Duran Who?
by Tonya Cauduro
When my friends asked me to go to retro night at the Arcadia dance club, how could I refuse? I mean, early eighties music was what inspired me to be the person I am today. Just like the 60s and the baby boomers. Besides, early eighties music equals Duran Duran. Or so I thought.
I had been wanting to go to the Arcadia since I missed Duran play there on their Big Thing club tour. So we show up and I'm completely psyched to dance the night away. Of course I heard such bands as Bananarama, Yaz, Talk Talk, Blancmange, Tom Tom club and other cool bands. After three hours of this, I realized that I had not heard any Duran! For the life of me I could not find the DJ booth. But I though sooner or later they have to play Duran! I sat there for a while and meditated to the great music at the same time, I was transfixed to the stage. Finally, my dream was disturbed by familiar sounds echoing throughout the smoky little club. Please, please tell me now!
Its about damn time! I yelled as I pushed past anyone in my way to the dance floor. There's nothing like dancing to Duran Duran's music. Well apparently, (to me, at least) the DJ had seen Duran on this past tour, because right after Is There Something I Should Know? he played White Lines by Grandmaster Flash. Needless to say, I was NOT leaving the dance floor. All in all, the night was a blast. But on the dark drive home, I began to realize that it is really difficult to be a Duran Duran fan.
For instance, Dallas has a radio station here called The Edge. This alternative station got its start, strangely enough, the same year that I moved here. They were playing lots of early eighties and alternative music. I can remember several times calling in to request Duran over years past and getting the brush-off. But, oh, boy, when Liberty was released, the brush-off became insults. Then mysteriously, Duran came back! Duh. Oh how the station played old and new Duran music. Before the tour came to town last August, Warren called into the station. I blocked out a lot of the Warren/DJ conversation because the DJ was such an idiot. But I do remember how he kissed up to Warren something awful! I thought, how unfair! This DJ knows nothing about Duran and what they have done over the past eight or nine years. And they get the one-on-one conversations and the backstage passes!
Still, I have hope. I do call in during the noon hour and retro shows requesting Duran. They'll play the early songs, but each time I call, I get some kind of remark. I called one time to request and admitted to the DJ that I was an enormous fan of the group. Well, he said snidely, we wont hold that against you. Needless to say, I listed to talk radio now.
I'm not sure there is a point to all this. I am not a cynical fan, don't get me wrong. It just pisses me off when Duran don't get the respect they deserve. Leading to the fact that we, as fans, don't either. I mean, is it just me, or weren't they the alternative pioneers? And does it seem like people crawl out of the woodwork every time Duran gets a top ten hit and claim they're a longtime fan? But a month later they act like it was a sickness, like the flu, and they're like, Duran who?
I'm not sure what all it will take because with all the hype over the latest album, I have heard so many teenybopper references. Look, I was a teenybopper when I first noticed the music of five guys from England. But I have grown up and so have they. They're married. I'm married. Granted, I still have a couple posters hanging in my house and I still play their music and dance alone in my living room. I still get teary-eyed when I hear Save A Prayer. I still wonder about them. I still worry about them. They don't know me from Adam, but I feel as if they are old friends of mine. They were my escape as a teenager and even now still. They inspired me in their own indirect way, encouraged me to be my own person. Different in mind from others. Teenybopper, my ass!
We're all adults now. Hey, the guys cant help it if they attract young girls. But if the critics can take their perverted eyes off the teenagers screaming in the audience, they might notice women AND men holding hands and singing every word. We, the fans who have stuck it out through thick and thin, are here to stay. And we'd appreciate a little respect for our favorite band and us. As long as Duran Duran continue to make music, and I hope that's a very long time, we'll buy the records. We'll sing and request the songs and maybe even scream a little at the concerts. So get used to it! No matter what you call us, we know that we matter to Duran Duran. And they'll matter to us for the rest of our lives.
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