Duran Duran
Greatest Hits

THE REVIEW

Ah, Duran Duran. The Bible of the '80s. The little band that drove teenage girls crazy and that everyone else hated, just like their contemporaries Spandau Ballet (but, in my opinion, Duran Duran were better), only to later reevaluate them because, after all, "Rio" wasn't that bad. For the writer, it was beautiful.

Then of course, when the '80s ended, they ended too, and their subsequent works left the impression they left. And they found none. However, a nice "Best of" can solve the sales crisis.

And here it is, right on time. It came out on November 3, 1998, and even though they had already been forgotten and their fans had become mothers, the collection sold a ton (one million copies in the USA alone), indicating that, as someone once said, you don't get out of the '80s alive.

Moreover, the collection, which I still enjoy listening to, is honest and correct, contains the right amount, 19 songs, and nothing is missing. From the gems of "Rio" ("Save a prayer", "Hungry like the wolf"), to the generational anthems ("The reflex", "The wild boys", which I know was a bit bad), to the early '90s hits, the last flames, the correct ones, maybe a bit predictable, but effective "Ordinary world" and "Come undone". Passing through the immortal, for me sensational, "A view to a kill".

About an hour and twenty of the '80s, of Reagan-era hedonism, of Italian "Drive In", of shoulder pads and paninari, of maranza (who have returned, but in a less poetic way) and teenage girls with the hot flushes who wanted to marry Simon Le Bon (they even made a movie about it, bad, very bad).

What do you say? That era disgusts you. Well, think about how we are doing today, maybe you'll miss it, and tell me if anyone will be able to produce a new "Rio". No, I don't think so.