The Reflex
Encyclopedia
"The Reflex" is the eleventh single
by Duran Duran
, released worldwide on 16 April 1984.
The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
.
, after "Is There Something I Should Know?
" in 1983, and would prove to be their last UK #1. It was also Duran Duran's first single to hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
(for two weeks) on 23 June 1984 (see 1984 in music
), and became a huge hit internationally. The band wanted it to be the lead single from Seven and the Ragged Tiger, but their label didn't like the warbling singing during the "why don't you use it" segments, thinking this would hinder its success as a stand alone single track.
The remixes for both the 7" and 12" singles were done by Nile Rodgers
, of Chic
fame. It was his first work with the band, and he would later go on to produce "The Wild Boys
" single as well as the album Notorious (1986) and several tracks on Astronaut (2004).
Producer Ian Little recalls the sound Nick Rhodes came up with on his Roland Jupiter-8
keyboard: "...whenever I hear that steel-drum
part it always brings a smile to my face because it's so out of tune. Steel drums always are, but it was exactly right in terms of rhythm and tone. So a wood-block sound was mixed in to make it even more percussive and, successfully, it did the job."
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.
"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 typical 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.
Some symbolic scenes from the official video were taken and later mixed with the alternate version shown in the band's concert film Arena (An Absurd Notion); in the final segment when the band, the crowd and even the fans undertake the final and crucial battle against the evil Dr. Durand Durand.
" is a cover of a Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
song, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London, with lead Rebel Steve Harley
joining the band onstage.
A second live b-side released on the US single, "New Religion", was recorded 7 February 1984 at The Forum
in Los Angeles
. This is not the same live version that appears on the Arena album.
s have been recorded by Less than Jake
and the duo of Kylie Minogue
and Ben Lee
.
The song is part of the Hooked on Polkas medley on the Dare To Be Stupid
album, by "Weird Al" Yankovic
.
The song has also been featured in the soundtracks for the movies American Wedding
(2003) and Corky Romano
(2001), as well as an episode of the short-lived 2002 television series That '80s Show
in which bassist John Taylor
made a guest appearance.
The song is also featured in the video game Saints Row 2
as part of its 80s radio station.
A chain of 1980s
-themed nightclubs in the UK is named after the song. The Birmingham branch is located directly opposite the former site of the Rum Runner
, Duran Duran's early home base.
Albums:
Singles:
Videos:
Video games:
Also credited:
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, released worldwide on 16 April 1984.
The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Seven and the Ragged Tiger is the third studio album by English pop rock band Duran Duran, released globally in November 1983. It would prove to be the last studio album for the band's original lineup until 2004's Astronaut....
.
Song history
"The Reflex" became the band's most successful single. It was their second single to top the UK singles chartUK 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 ...
, after "Is There Something I Should Know?
Is There Something I Should Know?
"Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single by Duran Duran, released on 19 March 1983.The song was released as a stand-alone single and became the band's first UK number one record. It debuted in the #1 position on the UK Singles Chart on 26 March 1983...
" in 1983, and would prove to be their last UK #1. It was also Duran Duran's first single to hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
(for two weeks) on 23 June 1984 (see 1984 in music
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
), and became a huge hit internationally. The band wanted it to be the lead single from Seven and the Ragged Tiger, but their label didn't like the warbling singing during the "why don't you use it" segments, thinking this would hinder its success as a stand alone single track.
The remixes for both the 7" and 12" singles were done by Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
, of Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
fame. It was his first work with the band, and he would later go on to produce "The Wild Boys
The Wild Boys (song)
"The Wild Boys" is the twelfth single by Duran Duran, released in October 1984.The song was the only studio track on the live album Arena, and was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously remixed the single "The Reflex"...
" single as well as the album Notorious (1986) and several tracks on Astronaut (2004).
Producer Ian Little recalls the sound Nick Rhodes came up with on his Roland Jupiter-8
Roland Jupiter-8
The Jupiter-8 is an eight-voice polyphonic analog subtractive synthesizer introduced by Roland Corporation in 1981.The Jupiter-8, or JP-8, was Roland's flagship synthesizer for the first half of the 1980's...
keyboard: "...whenever I hear that steel-drum
Steelpan
Steelpans is a musical instrument originating from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
part it always brings a smile to my face because it's so out of tune. Steel drums always are, but it was exactly right in terms of rhythm and tone. So a wood-block sound was mixed in to make it even more percussive and, successfully, it did the job."
