Who sang this demo? Was is Andy Taylor, or was it Simon Le Bon? This wasn't gonna be a video, however, after all that Pro Tools fun I though it would be a shame not to share. Enjoy!
It's definitely Simon on vocals. If you listen to the lyric, "...makes you feel lonely", which is repeated at least twice in this version and compare it to the album version they're practically the same intonation.
Funny, after the first two lyrics I was convinced it was Simon. The style of singing, intonation and when he gets higher at “lonely” no doubt. Although it’s nice to see and hear some different opinions, wish Andy still had a leading role in DD. Thx for posting.
@@zumazmusic very cool video!!! Speaking of WMO… I actually recorded a cover of it a few years ago. Would love your thoughts… czcams.com/video/OPG5OnjRccQ/video.htmlsi=0HUxF6gP3vLnPyvb
I never understood why anyone ever thought this was Andy on vocals. This has bothered me since this demo surfaced. It was a bad recording (low quality, wrong pitch), so it didn't sound exactly like Simon, but a little audio clean up and its definitely Simon. Also... Andy barely wanted to be in the Notorious recording sessions... why would he record a lead vocal of Simon's lyrics??? He didn't. Simon all the way.
@@ddmixer Hopefully people will stop referring to it as an Andy Taylor demo. 🤞 It would be great if a higher quality version surfaced OR if we could ask Simon about this!
I really had to pay attention to this demo. So as I was listening and comparing the voices. It was spot on Simon. As I was listening to the demo I had Andy's voice and the song harvest for the world playing in my head. It was definitely the LeBon. @zumamusic where have you been? Nice of you to join us. 😅🤣😂
I personally don't see that there could be any debate here. It has Simon trademarks all over it. But, this is a very cool instalmenty, Zuma. (As usual.) And I have to say that I really like this song! It has lots of cool parts in it. Thank you so much for bringing this one to my attention! (Sounds liks Pepper is a voter for Simon, too. LOL.)
This is definitely Simon singing. Andy did play some guitar on the Notorious album as part of the "divorce settlement" (as John put it in his book) when he first left the band.
Hey... thanks for this video. I can see how this can be taken for Andy's vocals, but I agree, this voice of Simon's us consistent with the other demos of the time. I will admit, I was taken by this and thought at first that it could be Andy.
It's difficult to be objective when the prevailing story (and demo title) has been presented as "Andy Taylor Demo" for so long. Hopefully one day, one of the guys or someone on the DD team sets this one 100% straight. 🤞
I had remembered this demo when I used the Strauss MP3 app to download songs on my cell phone, I was collecting them to put on the memory card. When I clicked to listen before downloading the wrong audio lol. The first one was the original from the album, the second one I suspected when I heard it on some platform. And it's true, this guitar sound is Andy's and the voice is Simon Le Bon's. When I saw the demo on CZcams, the audio was so altered that it seemed like it was Andy singing, but it's Simon the whole time on vocals. It was because of the speed that I could recognize it.
Memories, right?! We're not sure if Andy is actually playing guitar. It could be Gerry Laffy. In any case, I hope a better quality versions surfaces one day. This one was hard to work with. It sounded like a bad cassette bounce.
I am gonna say Simon 100% on vocals, and Warren on guitar as Warren was playing with them at this time, Andy had left the band in '85 and Notorious album was out in '87
The whole thing sounded like Simon to me. Andy has different inflections, and, when he sings the word "lonely," that is 100% Simon. He does that same type of rise from the beginning to end of the word in about half their songs. It's not really a rise,. it's the way he opens and closes his mouth / throat. He pinches the word off a bit at the end. I'm not doing a great job of explaining it.But if you listen to that word and how it's sung, it's as trait of Simon's that's ion a lot of their catalog, and also in "Goodbye is Forever" in Arcadia. He does it a lot in that song.
A few seconds in I could tell it's Simon. Nobody sounds like him. It's interesting to hear it at this tempo. I kind of like it, but I kind of don't. It's odd. Not bad, but not that good. They're off beat at least once that I caught. Drove my musician ears nuts for a second there. LOL
Totally! Yeah, they're kinda still learning it and jammin' around. When they come back in to the verses, after doing that riff, it almost sounds like they're playing in odd time. It was REAL tricky to count my piano in.
