OMG you guys i just thought we should take a moment and commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the day they filmed Duran Duran's video for "The Reflex!"
Break out those light pens!
Music video
The video for "The Reflex" was shot during the Sing Blue Silver tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario on 5 March 1984. Director Russell Mulcahy filmed some of the closeup footage in the indoor arena that afternoon, and the rest was filmed live during that evening's concert.[2]
"The Reflex" is primarily a concert video, accurately portraying Duran Duran's Sing Blue Silver tour performance style. However, in keeping with the band's insistence that their videos "never be ordinary", the video screen above the stage displayed bits of naked models wearing collars and chains illuminated with black light, occasionally interrupted by computerized video white noise. At one point, a waterfall appears to pour out of the video screen above the stage to soak the audience. The computer graphics used to achieve this were cutting edge at the time, but rapid advancement in the field quickly made the effect look dated.
Keyboard enthusiasts have taken special note of the Fairlight CMI (the first digital sampling synthesiser) that Nick Rhodes operated with a light pen in this video, and throughout the tour.
Selected comments from youtube.
ReplyDeleteThis time, I'm adding the youtube grading system by the commenter's name for EVERYONE's benefit. Also, this is probably the last time I include a comment about rap because the "conversation" generally degenerates
"Most of us who actually lived through the 80s don't care to repeat it. Sociopolitical attitudes were stultifying, fashions were horrid, manners vanished, vanity became fashionable, the 60s hippie generation became shameless materialistic sellouts, and honestly, the music of the 80s sucked a steaming pile of ass. The 90s weren't a whole lot better, but so far the 00's have been OK. But take it from those of us who have been-there-done-that: no reason to re-live the 80s, thankyouverymuch."
-DroverChicago -5
"Man, you have some nerve. And in reality, you can't really talk for everyone here. Also, I think you have it backwards, 80's music was AWESOME. MOST of the music in the 00's is horrible. Rap is the most retarded, shameful, and ridiculous music to evr be made. It even tops Contemporary Christian as worst type of music in my mind. Anyway, Music started oing downhill in the 90's, not uphill. Thats my point."
-Mdb8900 +4
"I'm in this audience dancing like a fool - March 1984, Maple Leaf Gardens TORONTO. I had just turned 15."
-solntseff +1
"Really? Are you in the video?
Can you tell me about the concert? Please!!!
How was it?"
-KINKANOS 0
"It was fun, I was 14 with a bleached tail haircut. I danced my ass off. We all loved Duran Duran, but then I saw the CLASH a few months later and changed musical tastes all together and went on to folllow the Grateful Dead for 6 shows in the late 80's. I've seen 300 rock shows now - some really good ones as it is that Toronto is a huge sell to rock bands - if a band, from anywhere in the world plays only 3 cities in north america it will be NY, LA and TORONTO."
-solntseff -1
"I grew up in El Salvador during the civil war in the 80's and, believe me, whenever we had party --we didn't have to duck bullets everyday-- we danced to Duran Duran music. We understoon nothing of what they were saying, and this song doesn't make much sense anyway, but we were crazy about it."
-karactako +3
"thx for postin it really helped me beat this in DDR"
-bobbyboxhead9 0
"I, being a Big Duran Duran fan, can shed some light on this song. Back in the 80's when I had the word book for the album and meanings, this song simply was about a person being on stage, forgetting words and making them up as he went along. Take for instance "I'm on a ride and I want to get off/but they won't slow down around the bout, I sold the Renoir and the tv set/don't want to be around when this gets out". Hope this can shed some light that not all Duran Duran songs are about sex."
-armyhellion13 +1
"i am a huge dd fan too and i was told that this song was about a guy looking for a pro. hence, "The reflex is an only child, hes waiting in the park. The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark." he's looking for a lady of the night."
-gigiharvey79 0
"I love the bit in the video where the obviously animated water gushes out of the screen, followed by the immediate following shot of someone throwing a couple of buckets of water at the crowd. 80's class!"
-wonds +1
"For a wonderful period of time in the 80's, these guys were IT!!
I'd love to have a quid for each time I called the radio stations requesting this!! lol!"
-seekingsnavely +1
"yeah, then you'd get your money back."
-nathan87 0
"the reflex is a lonly child waiting by the park"
-thomasdavey1 0
"Oooooooh...okay! I always thought it went, "The reflex is a lonely child waiting for an apple core". Thanks for clearing that up. Now I can really enjoy this song."
-RayPluton 0
"Since 1984 I have always wondered who is the girl at. 2,44; she's crying a lot!!
I wonder where she's now"
-KINKANOS 0
"At part 2:45, the girl who looks up...thats my Mom :D She was 14 :) isnt that sick?!"
-slystallonefan2 +2
"ha :P yeah, and now shes gorgeous...lol shes been asked to model but she never does :("
-slystallonefan2 0
"Is really her???
I have always wondered who was that girl!!!
Was she at Maple Leaf Garden?
Have you got a picture of her?"
-KINKANOS +1