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Duran Duran

Posted on Monday, July 6th, 2009

Dave!Duran Duran is one of the few of my favorite 80's bands that I haven't seen live. So when my sister told me they'd be playing at Marymoor Park on Independence Day weekend, it was an opportunity too good to pass up (even if you do get gouged by TicketMeister). It was particularly decent of her to go, because she's not the big Duran Duran fan that I am.

Now, for whatever reason, I was not expecting much out of the concert. Perhaps it's because Duran Duran's sound always seems so polished that I just assumed it all came from the studio.

I could not have been more wrong.

Simon Le Bon and company tore through 19 of their biggest hits in one of the best live performances I have ever seen. They over-delivered with a flawless set that gave the crowd exactly what they wanted to hear. It made me curse all the times I passed at seeing them in concert before, and has me looking forward to the next time they come to town.

Ooh... and I shot my very first video on my new iPhone! Sound is kind of blown out (I don't think the iPhone microphone expects the audio source to be so loud) but the quality is still pretty good video-wise. Unfortunately, they compress the hell out of things when you upload it to Mobile.Me or YouTube. Doesn't look too horrible if you play it small though...

All in all, a pretty fantastic weekend.

I've gone through the set-list song-by-song in an extended entry, if you're so inclined.

UPDATE: The YouTube version has finished processing, so I swapped it for the QuickTime version since people were having problems with it. Also, there are a number of much better iPhone videos posted to YouTube of the concert.

Duran Duran Set List... Marymoor Park at Redmond, WA - July 5th, 2009.

  1. Wild Boys. Never realized what a crowd pumper this song was until they led with it. Everybody went nuts (YouTube Link).
  2. Union of the Snake. After all these years, I still have no idea what this song is supposed to mean. (YouTube Link).
  3. Night Runner. A newer track which originally featured Justin Timerblake and Timbaland. I am not a big fan of the song, and felt it added a dead spot after the momentum built by the previous two songs (YouTube Link).
  4. Notorious. Was happy to hear that this song plays very, very well live, and got the crowd jumping after Night Runner kind of slammed on the brakes (YouTube Link).
  5. I Don't Want Your Love. Surprised to have this one in the set, but very happy. The only thing that could have made me happier would be if they either followed this up with All She Wants Is or somehow made a melody out of the two songs together. Since they were released one-after-the-other from the album Big Thing, they just kind of go together like that in my head (YouTube Link).
  6. Save a Prayer. A great ballad that was beautifully sang. Really shows off how strong a performer Simon is live (YouTube Link).
  7. Red Carpet Massacre. One of their few "hits" that I don't really care for. It's not that it's a bad song... it just doesn't seem very "Duran Duran" to me... I would have rather they put What Happens Tomorrow here instead (YouTube Link).
  8. Election Day. Simon talked to the crowd here and told us that they like to change up their live shows from time to time to make them more interesting. Occasionally these changes will involve "dragging a skeleton out of their song wardrobe" and trying to add some "meat" to them musically so they play well at a live show. He then went on to say that this was the first time the song has been performed in front of a live audience by this band (I'm guessing that's because it's a hit for Arcadia, the Duran Duran splinter group). You would never know it, because it was absolutely fantastic (YouTube Link).
  9. Come Undone. One of my all-time favorite Duran Duran songs. I had no idea how they would handle some of the more subtle elements, but they didn't really try. The track seemed completely rearranged for a live performance, and was great. Enough changes to make it play well, but not enough to bury the song or make it unrecognizable. Just beautifully done (YouTube Link).
  10. The Reflex. A great live song made even better via some clever audience participation. One of those songs that actually plays better live than in a studio (YouTube Link).
  11. The Chauffeur. Surrounded by a group of die-hard Duran Duran fans, I was the only one who was able to name this more obscure track from their catalog of songs. I don't think it went over particularly well with the crowd, as most people stopped paying attention, but it was an interesting moment for those of us who recognized it (YouTube Link).
  12. Do You Believe in Shame? This song was dedicated to Michael Jackson. I don't know that it translated as well for a live performance than the rest but, if you listen to the lyrics, it seems a fitting tribute to Michael and was a nice break before my first big surprise of the evening (YouTube Link)...
  13. Reach Up For The Sunrise. Of all of the bands more "modern" songs, this in one of my favorites. Before the concert I remarked to my friends that I knew we'd get all the big hits, but was hoping for some of the smaller ones too... Reach Up For The Sunrise was one of them. They did not disappoint. Was totally thrilled that they included it in the set-list, and blown away that they did such a great job with it (YouTube Link).
  14. Ordinary World. Like Come Undone, there are some beautiful subtleties in this track that had to be rearranged to play to the cheap-seats, but they did it astoundingly well. Probably Simon's best vocal performance of the night but, considering every song was amazing, that's purely subjective... I love the song, so I'm probably biased (YouTube Link).
  15. Hungry Like The Wolf. The first in a series of crowd-pleasing classics, the band was on fire here, and just kept ramping it up as the final songs played out (YouTube Link).
  16. Rio. Probably their most famous song, you couldn't turn on MTV in the early 80's without seeing it there. The crowd responded appropriately (YouTube Link)
  17. View To a Kill. ENCORE. My second surprise of the night, because it's the second of two songs on my "wish list" that they would play. But here's the thing... they didn't just come out and play the song... they built up to it with a wonderful montage of James Bond themes, then Simon crept into the track by singing the slower "reprise" versions from the View To a Kill soundtrack before building up to the single version everybody knows. An absolutely perfect arrangement of the song in every way. Wish I could buy it on iTunes (YouTube Link).
  18. Planet Earth. ENCORE. Flawless rendition of a hallmark Duran Duran classic. I thought for sure this song would be totally "remade" for a live performance, as bands are want to do with their older hits... but, thankfully, they didn't fuck with it, and gave everybody exactly the song they were expecting to hear. So very grateful for that. Nothing pisses me off more than to go to a concert wanting to hear one of your favorite songs, only to have the band completely change it because they're bored with it (YouTube Link).
  19. Girls on Film (Le Freak). ENCORE. Can you think of a better song to close the show? Arguably one of the best pop songs ever made, they totally killed with it, and left the audience on a high note that would guaranteed we'd be wanting more. Somehow they managed to blend the song with Chic's Le Freak so Simon could run through the band members before fading back into Girls on Film again (YouTube Link).