Loving all the new videos, Zuma! It's definitely Simon singing throughout and those are definitely Simon's lyrics, the style of which was kind of new for him then but definitely typical of later albums. It's not unusual for a singer to be finessing the lyrics on demos to the point it stills feels half-baked, but this one is very different. It's almost as if you can feel an animosity there. Andy's playing in his usual Duran style and brisk tempo that doesn't jive with Simon's performance, which is very much like the final recording. On this demo, it's like they're singing two completely different songs with Andy galloping at a quick pace like he just wants to get out of there and Simon being dragged along unwillingly. Sad, really.
@@raeconnelly Well hello there! Long time! ... I forgot to mention that the guitar playing is also in question. The Duran wiki says it's Gerry Laffy playing on this demo. 🤷♂️🤪
@zumazmusic, I hope you're doing well. I always try and keep up with your videos. No one can touch your bass covers. Thanks for pointing out that it might not actually be Andy on guitar, particularly as it's not really all that great (ahem). In any case, it's clear that Simon had different ideas for the song's style & tempo.
@@zumazmusic, I've no idea where they live, but after our wedding I found out that the huz and I were married in the same registry office as Simon and Yasmin who's from Oxford! ;)
Def Simon's voice. This demo is such a great example of when Duran lost when Andy left. The resulting album track doesn't have any energy or edge - it sounds like elevator music compared to this..
This certainly could have been split off into another song entirely, but maybe it wouldn't have fit the vibe of the album either way. Thanks for commenting!
@@borgopirano Just to be clear, I added the piano. It's not in the original demo. I did that to illustrate how tricky the rhythm was when coming back into those sections. 🤪
Great stuff. I think it's Simon. Definitely sounds like how he tries to figure out vocal direction on demos. By the way, I reference your "Too Shy" bass lesson ALL THE TIME. It's so good. Featured it on my show, tell people in real life, etc. Amazing job.
@@christopherfranktv Thank you! I'm flattered! In a nutshell, I started this channel long ago to give back. I came close to "making it" in a band. Since that didn't materialize, I figured I may as well share my experiences. 😊🍻
If you're familiar with the Thunder album, it's easy to see that it's Andy at the mics, as well as the fuzz on the guitar. At the time of the demo Simon was lost at sea aboard the Drum
don't know how there could be any doubt here, that's simon. a question for you. among my 8 basses are a kubicki and an aria sb1000... mine is red like yours. it is a 1994... i find it odd that the light is on no matter where the toggle switch is set, up or down. is yours this way?
@@zumazmusic do you have a favorite setting for the switch? i have toggle up (on) and i like the middle few, i stay away from the far end positions, and i turn the switch off for slap. I think the middle two positions on the selector switch are the most like Duran, I'm curious where he set his!
@@tomowens7499 I tend to use the "brightest" position, the one that doesn't sound very different from the passive setting. On occasion I will use the next one down, but not very often though. I'm gonna do a Human League song soon, specifically to showcase one of the fatter settings. Stay tuned!
@@zumazmusic i find it hard to believe that 'off' position is passive! It doesn't seem any less present than the others! Not like the few passive selectors on the kubicki which are far different... If you have a few minutes, check out the only video I've ever uploaded, playing the kubicki and inventing a bass part for Duran's 'last night in the city' which strangely had no bass on the record, so i tried to write a part that hopefully sounded like John! Let me know what you think, I've seen a ton of your stuff and i think it's safe to say you and i have very similar influences... (love nick beggs' parts!)
A die hard Duranie since 1981 can tell it's Simon lebon Voice 🎉🎉
@@ronfarney6477 I think we're 99.9% consensus on this one fellow Duranie. 😺👌
You are correct.
@@astropioneer3296 Thank you for watching and commenting!
Simon has a very distinct way he pronounces words, I can tell it's him.
It's definitely Simon on vocals. If you listen to the lyric, "...makes you feel lonely", which is repeated at least twice in this version and compare it to the album version they're practically the same intonation.
@@bijou2 Yes, and I'd be really surprised if Simon used Andy's lyric!
Funny, after the first two lyrics I was convinced it was Simon. The style of singing, intonation and when he gets higher at “lonely” no doubt. Although it’s nice to see and hear some different opinions, wish Andy still had a leading role in DD. Thx for posting.
@@YTDS69 Agreed. Wouldn't it be awesome to hear Andy's current thoughts on this? 😬🎸
'A matter of feeling" and the haunting 'Winter marches on" are my fave album tracks from the 'Notorious" album.
