shigatsuhana
LIBERTY
"If you only read what everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."
Posts: 120
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Post by shigatsuhana on Jul 2, 2015 7:19:24 GMT -5
Oh why didn't I decide to do Ibiza this year.... I'd pay big money to see Andy play with them even just one more time. I hope it happens, but not counting chickens. Too much to go wrong.
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Post by blutarsky on Jul 2, 2015 7:52:11 GMT -5
Great song.
On Astronaut, I usually start with Chains and play out the remainder of the album. I think those are the 4 best songs on there.
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Post by More Play Time on Jul 2, 2015 8:27:49 GMT -5
yay, lets keep bumping this crazy thread. I am under the impression that there is no such things as a point of no return as far as human relationships go. I had to work years on my mum until she finally gave in - after having a bee in her bonnet for years about something which was actually so trivial it hurts. Of course it would be wonderful if Andy could feel like he is welcome to join the band at any point and at any time he likes, even turn up as a surprise. I'd also like to imagine he could come up with a staggeringly amazing Electro Set from his cool studio in Ibiza and blow everyone away with a live/electro dance mania event out there in Sept. Andy's biggest problem is he has no inner confidence after too many ego bust-ups, and now he thinks his talent is no good, and nobody loves him; when in fact the perfect opposite is the case. I welcome all and any attempts to reconcile, and wave bye-bye to the by-gones.
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Post by mynick7 on Jul 2, 2015 12:03:29 GMT -5
yay, lets keep bumping this crazy thread. I am under the impression that there is no such things as a point of no return as far as human relationships go. I had to work years on my mum until she finally gave in - after having a bee in her bonnet for years about something which was actually so trivial it hurts. Of course it would be wonderful if Andy could feel like he is welcome to join the band at any point and at any time he likes, even turn up as a surprise. I'd also like to imagine he could come up with a staggeringly amazing Electro Set from his cool studio in Ibiza and blow everyone away with a live/electro dance mania event out there in Sept. Andy's biggest problem is he has no inner confidence after too many ego bust-ups, and now he thinks his talent is no good, and nobody loves him; when in fact the perfect opposite is the case. I welcome all and any attempts to reconcile, and wave bye-bye to the by-gones. Um... Yes, there is a point of no return in human relationships. You just may have never experienced them. Without going into a huge story about my past and stuff, there came a point of no return with my first husband. It's been 25 years and I'm all grown up now and stuff, but there is a tiny part of me that will never accept him as a human being. If I ever see him again, I will do something I never had the chance to do...kick his ass like he used to do mine. So yes. There is a point of no return. My second hubby was totally different. While we are now divorced, we are better off friends and we talk quite often. In regards to Andy... Well... I prefer Dom now, but I guess if AT popped up in Ibiza, it'd be okay for a song or two, maybe songs that he was a part of. In my opinion, he slaughtered any song he wasn't involved with. I just don't think of AT as part of Duran today. He's part of Duran of the past. And that's my sentimentality about Andy Taylor.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 12:15:06 GMT -5
Much as I love Andy as a player, DD have taken such a different direction that I don't see him fit these days. Already when the reunion took place, it was clear that especially for Andy it was a matter of money. Only a child would believe that they did it because they were friends. This is their job and they tried to be successful putting the original line-up back together. Their customers are also fans, but it's a job. When the unworkable gulf was declared I was sad but not surprised. Afterwards, seeing how many projects and websites were started and abandoned by Andy led me to think that he remains a very good memory, but he belongs to the past. His latest collaboration with DD was signing the Careless Memories book, but if you look for news about him, he's virtually disappeared. If it's fine with him, it's fine with me too. I don't enjoy very much DD music after Andy because he was not replaced by someone like Warren, different, interesting and capable, but by a hired guitarist whose playing I find (I don't have the right word in English) oppressed? suffocated? both in studio and live. Apart from the AYNIN album, where he had to virtually replicate Andy's playing, I don't enjoy listening to him playing.
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Post by madoldlu on Jul 2, 2015 12:58:17 GMT -5
I love DDs music with Andy 81-85. I think the songs the five of them wrote together back then are second to none, and arguably the absolute best from the band (with a possible exception to AYNIN). Unfortunately I was hugely disappointed with his contributions to Astronaut, and the album as a whole. That album took away any desire for me to see him permanently back in the band.
I'll always love the work he did with the first 3/4 albums. Hell, I even think his production of the Ting Tings' latest album is fantastic. I just don't think it would work out for him to rejoin DD.
However, I do wish he and DD would bury the hatchet and simply get along to the point where he could at least join them onstage for a few shows or just a number or two. Or it would be great if he would join them to write or play in a song or two on future albums. Not be a permanent member (so there wouldn't be any constant butting heads in the studio), but maybe an honorary member who could guest guitar every once in a while.