All-in-all you couldn't ask for more in a Duran Duran concert. It was practically a "best of" performance which gave the crowd exactly what they wanted to hear. Aside from the afore-mentioned All She Wants Is, I would only have added two of their bigger hit songs... Is There Something I Should Know? and New Moon on Monday. But it's just impossible to complain. There are so few Duran Duran songs that I wouldn't want to hear live! I'd see them again in concert tomorrow if I could!

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Comments

  1. Sodapop says:

    Oh man, I love Duran Duran!!!! I’ve seen them live twice – but not in the last few years with the newer stuff.

    I’m glad you enjoyed the concert!!! I probably would have been one of the few to recognize The Chauffeur.

    I remember they did Last Chance On The Stairway at one of the concerts I went too and I was one of maybe three people around me who recognized it.

    Now I’m in the mood to listen to them all day at work today. Going to drive my co-workers crazy!

  2. Mooselet says:

    I was a HUGE Duran Duran fan when I was a teenager – and still am I guess. I saw them on the Seven and the Ragged Tiger tour in ’84, and they’re among the most played tunes in my iPod (including The Chauffeur). I’m so jealous of you but it’s good to hear they still have it.

  3. Robin says:

    OMG – They played PLANET EARTH?? They didn’t even play that song when I saw them @ Radio City Music Hall (was their tour for the “Wedding Album”….I have the t-shirt somewhere….)!!

    And they blended Girls on Film with Le Freak?? OMG – that was probably EPIC. I love it when artists do stuff like that live. They were totally playing tribute to Nile Rodgers, since he produced their “Notorious” album back in the day….

    Now, what I would LOVE to see is the original Duran Duran lineup tour – you know, with both Rodger AND Andy Taylor?

    I don’t know what made this pop into my mind, but have you ever seen Prince live?

  4. Avitable says:

    That’s one band I’ve never gotten into. I love the people dancing in front of you, though – that is the reason I don’t dance.

  5. jenny says:

    Oh, man. That is such a perfect set list! And Wild Boys was always one of my faves – I remember recording the video and watching it over and over and over. And over.

  6. Howard says:

    I’m a big fan as well. Even to the point of actually buying Medazzaland – I KNOW! I still think Pop Trash is one of their best modern albums and agree with you about Red Carpet. I found it to be boring of all things.

    I’ve heard over and over again that they give good concert, so glad to have that confirmed.

    Plus I would have gotten The Chauffeur, too! There is a video for it: It’s got boobies in it like Girls On Film. Man I love that song.

