Burning The Ground
Encyclopedia
"Burning The Ground" is the 20th single by Duran Duran
, released in December 1989. It was created as a stand-alone single to promote the compilation album Decade: Greatest Hits
, but didn't appear on the album itself. However, its music video was included on the band's audiovisual compilation Greatest
, released on 1999 (VHS) and 2003 (DVD). The song is essentially a clever megamix
of Duran Duran's history, featuring tidbits of all of the band's hits of the previous ten years.
") and "Boys!" (from "The Wild Boys
"). The nonsense syllables from several songs, such as the "noh-noh" bits from "Notorious", the "bop bop bop" from "Skin Trade" and the "tana nana" and the "fle fle fle fle flex" from "The Reflex
", were also incorporated. Elements from "A View To A Kill
", "Notorious", "I Don't Want Your Love" and later singles are gradually woven into the mix. Segments of the song are marked by signature phrases taken from other songs: first, "Can you hear me now?" ("Planet Earth"); later, "I tell you, somebody's fooling around" ("The Reflex") and "The rhythm is the power" ("I Don't Want Your Love"). The title derives from a "Hungry Like the Wolf" lyric.
The song also used several sound samples
from the film Barbarella
, from which the band took their name: "Barbarella?" "Mr. President!" "Your Mission, find Durand Durand!" "Just a minute, I'll slip something on!"
The remix was created by producer John Jones
, with assistance from engineer Chris Potter
, in an upstairs room at Olympic Studios
in Barnes while Duran Duran was downstairs recording new material for the album Liberty
, to be released the following year.
and their 1987-1989 Strange Behaviour & Electric Theatre world tours. The video also used footage of burning South American rainforests, as well as the NASA
space shuttles and even some scenes of the band walking around during their recording sessions for their upcoming Liberty album. It was directed by Adrian Martin
.
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 in December 1989. It was created as a stand-alone single to promote the compilation album Decade: Greatest Hits
Decade: Greatest Hits
Decade – 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...
, but didn't appear on the album itself. However, its music video was included on the band's audiovisual compilation Greatest
Greatest (Duran Duran album)
In November 2003, the videotape compilation was released in DVD format, titled Duran Duran: Greatest — The DVD, with hidden extra materials, including alternative versions of some of the videos and interviews of the band, however, this version is much criticised for its extensive use of easter egg...
, released on 1999 (VHS) and 2003 (DVD). The song is essentially a clever megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
of Duran Duran's history, featuring tidbits of all of the band's hits of the previous ten years.
About the song
Instrumental elements of "Save A Prayer", "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Rio", "The Reflex" and "The Wild Boys", including the camera flash sound from "Girls on Film", form the core of the first part of the song, while the "chorus" is built up of alternating chants of "Girls!" (from "Girls on FilmGirls on Film
"Girls on Film" is the third single by Duran Duran, released on 13 July 1981.The single became Duran Duran's Top 10 breakthrough in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at Number 5 in August 1981...
") and "Boys!" (from "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"...
"). The nonsense syllables from several songs, such as the "noh-noh" bits from "Notorious", the "bop bop bop" from "Skin Trade" and the "tana nana" and the "fle fle fle fle flex" from "The Reflex
The Reflex
"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.-Song history:...
", were also incorporated. Elements from "A View To A Kill
A View to a Kill (song)
"A View to a Kill" is the thirteenth single by Duran Duran, released in May 1985.It was a stand-alone single, created for the James Bond movie A View to a Kill, and it remains the only James Bond theme song to have reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to #2 for 3 weeks on the UK...
", "Notorious", "I Don't Want Your Love" and later singles are gradually woven into the mix. Segments of the song are marked by signature phrases taken from other songs: first, "Can you hear me now?" ("Planet Earth"); later, "I tell you, somebody's fooling around" ("The Reflex") and "The rhythm is the power" ("I Don't Want Your Love"). The title derives from a "Hungry Like the Wolf" lyric.
The song also used several sound samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from the film Barbarella
Barbarella (film)
Barbarella is a 1968 Franco-Italian science fiction film based on Jean-Claude Forrest's French Barbarella comics. The film was directed by Roger Vadim and stars Jane Fonda, who was Vadim's wife at the time.-Plot:...
, from which the band took their name: "Barbarella?" "Mr. President!" "Your Mission, find Durand Durand!" "Just a minute, I'll slip something on!"
The remix was created by producer John Jones
John Jones (record producer)
John Idris Jones is a musician and record producer who has worked with Duran Duran and many high-profile rock and pop musicians.-Background:...
, with assistance from engineer Chris Potter
Chris Potter (producer)
Chris Potter is a British music producer and mixer, most famous for his work as long-term collaborator and producer of The Verve and Richard Ashcroft....
, in an upstairs room at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
in Barnes while Duran Duran was downstairs recording new material for the album Liberty
Liberty (album)
Liberty is the sixth studio album by Duran Duran, released on . It entered the top 10 in the UK albums chart, and garnered a #6 hit for the single "Serious" in Japan.-Recording:...
, to be released the following year.
Music video
The video for "Burning The Ground", much like the song, used snippets of many of Duran Duran's previous audiovisual work, including scenes from their 1985 concert film Arena (An Absurd Notion)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 their 1987-1989 Strange Behaviour & Electric Theatre world tours. The video also used footage of burning South American rainforests, as well as the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
space shuttles and even some scenes of the band walking around during their recording sessions for their upcoming Liberty album. It was directed by Adrian Martin
Adrian Martin
Dr. Adrian Martin is an Australian film and arts critic from Melbourne. Dr. Martin is Associate Professor, Co-Director of the Research Unit in Film Culture and Theory and Head of Film and Television Studies at Monash University...
.
B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
The b-side was another megamix, this one more instrumental in nature, called "Decadance". The song uses the "why" bits of "The Reflex", the "no, no" from "Notorious", "wild" from "The Wild Boys", the chorus from "All She Wants Is", the solo from "Save a Prayer" mixed with "Rio", and a little bit of "Skin Trade", as well as some of the suggestive screams from "Hungry Like the Wolf".12": Parlophone - 12DD 13 (UK)
- "Burning the Ground" (4:00)
- "Decadance" (3:29) [2 Risk E Remix 7"]
- "Decadance (Extended mix)" (7:57) [2 Risk E Remix 12"]
12": Capitol - V-15546 (US)
- "Burning the Ground" (4:00)
- "Decadance" (3:29) [2 Risk E Remix 7"]
- "Decadance (Extended mix)" (7:57) [2 Risk E Remix 12"]
CD: Parlophone - CDDD 13 (UK)
- "Burning the Ground" (4:00)
- "Decadance" (3:29) [2 Risk E Remix 7"]
- "Decadance (Extended mix)" (7:57) [2 Risk E Remix 12"]
Other appearances
- Greatest (1999 VHS Edition, 2003 DVD Edition)
- Singles Box Set 1986–1995 (2004)
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 - Warren CuccurulloWarren CuccurulloWarren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York is an American rock musician who worked with Frank Zappa, was a founding member of Missing Persons, and has been a long term member of Duran Duran. He also has some notoriety in the porn industry after making nude appearances in a magazine and...
- guitar - Sterling CampbellSterling CampbellSterling Campbell in New York City, New York, is an American rock drummer who has worked with numerous high-profile acts. He rose to attention in 1986, touring with Cyndi Lauper on her her True Colors World Tour, in 1986, and in 1987, joined Duran Duran...
- drums