THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

903-Duran Duran-Planet Earth.

1981-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.55. I think their message is, listen up world, we have something new, and exciting, that we want to show you.

Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, in total there have been 12 different members come and go, with the classic line up, (who also played on this song) being the founding members Nick Rhodes, (keyboards) and John Taylor, (bass) they were joined in 1979 by Roger Taylor, (drums) Andy Taylor, (guitar) and Simon Le Bon, both joined in 1980. Although there are three band members all sharing the surname of ‘Taylor,’ that is just coincidence, as none of them are related to each other. The group took their name from ‘Dr. Durand Durand,’ who was a character from the 1968 science fiction film ‘Barbarella.’

The discography of Duran Duran includes 15 studio Albums released between 1981-2021, and 46 singles issued during the same time period, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In the UK, Duran Duran have achieved 30 top 40 singles, with ‘ Is There Something I Should Know?’ (1983) and ‘The Reflex,’ (1984) both making the Number 1 spot, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have charted within the top 40 on 15 occasions, with ‘The Reflex,’ (1984) and ‘A View to a Kill,’ (1985) both reaching the Number 1 spot.

Duran Duran were one of the leading exponents in the ‘Synth-Pop’ explosion of the late 1970’s, having been heavily influenced by the ‘Electronic’ music of ‘Kraftwerk,’ (see also best songs 41) and Giorgio Moroder, (see also best songs 78 and 11) as well as the ‘Disco/Funk’ of ‘Chic,’ (see also best songs 175 and 17) along with others. Duran Duran won the hearts of teenage girls, and became regulars on the newly launched ‘MTV,’ partly due to becoming attached to the burgeoning ‘New Romantic’ movement, that had originated in the late 1970’s. The ‘New Romantic’ movement emerged from the nightclub scene in London, and Birmingham.’New Romantics’ were characterised by flamboyant, eccentric fashion, inspired by fashion boutiques such as ‘Kahn and Bell,’ in Birmingham, and ‘PX’ in London. The fashion was influenced by ‘Glam Rock’ artists such as David Bowie, (1948-2016) and Marc Bolan, (1947-1977) coupled with the early ‘Romantic’ period of the late 18th, and early 19th Century, from which the movement took its name. The term ‘New Romantic’ was coined by Richard James Burgess, who co-founded the ‘Synth-Pop’ group ‘Landscape,’ who had a 1981 Number 5 hit in the UK with ‘Einstein a Go-Go,’ Burgess also produced ‘To Cut a Long Story Short,’ (UK 1980 Number 5) which was the debut hit single for Spandau Ballet, another act who were heavily connected to the ‘New Romantic’ scene.

‘Planet Earth’ was the debut single from Duran Duran, and was the first of three singles issued from the bands debut studio Album ‘Duran Duran,’ from June 1981. ‘Planet Earth’ has writing credits given to all five band members at that time, with the production credited to Colin Thurston (1947-2007.) Prior to producing the first two Duran Duran Albums, Thurston had worked as a co-engineer on David Bowie’s ‘Heroes,’ and Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life,’ Albums, both which were recorded in 1977. Thurston is also credited with co-producing the latter Album with David Bowie, and Iggy Pop, under the collective pseudonym ‘Bewlay Bros.’ His later production work in the 1980’s includes ‘Talk Talk’s’ debut studio Album ‘The Party’s Over,’ (1982) and Gary Numan’s seventh solo studio Album, ‘The Fury’ (1985.)

‘Only came outside to watch the nightfall with the rain. I heard you making patterns rhyme, like some new romantic looking for the TV sound. You’ll see I’m right some other time. Look now, look all around, there’s no sign of life, voices, another sound, can you hear me now? This is planet Earth, you’re looking at planet Earth.’