Girls On Film by Duran Duran

Album: Duran Duran (1981)

Charted: 5

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Duran Duran double dipped on the "Girls On Film" controversy when they released the video on VHS and Beta in 1983, two years after it first appeared. The initial release was derided for its lewd content and banned by the BBC, helping generate lots of attention for the band. The 1983 release allowed retailers to ban it, although only the Beta version contained the uncensored rendition of the video. Predictably, a new round of indignation ensued, along with a fresh burst of press attention.

The group had impeccable timing: the Grammys added a category for Best Short Form Video that year, and "Girls On Film" was the winner.

Comments: 13

Padraig from Nowhere In ParticularAlmost every band has two best songs. One is the song that, in the macrocosm of the entire pop music universe, is their most outstanding contribution, the one that lifts it as closely as it is possible near the sphere of the all-time greats. In Duran Duran's case that tune might very well be The Reflex, this absolute barnstormer of a pop song that is rooted surprisingly deeply in R&B. And then there is the other best one, the one that shines in the microcosm of the band in terms of who they are, what they wanted to do and how they pulled it off. Duran Duran's other best one, the one for the aficionados, is Girls on Film. Alex Petridis in The Guardian got it straight to the point: it is indeed "as close as they got to achieving their original “Chic-meets-the-Sex-Pistols” blueprint".

What makes this even better is that the version to go for is not the Album/Single recording, but the lesser known and a-pure-joy-to-discover Extended Night Version, done for the long rendition of their raunchy music video that was to be played exclusively in Night Clubs. It came at a time when the technology available to them and their producer wasn't as advanced as to just use the existing take and add some loops. Instead, they recorded a completely new version with an arrangement so markedly different that it might just as well be a separate song altogether - one that is similarly slick, but with even more drive. Even a lot more drive. It is absolutely glorious. To this aficionado, it is their best work by a country mile.
Shaun Lee from Pittsburgh, PaIf you think about the video, this was the reason why Playboy TV (then The Playboy Channel) decided to do the whole Playboy's Hot Rocks program in the first place with the uncensored version.
Griffo from Brumsorry but simon did not write the song, it was written by andy wickett, a member of the band before simon le bon joined. andy was paid 600 uk pounds for the song when he left the band.
Duran Duran FactsWho writes these facts? "The group was known for dating models, so they had plenty of firsthand accounts to draw from. It was written by the five members of the band."

Simon Le Bon was/is the lyricists so he wrote the lyrics. The song title had been around before Duran Duran were even famous. And, the band weren't dating models at the time. This was their third single from their first album. Yes, some of the members dated models but that came later.
John from Washington, DcBetween the video and the lines like "wider baby", "shuddering...I'm shooting a star" and "see you together", this song is either cleverly walking the line between exploitation and criticism of porn, or hypocritically trying to have it both ways. I'd have to say it's the former, and it's actually a great song. Probably the only one this group can claim amongst a lot of nonsense.
Paul from Geelong, Australiadoes anyone know the girls in the video. i have a feling they were all page 3 girls.
Aaron from Columbus, OhThe "Big Hair" guy was Nick Rhodes, the keyboardist. He had flaming red hair, and in the early 80's it was big!
Andrew from London, EnglandOne of life's little mysteries that will remain unsolved until the end of time: what on Planet earth was the music appeal of Duran Duran?
Annabelle from Eugene, OrI bet you when people first saw the video for "Girls On Film", they probably gasped in shock as they stared at those naked girls. Aside from that, lots of girls probably had the hots for Simon LeBon! By the way, which one of Duran Duran's band members is "The One With The Big Hair"? The reason I ask this is because when I asked my Dad which band member of Duran Duran was his favorite Band Member, his answer was, "The one with the Big Hair".
James from Albuquerque, Nmohhhh, i loved that video. Duran Duran is the bomb diggity
Katie from Memphis, TnThe version of the song played on the unedited video is the Night Version. At the time, sampling didn't exist so the band actually went back into the studio and wrote and performed a whole new arrangement for the song. They did this on all their early remixes.
Karsh from London, Englandthis song was used as the opening theme to a japanese animation series "Speed Grapher"
Pete from Nowra, Australiathe video was the best Jerry, the best

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