Duel (song)
Encyclopedia
"Duel" is the second single by German
pop group Propaganda
and was included on their first album A Secret Wish
.
Released in the United Kingdom
in April 1985, it became their most successful single in the UK, reaching no. 21. This led to the band making their one and only appearance on the flagship BBC music programme, "Top of the Pops
", in June of that year.
A 12-inch mix, "Jewel (cut rough)" extended this with further sound effects, and an instrumental version appeared on the group's debut album, A Secret Wish
.
The two approaches to the song were combined in two different tracks. "Bejewelled" played the song through, alternating between the two versions, while "Jewelled", on the remix album Wishful Thinking, combined elements of both, with the melodies of "Duel" playing alongside the rhythms of "Jewel".
during home matches . A remix, "Jewelled", was also used as the title and credits music of the BBC programme Rally Report
(later Top Gear Rally Report) covering the Lombard RAC Rally (now called Rally GB
) which is the UK round of the World Rally Championship
.
The Jewel track was also used by Channel 4 for its American Football coverage in the late 1980s and by Granada Television for its regional Granada Goals Extra programme in the early 1990s.
British singer Mandy Smith
recorded a cover version of "Duel" for her debut album in 1987.
In August 2007 Sophie Ellis-Bextor
recorded and released a cover of "Duel" as a B-side to her single "Today the Sun's on Us
".
In 2009, UK girlband The Dolly Rockers
sampled the bridge and melody from "Duel"to form the basis for their song, "How Did I End Up With U".
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pop group Propaganda
Propaganda (band)
Propaganda is a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish....
and was included on their first album A Secret Wish
A Secret Wish
- Original 1985 vinyl album release :A – WITHIN# "Dream Within A Dream" – 8:04# "The Murder Of Love" – 5:12# "Jewel" – 3:10# "Duel" – 4:43B – WITHOUT# "p:Machinery" [album mix]" – 3:50# "Sorry For Laughing" – 3:25# "Dr...
.
Released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in April 1985, it became their most successful single in the UK, reaching no. 21. This led to the band making their one and only appearance on the flagship BBC music programme, "Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
", in June of that year.
Alternative version - Jewel
"Duel" was original released with an alternative version of the track, "Jewel (rough cut)" on the b-side. This featured the same lyrics delivered in a more aggressive manner over a backing track of heavy beats and industrial sound effects.A 12-inch mix, "Jewel (cut rough)" extended this with further sound effects, and an instrumental version appeared on the group's debut album, A Secret Wish
A Secret Wish
- Original 1985 vinyl album release :A – WITHIN# "Dream Within A Dream" – 8:04# "The Murder Of Love" – 5:12# "Jewel" – 3:10# "Duel" – 4:43B – WITHOUT# "p:Machinery" [album mix]" – 3:50# "Sorry For Laughing" – 3:25# "Dr...
.
The two approaches to the song were combined in two different tracks. "Bejewelled" played the song through, alternating between the two versions, while "Jewelled", on the remix album Wishful Thinking, combined elements of both, with the melodies of "Duel" playing alongside the rhythms of "Jewel".
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Top100 Singles | 30 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
5 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
21 |
| Italian Chart | 3 |
Use as a sports theme
The song is often played at the stadium of Heart Of Midlothian Football ClubHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
during home matches . A remix, "Jewelled", was also used as the title and credits music of the BBC programme Rally Report
Rally Report
Rally Report was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC covering the Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain - then the last round of the World Rally Championship. It ran on BBC2 during the 1980s and 1990s and usually featured previews, a live stage, twice nightly reports and a wrap-up compilation...
(later Top Gear Rally Report) covering the Lombard RAC Rally (now called Rally GB
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
) which is the UK round of the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
.
The Jewel track was also used by Channel 4 for its American Football coverage in the late 1980s and by Granada Television for its regional Granada Goals Extra programme in the early 1990s.
Cover versions
This song was covered (an spanish translation called "Hoy Comienza tu derrota") in the 80's by a Venezuelan Singer called Mellisa, for her album "Melissa III". The song was released as a very successful single.British singer Mandy Smith
Mandy Smith
Mandy Smith is an English dance-pop singer, former model and aspiring counsellor.-Early life:In 1983, at age 13 she started dating 47-year-old The Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, with the consent of her mother...
recorded a cover version of "Duel" for her debut album in 1987.
In August 2007 Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s...
recorded and released a cover of "Duel" as a B-side to her single "Today the Sun's on Us
Today the Sun's on Us
"Today the Sun's on Us" is a pop song written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Steve Robson and Nina Woodford for Ellis-Bextor's third album, Trip the Light Fantastic. It's the third single taken from the album. The song is a mid-tempo ballad written about "giving yourself permission to enjoy things when...
".
In 2009, UK girlband The Dolly Rockers
The Dolly Rockers
The Dolly Rockers are an English girl group from London, Leeds and Manchester. The group currently consists of Lucie Kay, Sophie King and Daniele Owen. They first became known when they competed in UK talent show The X Factor in 2006, making it through to the "judges' houses" stage, however they...
sampled the bridge and melody from "Duel"to form the basis for their song, "How Did I End Up With U".
External links
- Duel lyrics at lyrics-songs.com
- Duel discography at ZTT and All That