is U2. There is a killer bass line on the song "Two Hearts Beat as One". Please review that song - you won't regret it.
It’s a long journey that should start soon!
U2 is great!
thank you so much for suggesting, i'm in love with it!
I truly feel sorry for anyone who didn't grow up in thr 80s listening to the music. Such an evolution of synth music at the end of a punk era. There were a load of cheesey songs too, but the majority was cutting edge. Along with new romantic, add the hip hop scene too. Just bliss
This is a fucking banger. S-tier for me. Legitimately one of the greatest songs ever.
Wow. That’s saying a lot. While I loved the pop DD, when their ballad, Ordinary World hit the scene I had NO idea who it was. Thought it was a new group it sounded so different.
You should try Edge of America, or Do You Believe in Shame.
That's my favorite as well
So stoked you loved this tune. What a great band! They have a 90's song called Ordinary World that is just stunning and of course from the 80's: Girls on Film, Hungry Like the Wolf, Is There Something I Should Know and many many more!
Aussie bands you should check out: Midnight Oil, Men at Work, Crowded House and INXS!
Great way to start out the week and the last few weeks of Summer. Cheers Gents!
Theres a reason why so many people love the 80s. Don't write it off man
Fun fact. Duran Duran are probably the only band that had 3 people with the same surname who weren't related to each other. John Taylor on Bass, Andy Taylor on Guitar and Roger Taylor on Drums. Not forgetting Simon Le Bon on Vocals and Nick Rhodes on Keyboards. I've seen them live about 5 years ago and were still fantastic.
Great 80s basslines: "Kyrie" - Mr. Mister (Richard Page); "My City Was Gone" - The Pretenders (Tony Butler); "Under The Milky Way" - The Church (Steve Kilbey).
Under the Milky Way!!! Good call, so good!!
The Church! Great one!
The Church's 'Almost With You' and 'Unguarded Moment' are stellar guitar riffs
Duran Duran had the limitation that they were really good looking and got treated like a boy band despite the fact they had musical integrity. As for other great bass lines, you gotta hit “My Sharona” by The Knack. Great base line, even better guitar solo.
I 100% agree with this. My Sharona is so fun to play on bass
Yes! They gotta do it!!
As a longtime keyboardist, always loved Nick Rhodes, especially with that Roland Jupiter 8. Too me, the 80's had a lot of fun music!
I never realized how much of this song relied on the bass before, that guy was pretty damn busy in this song. Of all of Duran Duran's albums Rio is the true classic, in my opinion.
I'm so glad you checked them out. Hard rocker here from the 70's as a teen but in my 20's, no matter how much I resisted at first, I HAD to fall for this group! Andy Taylor is the lead guitarist, still playing in his own band at 61 yrs of age but he was terribly underrated all these years. John Talyor is one of the finest bassists around. Nick Rhodes, on synthesizer and the drummer and lead singer...on point, as always. Thanks for this great video. In your personal time, be sure to check out the official video.
If this song changed your mind about the 80’s, then I have to wonder what you’d think about a handful of tunes off of U2’s Joshua Tree album. You’ll rethink your “S” rating on Rio once you hear U2, for sure!
Whole Joshua Tree album 🤘
Where do you start with Joshua tree? Too many great songs. Streets have no name, Still haven’t found, With or without you are all classics
And Achtung Baby
Two Hearts Beat as One from War. Straight up BANGER, with the early U2 punk-ish energy. Adam Clayton kills the driving bass line.
@@laurahannon1652 Yes, I made the same comment about that song too.
My Sharona by The Knack (1979 but helped usher in the 80s) has a good bassline hook and one of the most underrated guitar solos of all time.
Peace from PA ✌
True but this song has one of the all-time great DRUM hooks
@@robland6804 indeed👍
So MANY hooks in My Sharona. 💕
Elvis Costello "(I don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" and "lipstick Vogue" have amazing bass lines!
Yes. William, Elvis Costello has many amazing albums of very interesting creative songs. One of the greatest artists ever. You named some of my favorites. Also, “The Angels Want To Wear My Red Shoes”. The albums “Imperial Bedroom” and “King of America “ are epic masterpieces.
Insane songs.Good call.
You have to look at the 80's this way; 1980-1985 is some incredible mixing and engineering, it's post 1985 where digital recording comes in and everyone fought to get the cleanest, most polished sound possible. But even then, there are masterworks; such as Duran Duran's I Don't Want Your Love (especially the single mix.)
Oh men Duran Duran has great bass lines!! Planet Earth, My Own Way, Hold Back the Rain. John Taylor is a ridiculous good bass player. So glad you guys are giving the 80s another chance! Cheers
Duran Duran was the def Leppard of pop
Duran Duran they were a Big Big part of the 80’s as well as Tears for Fears and many others … So many great Music Genre’s in the 80’s .. Lived in the LA Music sphere of influence… You had your choice of radio stations playing killer music … Was a great time to be in my 20’s ..
There is much to dislike about the 80’s but there is more to love that’s for sure. Duran Duran were a tight band and have a lot of great tracks. Talk Talk is also amazing. Songs like Life’s What You Make It, The Rainbow , I Believe In You are great. The beginning of Post rock.
