Union of the Snake
Encyclopedia
"Union of the Snake" is the ninth single
by Duran Duran
, released on 17 October 1983.
"Union of the Snake" was the lead single from the band's third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
and preceded its release by one month. It became one of Duran Duran's most popular hits, peaking at #3 on both the Billboard Hot 100
chart in December, 1983 and the UK Singles Chart
.
in France, much of the band's third album was recorded at George Martin's Air Studios on the Caribbean island of Montserrat
with producer Alex Sadkin
, then mixed at 301 Studios in Sydney
. Mixing for "Union of the Snake" was done right up to the last minute before the tapes had to be turned over to EMI
for pressing.
Lyricist Simon Le Bon
(notoriously reticent about explaining his oblique lyrics) hinted in the Duran Duran lyric book The Book of Words that the borderline might be one between the conscious and subconscious minds. In later interviews, he proclaimed that it was a reference to Tantric sex.
Drummer Roger Taylor stated that the beat and drum track was based upon David Bowie's
"Let's Dance
".
, who directed many of the heavy rotation videos for songs from Duran Duran's previous album Rio. However, as Mulcahy was busy preparing to direct the concert film Arena
and the documentary film Sing Blue Silver
during the band's world tour, the video for "Union" was actually directed by Simon Milne (who also filmed videos for Kajagoogoo
and Missing Persons
). It was one of the first music video to be shot on 35mm film stock rather than videotape. There was a bit of controversy surrounding the video as it was released to MTV
a whole week before the single was released on radio. Radio stations were anxious at the time because they were concerned that channels like MTV might supplant them in the promotion of singles.
The distinctive music video seems to reference the movie The Road Warrior. The band is featured in the Australian desert being tracked by a half-man, half-snake creature. They eventually take a left down beneath the sands (perhaps into the subconscious
) into what appears to be an underground cathedral, and the snake creature as well as number of other bizarre characters interact with vocalist Le Bon. Other band members make only brief appearances in the video.
Despite persistent rumours to the contrary, actress Jennifer Connelly
was not featured in this video. However, she did appear in the band's 1985 long-form concert film Arena
, during the song "The Reflex".
The use of expensive sets, costumes and makeup were the first indication of the over-the-top nature of videos to come, including a 17-minute epic video for "New Moon on Monday
", the massively expensive video for "The Wild Boys
", and the extravagant concept/live film Arena.
and keyboardist Nick Rhodes
wrote and mixed the B-side "Secret Oktober" in an all-night recording session.
Also included on the 12" was a remix of the single, titled "Union of the Snake (Monkey Mix)".
Other:
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 on 17 October 1983.
"Union of the Snake" was the lead single from the band's 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....
and preceded its release by one month. It became one of Duran Duran's most popular hits, peaking at #3 on both the 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...
chart in December, 1983 and the 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 ...
.
About the song
After a song-writing session near CannesCannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
in France, much of the band's third album was recorded at George Martin's Air Studios on the Caribbean island of Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
with producer Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Alex 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....
, then mixed at 301 Studios in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Mixing for "Union of the Snake" was done right up to the last minute before the tapes had to be turned over to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
for pressing.
Lyricist Simon Le Bon
Simon Le Bon
Simon 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:...
(notoriously reticent about explaining his oblique lyrics) hinted in the Duran Duran lyric book The Book of Words that the borderline might be one between the conscious and subconscious minds. In later interviews, he proclaimed that it was a reference to Tantric sex.
Drummer Roger Taylor stated that the beat and drum track was based upon David Bowie's
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
"Let's Dance
Let's Dance (David Bowie song)
"Let's Dance" is the title album track on David Bowie's album Let's Dance. It was also released as the first single from that album in 1983, and went on to become one of his biggest-selling tracks....
".
Music video
The video for "Union of the Snake" was conceived by Russell MulcahyRussell 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 :...
, who directed many of the heavy rotation videos for songs from Duran Duran's previous album Rio. However, as Mulcahy was busy preparing to direct the concert film Arena
Arena (An Absurd Notion)
Arena is a concept concert video filmed during the course of Duran Duran's 1984 Sing Blue Silver North American Tour in support of the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger.-Background:...
and the documentary film Sing Blue Silver
Sing Blue Silver
Sing Blue Silver is a documentary about Duran Duran's 1983-1984 World Tour directed by Michael Collins. A sixty-minute edited version of the documentary was aired on MTV under the title Blue Silver....
during the band's world tour, the video for "Union" was actually directed by Simon Milne (who also filmed videos for Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo are a British pop band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the U.S...
and Missing Persons
Missing Persons
Missing Persons is an American band who plays a blend of New Wave and Pop rock. The band was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. They went on to add bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild. Dale's quirky voice...
). It was one of the first music video to be shot on 35mm film stock rather than videotape. There was a bit of controversy surrounding the video as it was released to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
a whole week before the single was released on radio. Radio stations were anxious at the time because they were concerned that channels like MTV might supplant them in the promotion of singles.
The distinctive music video seems to reference the movie The Road Warrior. The band is featured in the Australian desert being tracked by a half-man, half-snake creature. They eventually take a left down beneath the sands (perhaps into the subconscious
Subconscious
The term subconscious is used in many different contexts and has no single or precise definition. This greatly limits its significance as a definition-bearing concept, and in consequence the word tends to be avoided in academic and scientific settings....
) into what appears to be an underground cathedral, and the snake creature as well as number of other bizarre characters interact with vocalist Le Bon. Other band members make only brief appearances in the video.
Despite persistent rumours to the contrary, actress Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
was not featured in this video. However, she did appear in the band's 1985 long-form concert film Arena
Arena (An Absurd Notion)
Arena is a concept concert video filmed during the course of Duran Duran's 1984 Sing Blue Silver North American Tour in support of the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger.-Background:...
, during the song "The Reflex".
The use of expensive sets, costumes and makeup were the first indication of the over-the-top nature of videos to come, including a 17-minute epic video for "New Moon on Monday
New Moon on Monday
"New Moon on Monday" is a song by Duran Duran, released as the band's tenth single in January 1984.The second single to be lifted from the band's 1983 album Seven and the Ragged Tiger, the song was another success, reaching the Top 10 on both the British and American music charts...
", the massively expensive video for "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"...
", and the extravagant concept/live film Arena.
B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
The B-side to "Union of the Snake" was the atmospheric piece "Secret Oktober". Twenty-four hours before the master tapes of the single were to be delivered to EMI for distribution, singer Simon Le BonSimon Le Bon
Simon 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:...
and keyboardist Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes is an English musician, is best known as the keyboardist of the pop rock band Duran Duran...
wrote and mixed the B-side "Secret Oktober" in an all-night recording session.
Also included on the 12" was a remix of the single, titled "Union of the Snake (Monkey Mix)".
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 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 ... |
3 |
| 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... |
3 |
| US Cash Box 100 | 1 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
1 |
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
4 |
| 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... |
5 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 8 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
12": EMI / EMI 5429 (UK)
- "Union of the Snake (Monkey Mix)" – 6:27
- "Union of the Snake (7 Inch Version)" – 4:24
- "Secret Oktober" – 2:47
Other appearances
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) - Arena (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) - 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)
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
Other:
- 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 - Andy HamiltonAndy Hamilton (pop musician)Andy Hamilton is a British saxophonist who has played with Duran Duran , Wham!, Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner, George Michael, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Bon Jovi and David Bowie....
– Soprano & Tenor Saxophone - 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
External links
- MTV: Duran Duran Videos (RealPlayer format)