Music video
The video for "The Reflex" was shot during the Sing Blue Silver tour at Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario on 5 March 1984. Director Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
filmed some of the closeup footage in the indoor arena that afternoon, and the rest was filmed live during that evening's concert.
"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
Black light
A black light, also referred to as a UV light, ultraviolet light, or Wood's lamp, is a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation in the long-wave range, and little visible light...
, occasionally interrupted by computerized video white noise
White noise
White noise is a random signal with a flat power spectral density. In other words, the signal contains equal power within a fixed bandwidth at any center frequency...
. At one point, a waterfall appears to pour out of the video screen above the stage to soak the audience. The computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
used to achieve this were typical 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
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
(the first digital sampling synthesiser) that Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes is an English musician, is best known as the keyboardist of the pop rock band Duran Duran...
operated with a light pen
Light pen
A light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's CRT TV set or monitor. It allows the user to point to displayed objects, or draw on the screen, in a similar way to a touch screen but with greater positional accuracy...
in this video, and throughout the tour.
Some symbolic scenes from the official video were taken and later mixed with the alternate version shown in the band's concert film Arena (An Absurd Notion); in the final segment when the band, the crowd and even the fans undertake the final and crucial battle against the evil Dr. Durand Durand.
B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
The live b-side "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
"Make Me Smile " is a song written and recorded by Steve Harley. It was originally recorded by his band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on the album The Best Years of Our Lives and released as a single in 1975...
" is a cover of a Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel are an English rock band from the early 1970s. Their music covers a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years they have had five albums in the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles in the UK Singles Chart.-Career:...
song, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London, with lead Rebel Steve Harley
Steve Harley
Steve Harley is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with the 1970s rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still occasionally tours .-Biography:As a child, Harley suffered from polio, spending four years in hospital up to the...
joining the band onstage.
A second live b-side released on the US single, "New Religion", was recorded 7 February 1984 at The Forum
The Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. This is not the same live version that appears on the Arena album.
Covers, samples, and media references
Cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s have been recorded by Less than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
and the duo of Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
.
The song is part of the Hooked on Polkas medley on the Dare To Be Stupid
Dare to Be Stupid
Dare to Be Stupid is the third studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1985. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
album, by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
.
The song has also been featured in the soundtracks for the movies American Wedding
American Wedding
American Wedding is a 2003 comedy film that is a sequel to American Pie and American Pie 2 as part of the American Pie series. It was written by Adam Herz and directed by Jesse Dylan...
(2003) and Corky Romano
Corky Romano
Corky Romano is a 2001 film starring former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Kattan. Also starring are Fred Ward, Vinessa Shaw, Roger Fan, and Dave Sheridan. The movie was directed by Rob Pritts and was written by David Garrett and Jason Ward. It was filmed at Touchstone Pictures studios...
(2001), as well as an episode of the short-lived 2002 television series That '80s Show
That '80s Show
That '80s Show is an American sitcom that aired in half-hour long episodes from January through May 2002. Despite having a similar name, show structure, and many of the same writers and production staff, it is not considered a direct spin-off of the more successful That '70s Show, since the...
in which bassist John Taylor
Nigel John Taylor
John Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
made a guest appearance.
The song is also featured in the video game Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 systems. It is the second title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row in 2006. It is succeeded by Saints Row: The...
as part of its 80s radio station.
A chain of 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
-themed nightclubs in the UK is named after the song. The Birmingham branch is located directly opposite the former site of the Rum Runner
Rum Runner (nightclub)
The Rum Runner nightclub was opened on Broad Street, Birmingham in the city centre in 1964. It was demolished in 1987 to make way for the Hyatt Hotel....
, Duran Duran's early home base.
Chart positions
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Kent Music Chart Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
4 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Belgian VRT Top 30 VRT Top 30 The VRT Top 30 or Radio 2 Top 30 is a Belgian record chart that runs on the VRT, more specifically on Radio 2. The list is the new version of the old BRT Top 30, that changed along with the media group's name in 1992.... |
1 |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
1 |
| 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... |
1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
15 |
| German Singles Chart | 8 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
1 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 10 |
| 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 ... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
Track listing
"The Reflex" was the second Duran Duran single to feature a personalised group catalogue number in the UK, DURAN 2.- 7" Single (UK)
- "The Reflex" – 4:20
- "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" [live] – 4:54
- 12" Single (UK)
- "The Reflex (Dance Mix)" – 6:35
- "The Reflex" [7" version] – 4:20
- "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" [live] – 4:54
- 7" Single (U.S.)