Talk Talk by Talk Talk is a fav
retroactively I'm sure The The regrets that name.
7 min 43 seconds in. "I was wrong about the 80's" If you guys take time to like this to sit down with bands after bands of the 80's, you find banger substance, and you will find the amount of banger songs goes on and on into the night.This coming from a 51 yr old 80's kid who took time and found The Beatles and got my mind blown into the next galaxy. Keep 'em coming. Great reactions!
True about the 80s, but something seemed to go wrong from about 1990 onwards though. It is not that there is nothing of interest after that date, but the interest definitely thins out a bit.
@@simonjones7727 - Agreed. I'm not deaf, there's still great artists and songs in each of the subsequent decades, but none are as prolific as the 80's ---amount of great artists and amount of great songs.
@@simonjones7727 - ...and I'm not being generation centric. Yes 80's is when I grew up, but that's why I gave a nod to The Beatles, and will give a nod to Death Cab For Cutie and many others from later decades. I'll even say the 60's were pretty dang stacked with lots of great artists and songs, but the 80's I feel were the most stacked with quantity of great artists and songs.
Welcome to the 80's, Andy and Alex! It's a great decade to explore musically.
I will die on the ‘80s hill. Best musical decade. We had it all.
They're still going strong - a few years back, they did an album called Paper Gods - the song "Pressure Off" featuring Janelle Monae would be worth visiting as a modern track from Duran Duran. There are some amazing songs that came from that period - and as someone who grew up in the 70's and 80's - I guarantee you'll find more S-tier tunes among them.
Simple Minds' 1982 album "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" is full of great bass lines. "Promised You A Miracle" and "Glittering Prize" are two very good examples to start with.
Something to put in perspective with the 80s synth stuff is that most of the keyboardists (like Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran) programmed their own sounds (patches).On a lot of liner and production notes you'll see a credit for programming, as it was a huge job. Even as preprogrammed patches became more common during the decade, they were rarely used without modification (sometimes major). A lot of patches that sound weird now were part of the search for new and interesting sounds. Some fell flat, some became iconic. Besides the actual mechanics of the patches, they also had to program any effects. The most distinctive keyboard part of "Rio" was made possible by an arpeggiator, which required input by Rhodes to get the desired effect.
And since it's directly related, they also programmed their own sequencers, which could be tedious beyond measure given the technology of the time.
This is my karaoke hero song. 😂 The other great bass line from the 80s is Talk Talk, "It's My Life". That bass line literally changed my life.
This song still has secrets for you. Really tune in to the synths next time. There are so many variations and counter melodies happening there. The way Duran Duran used synths as a core aspect of their sound and arrangements while never being ABOUT the synths was way ahead of their time. Those percolating, arpeggiated synth lines throughout the Rio album.. *chef's kiss*
'Save a Prayer' is another Duran classic.
I was a 'Duranie' back in the day and while I enjoyed the music, I'll admit it was mainly hormone-based at the time. But now in my 50s and revisiting them, I can appreciate the musical artistry of the individuals involved and appreciate them in a more evolved and impactful way. Glad you like them, there are many memories from my teens where they were the musical backdrop. One of my favorite base lines from the 80s you can check out, is found in New Order's 'Blue Monday' - another epic band and song from that era.
Yea I was into Simon also
Same here! I was into John. It took a lot of years to appreciate how good they really are.
I love this airing of teen diary secrets!
Hahaha! I remember being in like 7th grade and kids asking each other if they were a Madonnie or a Duranie 😁
@@HeatherErin I had one friend who dressed as Madonna for a few years then Dressed like Duran Duran!
Oh god this is one of my all-time favorite songs! It's the sound of my young, fun days when dancing was my life. I sure hope you like it. Thanks, gents!!! Edit- yay!! You dug it!! Omg Alex you were SO wrong about the 80's and i LOVE you for saying that! Can you imagine the rush of "moving on the dancefloor like a bird of paradise"? Great times!!
@@llw1066 yes! I sure miss the MTV days. And going to dance clubs. Such fun times! My late husband and i would spend evenings watching MTV, drinking beer and dancing around the living room.
What tends to be forgotten about these days is how great they were as a live band. If you haven't watched their performances on The Old Grey Whistle Test, I think it is a double of Night Boat and Anyone out there. Absolutely fantastic
Were? They are still performing live shows
I don't think Duran Duran's live shows were ever to be forgotten not have I ever heard this to be a concern. I've mostly read great reviews of their shows since the early 80's and I, myself, have been to multiple DD shows each decade since the 80s.
Growing up in the 80’s,it seemed most dudes hated Duran Duran because almost all,and I mean all,the girls we were in school with LOVED them. As I got older ,I started to appreciate their musicianship and then revisited their repertoire . I began telling my musician friends on how awesome John Taylor’s baseline was in this song. Some of those guys are old punk rockers and will occasionally cover this song and others by DD.
I was in college in the later 80s and was proud about my obsession with them, they were releasing Big Thing and I had people coming up to me to whisper in my ear 'hey, I like that song'
Rio, the album, blew my mind when I first heard it. I played my vinyl LP so many times even my mum knows all the words. Iconic and unsurpassable.