The Wild Boys (song)

"The Wild Boys" is the twelfth single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 26 October 1984 in the United Kingdom and on 3 November 1984 in the United States.

"The Wild Boys"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Arena
B-side"(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984)
Released
  • 26 October 1984 (UK)
  • 3 November 1984 (US)
Format
RecordedJuly 1984
GenreNew wave
Length4:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Duran Duran singles chronology
"The Reflex"
(1984)		 "The Wild Boys"
(1984)		 "A View to a Kill"
(1985)
Music video
"The Wild Boys" on YouTube

The song was the only studio track on the band's live album Arena (1984), and was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously remixed the band's previous single "The Reflex". It was recorded at the end of July 1984 at Maison Rouge Studios in London.[1]

"The Wild Boys" became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, behind "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oates and "Like a Virgin" by Madonna,[2] and also hitting number one on the US Cash Box.[3] It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,[4] and also reached the top position in Germany,[5] Italy,[6] South Africa and Canada.[7] It also became the band's biggest charting single in Australia, reaching number three.[8]

Background

The idea for the song came from longtime Duran Duran video director Russell Mulcahy, who wanted to make a full-length feature film based on the surreal and sexual 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead by William S. Burroughs. He suggested that the band might create a modern soundtrack for the film in the same way that Queen would later provide a rock soundtrack for Mulcahy's 1986 film Highlander. Singer Simon Le Bon began writing some lyrics based on Mulcahy's quick synopsis of the book, and the band created a harsh-sounding instrumental backdrop for them.[9]

The single was issued with six separate collectible covers – one featuring each individual band member and one of the band collectively.

Music video

The video for "The Wild Boys" was directed by Russell Mulcahy. The cost totalled over one million pounds, a staggering sum for music videos at the time, as his design filled one entire end of the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and makeup effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. The choreography of dance routines was undertaken by Arlene Phillips, including intricate stunts and fire effects added to the cost. Mulcahy meant the video to be a teaser for his full-length Burroughs film, demonstrating his vision to the movie studios he was wooing, but that project was never made.

The video featured all of the band members imprisoned and in peril, wearing uncharacteristically rough and ragged outfits similar to the pieced-together clothing of the film Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. John Taylor was strapped to the roof of a car suffering a psycho-torture with pictures of his childhood and early past; Nick Rhodes was caged with a pile of computer equipment; Roger Taylor was put in a hot-air balloon that was dangling from the ceiling, leaving him high off the ground; Andy Taylor was bound (guitar and all) to a ship's figurehead; and Simon Le Bon was strapped to a blade of the windmill, his head covered in water as the blade passed through the pool.

"The Wild Boys" was named British Video of the Year at the 1985 Brit Awards.

Remixes and B-sides

The 8:00 12" "Wilder Than Wild Boys" extended mix, the only official contemporaneous remix, is actually the full length version. It continues after the album/single version's fade out with another instrumental section, then repeats the chorus to fade. This mix was also used for the full length promo video.

To promote the release of the compilation album Greatest in 1998, EMI commissioned a number of remixes, including two mixes of "The Wild Boys" that were released only on promo discs:

  • "The Wild Boys [ASAP & PM Project Remix]" 3:42 appeared on a one-track promo CD in Spain
  • "Wild Boys 98 [4 On Da Floor Remix]" 3:10 appeared on a one-track promo CD in Belgium

In 2004, noted remixer Paul Dakeyne produced the 7:30 "Wicked 'n Wild Dub" for DMC, the UK-based remix service.

The original single B-side, "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement (Live)", was recorded at the 5 March 1984 show at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This is the same concert where the video for "The Reflex" was filmed.

Formats and track listing

7": Parlophone. / Duran 3 UK

  1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:14
  2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:00
  • Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.
  • Also released in sleeves featuring individual band members (DURANC 3)

12": Parlophone. / 12 Duran 3 UK

  1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00
  2. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
  3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08
  • Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

7": Capitol Records. / B-5417 US

  1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:14
  2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:00
  • Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

12": Capitol Records. / V-6817 US

  1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00
  2. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
  3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08
  • Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981–1985" boxset

  1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
  2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08
  3. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00
  • Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

Charts and certifications

See also

Other appearances

Apart from the single, "The Wild Boys" has also appeared on:

Albums:

References
  1. John Taylor (16 October 2012). In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-101-59359-2. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. "Duran Duran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  3. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 15, 1984". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  6. "Italian Singles". hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  7. "CHART NUMBER 1458 – Saturday, December 08, 1984". CHUM. Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  8. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  9. VH1 interview with John Taylor
  10. "Ultratop.be – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  11. "Radio 2 Top 30" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9610." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  13. https://www.ukmix.org/showthread.php?118921-Danish-Chart-Archive-Singles-1979-____-(B-T-IFPI-DK)/page6
  14. http://www.infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artiste_Choisi.php
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Wild Boys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  16. http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_weeks/85/hp850216.htm
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  19. "Charts.nz – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  20. "Topp 20 Single uke 51, 1984 – VG-lista. Offisielle hitlister fra og med 1958" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  21. http://www.laurentpons.com/charts/portugal/top20tmp1242.htm
  22. http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(D).html
  23. http://listadesuperventas.blogspot.com/2010/02/1985.html
  24. "Swedishcharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  25. "Swisscharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  26. "Billboard Volume 96, No. 50, December 15, 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. 15 December 1984. p. 62. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  27. "Austriancharts.at – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  28. "Lescharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  29. "HitParadeItalia Indice per Interprete: D". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  30. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts D". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  31. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  32. "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1984". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  33. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9638." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  34. "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1984". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  35. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  36. 1984 in British music#Best-selling singles
  37. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  38. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 October2016.
  39. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1985". GfK Entertainment Charts (in German). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  40. "Hit Parade Italia - I singoli più venduti del 1985". FIMI (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  41. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  42. "Volume 97 No. 52, DECEMBER 28. 1985" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. 28 December 1985. p. TA-21. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  43. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  44. "Canadian single certifications – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Music Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  45. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Duran Duran; 'Wild Boys')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  46. "British single certifications – Duran Duran – Wild Boys". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 September 2016. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Wild Boys in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  47. "American single certifications – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 September 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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