"My Own Way" is the fourth

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger ...

, originally released as a single on 16 November 1981. The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of the band's previous single, "

Girls on Film "Girls on Film" is the third single by English new wave band 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 July 1981. The band personally selected th ...

", but prior to the recording and release of the band's second album ''

Rio Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

'' (which was recorded in the early months of 1982). "My Own Way" was another hit, peaking at #14 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. It peaked at #10 in Australia. Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as one of their least favourite and is rarely played live.Herald Sun (Australia) - Interview with Duran Duran (2008)
/ref> Keyboardist

Nick Rhodes Nick Rhodes (born Nicholas James Bates, 8 June 1962) is an English keyboardist and producer, best known as a founding member, keyboardist, and only continuous member of the band Duran Duran. He is also informally monikered as "The Controller ...

has expressed astonishment that "My Own Way" performed better than 1987's " Skin Trade", which ended the band's record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.

About the song

The single release of "My Own Way" has a fast tempo and "disco strings" arranged by Richard Myhill & Duran Duran. A slower version was later recorded for the ''

'' album, with slightly different lyrics. This version dispensed with the disco strings in favour of a new wave style with echoing synths and was later remixed by

David Kershenbaum David Kershenbaum is an American record producer and entrepreneur, born in Springfield, Missouri. He has worked with many artists including Duran Duran, Tracy Chapman, Joe Jackson, Laura Branigan, Bryan Adams, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Elkie Br ...

for the ''

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

'' EP, and this altered track appeared on the American re-issue of the ''Rio'' album on vinyl and cassette late in 1982. All CD pressings of ''Rio'' have used the original UK album mix. The band's dislike of "My Own Way" is evinced by the song's omission from all of Duran Duran's compilation albums. Neither 1989's ''

Decade A decade () is a period of ten years. Decades may describe any ten-year period, such as those of a person's life, or refer to specific groupings of calendar years. Usage Any period of ten years is a "decade". For example, the statement that "du ...

'' or 1998's '' Greatest'' included the track, although it came close on the latter. A promo for ''Greatest'' included both "My Own Way" and "

Careless Memories "Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981. The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at No. 37 in the UK chart ...

", but the commercial release replaced them with 1990's "

Serious Serious may refer to: * Seriousness, an attitude of gravity, solemnity, persistence, or earnestness * ''Serious'' (TV series), a BBC children's television show Albums * ''Serious'' (Luther Allison album) or the title song, 1987 * ''Serious'' ( ...

" and 1997's "

Electric Barbarella "Electric Barbarella" is the 29th single by Duran Duran, and the first official single from the album ''Medazzaland''. In 1997, the single and album were released only in the United States; "Electric Barbarella" was not issued as a single in t ...

Music video

The video for "My Own Way" was set to the fast-paced single version of the song and featured a young

Adrian Paul Adrian Paul Hewett (born 29 May 1959) is an English actor best known for the titular role of Duncan MacLeod on the television series '' Highlander: The Series''. In 1997, he founded the Peace Fund charitable organisation. Early life Paul was b ...

dressed like a

matador A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...

. It was rarely played on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...

, and was quickly overshadowed by the other more famous videos for the ''Rio'' album. Like those other videos, this one was directed by

Russell Mulcahy Russell Mulcahy ( ; born 23 June 1953) is an Australian film director. Mulcahy's work is recognisable by the use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights, neo-noir lighting, windblown drapery, and fans. He directed music videos i ...

. "My Own Way" was filmed in a studio decorated entirely in red, black and white. The band performs the song while

flamenco Flamenco (), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and ...

dancers twirl in the background, and a colourful parrot sits on the keyboards. The video was shot on 35mm film rather than video, a trend the band had started with their previous single "Girls on Film". Small snippets of this video was seen on the projection screen in the video for "

Is There Something I Should Know? "Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single by British pop band Duran Duran, released on 14 March 1983. The song was released as a stand-alone single and became the band's first UK number one record. It debuted in the number one ...

" released in 1983, and it was part of the band's 1983 video album ''

''. However, it was not included on the video compilations ''Decade'' (1989) or ''Greatest'' (1999), though it was included as a bonus track on the 2009 DVD release of ''

Live at Hammersmith '82! ''Live at Hammersmith '82!'' is a live album by the band Duran Duran. Originally recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on , it was released by EMI Records on ( in the U.S.) as a CD/DVD double pack. The set was the third of three nights at the Ha ...

B-sides

The

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

of the UK 7" was "Like an Angel". The B-side of the UK 12" was "Like an Angel" and "My Own Way (Night Version)".

