Serious (Duran Duran song)

By the time the single was released, interest in the Liberty album had already waned. Poor promotion, including a decision not to tour in support of the album, led the single to stall at #48 in the UK charts. This was the band's worst charting single up until that point (Eleven places lower than their second-ever single, "Careless Memories" in 1981). Despite this however, the song is a favourite among fans.

[edit] Music video

The black and white video, set at a circus, was directed by the duo Big TV!, and features model Tess Daly. The video is a favourite among fans for the relaxed, natural attitude among the band members as they play their instruments, sometimes prompting each other into laughter.

A multi-angle version of the video is available on the Greatest DVD in 2004, taking advantage of the multiple angle feature available on certain DVD players.

[edit] B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

The single suffered from a lack of a remix for the a-side, as EMI opted to use a slight edit of the album version instead. To compensate, the label tried to satisfy fans' appetites with bonus material. The single's b-side, "Yo Bad Azizi", is an experimental track built around a lyric from "Is There Something I Should Know?"; "Yo bad azizi as a nuclear war", a corruption of "You're about as easy as a nuclear war" due to the way vocalist Simon Le Bon sings the line. This was reportedly prompted by a fan's letter asking Le Bon what "yo bad azizi" meant.

The bonus b-side on the 12" and CD is a remix of "All Along The Water" entitled "Water Babies". Due to pressing errors, some copies of the CD contain the actual song "All Along The Water" (instead of the remix) as the bonus b-side.

In November, "Serious" was released in the USA. As "Yo Bad Azizi" had already been used there for the b-side to the single "The Violence Of Summer", an uninspired Capitol Records decided to include two fade cuts of Liberty album tracks as a sweetener, even though Capitol had already commissioned and received some remixes of the title track.

Due to the overwhelming failure of the "Serious" single, plans for future singles were shelved. The third single in the USA was to have been the rocker "First Impression", while Europe were to have gotten the album's title track, "Liberty". EMI's decision to cancel the singles came just days before filming began on the video for "First Impression".

[edit] Covers, samples, & media references

In 2005, Dutch producer and DJ Ferry Corsten sampled this track for his single "Fire", which is credited as "Ferry Corsten featuring Simon Le Bon"

[edit] Chart positions

#6 in Japan
#48 UK Singles Chart
#1 in Italy

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 7": Parlophone DD 15 (UK)

"Serious (single version)" – 3:56
"Yo Bad Azizi" – 3:03

[edit] 12": Parlophone 12 DD 15 (UK)

"Serious (single version)" – 3:56
"Yo Bad Azizi" – 3:03
"Water Babies" – 5:35

EMI tried a couple of gimmicks with the 12" to drum up interest including gatefold sleeve (12 DDG 15) and a laser etched one-sided disc with free poster (12 DDS 15).

[edit] CD: Parlophone CD DD 15 (UK)

"Serious (single version)" – 3:56
"Yo Bad Azizi" – 3:03
"Water Babies" – 5:35

Some copies of the CD single erroneously include "All Along The Water" instead of "Water Babies" as the second b-side.

[edit] CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset

"Serious (single version)" – 3:56
"Yo Bad Azizi" – 3:03
"Water Babies" – 5:35
"All Along The Water" – 3:47

[edit] MC: Capitol 4JM-44638 (US)

"Serious (single version)" – 3:56
"Yo Bad Azizi" – 3:03
"Liberty (fade)" – 1:36
"First Impression (fade)" – 1:43

The fades are literally the first 90 seconds or so of the album cuts.

[edit] Other appearances

Apart from the single, "Serious" also appears on:

Albums:

Liberty (1990)
Greatest (1998)
Singles Box Set 1986-1995 (2005)

[edit] Personnel

Duran Duran are:

Simon Le Bon - vocals
Nick Rhodes - keyboards
John Taylor - bass guitar
Warren Cuccurullo - guitar
Sterling Campbell - drums

[edit] References

v • d • e Duran Duran

Simon Le Bon • Nick Rhodes • John Taylor • Roger Taylor

Former members	Andy Taylor • Warren Cuccurullo • Sterling Campbell

Albums	Duran Duran • Rio • Seven and the Ragged Tiger • Arena • Notorious • Big Thing • Liberty • Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) • Thank You • Medazzaland • Pop Trash • Astronaut • Red Carpet Massacre

Compilations, EPs and remixes	Carnival • Master Mixes • Decade: Greatest Hits • Greatest • Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran • Strange Behaviour • Singles Box Set 1981-1985 • Singles Box Set 1986-1995 • The Essential Collection

Singles	Planet Earth • Careless Memories • Girls on Film • My Own Way • Hungry Like the Wolf • Save a Prayer • Rio • Is There Something I Should Know? • Union of the Snake • New Moon on Monday • The Reflex • The Wild Boys • A View to a Kill • Notorious • Skin Trade • Meet El Presidente • I Don't Want Your Love • All She Wants Is • Do You Believe In Shame? • Burning the Ground • Violence of Summer • Serious • Ordinary World • Come Undone • Too Much Information • Perfect Day • White Lines • Out Of My Mind • Electric Barbarella • Someone Else Not Me • (Reach Up for the) Sunrise • What Happens Tomorrow • Nice • Falling Down

Videos	Duran Duran Video 45 • Duran Duran • Dancing On The Valentine • Sing Blue Silver • Arena (An Absurd Notion) • The Making of Arena • Three To Get Ready • Working for the Skin Trade • 6ix by 3hree • Decade: Greatest Hits • Extraordinary World • Greatest • Live From London

Related bands	Arcadia • Power Station • Neurotic Outsiders • The Devils

Other	TV Mania • Tours

Categories: 1990 singles | Duran Duran songs

Hidden category: Single articles with infobox field chart position

Serious (Duran Duran song)

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Contents

[edit] About the song