we create our destiny.... Duran create their own....If they had the right material and the right image for this era they would flourish. The Gen X/Baby Boomer market is huge, so perhaps they should find creative ways (and sounds) to milk this market.
If the product is right, the rest would follow (ie right manager, label, PR etc).
I know this sounds a bit wanky, but its true. We (as die-hard fans)are not really indicate of the greater market so what we think works for us, won't necessarily work to capture a broader audience ..(unless you have kick-arse songs)
Don't agree at all, respectfully.
You CAN HELP to create your destiny. But we are not in control of everything. Just ask a cancer patient or a burn victim if they "chose" that destiny. Or if a child who got molested "chose" that destiny. If your destiny is to go bald, you have no choice. If your destiny is to be a cripple from arthritis, you had no choice.
If Duran's destiny is to be forever considered an 80s has been band, they have no choice. If that's the world's perception, it's not going to change. Given the other examples I used that could be their destiny instead- I don't think being millionaires who were formerly the biggest band on the planet is all that bad a destiny.
I weep no tears for this band. They've seen more, done more, and made more money then anyone here will ever dream of. They've lived 100 GOOD lives worth already. It's not like they spent half their lives in agonizing pain from a brain tumor or some shit. So they don't get hits anymore.....boo hoo, CRY ME A RIVER! -Justin.
Now I don't think you can just sit in your living room, and say "well if I'm meant to get signed to a major label, then it will just happen". You don't look for a job under your couch, you have to get dressed and go on interviews. No one is gonna knock on your door and be all "hey we're looking for new superstars, know anyone who can sing?"
You do have to go out and get what you want, you have to try and put effort in- but ultimately it's all luck. All we can do is try to put ourselves in positions that increase the odds of MAYBE GETTING LUCKY.
If someone tells you "Bring me a Bullfrog or I'll kill your kids"- you increase your chances of finding a frog by hanging out in environments where frogs MIGHT BE! Like a swamp or a river. Not a mall or a desert. You up the odds of finding that frog.
But there is still NO GUARANTEE you'll ever find one, or CATCH ONE even if you find one! This idea that "just be good, and it will all happen" is a nice little fantasy. But it's just that-fantasy. Sometimes shit just happens for the worst no matter the best efforts to the contrary.
In the same way just writing good songs won't guarantee shit. The right people need bought off, the right clothes need to be worn, the right haircut, the right video, the right attitude, the right weight and appearance, SOMETIMES even the right race, etc....
Do you really think an 800 pound monobrow mongoloid ugly dude wearing a diaper from Albania is going to sell huge numbers in America-even if he wrote the Sgt Pepper's album? The key to selling anything is APPEAL!! Not quality. Your product AND YOU-need to appeal to people. It's not fair, but no one wants to buy music from that kinda person, not if there are people making the same style who happen to LOOK GREAT.
Now Duran are not like this at all. LOL. They look great. But not by today's standards. Today it's all bling bling and gangsta shit in pop. No one will believe that posturing from this band. This band was the musical JAMES BOND-slick, suave, handsome, elegant, polite-- and James Bond is OLD HAT now. It is no longer, "may I have this dance?"- it's now "beeaatch bend the f*ck over and take that shiot." How do gentlemen compete with that? lol.
Honestly, if Beethoven was born on the same day as Justin Timberlake, and was making music now-how many copies of Fur Elise would sell in 2008? More than Sexyback? I doubt it. Who wants instrumental piano music made by talented guys in colonial wigs?
I think Duran could write the next "Hey Jude"-and it's not going to make much difference.
In terms of selling big, it doesn't matter.
However, as a fan-I'd like to hear better music coming from them. Not for sales, but for my ears and enjoyment and to have an option of something ELSE other than the shit on the pop charts. Which I don't like.
I like Duran BECAUSE they are not like the charts. Or used to be not like them. And don't sound like anyone else. So the closer they get in spirit to the charts, and the more they sound like other artists it turns me off.
At their age, to want to appeal to kids is almost perverted. They should be concerned with playing their best and trying new things on their instruments. All these years, and never a keyboard solo from Nick...why not try that if you want to "experiment"? The cover of People magazine smiling next to Timbaland on a yacht ain't a new musical vision.
So I agree with you as far as they should write better songs. But just for the love of music. To please themselves and the loyal fans who they owe everything to CAREER WISE! Don't give me this challenging themselves shit...a challenge for Duran would be for them to play as fast as Metallica's "Ride the Lightning"-not to stand out of their own records and let producer's ideas in.
If you write songs only for hits or for fame, then you're stupid, as that's never a given or a sure thing. What is a sure thing is the satisfaction in bettering yourself, challenging yourself, and knowing you did your best. Duran are so talented, and capable of so much more as musicians than this dumbed down crap they are offering up.
Should they fire Wendy?
Better question should be "who should they get instead?" and who is interested in managing Duran other than her? Do they have people lining up to handle them...do they have options?
I mean you never leave your job or woman unless you have another lined up. One you feel is better for you. Common sense.
If they had a better alternative, then I'd say yeah fire her. But without a real replacement for the better, no they should not. Cuz an inept manager that gets some things done is still better than no manager who gets nothing done.