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When you find yourself with a Duran Duran album in your hands, you have only two choices: grimace and toss it into some dark recess of the house, or, more diplomatically, listen to it and say, "Well, I've heard worse...". Anyone with a heart and around thirty years or so would surely have bought, or at least listened to, in 1982 "Rio", which I consider the masterpiece of Duran Duran, where one could dance to the notes of "Hungry Like The Wolf" or dream with "The Chauffeur", not to mention the translations that were secretly passed around at school when, in "Save A Prayer", Simon LeBon sang "Somebody might call it a quick fling, but you and I might call it paradise." It was emotional, today one would be embarrassed, but you should never repudiate your past, so "Rio" cannot be repudiated.
Afterwards, there came a series of rather anonymous works (in truth, I know two or three, but I couldn't discuss them fully), except perhaps for the beautiful moment of "The Wild Boys." After the magical decade, the eighties, suddenly came the nineties: albums without spirit, sudden flashes of glory ("Ordinary World" sells in tons, but this time it does not produce devastating sociological effects) and a substantial musical flattening that makes one think of the now premature end of a 'cult' group from the early eighties.
Interestingly, they reemerge on the music scene at the end of the millennium, precisely in 1999. Just seeing them brings on depression: former sex symbols (or so the girls said) now modern Trimalchios, fat and large, obese and, allow me, even a bit ugly. Well, one could argue, but what's physical appearance got to do with it? Then even Mick Jagger is ugly, but he has produced at least five masterpieces. I agree: physical appearance doesn't matter. But the album, for God's sake, that matters.
"Pop Trash", this is the title of the album. Sensing the scent of revival and general reassessment of the eighties music world (in Italy, we often reassess something: now it's the turn of Lino Banfi and Alvaro Vitali's films, tomorrow who knows, maybe we'll reassess Iva Zanicchi and Pupo), and seeing that the kids of the past are now almost all grown-up and that the paninari and the Drive-In are dead and buried, Duran Duran decide to dust them off with a stroke of genius (ironically speaking, of course) that leaves one puzzled. "Pop Trash" is actually a collection of tracks without vigor or backbone all centered around the concept of "this is pop trash, indeed trash, that one day will be widely reassessed." I don't know if we will reassess this album in a few years, the fact is that today melancholy comes to listen to stuff like "Hallucinating Elvis". Because yes, indeed we are facing a classic pop album (simple, direct, catchy), but it is a sugary pop, completely emptied of its original meaning, decadent, almost ridiculous.
Clumsy and wasteful, they get lost in strangely slow and pompous tracks, devoid of a single original idea, and they fail to detach themselves from the atmospheres and sci-fi references (LeBon’s usual little habit). The goal is clear: to reconnect with the old fans and bring the young generations to their altar. They miss every target. The old fans repudiate a trash bin so ridiculous and obscene, while the new generations turn their tastes towards entirely different groups or songwriters (the excessive popularity of people like Justin Timberlake or Jesse McCartney, just to name two). And not even a few timid rock hints manage to save this disastrous album.
"Pop Trash" is a failure, not only critically but also commercially. The album sells very little and the leading single "Someone Else Not Me" is broadcast on the radio just for the length of a weekend. A real and proper flop, a flop, we can say, more than deserved. And if "Rio" was (and continues to be) a masterpiece for me, I candidly proclaim "Pop Trash" as one of the most hideous albums in the entire history of music. But perhaps that would be too much: also because Duran Duran in 2004 released "Astronaut" which, while not a masterpiece, undoubtedly has qualities superior to this discographic mess. Then for goodness' sake, they are still old and doddering, and should retire. But we know, money calls for money...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Someone Else Not Me (04:48)
Now while the beat is slow
here in your arms I sway
now that the light is low
something I want to say
I guess you've known it for a while
that I mean trouble
I only want to see you smile
and I burst this bubble
the hardest thing is to let go
when love is real
like a flower loves a bee
but I know you're meant
to give yourself
to someone else not me
and I could carry on with you
...does that sound crazy?
I think you feel the same way too
and you can't face it
the hardest thing is to let go
but it's not defeat
when you set somebody free
and I know you're meant
to be yourself
to someone else not me
(bridge)
can you let go?