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Post by coolbarn on Jul 2, 2015 14:19:52 GMT -5
Andy's biggest problem is he has no inner confidence after too many ego bust-ups, and now he thinks his talent is no good, and nobody loves him; when in fact the perfect opposite is the case. I welcome all and any attempts to reconcile, and wave bye-bye to the by-gones. I tend to agree with his inner confidence to be honest. To me he doesn't seem to be anywhere near the songwriter that he was on Duran's first three albums. Since 1985 he hasn't done anything as good as his early Duran years. His solo stuff, including his albums and the songs on his MySpace page, was inferior, and his work on Astronaut wasn't as good either. Maybe it's because the others have changed so much? Remember when Andy joined the band, Roger had been playing for a little while, but John had just recently switched to bass and Nick was only a very basic keyboard player. Simon's career choice was drama rather than singing, but growing up he was fortunate to have a mother who could sing who was able to teach him, plus he was a natural poet and very decent lyricist. Out of the five of them - Andy was the most experienced and knowledgeable musician. He was the one who instructed the others in song composition, and was able to help turn all their good ideas (I'm not saying they were a one-man-band, they all pulled their weight) into gold. Duran Duran would not have been able to take off like they did without at least one experienced musician in the line-up, and Andy was that man. Maybe as the others improved Andy's "tutoring and leadership" role diminished. We know Andy wasn't happy with his input and sound on Seven & The Ragged Tiger, which was definitely a little more synth-heavy than Duran's first two albums. And we also know that Nick and Andy in particular seemed to clash the most in the studio, with both of them being quite stubborn and refusing to give in. Now I don't care that they were two different sorts of guys in different social circles. If I'm in a band and spending most of my life with four other blokes, then I don't need to see them in my spare time or watch the football with them to stay close. I don't think it worried Andy that he and Nick weren't going to pubs and cheering on the same soccer teams together. But the disturbing part of the band dynamic was that Andy and Nick were clashing in the studio, ie at work, and that IS important to the happiness and success of any rock band. So that is why I'm happy to remember Andy's legacy on Duran's first three, and most successful, albums. He played his role as tutor and mentor, but that is not needed any more. I think the main reason people want Andy back is for sentimental reasons. They love Duran's early music, plus their electrifying concerts with that "livewire guitarist" going mad on stage. Essentially they remember the good old days and hope Duran Duran could recapture that magic. Well they can't. That time was great, but it is gone. Simon, John, Nick, Roger, and Andy have all changed. And at the current time, Andy is not suitable for long-term membership of Duran Duran. And probably never will be, even if they do play together in Ibiza I wouldn't look too much into it. It would just be the occasional live dalliance at best I would imagine. Duran Duran aren't looking for a fulltime guitarist. And that doesn't worry me at all; if they keep using guitarists the calibre of John Frusciante and Nile Rodgers then I am super happy for that. JUST TURN THEM UP FOR GOD'S SAKE! I don't want Duran Duran to turn into a heavy metal band, but let the guitar sing. I honestly believe Duran is much better when they write as a rock band with synths, rather than as a synth band with guitars.
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Post by mynick7 on Jul 2, 2015 14:46:31 GMT -5
JUST TURN THEM UP FOR GOD'S SAKE! I don't want Duran Duran to turn into a heavy metal band, but let the guitar sing. I honestly believe Duran is much better when they write as a rock band with synths, rather than as a synth band with guitars. Really? I've never considered them a rock b and at all.
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Post by coolbarn on Jul 2, 2015 16:48:37 GMT -5
Really? I've never considered them a rock b and at all.Oh for sure! Give me Friends Of Mine, Careless Memories, and Nightboat over Skin Divers, Nite Runner, and Tempted any day. If that's too obvious then give me First Impression, Too Much Information, and None Of The Above over Silva Halo, Buried In The Sand, and Undergoing Treatment. And I'll take Last Day On Earth, Playing With Uranium, and Mars Meets Venus before Drowning Man, Love Voodoo, and Shotgun. Don't get me wrong - I don't think all of Duran's synth songs are inferior. Out Of My Mind is heavy synth but is an awesome song. Likewise The Man Who Stole A Leopard. And who can forget the fan favourite The Chauffeur? And not all of Duran's rock songs kick goals either. Read My Lips is okay, but doesn't quite work. Similarly All Along The Water. And One Of Those Days isn't a terrible song, but something holds it back from greatness. Generally speaking, any song where guitar riffs sing is rock to me. And any song where the keyboards sing is synth. Some of Duran's best music incorporate a good mix of both, where they are half-rock and half-synth. Maybe we should call them "rynth" or "sock" music What are some examples of Duran's best rynth/sock? Look at something like Shadows On Your Side, which has a heavy synth verse, but rock guitar chords in the chorus. It is a really cool song. Or Hungry Like The Wolf, which has a great mix of Nick's bubbly keyboards and Andy's awesome rock riff. Or Save A Prayer, which has the beautiful synth verses and Andy's soaring guitar from the end of the second chorus onwards. I love it when Duran "rock out". I love it when Duran "funk out". I don't love it when Duran "synth out". But that's just me, I have never really loved dance music or electronic music in general. I don't make exceptions for this just because Duran Duran choose to write the odd dance song or electronic piece. Just because Duran Duran choose a genre that isn't my favourite doesn't magically make it become attractive to me. I'm not that weak-minded that I feel I have to talk myself into liking a certain style of music just because my favourite band happens to be the one playing it! I like to judge each song on its merits. Rock on Duran
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Post by madoldlu on Jul 2, 2015 20:01:42 GMT -5
Great post, coolbarn! I too prefer a more equitable balance between synth and guitar.
I had commented in the thread about the isolated vocal and instruments tracks that I was surprised Girls On Film barely has any synth-- synths basically start from the musical bridge and then continue to the end. I wouldn't call GOF a "rock guitar" song, but guitars absolutely carry that song. It's the melody and composition and the more funky guitar sound that steer it into being just a great pop song, showing that just because the song features guitars heavily, it doesn't have to sound like a "rock" song. That's the Andy and the DD that I miss.
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