@@alexioverdo5225 Yes, they are both great ballads. I have an idea for Winter Matches On since I've always thought it was keyboard bass. 🤔😺
@@zumazmusic very cool video!!! Speaking of WMO… I actually recorded a cover of it a few years ago. Would love your thoughts…
czcams.com/video/OPG5OnjRccQ/video.htmlsi=0HUxF6gP3vLnPyvb
Listening to the mix....I definitely hear its Simon.....and agree that it sounds like Andy on guitar
I never understood why anyone ever thought this was Andy on vocals. This has bothered me since this demo surfaced. It was a bad recording (low quality, wrong pitch), so it didn't sound exactly like Simon, but a little audio clean up and its definitely Simon. Also... Andy barely wanted to be in the Notorious recording sessions... why would he record a lead vocal of Simon's lyrics??? He didn't. Simon all the way.
@@ddmixer Hopefully people will stop referring to it as an Andy Taylor demo. 🤞 It would be great if a higher quality version surfaced OR if we could ask Simon about this!
Yeah, this is totally Simon
I really had to pay attention to this demo. So as I was listening and comparing the voices. It was spot on Simon. As I was listening to the demo I had Andy's voice and the song harvest for the world playing in my head. It was definitely the LeBon. @zumamusic where have you been? Nice of you to join us. 😅🤣😂
@@russellromero4583 I was looking for The Grail. Unfortunately, Merlin was just messin' with me. Cheeky Bastard. 😹🗡️🧙🪄
@@russellromero4583 czcams.com/video/xxnos0pPClo/video.html
That is definitely Andy on the guitars. He has such a unique style of his own playing guitar.
@@luxorestatemedia5164 I wish I could drop Andy a line and just ask him. 🤷♂️😬
How do you know that? to my knowledge, Andy has nothing to do with the Notorious Album and didn't want to be in it.
@@rannyz Andy played on a few songs on Notorious.
I personally don't see that there could be any debate here. It has Simon trademarks all over it. But, this is a very cool instalmenty, Zuma. (As usual.) And I have to say that I really like this song! It has lots of cool parts in it. Thank you so much for bringing this one to my attention! (Sounds liks Pepper is a voter for Simon, too. LOL.)
I see you speak DOG. "Shut up already! It's Simon...blah, blah, blah. Bring the leash human!" - Pepper
This is definitely Simon singing. Andy did play some guitar on the Notorious album as part of the "divorce settlement" (as John put it in his book) when he first left the band.
@@nancymartinez7074 I could have sworn my cassette copy of Notorious listed which tracks Andy played on. Or... It could have been a dream. 🤔😴
Hey... thanks for this video. I can see how this can be taken for Andy's vocals, but I agree, this voice of Simon's us consistent with the other demos of the time. I will admit, I was taken by this and thought at first that it could be Andy.
It's difficult to be objective when the prevailing story (and demo title) has been presented as "Andy Taylor Demo" for so long. Hopefully one day, one of the guys or someone on the DD team sets this one 100% straight. 🤞
The other mystery being, is that Andy Taylor or Gerry Laffy on guitar?!
@@zumazmusic My gut tells me it's Andy on guitar, but I could be totally wrong.
I had remembered this demo when I used the Strauss MP3 app to download songs on my cell phone, I was collecting them to put on the memory card. When I clicked to listen before downloading the wrong audio lol. The first one was the original from the album, the second one I suspected when I heard it on some platform. And it's true, this guitar sound is Andy's and the voice is Simon Le Bon's. When I saw the demo on CZcams, the audio was so altered that it seemed like it was Andy singing, but it's Simon the whole time on vocals. It was because of the speed that I could recognize it.
Memories, right?! We're not sure if Andy is actually playing guitar. It could be Gerry Laffy. In any case, I hope a better quality versions surfaces one day. This one was hard to work with. It sounded like a bad cassette bounce.
@@zumazmusic yes, lol. I have to agree with you on that.
I am gonna say Simon 100% on vocals, and Warren on guitar as Warren was playing with them at this time, Andy had left the band in '85 and Notorious album was out in '87
Notorious album 1986.
The whole thing sounded like Simon to me. Andy has different inflections, and, when he sings the word "lonely," that is 100% Simon. He does that same type of rise from the beginning to end of the word in about half their songs. It's not really a rise,. it's the way he opens and closes his mouth / throat. He pinches the word off a bit at the end. I'm not doing a great job of explaining it.But if you listen to that word and how it's sung, it's as trait of Simon's that's ion a lot of their catalog, and also in "Goodbye is Forever" in Arcadia. He does it a lot in that song.
