| Michael You've Got A Lot To... | |
| |
| song by Duran Duran | |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 October 1997 |
| Recorded | 1995-97 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 4:09 minutes |
| Label | Capitol, EMI, Virgin |
| Writer(s) | Rhodes, Le Bon, Cuccurullo |
| Associate Producer | Simon Le Bon |
| Producer | TV Mania |
| Duran Duran | |
"Michael You've Got A Lot To Answer For" is a song by Duran Duran, released on the album Medazzaland by Capitol-EMI-Virgin on 14 October 1997.
About the song[]
The song was written by Simon Le Bon for his friend Michael Hutchence, which is eerily prophetic. This is a ballad that features natural sounding vocals by Le Bon.
The track was recorded in 1996, then released on Medazzaland only a month before Hutchence's death. Song lyrics include:
- "Trust you to get caught up in somebody's war; you'll come out of it all intact, I'm sure.
- Just remember what friends were put here for;
- Michael, you've got a lot to answer for, and I know that you're gonna call ... if you need me."
Duran Duran toured to support the album when Hutchence died, and Le Bon found the song too difficult to perform anymore so it was cut from the set for the remainder of the tour. However during subsequent Duran Duran tours, it was included as a tribute.
Song Development[]
Nick said "This song was inspired by [INXS frontman] Michael Hutchence. When we wrote the song "Michael, You've Got A Lot To Answer For," it was a very personal lyric that Simon wrote about friendship. He and Michael were joined at the hip for a period of a few years. I was very fond of Michael, too. We were all in the south of France together in '94, '95, when we were trying to complete the "Thank You" album. Simon wrote that song, and I thought, "What a great lyric it was," at the time, because it really is like a lovely postcard. We used to play it live when we were on the Medazzaland tour at the beginning. Then Michael passed away, and it suddenly took on this whole different meaning. What was a sweet, uplifting song suddenly became darkness to us, and it was such a terrible, sad period. And so we never played it again after that point. [I still think] it really worked well.
When we did it, Simon sung it in Warren [Cuccurullo]'s living room, where we were recording, in Battersea. It was literally just a very simple local house. There was traffic going by and airplanes going off above us. Usually, we would re-record the vocals on a better microphone and obviously with a room with better acoustics. But there was something about it that was so charming, because he was just sort of sitting in a chair, casually singing. And it captured what it should have been. And we could never, ever get it better. We tried several times. So the version that is used on the album is the first take he ever did, sitting on a couch with a cheap mic, just figuring out what he was doing. We tried literally half a dozen times to make it better and make it more perfect, but every time we made it more perfect, it didn't have the right mood for the song anymore." [1]
Other appearances[]
Albums:
- Pleasure Island
- Up Close 2001: March 2
- Breakfast With Duran Duran
- Close Up: 5
- Rare Collection of Wild Boys
Personnel[]
Duran Duran are:
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- Warren Cuccurullo - guitar
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards
With:
- Wes Wehmiller - bass guitar
- Anthony J. Resta - drums
Lyrics[]
I came over your place today In a roundabout sort of way - nothing holding me Just the company Gentle killing of the afternoon Don't ever try to be any more Michael, you've got a lot to answer for You unlocked some of the doors To my soul And I don't see you for awhile Thinking of you will make me smile - you never bother me With responsibility Misbehaving in candlelight Don't ever try to give any more Michael, you've got a lot to answer for And you got me waking up wise To the world - Trust you to get caught up in somebody's war You'll come out of it all intact, I'm sure Just remember what friends were put here for Michael, you've got a lot to answer for And I know that you're gonna call If you need me When you need me If you need me