Duranalysis: Arcadia’s The Flame

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Comments

Cheryl K said…
Wonderful as always! I love that you always seem to have extra information and cool links that even die-hards like me seemed to have missed seeing/hearing about (couture fangs! wow!). I must hand it to Simon...his theatricality really shines in this video. He's a natural! You've said all the good stuff about Nick, I don't think I could add to it.
Morgan Richter said…
Couture fangs. Couture fangs! Yeah, Nick wearing fangs (couture fangs) in bed is pretty much the most fabulous thing I've ever heard, and yet it somehow seems entirely believable.

I love how we see Simon play a very specific character in this video -- usually he's clearly playing a variation on his own larger-than-life persona (Simon Le Bon, International Spy, say, or Simon Le Bon, Post-Apocalyptic Warrior). Here, though, he seems to have totally submerged his personality into the role and is just having a blast playing a bumbling dork. It's fun to watch him.

So glad you're enjoying my reviews, Cheryl -- I'm having a great time writing them.
Cheryl K said…
Keep the Durananalyses coming! I love how reading Simon's tweets has given me new insight into his humor, intelligence and gregariousness. Which I never really grasped before. So between revisiting Duran on this blog and getting hour-by-hour updates from the band while they're on tour right now, I feel like I'm getting to know them all over again! And knowing you and I agree is WAY much better than back in high school when everyone was like, "You like Duran Duran? Those Fags!"
Morgan Richter said…
I love Simon's Twitter -- it's the perfect mix of smart and funny and bonkers. Who knew? When I was growing up, everything I knew about the band was pretty much limited to whatever could be gleaned from articles in Tiger Beat and BOP magazines. Now, there's an avalanche of readily-available information about the band out there, particularly online. And a lot of it -- like John's and Simon's Twitter accounts, and the brilliant Ask Katy feature on the official DD site -- comes directly from the boys themselves. It makes it very, very convenient.
Jennifer Howell said…
This is the BEST video of all time. I cannot even tell you how much I flove you for doing this.
Morgan Richter said…
Oh, good -- Jennifer, it's nice to find other people who love this video. It's such a little gem.
Cheryl K said…
OMG, thanks for telling me about "Ask Katy" because I finally found the actual French transcript of the beginning of "New Moon on Monday" in her FAQ! I was looking for a that recently!
Morgan Richter said…
Isn't Ask Katy marvelous? I love using the search feature and coming up with random facts (i.e. per Nick, the blonde model who plays his escort in "The Flame" is named Denise Lewis. Now I know!). Great source of information.
DKoren said…
I just recently discovered this video -- for some reason, despite loving Arcadia, I never had seen any of the videos before. This one is hilarious, for all the reasons you describe! I love dorky Simon and inscrutable Nick. I laughed out loud when John appeared, that was just so unexpected and so delightful.

As with all your reviews, this was absolutely great and made me laugh several times. I look forward to more!
Morgan Richter said…
Honestly, up until about a month ago, I hadn't realized Arcadia had made any videos. This one's just adorable -- Simon and Nick really play well off each other. And John's cameo just puts it over the top. It's a delight.
Patrick said…
Happy Easter Morgan and gang!

Enjoying the Duranalysis.

Was just wondering Morgan if you were following Jack Coleman's occasional (and brief) appearances in 'The Office' as a state senator. Given the hints that the 'Scranto Strangler' may still be on the loose, it's possible he may have a big role to play in the weeks ahead.
Patrick said…
That should be Scranton Strangler, but Scranto Strangler sounds more comic-book and Heroes-esque.

The one show that I'm really enjoying is AMC's 'The Killing', which is very atmospheric, like a more grounded 'Twin Peaks' (even down to the music), and which is providing a greta puzzle to solve.
Morgan Richter said…
Hey, Patrick! Good to hear from you! I'd heard Coleman was on The Office, but I haven't caught any of his appearances. I'll have to check it out (and yes, "Scranto Strangler" does sound very comic book-ish).

I'm hooked on The Killing. The languid pace and the atmosphere definitely reminds me of Twin Peaks (to say nothing of the Pacific Northwest setting).
Patrick said…
Every episode of Twin Peaks was also set over a single day - something I never realised at the time.

Superb acting on The Killing, and a clever storyline.

Have also been following Nikita - but it's more of a guilty pleasure. The story arc changes too much and there is the sense of a show not entirely sure where it is going or how quickly.
Morgan Richter said…
Haven't seen Nikita -- I might rent it when the first season comes out on DVD.

Glad to have you back here, Patrick. I've noticed how my Duran Duran posts have managed to drive all the boys away from my site (though I've picked up some very cool new commenters, which is awesome). Both Dan and Morgan Dodge, for example, have been mighty scarce around here lately. I'm starting to get the impression they're just not interested in discussing pretty-boy pop stars! Eh, their loss.
khanada said…
god, i love this video. all the arcadia videos are great, but i just love the humour of this one.

oh, and some kind soul ;) uploaded a clearer version of this video a while back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eOUspNxG1U
Morgan Richter said…
Oh, cool -- that's a much cleaner version, khanada. At some point, I'll have to go through and replace my screengrabs with less-muddy versions.
andiepants said…
Best Arcadia video, hands down. It was in heavy rotation on MTV during the summer of '86 (along with, ironically, Andy Taylor's "Take It Easy").

I LIVED for this video. My favorite part was John popping out of the closet. Love it!
Morgan Richter said…
I love this video too, andiepants. Nick is so tiny and strange and glamorous and sinister in it. Awesomeness.
Nekomi said…
I love this video and all he arcadia stuff. I remember clearly that back in the days, John's cameo was sush a joy! I was sure they'd go back together after Arcadia and Power station and then Notorious came.
Nick is gorgeous in this video and Simon is adorable showing his nerdy self Ah the glamorous blonde was super model Renee Simonsen, John's girlfriend at the time
Morgan Richter said…
Nekomi -- Is the blonde Renee Simonsen? I had no idea. That's very cool. It's such a fun video; I love John's cameo.
Unknown said…
aw wow, I loved your review, witty, honest engaging. Homour is found in the most desperate of times as it was for the band. I need to separate the video from the song though, great as both are on different ways
Morgan Richter said…
Thanks so much, Ruth! I love the video, and I love the song.