    Oh! Rio is coming out again in September with a 2nd disc. This time they’ve included on all the Night remixes that made up the US release of the album. Can’t wait to buy it for — what — fourth time?

  7. delmer says:

    I don’t have the type of mind that allows me to remember things like set lists. I can usually recall the first four or five songs, but then I lose track.

    I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen several times and at the end of each concert am fully aware that I had the best time ever (again) but I’d be hard pressed to name too many of songs in order.

    Oddly enough, if he plays something I’ve never heard him play in concert before, I’ll realize that.

    Sadly, this memory problem is unrelated to alcohol. The last three times I’ve seen Bruce I’ve had between zero and one beers in me.

  8. Jeff says:

    Don’t know why, but both IE and Firefox are giving me Quicktime errors on your video. Any chance you have this on YouTube?

  9. sizzle says:

    I’m so glad it was an awesome show!

  10. Sounds like an awesome concert and I’m glad you had a good time, hon!

  11. Badger says:

    I was never a fan, but I have a weird love for “The Chauffeur” and I’m surprised and delighted to hear that they played it. And, you know, I’m glad YOU had fun!

  12. brandon says:

    ok now that was the best day ever. i wonder if duran duran might be willing to do a concert on a train?

  13. m says:

    If they don’t know The Chauffeur, they are NOT die hard Duran Duran fans. Period.

    Love the “Arena” version.

    Check out the cover of it by the Deftones. Le Sauce d’awesome.

  14. Oh, Dave… Thank you so much for sharing all the details. I’m so sad that I can’t attend their tour this time around. As a teenager my bedroom walls were plastered with Duran Duran posters… Exclusively. They were my fave!

  15. Hilly says:

    God, even through the iPhone video you took, you can tell that their performance was awesome. I’m a wee bit jealous but happy that you had such a great time!

  16. Wow, what a setlist. Duran Duran were one of those bands I grew up with and love them to death. Haven’t seen them live either and must fix that sometime soon.

  17. martymankins says:

    Always have been a big fan of Duran Duran. Surprised you hadn’t seen them live up until now. Glad you enjoyed it. I will be coming back later to watch the YouTube links that you provided (thank you)

  18. claire says:

    Sounds like a kickass concert with a band that knows how to play to its base. With the prevalent use of autotune these days, it can be hard to gauge what you’ll hear in a live performance, so it’s always refreshing to hear actually talented singers and musicians.

  19. Göran says:

    How cool is that! I was sure they had passed best before date by a hundred years. At least 🙂

  20. Nicole says:

    Nice video. I can’t wait to get my iPhone!

    Another band that is fanfuckingtastic live is The Cure. They never fail to impress me.

  21. Sybil Law says:

    I saw them in the early 80’s – a great, great concert! I’d love to see them again!

  22. Rita says:

    LOVE the 80’s hair in the crowd –

  23. adena says:

    The one time I’ve seen them in concert, they were equally awesome!

    Glad you finally got to see them. I thought the same thing as you…I had originally only gotten tix to the concert I went to because “the Cranberries” were opening for them, and I loved them at the time.

    And Duran Duran came on and blew me away.

  24. John says:

    Cool vid (you shot that from your iPhone?!!), glad you had a great time. : )

  25. TheMrs says:

    Finally, a review and set list from this concert. Thanks for the detailed notes and video.

    But, I have to disagree with your review. I’ve seen DD three times in here Seattle–2005, 2008, and 2009–and also back in my hometown in 1984. I may be in the minority but I felt like the 2009 Marymoor concert was phoned in. I had floor seats and stood close enough to the stage to see John’s chest hairs, but I didn’t feel the elation I thought I would. I was disappointed at the lack of Electro-set they did in 2008. I was disappointed when Simon forgot the lyrics to Hungry Like the Wolf. I agree there were a couple (sometimes unexpected) duds in the set list (and this is coming from someone who LOVES Nite Runner). Was surprised that Wild Boys was first–I wasn’t ready for it, and it’s one of my favorite live songs.

    On the plus side, we got to see The Reflex, which was missing from the 2005 concert here. From messages boards it sounds like they swapped The Reflex with Hold Back the Rain at some 2009 shows. I would’ve liked to see both.

    Thank god they still looked great, sounded great, and are still producing records. I’ll buy their music for as long as I live.

  26. whall says:

    I have informed my wife of this blog entry. Prepare yourself.

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