| Before the Rain | |
| |
| song by Duran Duran | |
|---|---|
| Released | 21 December 2010 (download) 21/22March 2011 (CD version) |
| Recorded | 2010 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 4:26 minutes |
| Label | Tape Modern, S-Curve Records |
| Writer(s) | Duran Duran |
| Producer(s) | Mark Ronson Duran Duran |
| Duran Duran | |
"Before the Rain" is a song by Duran Duran, released on the All You Need Is Now album (iTunes download) on 21 December 2010 and on 21/22 March 2011 (CD version).
About the song[]
The song is from Duran Duran's 13th studio album All You Need Is Now, which began production in February 2010.
Co-produced by Mark Ronson, the track includes Fairlight synthesizer samples, the TR8 rhythm box and powerful lyrics.
Band comments
Simon:
I was desperate to do something baroque. One of my favourite composers is Henry Purcell. I sat in the garden and started writing this, and with it came this story about a man surrounded by these ghosts of guilt. He realises he has to keep moving but they will always come with him.
John:
Roger came up with a fantastic snare part that reminded me of Russia – I see images from Battleship Potemkin when I hear him play it. The overall effect packs a huge emotional punch. Once we started sequencing the album it became clear that this song had to be the final track.
Simon: (2011, Just Josh)
I was sitting in my back garden. It was two summers ago (2009), Yasmin and the kids were off somewhere, and it was late spring early summer (May/June) when it starts staying light very late. I opened a bottle of wine, and started playing around with my guitar; and got a really good tune going. And I opened up another bottle of wine. I'm on my own. And I came up with this lyric about a guy - he's had a few [drinks], and now he's able to face his darkest, darkest secrets, and, what he really thinks about himself. It's about a guy who's facing his guilt, and that's probably my most personal moment on the album. (Source @2:12)
Music video[]
The official music video was filmed, edited and directed by Andrew Pearce, a 21 year old Sydney Film School graduate. The video was chosen as the winner from an international competition coordinated by Genero.tv. Pearce won $5000, plus the screening of the clip prior to Duran Duran concerts around the world and the inclusion in a DVD compilation.
Shot on Pearce’s family farm in Australia, keyboardist Nick Rhodes described the work as ‘sublime and heartbreaking’. The video is a mood piece starring Samantha Pearce and Ben Pearce, that depicts a young girls anger towards the uncontrollable fury of mother nature. Credits include special thanks to Les & Belinda Pearce and Hannah Waite.
Personnel[]
Duran Duran are:
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- John Taylor - bass guitar
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards
- Roger Taylor - drums
With:
- Dominic Brown - guitar
Lyrics[]
A stormy summer Is rolling closer Lighting up this holy smoker And if this drinking Could ease the thinking I toast to my home truth with this glass All rise you promises broken Call my lovers by their names Lost hearts and words that are spoken to the wind Which blows before the rain Little pin-pricks And how my ears bleed On the bomb ticks that is my heartbeat In every life-flash In every car crash I hear the silence waiting to fall All rise you promises broken Call my lovers by their names Lost hearts and words that are spoken to the wind Which blows before the rain For all I carry Are murdered secrets The price of my blue star-eyed weakness And so we travel And we unravel Towards the place where all loose ends go All rise you promises broken Call my lovers by their names Lost hearts and words that are spoken to the wind Which blows before the rain