'coz it's love that's real
like a flower loves a bee
and you know you're meant
to give yourself
to someone else not me
somebody else not me
meant for somebody else not me
(repeat)
02 Lava Lamp (03:54)
In the half light of the evening
I can almost see you glow
Can tell by the way you're moving
Time may be right to let you know
You got many coloured halo,
The body of Venus, a babe rainbow
And if I come any closer I might fall into your silhouette
But the shape of things to come is constantly changing
So let it, so let it, so let it flow
La la la la lava lamp
La la la la lava lamp
Indigo, violet and blue
Can we meet where the edges blur?
Because I am coming at you
Like a bug eye heading for the burn
Truth is I can't stay away
No, I wanna let you light my volcano
And maybe it's just in my imagination
But you never know
Because the shape of things to come is constantly changing
So let it, so let it, so let it flow
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
So let it, so let it, so let it...
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
03 Playing With Uranium (03:51)
In for an evening
Of light entertainment
And who would believe you
Could worry the neighbours?
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
If it blows up in your face
See you on the other side
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
Reinvent the human race
You just got the invitation
We go undiscovered
'Cause people are careless
One way or another
They'll never forget us
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
And if it blows up in your face
See you on the other side
Come on over to my place
Never be the same again
Reinvent the human race
You just got the invitation
Playing with uranium
Playing with uranium
Never be the same again
Because we're playing with uranium
04 Hallucinating Elvis (05:26)
(I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating)
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
Lying on the floor
There's a limit how much more I can take
Rhinestone inside my shoe
Because I'm turning into you
I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating...Elvis
FBI tapping the King's phone
74, he's trapped in his home
Hidden cameras, 2-way mirror walls
Walkie-talkie, kung-fu
Then the president calls
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
Whoever has to know
Tune in to my show
What you see ain't what you get
I'm shooting movies and the TV set...
Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating...Elvis
Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis
Hallucinating, hallucinating, hallucinating
05 Starting to Remember (02:38)
How to begin do I shed a skin?
Now that I am starting to remember
It takes a while
But you find a way to open up the door
Let demons walk
Now that I am starting to remember
Can't change my world
I was happy ever after
Was it only yesterday?
That I bought the dream?
But I don't sleep no more
Counting the hours
'Til the dawn
Now that I am starting to remember
How to love
How to learn draw like a child
Run for miles and miles
Now that I am starting to remember
Who I am
Another lonely night ahead for me now
Buried in the darkening day
That lingers on
And drags me down
But you've got to believe
Time will heal.
06 Pop Trash Movie (04:55)
Saw a close up of your pretty face
overnight sensation
smiling for cameras
all around the world
If I rewind back to yeasterday
and stop the tape there
noone knew who you werebut now they're at your door
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for just a few minutes
part of a celluloid dream
Watching slow-mo going frame by frame
might have blurred my vision
your life went flashing by
where did it all go wrong?
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream
I'll wait in the wings for you
I'll read your lines to you
but now the script is final
you know,
it's time to go
so we'll have to say goodbye
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for those fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream
we star in every scene
and it's never quite what it seems
never
I'm living in a pop trash movie
I know we'll make it to the pop trash - yeah
we'll all be famous for those fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream, yeah
09 Lady Xanax (04:55)
Here comes the morning light you can't face
Lie on your bed staring into space
Watch the time slip gently by
Don't ask why
So many friends but nobody calls
Can't be alone when the darkness falls
Got to make it to the party
Socialise, break the ice
Oh, Lady Xanax where were you last night?
All the cracks in your make-up are starting to show
Don't think that you realise how far away you go now
Look into the future and don't be afraid...afraid
Of what is on your mind
There, in the emptiness deep inside
You are the one that's been left behind
So you paint with your mascara
Social eyes, don't look twice
Oh, Lady Xanax where were you last night?
All the cracks in your make-up are starting to show
Don't think that you realise how far away you go now
Look into the future and don't be afraid...afraid
Lady Xanax, you're out tonight
Lady Xanax, you're, oh, so tired
Lady Xanax, sleep well tonight
Lady Xanax (Lady Xanax)
10 The Sun Doesn't Shine Forever (04:51)
At the end of the rainbow
Found each other there
Strange, we never thought the colours would fade
Be easy to walk
But it's much harder to stay
Why, oh why, are we reckless today?
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
Could say that I'm sorry
But there's no one to blame
Anger seems to dissolve into tears
Been so many good times
Not only despair
Somehow we'll find the love we can share
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
You and I
Make this life for each other
Because I believe
We've got enough for when the sun doesn't shine
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
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