Duran Duran vs Tears For Fears
Duran Duran’s Hungry Like the Wolf vs Tears for Fears’ Shout
We’ll start with DD. No not Daredevil or Dungeons and Dragons. HLTW is a fun song, nothing deep. Fun party song. The tune is catchy, the chorus is catchy, what more can be said? The guitar riffs are so simple but enjoyable, Andy Taylor pretty much just has to stand there, strum and smile haha. What I found out about this song while writing this is that it is based off Little Red Riding Hood. That makes sense I guess but one could be forgiven for thinking it was not. Not everything connects. The song was also written in less than a day, can you tell haha? And yet its so good and an anthem for the 80s. It’s also got an electronic backing track as you can hear which is my favourite part of the song. Shout is already the cooler song, sorry DD. That emulated percussion intro by the drum machine is so hooking I’d think I was a fish. And the SHOUT, SHOUT by Roland Orzabal is satisfyingly deep and you know you’re in for a good song. It’s the sounds of the vocal synth that puts the icing on top of it and makes Shout what it is and gives it its unique sound. Orzabal’s guitar solo is also pretty cool. It’s also darker than HLTW because of its tune and message which is about political protest. I’m a slightly edgy kind of guy so I like the darkness a bit more.
Wild Boys vs Mad World
Wild boys! Wild boys! Wild boys! All around me are familiar places, worn-out places, worn-out faces. I pit these two against each other because I feel like they’re specials of sorts for the respective bands. Both are so good, intense, and catchy. It basically comes down to the bridges for both. Wild Boys has a longer bridge but Mad World so dang good too. It’s a tie for this round.
Save a Prayer vs Pale Shelter
SAP is a soft-spoken song and melancholic which is what I’m about. The lyrics aren’t exactly sad but there’s a tinge there. The synth which establishes the tune of the song is its definition. Simon Le Bon’s vocals are captivating and trance-like, as if the song is a dream. At 2:20 is my favourite part of the song when the synth does the little motif and then it comes around later again in the song. Pale Shelter has this cool intro for the first 11 seconds which is a reversed piano lick followed by 2 chords which are so peaceful-sounding and makes me feel relaxed before the song begins. There’s some neat bass accompaniment as well around the middle of the songs. Orzabal and Curt Smith kill it with the vocals. The lyrics themselves don’t speak anything special to me but it’s how the song is put together that I appreciate. Another tie.
Ordinary World vs Sowing the Seeds of Love
OW keeps it’s rhythm and beat mostly throughout the song which is nice. Consistency. Once again, lyrics aside which are of least concern, what makes it for me are the guitar riffs that makes it sound like a hopeful or yeah literally, a world kind of sound. It makes me think of looking out to the sky or something in the daytime with the sun out. It’s definitely a happy sounding song even if the lyrics may mean something different but me no care about that. I also love the 7-note motif that plays I think 3 times throughout and how Simon express his vocal passion in the middle and end of the song. Ordinary World is my 2nd favourite DD song tied with Come Undone for my DD songs. Looking up the lyrics for STSOL, I have no idea what it’s talking about and I’ll be damned if I have to study them for my “own interpretation”. It’s a funky song and the message isn’t obvious: it mentions birds and bees so I’m guessing it’s about free love or something but I’m in it for the tune, as you know. This one goes to DD.
The Reflex vs Change
The Reflex is basically just a dance/funk/rock tune blended together that is good for parties. I like it. That is all. Change on the other hand, has more depth and complexity to it. Obviously the most defining moment about the song is what sounds like a xylophone throughout from beginning to end. There is something about it that is kind of haunting and makes me feel like I’m in a jungle. The lyrics don’t make the most sense at face value and I’m not bothered to care. It’s the tune, makes the song, and honestly, I think that that is all that Change has over The Reflex. The point goes to Tears For Fears.
Rio vs Everybody Wants To Rule the World
One thing that Rio already has going for it is the use of a synth at the intro and utilizing an arpeggio that reminds me of the music Vince DiCola is known for especially in Transformers: The Movie. This arpeggio is complimented by a c major 7th chord as if I know what that means. I simply looked onto Wikipedia to look up the composition of the song. The song is about a woman that the singer admires. Nothing deep, but again, a catchy enjoyable song.. Now it’s Tears For Fears’ turn. These two bands are pretty damn close in terms of similarity and catchiness. The tune for EWTRTW is very calming, good for a drive down a country road in the summer. It’s more consistent and just makes you enjoy life. It’s a happier sounding tune that Rio which is more party vibes. EWTRTW is chill vibes. That’s the kid of vibes I go for and for that reason I vote Tears For Fears.
Come Undone vs Head Over Heels
I don’t know if TFF will be able to come out on top for this one. Come Undone is a fire song. It’s passionate and the worldbeat rhythm of it mixed with rock works. That’s the reason I like it and the tune. Nuff said there. I never realized how poppy both bands are, as, being born in the 90s, I am accustomed to how modern pop music sounds from mid 90s and later. Head Over Heels is a fun tune about a guy liking a girl but it doesn’t compare to Come Undone. Fun guitar riffs and piano. DD gets this one.
Well, after rallying up all the tallies, let’s see who the winner is. And it’s………5-4 points for Tears For Fears which means it was close but I had a feeling Tears For Fears would win albeit just slightly. I appreciate both bands very closely to one another which is why I pitted them against each other and because of their similarities. Both may be considered the 80s synth-pop kings. Thanks for reading.