In 1984, Duran Duran crossed over into the dark side with a Great Song that sounds like the plot of a personal horror film: The evil side 0f your brain (represented by the snake) takes over and consumes your body.
Simon LeBon, who wrote "Union of the Snake," said he was influenced by Jim Morrison of the Doors, who explored all sorts of dark ideas in his music. He also admitted he added sexual overtones to the song.
"Union of the Snake" was released as a single in October of1983, one month ahead of the album "Seven and the Ragged Tiger," and by the time the album became available, the single was already slithering into the Top 10.
For the record, in early 1984,"Union of the Snake" reached #3 on Billboard's Hot 100, while topping the Cashbox chart...definitely making it a Great (but dark) Song of 1983-84
Fun Fact: In 2002, when Duran Duran regrouped for their first comeback tour, guitarist Andy Taylor called it "The Re-Union of the Snake." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6p5Q6_JBes
Tomorrow: Private Tina
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