- "The Reflex (Dance Mix)" [edit] – 4:25
- "New Religion (Live in L.A.)" – 4:52
- CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981-1985Singles Box Set 1981-1985Singles Box Set 1981–1985 is a boxset by Duran Duran. Comprising thirteen CDs, it was released by EMI on and covers the era from Duran Duran to Arena , as well as non-album single "A View to a Kill" ....
" boxset
- "The Reflex" – 4:20
- "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" [live] – 4:54
- "The Reflex (Dance Mix)" – 6:35
Other appearances
Apart from the single, "The Reflex" has also appeared on:Albums:
- Seven and the Ragged TigerSeven and the Ragged TigerSeven and the Ragged Tiger is the third studio album by English pop rock band Duran Duran, released globally in November 1983. It would prove to be the last studio album for the band's original lineup until 2004's Astronaut....
(1983) - Tiger Tiger! ep (Japan only, 1984)
- DecadeDecade: Greatest HitsDecade – Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by Duran Duran, released on November 15, 1989 .The remix single "Burning the Ground" was released to radio to promote this album; it was created by producer John Jones mixing snippets of the band's biggest hits from the previous decade into a new...
(1989) - 12" Collection (Japan only, 1991)
- Night Versions: The Essential Duran DuranNight Versions: The Essential Duran DuranNight Versions: The Essential Duran Duran is a compilation album of remixes by Duran Duran. From the very beginning of their career, the band had dubbed the extended dance remixes of their songs "night versions", as they were intended for play in nightclubs.Unlike many of their contemporaries,...
(US only, 1998) - Greatest (1998)
- Strange BehaviourStrange BehaviourStrange Behaviour is a remix album of remixes by Duran Duran. It was released by EMI in March 1999.The title comes from a line in the song "Skin Trade": "would someone please explain, the reason for this strange behaviour". The band had previously used "Strange Behaviour" as the name of their 1987...
(1999)
Singles:
- Capitol Gold Cuts (1990)
Videos:
- Dancing On The ValentineDancing on the ValentineDancing on the Valentine is a Duran Duran Video 45 released by PMI in the UK and Sony in the US in . It was released on VHS, Beta, Laserdisc, and Video8 format....
(1984) - Greatest (1998)
Video games:
- DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIXDDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIXDDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX is the 7th game in the Dance Dance Revolution series of music video games and the sequel to DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6th Mix. It was released in the arcades by Konami on April 17, 2002. Although only officially released in Japan, units exist worldwide...
(2002) - Saints Row 2Saints Row 2Saints Row 2 is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 systems. It is the second title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row in 2006. It is succeeded by Saints Row: The...
(2008)
Personnel
Duran Duran are:- Simon Le BonSimon Le BonSimon John Charles Le Bon is an English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia.-Early life:...
- vocals - Nick RhodesNick RhodesNick Rhodes is an English musician, is best known as the keyboardist of the pop rock band Duran Duran...
- keyboards - John TaylorNigel John TaylorJohn Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
- bass guitar - Roger TaylorRoger Andrew TaylorRoger Andrew Taylor is an English double grammy award winning musician who is best known as the drummer of British rock band Duran Duran from their inception until 1985, and again from 2001 onwards, the band selling in excess of 80 million records worldwide in the process.-Early life:Taylor began...
- drums - Andy TaylorAndy Taylor (guitarist)Andy Taylor is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station....
- guitar
Also credited:
- Michelle Cobbs - backing vocals
- B J Nelson - backing vocals
- Raphael Dejesus - percussion
- Mark KennedyMark KennedyMark Raymond Kennedy , is an American businessman and politician. Kennedy was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007. He represented Minnesota's 2nd congressional district during the 107th Congress and Minnesota's 6th congressional district during the...
- percussion - Alex SadkinAlex SadkinAlex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
- producer - Ian LittleIan LittleIan Little is a record producer who is best known for the single "Is There Something I Should Know" and the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger, both by Duran Duran. He has also worked with Roxy Music, Phil Manzanera, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Sparks, Belouis Some, and other artists.-External...
- producer - Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- remixer - Jason Corsaro - remix engineer