@@wolf762x51 Hey man! Nice to see ya around. 😊
Definitely Andy, no doubt.
No. I love Andy's singing voice, but this is definitely Simon.
They will never be the same without Andy
That's a good thing. One reason Duran Duran has continued beyond the 80's and well into the 2020's is because they adapt their style
They're better without him. Just
@@pckempz never
@@k1productions87 not good Andy not with them , how he was treated was disgusting….read his book
@@KittyCatFurbabiesMaria1972 Naturally his own book would color things in his favor. They have different stores of their own, as well.
def Simon. he's just singing at a lower register than he did on the final version
Maybe they BOTH sang it….. but sounds like Andy as I’ve heard him live
@@KittyCatFurbabiesMaria1972 Anything is possible! As I mentioned in the video, I initially thought Andy sang the first two verses and Simon the end.
@@zumazmusic that’s what it sounds like to me , Andy first two verses then Simon the end
@@KittyCatFurbabiesMaria1972 😺👍
Andy Taylor on guitar 🎸
Its clearly simon, if you listen to other demos around this time you can hear simon singing singing in the same way
Andy Taylor on vocals, before leaving...
Much love! ❤
@@woksrandomchannel Yo Jack! 😬🤘
@@zumazmusic hey hey I am getting into music theory kind of excited
@@woksrandomchannel I'm well versed in these matters. Welcome to the madness.
Definitely Simon.
John's funky bass lines as usual though.
@@ihazdashcam Oh yes! There are some particularly tasty licks at the end.
It sounds like Simon
@@sonsofmedusa You are vote #1! Thank you for stopping by. 😎🤘
@@zumazmusic I can see why Andy left the project. It was way too funky for his taste.
@@sonsofmedusa It's obvious that Andy wanted, a more rock and fast version of that song, and definitely Simon is on vocals....
Simon. No doubt for me.
@@zanhedralite118 Your screen name tells me you would like my To the Shore video ☺️🎶 czcams.com/video/OOuqTXqOJ8w/video.html
A few seconds in I could tell it's Simon. Nobody sounds like him. It's interesting to hear it at this tempo. I kind of like it, but I kind of don't. It's odd. Not bad, but not that good. They're off beat at least once that I caught. Drove my musician ears nuts for a second there. LOL
Totally! Yeah, they're kinda still learning it and jammin' around. When they come back in to the verses, after doing that riff, it almost sounds like they're playing in odd time. It was REAL tricky to count my piano in.
Great surprise
@@lparaujo2012 Olá meu amigo 🎶
Definitely Andy on guitar, but the vocals sound like Simon workshopping lyrics/performance
@@spawnmc4401 Thanks spawn. 👍🎶
For what it's worth, that Duran wiki I was referring to in the video says it's actually Gerry Laffy on guitar. 🤷♂️🤪
@@zumazmusic the performance sure captures Andy’s gtr energy!
This is now known as the Zuma demo 🤘🏽
Does that mean I'm gonna be gettin' some mailbox money now?
Loving all the new videos, Zuma! It's definitely Simon singing throughout and those are definitely Simon's lyrics, the style of which was kind of new for him then but definitely typical of later albums. It's not unusual for a singer to be finessing the lyrics on demos to the point it stills feels half-baked, but this one is very different. It's almost as if you can feel an animosity there. Andy's playing in his usual Duran style and brisk tempo that doesn't jive with Simon's performance, which is very much like the final recording. On this demo, it's like they're singing two completely different songs with Andy galloping at a quick pace like he just wants to get out of there and Simon being dragged along unwillingly. Sad, really.
@@raeconnelly Well hello there! Long time! ... I forgot to mention that the guitar playing is also in question. The Duran wiki says it's Gerry Laffy playing on this demo. 🤷♂️🤪
@zumazmusic, I hope you're doing well. I always try and keep up with your videos. No one can touch your bass covers. Thanks for pointing out that it might not actually be Andy on guitar, particularly as it's not really all that great (ahem). In any case, it's clear that Simon had different ideas for the song's style & tempo.
@@raeconnelly Thank you! I'm doing well. Hope you (and Mr. B) are too. 😊🎶 ... So are you gonna visit Simon and confirm all of this? You're closer. 😛😬
@@zumazmusic, I've no idea where they live, but after our wedding I found out that the huz and I were married in the same registry office as Simon and Yasmin who's from Oxford! ;)
@@raeconnelly You two are so rock n roll 😎🤘
Def Simon's voice. This demo is such a great example of when Duran lost when Andy left. The resulting album track doesn't have any energy or edge - it sounds like elevator music compared to this..
