Duran Duran has a new song, and a new music video to go along with it.

This is news?

Yes, yes it is. Stay with me on this one.

Actually, the song (“Girl Panic!”) and the album (“All You Need Is Now”) were both released last year. Same with the video (November 8th, 2011).

However, (thanks to Music TeleVision no longer playing music videos) people are just now discovering this unusual production.

The video is actually a nearly 10-minute production featuring interviews with the band members and the song, laced in and out of the presentation. In addition to insight on where Duran Duran has come from, where they see themselves now, and where they plan on going, it also provides a quick retrospective of Duran Duran’s use of supermodels in their music videos.

…Which is key in this video, because all of the members of Duran Duran are played in this video by supermodels!

Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Yasmin Le Bon all take on the characters of the band, including answering interview questions in first-person as the band-mate they are portraying. It makes for a very alternate-reality sort of experience, where you know they’re talking about a group of guys… but it’s a group of girls talking with authority about the band! While my eyes showed my puzzlement, I couldn’t keep a smile off my face as I watched these supermodels convincingly play the dopplegangers of these 80s heart-throbs.

The male members of Duran Duran show up for brief cameos here and there: as a reporter, as a bell hop, as an elevator attendant, as a chauffeur… but they are not the stars at any point in time. The girls are the focus… they ARE Duran Duran: good, bad, and… well, OK, none of these ladies are UGLY…

Speaking of the ladies and their appearance: while technically not showing anything, I’d still have to label the video “Not Safe For Work” due to the near-constant sexual content. The supermodels are all in lingerie of varying degrees of coverage (or un-coverage), and there are scenes of the band members making out with female groupies… which might not have been such a big deal if it were really the guys, but since it’s lace-attired supermodels in girl-on-girl kissing… let’s just say if you’re watching this at lunch, you may end up with a crowd around you.

So-o-o… what about the song? That’s the best news: it’s great! I really like “Girl Panic!”. It reminds me of some of their best work in the 80s. Upbeat, catchy… the boys are in fine form.

This video left me smiling, not because of all the skin, but because of the excellent acting work of the models, the band member cameos, and the great tune. Duran Duran has put out some odd musical experiments over the years… this is a decidedly commercial release, a return to the fine form of their 80s hits. Highly recommended!

Depending on who you talk to, The Boss’s new single “We Take Care Of Our Own” is an ode to the self-reliant (conservative) American spirit, or a sneering, dark condemnation of our nation’s lack of desire to provide for our citizens.

Either way, I like the sound… I’ll have to go over the lyrics a few more times to see what I think, but the song is a good one.

The comparisons to the pseudo-patriotic “Born In The U.S.A.” are popping up again and again in reviews, but musically this isn’t quite as big and certainly not vocally as bold as that famous track. Bruce almost sounds wounded in the recording, vocally holding back and singing lower than I’m used to… although his style has been more along these lines for a few years now.

The single is available now on Amazon.com and iTunes, and is the lead single from Springsteen’s upcoming album, “Wrecking Ball,” which comes out March 6th.

Reviewers are also torn on their opinions of the song:

* “The band has been in tight form & the result will please fans. If anyone is entitled to mimic Springsteen, it’s the man himself. He does it so well.” -Bloomberg

* “1st singles are meant to whet appetites & get people excited about a new album. Sadly, this 1 does neither. Instead it causes trepidation: Will the other songs be better? ” -North Jersey

* “For more than 40 yrs, he’s carried the torch of rock & roll to millions of fans, & now he’s headed back on tour, this time with a new song that, believe it or not, speaks to conservative values.” -Heritage

Decide for yourself; listen to the song below:

SOURCE: Summit Daily News

By Kimberly Nicoletti
summit daily news

Songwriter Hall of Fame member John Oates wants to help budding musicians, & he’s creating a big opportunity this year.

Oates has set up a musical home for himself in Aspen, & for the last two years, he has co-produced, & performed in, the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival, a five-day event at the Wheeler Opera House. Shawn Colvin, Donavan Frankenreiter, Keb Mo, Sam Bush & plenty of others have joined Oates in the intimate 7908 shows, but this year, Oates is opening up the stage to unknowns.

Six Colorado towns will hold preliminary competitions this month, bringing six finalists to Aspen to perform during the first three days of the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival March 21-25.

Each finalist will win three nights lodging in Aspen, perform in several of Aspen’s bars in three evenings, & receive a full festival pass for the 7908 event & an invitation to all after-show parties.

The overall winner garners two extra nights of lodging & will perform at the 7908-finale concert, featuring Matt Nathanson, with a special introduction by Oates.

“It could literally be life-changing,” said festival spokesperson Katharine Richardson.

“It is very important to me personally to nurture young songwriters & give them an opportunity to interact & collaborate with professionals & more experienced writers,” Oates said through an email interview. “Songwriting is the life blood of the music industry, & our mission is to assure that the wellspring of talent have a creative ‘home’ from which the future of music can emerge.”

The 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival evolved from a series of shows Oates did in 2008 called The Stories Behind the Songs in Nashville & New York, then brought it to Aspen. The City of Aspen asked him to expand the concept into a larger format in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House, & now Velocity Television network broadcasts the festival nationwide. Recently Oates helped form the 7908 Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to fund scholarships, provide mentors & perpetuate the art and craft of songwriting, he said.

“This year’s Colorado-wide songwriters’ contest is the first step in the educational component of our festival & hopefully will expand nationally and internationally for the future,” he said.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 23. For more information, visit www.wheeleroperahouse.com/default.asp?wheeler=39.