Versions and remixes

* Manchester Square Demo 4:38 - recorded on 12 December 1980, this version saw official release on the expanded 2009 rerelease of the ''Rio'' album. * Single Version 3:40 - the original commercially released recording, from October 1981 * Night Versions 6:32 - the UK 12" Version. Owing to the lack of sampling technology at the time, the 7" backing track was copied and the tape physically spliced to extend it, then fresh overdubs were added. * Instrumental Version 6:32 - the Night Version, minus the vocals. Initially appearing on a UK promo 12", it was made available as a download-only supplement to the 2009 ''Rio'' re-release. * UK Album Version 4:49 - completely rerecorded during the ''Rio'' album sessions, in early 1982. * Brazilian Edit 3:42 - the UK Album Version, faded just over a minute early. It appeared on the Brazil-only ''Rio'' 7" EP. * Carnival EP/US Album Remix 4:31 - the UK Album Version, remixed by

for the US market. This version also appeared on the b-side of the UK ''Rio'' 12", labelled simply "Remix" and with a 5-second longer fade.

Formats and track listing

7": EMI / EMI 5254 United Kingdom

# "My Own Way" (Single Version) - 3:39 # "Like an Angel" - 4:41

12": EMI / 12 EMI 5254 United Kingdom

# "My Own Way" (Night Version) - 6:31 # "Like an Angel" - 4:41 # "My Own Way" (Short Version) - 3:39

CD: Part of "
Singles Box Set 1981–1985 ''Singles Box Set 1981–1985'' is a box set by English new wave band Duran Duran. Consisting of 13 CDs, it was released on 12 May 2003 by EMI and covers the era from ''Duran Duran'' (1981) to ''Arena'' (1984), as well as the non-studio album ...
" boxset

# "My Own Way" (Short Version) - 3:39 # "Like an Angel" - 4:41 # "My Own Way" (Night Version) - 6:31

CD: Part of Rio 2009 Collectors Edition (CD1)

# "My Own Way" (Carnival Remix) - 4:29

CD: Part of Rio 2009 Collectors Edition (digital download/streaming)

# "My Own Way" (Instrumental) - 6:35

Chart history

Other appearances

Apart from the single, "My Own Way" has also appeared on: Albums: *''

'' (1982) *''

'' (1982) *'' Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran'' (1998) *'' Strange Behaviour'' (1999) *''

Singles Box Set 1981–1985 ''Singles Box Set 1981–1985'' is a box set by English new wave band Duran Duran. Consisting of 13 CDs, it was released on 12 May 2003 by EMI and covers the era from ''Duran Duran'' (1981) to ''Arena'' (1984), as well as the non-studio album ...

'' (2005) Singles: *''

'' (1982) The compilation "Trash Companion #01" (2002) included "My Own Way (Version)".

Samples

In 2002, "My Own Way" was sampled by José Nunez, American music remixer and producer, for the dance song "Air Race", which became a sizeable club and airplay hit.

Personnel

Simon Le Bon Simon John Charles Le Bon (born 27 October 1958) is a British singer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the new wave band Duran Duran and its offshoot Arcadia. Le Bon has received three Ivor Novello Awards from the British ...

- vocals *

- keyboards * John Taylor - bass guitar *

Roger Taylor Roger Taylor may refer to: *Roger Taylor (Queen drummer) (born 1949), drummer for Queen *Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer) (born 1960), drummer for Duran Duran *Roger Taylor (author), author of epic fantasy Hawklan series *Roger Taylor (college pr ...

- drums * Andy Taylor - guitar Also credited: * Colin Thurston - producer and engineer * Renate - Technician * Peter Saville, Peter Saville Associates, Manchester and

Malcolm Garrett Malcolm Leslie Garrett (born 1956) is a British graphic designer, and Creative Director of Images&Co, a communications design consultancy based in London, UK. He is Ambassador for Manchester School of Art and co-founder of the annual Design M ...

, Assorted iMaGes, London - sleeve design * Arranged by (Strings) - Duran Duran and Richard Myhill

References

Versions of My Own Way on Rio

The Duran Duran Timeline: 1981
{{DEFAULTSORT:My Own Way (Song) 1981 singles Duran Duran songs Music videos directed by Russell Mulcahy Song recordings produced by Colin Thurston 1981 songs EMI Records singles Songs written by Simon Le Bon Songs written by John Taylor (bass guitarist) Songs written by Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer) Songs written by Andy Taylor (guitarist) Songs written by Nick Rhodes