The Wild Boys (song)

"The Wild Boys"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Arena
B-side	"(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984)
Released	26 October 1984 (UK) 3 November 1984 (US)
Format	7" 12"
Recorded	July 1984, Maison Rouge Studios, London
Genre	New wave dance-rock
Length	4:14 (Single Version) 8:00 (Extended Mix)
Label	EMI Capitol
Writer(s)	Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, James Bates
Producer(s)	Duran Duran Nile Rodgers
Certification	Gold (RIAA)[1] Gold (Music Canada)[2] Gold (BVMI)[3] Silver (BPI)[4]
Duran Duran singles chronology
"The Reflex" (1984) "The Wild Boys" (1984) "A View to a Kill" (1985)
Arena track listing "Save a Prayer" (4) "The Wild Boys" (5) "The Seventh Stranger" (6) Greatest track listing "New Moon on Monday" (11) "The Wild Boys" (12) "Notorious" (13)

"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". It was recorded at the end of July 1984 at Maison Rouge studios in London.^[5]

"The Wild Boys" became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the American Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, behind "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oates and "Like a Virgin" by Madonna^[6] and also hitting #1 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart.^[7] It peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart,^[8] and also reached the top position in Germany^[9] and on the Canadian CHUM Chart.^[10]

It became the band's biggest charting single in Australia, reaching #3.^[11] The band's parent album, "Arena", was certified Double Platinum in the United States.^[12]

About the song

The idea for the song came from longtime Duran Duran video director Russell Mulcahy, who wanted to make a full-length feature film based on the surreal and sexual 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book Of The Dead by William S. Burroughs. He suggested that the band might create a modern soundtrack for the film in the same way that Queen would later provide a rock soundtrack for Mulcahy's 1986 movie Highlander. Singer Simon Le Bon began writing some lyrics based on Mulcahy's quick synopsis of the book, and the band created a harsh-sounding instrumental backdrop for them.^[13]

The single was issued with six separate collectible covers – one featuring each individual band member and one of the band collectively.

Music video

The video for "The Wild Boys" was directed by Russell Mulcahy. The cost totalled over one million British Pounds, a staggering sum for music videos at the time, as his design filled one entire end of the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and makeup effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. The choreography of dance routines was undertaken by Arlene Phillips, including intricate stunts and fire effects added to the cost. Mulcahy meant the video to be a teaser for his full-length Burroughs film, demonstrating his vision to the movie studios he was wooing, but that project was never made.

The video featured all of the band members imprisoned and in peril, wearing uncharacteristically rough and ragged outfits similar to the pieced-together clothing of the film Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. John Taylor was strapped to the roof of a car suffering a psycho-torture with pictures of his childhood and early past, Nick Rhodes was caged with a pile of computer equipment, Roger Taylor was put in a hot-air balloon that was dangling from the ceiling, leaving him high off the ground, and Andy Taylor was bound (guitar and all) to a ship's figurehead. Singer Simon Le Bon, strapped to the spinning windmill which dunked his head beneath the water with each revolution, supposedly found himself in real difficulty when the windmill stopped with his head underwater. He was given a tube to breathe through and the issue was promptly fixed, but the British tabloids had a field day exaggerating Le Bon's "near death experience". Le Bon himself has dismissed this story in more than one interview as an "urban myth", claiming nothing of the sort happened.

"The Wild Boys" was named Best British Video at the 1985 BRIT Awards.

Remixes and B-sides

The 8:00 12" "Wilder Than Wild Boys" extended mix, the only official contemporaneous remix, is actually the full length version. It continues after the album/single version's fade out with another instrumental section, then repeats the chorus to fade. This mix was also used for the full length promo video.

To promote the release of the compilation album Greatest in 1998, EMI commissioned a number of remixes, including two mixes of "The Wild Boys" that were released only on promo discs:

• "The Wild Boys [ASAP & PM Project Remix]" 3:42 appeared on a one-track promo CD in Spain
• "Wild Boys 98 [4 On Da Floor Remix]" 3:10 appeared on a one-track promo CD in Belgium

In 2004, noted remixer Paul Dakeyne produced the 7:30 "Wicked 'n Wild Dub" for DMC, the UK-based remix service.

The original single B-side, "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement (Live)", was recorded at the 5 March 1984 show at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This is the same concert where the video for "The Reflex" was filmed.

