What's the biggest Duran Duran earworm?
Duran Duran is the undisputed king of the New Romantic movement in the '80s, but every once in a while, their songs can burrow a little too deep into the brain.
Like this one -- Careless Memories -- from back in 1981, which has been swimming around my head for a week or so. Which video do you prefer: The anime one above from their live DVD reunion show in London or the original video?
What I really want to know is: Which Duran Duran song is the biggest earworm to you? And why? And should Duran Duran even be considered an earworm?
Enjoy the haunting memories.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
I've seen Duran Duran over 100 times and on Wednesday I'm driving over 340 miles up to Edinburgh to see them again.
I love the Manga style video for Careless Memories.
Earworms change on an almost weekly basis for me, as far as Duran Duran are concerned. At the moment though, I can't get the first few chords of The Reflex (album version) out of my head.
Posted by: Pawpads | July 13, 2009 at 02:59 AM
I've never heard that song before!
Posted by: John Hays | July 13, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Favourite Duran Duran songs are:
Careless Memories ~ I love the Manga vid
Hold Back the rain
New moon on monday.
I don't have DD related earworms.
BUT, I have see DD over 100 times and am gearing up to driving 340 miles up to Edinburgh to see them on Thursday.
Can't wait and I honestly wouldn't travel this kind of distance for anyone else.
Posted by: Pawpads | July 12, 2009 at 04:24 PM
my personal earworm is "Hungry Like the Wolf", The Night Mix that was on the Rio lp and cassette. Just something about those screams at the end overpowering the rest of the song like that. Am I alone in that?
Posted by: Duck 182 | July 12, 2009 at 03:00 AM
Wild Boys is the only DD hit not on my iPod. Careless Memories is one of my favorite songs: I love the anger energy and a link to the original video should be posted too since it's not shown much on tv.
Posted by: Karen | July 11, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Careless Memories is possibly my favorite Duran Duran song...although Save a Prayer holds a special place in my heart because I swear John looked right in my eyes while he was singing it when I saw them in concert when I was 15.
As far as earworms, Rio tends to stick in my brain for quite a while.
Posted by: Peacecat30 | July 11, 2009 at 12:01 PM
"Please please tell me now!" [[drum hit]] "Please please tell me now!" [[drum hit]] "Please please tell me now!" [[drum hit]] "Please please tell me now!" [[drum hit]]
Need I say more? :)
Posted by: Mr. Paul | July 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Wild Boys is the earworm that always seems to pop up without any reason whatsoever.
Posted by: 80sfan | July 11, 2009 at 09:11 AM
i love notorious. that could never be an earworm for me. like someone said, the earworm doesn't neccessary have to be a bad song. thst said, i think i'd go with all she wants is. it's a great song, but it's quite contagious. all i hear in my head afterward, is a loop of all she wants it.
Posted by: CHAD | July 10, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Earworms for me aren't necessarily bad, but they become annoying when you can't shake it from the noggin.
Notorious has to be one of my least favorite DD tunes.
Posted by: Marissa | July 10, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Sorry Brad.
Posted by: GAGirl | July 10, 2009 at 10:00 PM
You know, I really like "Electric Barbarella."
If by "earworm" you mean "make it stop!," I'm going with "Wild Boys" aka "Weird Boys"
Weird Boys! Weird Boys! Weird Boys!
(that's not what they're saying?)
Posted by: Brad | July 10, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Saw the original this morning on vh1 classic.
Posted by: Blake Britton | July 10, 2009 at 06:56 PM
"Girls On Film" gets stuck in my head along with the imagery of the soft core porn video that accompanied it
Posted by: Marissa | July 10, 2009 at 06:04 PM
I LOOOVE this anime video.
No No Notorious! and it's not a bad thing, it just stays in my head for HOURS
Posted by: special K stuck in Kentucky wanting to go back to Germany | July 10, 2009 at 05:34 PM
As soon as I saw this post, I thought 'Hungry Like The Wolf'. it's all in the 'Do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do!" bit.
Posted by: Roy, UK | July 10, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Asking me what is my fav Duran Duran earworm is like asking me what my favorite Rush earworm is.
I go in phases with DD with which song i am currently enthralled.
The Chauffeur
New Religion
Hold Back the Rain
top my list this week.
Posted by: Crockett | July 10, 2009 at 03:57 PM
It was in the 90's but White Lines was truly embarrassing.
Posted by: olde40oz | July 10, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Save A Prayer.
Posted by: olde40oz | July 10, 2009 at 03:35 PM
FLE-FLE-FLE-FLE-FLEX!!
Posted by: Ian from Baltimore | July 10, 2009 at 03:23 PM
I saw them do Careless Memories back in 81, many times after as well, but I have to say I loved the amime one at the reunion shows.
The one that ends in my head for ages when I hear is the 'do do do, do do do, do doo' from Hungry like the Wolf.
Though currently my ear worm is the Hoedown Throwdown, thanks to my daughter. Grrrrr....
Posted by: Jono | July 10, 2009 at 03:19 PM
I always get the bop bop bop part of Planet Earth stuck in my head after hearing it. I don't mind though, cause I love me some Duran Duran. ^_^
Posted by: KissFreakShandi | July 10, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Not in the 80s but "Electric Barbarella" was truly heinous.
Posted by: GAGirl | July 10, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Fle-fle-fle-fle-flex!
Posted by: Spears | July 10, 2009 at 02:04 PM
"The Reflex"
Posted by: Michelle | July 10, 2009 at 01:50 PM
"Wild Boys" without a doubt is their biggest ear worm.
Posted by: Bassnote | July 10, 2009 at 01:30 PM