This certainly could have been split off into another song entirely, but maybe it wouldn't have fit the vibe of the album either way. Thanks for commenting!
@@zumazmusic Yes, def sounded like their first album - like Late Bar or Friends of Mine kind of vibe.
@@anthonygilbreath4275 Yes! I gotta do Late Bar soon! Thanks for the reminder.
A Very Andy’s angry guitar, but of course is Simon on vocals…The thing that make me laugh are The piano notes …silly in this version😂
@@borgopirano Just to be clear, I added the piano. It's not in the original demo. I did that to illustrate how tricky the rhythm was when coming back into those sections. 🤪
@@zumazmusic ahhhh ok ok 😅
@@borgopirano Thank you for commenting! 😎👍
@@zumazmusic thank YOU😁…I've been following you since your first videos...😉
La versione rock a me piace moltissimo, da una bella carica al brano . Da cambiare in certi passaggi alcune cose
Sì, era sicuramente ancora in una fase di transizione. Grazie per il commento!
Its Simon
Vocals: Simon
@@spincycle1970 Thanks for joining the discussion. 😎👍
It sounds like Andy imitating Simon.
Nope. That's Simon singing.
Andy sounds American when he sings
That's Simon. I can tell by the way he pronounces the words.
Great stuff. I think it's Simon. Definitely sounds like how he tries to figure out vocal direction on demos.
By the way, I reference your "Too Shy" bass lesson ALL THE TIME. It's so good. Featured it on my show, tell people in real life, etc. Amazing job.
@@christopherfranktv Thank you! I'm flattered! In a nutshell, I started this channel long ago to give back. I came close to "making it" in a band. Since that didn't materialize, I figured I may as well share my experiences. 😊🍻
@@zumazmusic Nice. Great content. Did you used to post on the old message boards (Lizard King, Mark UK)?
@@christopherfranktv I've posted on a couple of those boards, can't remember which! It's been a while.
If you're familiar with the Thunder album, it's easy to see that it's Andy at the mics, as well as the fuzz on the guitar. At the time of the demo Simon was lost at sea aboard the Drum
@@davidesechi1559 I am definitely familiar with Thunder. Thunder and Life Goes On are my favorites.
don't know how there could be any doubt here, that's simon.
a question for you. among my 8 basses are a kubicki and an aria sb1000... mine is red like yours. it is a 1994... i find it odd that the light is on no matter where the toggle switch is set, up or down. is yours this way?
@@tomowens7499 Congrats on your bass collection! Yes, the light is always on in the 80s and beyond circuit. It's just Aria being Aria! 🤪
@@zumazmusic do you have a favorite setting for the switch? i have toggle up (on) and i like the middle few, i stay away from the far end positions, and i turn the switch off for slap. I think the middle two positions on the selector switch are the most like Duran, I'm curious where he set his!
@@tomowens7499 I tend to use the "brightest" position, the one that doesn't sound very different from the passive setting. On occasion I will use the next one down, but not very often though. I'm gonna do a Human League song soon, specifically to showcase one of the fatter settings. Stay tuned!
@@zumazmusic i find it hard to believe that 'off' position is passive! It doesn't seem any less present than the others! Not like the few passive selectors on the kubicki which are far different...
If you have a few minutes, check out the only video I've ever uploaded, playing the kubicki and inventing a bass part for Duran's 'last night in the city' which strangely had no bass on the record, so i tried to write a part that hopefully sounded like John! Let me know what you think, I've seen a ton of your stuff and i think it's safe to say you and i have very similar influences... (love nick beggs' parts!)
@@tomowens7499 Nice! I'm checking out your vid soon. I'll comment over there. 😎🤘
You cracked the code.🤨
I hope so! In any case, sparking up a DD discussion is always a good thing in my book.
It's totally Simon lebon Voice Andy Taylor can't sing he's totally brilliant awesome amazing guitar 🎸🎸🎸 player no body can beat Simon lebon 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for the Simon vote!
You cdnt be so wrong. Andy is a VERY good singer. He taught John how to sing and had recorded several albums.
I actually don't think it's either one. I think it's Andy playing music from another artist to give them a boost in their career.
Ma Andy non fa testo! Simon per tutta la vita è lui il ❤ dei Duran!
È Andy al 100%...Non È Simon che canta si sente chiaramente..