Although Rio was released way back in 1982, by this time Duran Duran was all over the radio and I think they would go on to be the musical guest of SNL. What a fun talk that was with my classmates at Strake Jesuit, in short, liking them made you, what they would say in 1983…”a fag.” Uh oh, I think a Millenial’s avocado toast just went rotten. I endured because a classmate loaned me the album earlier and I really liked what I heard beyond the hits too.
Imagine what the facial reactions would be to the 40-year younger versions of those high schoolers found out when Duran Duran got inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame? I think they’d run to their Walkmen’s and start playing Pink Floyd’s The Wall at full blast, thinking it was a cure.
I also chose the album artwork for its lasting impact. Its simplicity via Nagel is what sells the image. Very few colors and lines. May be why I’m also a fan of Kevin Maguire’s art in Justice League, both capture so much expression with so little! The smiling woman conveys the playfulness of muse from the title track. It’s sad Nagel died pretty early (1984), he didn’t live long enough to see his style become one of the shorthands for “This is the 1980s!” in movies, Sitcoms or time travel.
Lastly, I though Rio was a good marker to usher the 40th anniversary of 1983 which was a rather eventful year in my life. It was filled with numerous moments of joy and sadness yet what helluva’ soundtrack…we’re all subjected to via Oldies Stations, my profuse apologies younger people. Why is it a favorite year though? I would have to say the latter half is the explanation; I feel I had discarded some emotional baggage from Springfield and with the right people, I found the upside to living in Houston.