Formats and track listing

7": Parlophone. / Duran 3 United Kingdom

1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:14
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.
• Also released in sleeves featuring individual band members (DURANC 3)

12": Parlophone. / 12 Duran 3 United Kingdom

1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00
2. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08

• Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

7": Capitol Records. / B-5417 United States

1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:14
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

12": Capitol Records. / V-6817 United States

1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00
2. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08

• Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1981–1985" boxset

1. "The Wild Boys (45)" – 4:16
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (1984) – 4:08
3. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than The Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) – 8:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

Covers, samples, and media references

• Cover versions of "The Wild Boys" have been recorded by Robyn Loau/Ronin System, British boyband Phixx, the German bands Atrocity and Touch Down, the Danish metal band Mnemic and covered live by Austrian Doomsters Jack Frost.
• A sample of the phrase "Boys" (along with the "Girls" from "Girls on Film") was used as part of the "Girls! Boys!" chorus on the band's 1989 megamix single "Burning the Ground".
• The song has long been the entrance music used by mixed martial arts fighter Mirko Filipović.
• This song also appeared in the video "1986 Mets: A Year To Remember," during the segment of the Mets' "Wild Boys" (Wally Backman and Lenny Dykstra).
• Singer Eva Simons has covered an electro-pop/dance remix of the song for her album.
• The British musical comedy film Walking on Sunshine covered the song.
• The song was parodied on the Ricky Gervais comedy TV series "Derek", series 1, Episode 5
• Comedian Greg Proops uses the song to introduce news stories about wild boars on his podcast "The Smartest Man In The World." (Playing on the misheard lyrics in the chorus.)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1984) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 2 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[15] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 2 Canada (CHUM)[10] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[21] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 2 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 2 US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[24] 27 US Cash Box[7] 1 Chart (1985) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 2 France (SNEP)[26] 13 Italy (FIMI)[27] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[28] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1984) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[29] 79 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] 48 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[31] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 45 UK Singles (Official Single Charts)[34] 33 Chart (1985) Rank Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[36] 88 Germany (Official German Charts)[37] 11 Italy (FIMI)[38] 3 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[39] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 36 US Cash Box Top 100[41] 82 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[2] Gold 50,000^^ Germany (BVMI)[3] Gold 250,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[4] Silver 250,000^^ United States (RIAA)[1] Gold 500,000^^ ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Chart succession

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1984 (Germany)
• List of number-one hits of 1985 (Italy)
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1984

Other appearances

Apart from the single, "The Wild Boys" has also appeared on:

Albums:

• Arena (1984)
• Decade: Greatest Hits (1989)
• Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (US only, 1998)
• Greatest (1998)
• Strange Behaviour (1999)

Personnel

Duran Duran are:

• Simon Le Bon – vocals
• Nick Rhodes – keyboards, synthesizer
• John Taylor – bass guitar
• Roger Taylor – drums
• Andy Taylor – guitar

Also credited:

• Nile Rodgers – producer
• Nile Rodgers – remixer
• Jason Corsaro – engineer and mixer

References

1. "American single certifications – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 September 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
2. "Canadian single certifications – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Music Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
3. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Duran Duran; 'Wild Boys')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
4. "British single certifications – Duran Duran – Wild Boys". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 September 2016. Enter Wild Boys in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
5. John Taylor (16 October 2012). In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-101-59359-2. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
6. "Duran Duran – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Duran Duran. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
7. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 15, 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 September 2012). Cash Box magazine.
8. "Archive Chart: 1984-11-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
10. CHART NUMBER 1458 – Saturday, December 08, 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 November 2006). CHUM.
11. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
12. Haden-Guest, Anthony (24 February 1986). New York Magazine: "Jewel of a Nile", p. 46. New York Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
13. VH1 interview with John Taylor
14. "Ultratop.be – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
15. "Radio 2 Top 30" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9610." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Wild Boys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2 September 2016.
20. "Charts.org.nz – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
21. "Topp 20 Single uke 51, 1984 – VG-lista. Offisielle hitlister fra og med 1958" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
22. "Swedishcharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
24. "Billboard Volume 96, No. 50, December 15, 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. 15 December 1984. p. 62. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
25. "Austriancharts.at – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
26. "Lescharts.com – Duran Duran – The Wild Boys" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
27. "HitParadeItalia Indice per Interprete: D". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
28. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts D". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
29. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
30. "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1984". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
31. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9638." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
32. "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1984". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
33. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
34. 1984 in British music#Best-selling singles
35. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
36. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 October2016.
37. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1985". GfK Entertainment Charts (in German). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
38. "Hit Parade Italia - I singoli più venduti del 1985". FIMI (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2016.
39. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
40. "Volume 97 No. 52, DECEMBER 28. 1985" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. 28 December 1985. p. TA-21. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
41. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 September 2012). Cash Box magazine.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics