Notorious by Duran Duran Lyrics Meaning – Decoding Pop’s Defiant Anthem on Fame and Scandal
Lyrics
No-no-notorious
I can’t read about it, burns the skin from your eyes
I’ll do fine without it, here’s one you don’t compromise
Lies come hard to disguise
Let me to fight it out, not wild about it
Lay your seedy judgments, who says they’re part of our lives?
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you’re lonely, don’t monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don’t believe it
That’s why I’ll do it again
No-no-notorious
Girls will keep the secrets, so long as boys make the noise
Fools run rings to break up, something they’ll never destroy
Grand notorious slam, bam, and who really gives a damn
For a flaky bandit?
Don’t ask me to bleed about it, I need this blood to survive
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you’re lonely, don’t monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don’t believe it
That’s why I’ll do it again
No-no-notorious
Notorious
Notorious
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you’re lonely, don’t monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don’t believe it
You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you’re lonely, don’t monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify your reasons
I heard your promise but I don’t believe it
That’s why I’ll do it again
No
No-no
That’s why I’ll do it again
No-notorious
Yeah, that’s why I’ll do it again
No-no-notorious
Yeah, that’s why I’ll do it again
No-notorious
No-no-notorious (yeah, that’s why I’ll do it again)
No-notorious
No-no-notorious
Duran Duran’s ‘Notorious,’ a chart-topping hit from the mid-80s, not only cemented the band’s place in the pop pantheon but also spun a dense web of intrigue with its biting lyrics. With a funky groove and an unforgettable chorus, the song delves into themes that are as relevant today as they were when it burst onto the music scene.
The pop anthem is more than a catchy tune; it’s a scathing critique of the music industry, a spectrum of personal vendettas, and a portrayal of media sensationalism. Let’s deconstruct this infectious track and learn how it reveals much about the perils of fame, the voracious nature of the press, and the cutthroat industry it aims to lampoon.
The Catalyst Behind the Controversy of ‘Notorious’
The mid-1980s were tumultuous for Duran Duran. Amidst line-up changes and press battles, ‘Notorious’ was born as a defiant response to critics and a declaration of independence. The lyrics, ‘I can’t read about it, burns the skin from your eyes,’ reflect a keen awareness of the destructive power of the media and the fervor with which personal lives are thrust into the public spotlight.
Moreover, ‘Notorious’ epitomizes the band’s struggle to assert autonomy amidst corporate control: ‘You own the money, you control the witness.’ These lines underscore the transactional nature of the industry where wealth can distort the narrative and subjugate artists to the whims of the powerful.
A Searing Indictment of the Capitalist Machinery
The relentless repetition of ‘no-no-notorious’ serves as a mantra of resilience against an industry that breeds notoriety for profit. ‘You pay the profits to justify your reasons’ is not just an accusation but an exposition of how the mechanism of fame operates—justifying ethically dubious practices for financial gain.
Artists often become commodities in this machine, where their alleged missteps are commoditized, reducing them to the sum of their scandals as opposed to the breadth of their artistry. ‘Notorious’ rebukes this system outright, insinuating that art is more than a vessel for controversy.
The Shackles of Fame and the Liberty of Defiance
Duran Duran doesn’t merely highlight the shackles of fame; they also illustrate the liberation that comes with resistance. ‘That’s why I’ll do it again,’ is a clear articulation of choosing one’s battles and standing one’s ground, despite the systemic forces aligned against them.
This sentiment is a battle cry for creative control and the right to one’s narrative—a notion that demands respect even in the labyrinthine fabrics of the music industry where personal sovereignty can be elusive.
Reading Between the Lines: ‘Notorious’ Hidden Message Unveiled
‘Girls will keep the secrets, so long as boys make the noise.’ This clever line delves into the gendered dynamics of the music industry and hints at the unspoken agreements and underhanded dealings that often go untold. Duran Duran imparts a cryptic commentary on the unspoken and unseen aspects of fame where discretion is as much a currency as the spotlight.
The song proposes an ecosystem where secrets are kept to maintain a facade and where boisterous distraction overshadows deeper, more nefarious truths. It points to the complicity that perpetuates the cycle of scandal and silence.
The Lingering Echo of ‘Notorious’ Through the Memorable Lines
Several lines in ‘Notorious’ have become etched into the collective memory of pop culture: ‘Don’t ask me to bleed about it; I need this blood to survive.’ These words evoke the predatory nature of a public more interested in the spectacle of downfall than the nuances of humanity behind the tabloids. The notion of survival becomes a poignant refrain amidst the cacophony of media speculation and corporate manipulation.
With cheek and defiance, ‘Grand notorious slam, bam, and who really gives a damn for a flaky bandit?’ reclaims the narrative, mocking the shallowness of the scandal-obsessed crowd. Duran Duran masterfully uses their wit to dismantle the voyeuristic obsession with notoriety that pervades the star-maker machinery they find themselves ensnared in.
