I think that words combined with music can have a profound effect on us, and in this series I want to showcase some songs that I think really hit the mark. Taste in music is subjective, of course, but I'll be picking songs that I think have the magic combination of words and music. Songs that really stand apart. The music may be the hook but the right lyrics with the music can be an amazing experience.
This time around I'm looking at Duran Duran- and about all I can say is- I'm not sure their lyrics mean anything? And I don't mean that in a bad way- I think they're a great example that lyrics don't have to tell a story in the conventional sense. Sometimes the combination of lyrics and music just work. Hungry Like The Wolf seems to fit that theme. I mean I'm assuming this is a song about attraction or lust, that seems kinda obvious, and yet some of the lyrics are a little... baffling? And I find this true of a lot of DD songs. Still... pretty killer music.
I especially like the beginning, with the woman's laughter seguing right into the song.
Lyrics
Dark in the city night is a wire
Steam in the subway earth is afire
Woman you want me give me a sign
And catch my breathing even closer behind
In touch with the ground
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Smell like I sound I'm lost in a crowd
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Straddle the line in discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive with juices like wine
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Stalked in the forest too close to hide
High blood drumming on your skin it's so tight
You feel my heat I'm just a moment behind
In touch with the ground
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I howl and I whine I'm after you
Mouth is alive all running inside
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Hungry like the wolf
Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
I smell like I sound
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive juices like wine
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive
Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
I smell like I sound
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive juices like wine
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive
I love the song but I think this is the first time I've ever paid much attention to the actual lyrics. I like the overall mix of city imagery vs. the idea of being out in the forest on the hunt, but some of the individual lines have me scratching my head, lol.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Their lyrics are head scratchers at times, haha, even if there are hints of whatever they're singing about. :)
DeleteI will sing along to this any time it's on the radio, but yeah, I've never thought too much about the words, it just seemed like random sentences!
ReplyDeleteI think they were a band that didn't worry too much about the lyrics telling a straightforward narrative, rather it was all about wedding some lyrics t some killer music- and it works?
DeleteYay! I really do need to listen to music more. I always forget how inspiring and fun it is (weird I know!) until I start making time to play it again. Sounds weird but most days I just have the radio on in the car and I tend to tune it out (I blame being a mom LOL!).
ReplyDeleteWell, I think you're like most of us! I know I have some favorite songs that I was looking at for this, and it was amazing to me how little I knew the lyrics!
DeleteAhhh, Duran Duran. I absolutely love their song "Come Undone." I think you nailed this one. I always thought it was just about primal lust. But the music and beat was so good that it really overshadowed the lyrics IMO. I can't wait to see what song you feature next week. Did you manage to listen to any Billie Eilish?
ReplyDeleteThey have an awesome beat so many of their songs! And I think you'll like next week's. Oh I did google Billie Eilish- wow she has some soul going on in her stuff? The beat for Bad Guy got me right out of the gate and then the song itself was pretty awesome also. :)
DeleteI love Bad Guy and I'm assuming you're doing Prince of Stevie Nicks...guess I'll have to wait and see :)
DeleteAwesome pick this week. Love it as it brought back memories from high school. Still have no idea what this song is about. My girlfriends and I did not care what any Duran Duran song was about just had good dance beats for us to dance and act crazy around the house. Of course were in love with John Taylor and Simon Le Bon. My all time favorite that is still til this day is Wild Boys.
ReplyDeleteHaha right? The lyrics didn't really matter. And Duran Duran were ON.
DeleteWild Boys is great :)
It's funny how sometimes you listen to a song for the sound, and other times you listen for the words!
ReplyDeleteExactly. I've been discovering through this feature how sometimes I think I know a song, but lyrically it's almost new to me!
DeleteOh I remember DD and the early days of MTV! They were one of the first bands to really use the medium to tell a story and use visuals like that.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah...nothing makes sense. And that's ok. lol
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I'm curious as to what influenced them for this song. I've do enjoy the imagery and poetry in the song.
ReplyDeleteThat's a blast from the past.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! I totally remember the Duran Duran craze in the 80s. I think I was in 8th grade, when I first heard this song, which was a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about the lyrics to this until playing Rock Band. The "smell like I sound" bit kinda makes me scratch my head, lol, but over 30 years later, this is still such a catchy song!
ReplyDeleteWELL now this song is going to be stuck in my head until the end of time hahah. I mean, to me, it sounds like this dude is comparing seeking a female partner to... well, a wolf stalking its prey? And tbh with "game" like that, it's no wonder he's still looking 😂
ReplyDeleteOmg I love Duran Duran so much!!! Yes the lyrics are weird. Before the internet my best friend and I used to lie on my bed and try to transcribe all the lyrics of our favorite songs We’d have these epic debates as to what the lyrics actually were.
ReplyDeleteI've never paid attention to the lyrics in this song but reading them now it sounds more creepy than I ever anticipated it being :)
ReplyDeleteI was a big Duran Duran fan at school and this is one of my favourite songs of theirs. I don't personally bother if the lyrics make sense or not though!
ReplyDeleteDuran Duran... that's my youth Greg!!! Thanks for making me young again LOL
ReplyDeleteI sitll listen to DD and this one is a favorite from when I was a kid. Great pick.
ReplyDeleteMary