Do You Believe in Shame?
"Do You Believe In Shame?" is a song by Duran Duran. Released on 10 April 1989, it was the third and final single from the Big Thing album.
"Do You Believe In Shame?" | ||||
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Single by Duran Duran | ||||
from the album Big Thing | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 10 April 1989 | |||
Recorded | Davout Studios, Paris | |||
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Duran Duran singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Do You Believe In Shame?" on YouTube |
About the song
The song was dedicated to three of the band's dead friends: record producer Alex Sadkin, artist Andy Warhol and Simon Le Bon's childhood friend David Miles. Le Bon has since said that "Shame" is the first part of a trilogy of songs written as a tribute to Miles, the other songs being "Ordinary World" and "Out of My Mind".
There was a successful legal challenge over the close resemblance of the melody of "Do You Believe In Shame?" to that of the Dale Hawkins classic "Suzie Q" (more famously covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Rolling Stones). The writing credits were changed accordingly.[1] The members of Duran Duran have always denied that they intentionally copied any other works, and that the similarity of the two songs was based on what they described as a "basic blues progression".
Single release
"Do You Believe In Shame?" was released to coincide with the band's Electric Theatre Tour which began in Newcastle on 15 April 1989. As such, the 7" triple pack issued by EMI in the UK included tour dates in the artwork.
The song's first week of release was complicated because the original CD single was discovered to have an overlong playing time that disqualified it from some of the sales charts. The CD single was recalled two days after its release, and reissued a few days later, but for several days during the song's initial promotion, the CD was unavailable in shops.
Music video
The lyrical video for "Do You Believe In Shame?" was filmed by the Chinese director Chen Kaige, who later directed acclaimed films such as Farewell My Concubine. It was set in New York City, and shows the three original members of Duran Duran in separate storylines. Nick Rhodes appears to be mourning a friend at church by attending a funeral for him/her. In the next scene, he attends an auction and bids on a snow globe which he later throws in the bin along with other mementos as part of the music video's climax. This is most probably an allusion to Andy Warhol who managed to sell his possessions after they were auctioned off after his death. John Taylor appears to be searching for faith and connection where he attends a Catholic church like Nick Rhodes does in the first scene of the music video. In the next scene of the music video, he attends a birthday party for a little girl who has a severely injured leg. While singing, Simon LeBon seems to be watching the world around him, observing people on the streets, including a little girl who drops her crutches in order to hop up a flight of stairs and a blind man who confidently crosses the street in front of oncoming traffic which takes place in the rising action of the music video.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway appears halfway through the video when the camera pans away from Simon LeBon's worldly observations.
At the end of the music video, a long line of dominoes can be seen falling in succession by forming a question mark which is akin to the single's sleeve where all of the members of Duran Duran are seen in a little room located in an apartment building of the music video.
B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
In lieu of a remix of the single track, EMI issued bonus material across a number of formats - triple 7" pack, 3" CD and limited edition numbered 10" single.
"Official Bootleg: The LSD Edit", a previously promo-only edit of Big Thing album tracks "The Edge Of America" and "Lake Shore Driving" finally had its commercial debut, "LSD" presumably an acronym for "Lake Shore Driving". The song was renamed "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" for release on the "Do You Believe In Shame?" single.
The original Daniel Abraham mix of "Drug (It's Just A State Of Mind)" also appeared on this single. John Taylor believed in this mix of "Drug" so vehemently, he has since said he almost left the band over the mishandling of the track.
Other items include an edit of Big Thing album track "Palomino" and a live version of "Notorious", recorded in Rotterdam, which was previously from the promo-only 12" EP Duran Goes Dutch.
Also included in the pack were two spoken word pieces by Le Bon, "God (London)" and "This Is How A Road Gets Made", recorded and produced by John Jones. They were used during the tour as intros to the band coming on stage. Le Bon swears in "God (London)" and hence it was released in two versions, censored and non-censored.
Formats and track listing
7": EMI. / Triple Pack United Kingdom
EMI. / DDA 12 (Simon Le Bon picture sleeve)
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:30 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
EMI. / DDB 12 (Nick Rhodes picture sleeve)
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
- "God" (London) – 1:36
- "This Is How a Road Gets Made" – 0:47
- "Palomino" (Edit) – 3:30
EMI. / DDC 12 (John Taylor picture sleeve)
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
- "Drug" (It's Just A State Of Mind) (Original Version) – 4:18 ("Daniel Abraham Mix")
10": EMI. / 10 DD 12 United Kingdom
- "Do You Believe In Shame?" – 4:23
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:30 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
- "Notorious" (Live) – 4:06 (Recorded live at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, 7 May 1987)
7": Capitol Records. / B-44337 United States
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:30 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
12": Capitol Records. / V-15456 United States
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:23
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:30 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
- "Notorious" (Live) – 4:06 (Recorded live at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, 7 May 1987)
- "Drug" (It's Just A State Of Mind) (Original Version) – 4:18 ("Daniel Abraham Mix")
3"CD: EMI. / CD DD 12 United Kingdom
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:25
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:30 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
- "Notorious" (Live) – 4:16 (Recorded live at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, 7 May 1987)
- "God" (London) – 1:40
- "This Is How a Road Gets Made" – 0:49
- Released on 3" CD like the other two Big Thing singles.
- Contains the censored version of "God" (London), bleeping the profanity.
- The same tracks also appeared on a US 3" CD C3-44337-2 (includes the uncensored "God" (London))
CD: part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" – 4:25
- "The Krush Brothers LSD Edit" – 3:32 (a.k.a. "Edge Of America" (The Krush Brothers LSD Edit)
- "God (London)" – 1:40
- "This Is How a Road Gets Made" – 0:49
- "Palomino" (Edit) – 3:30
- "Drug" (Original Version) – 4:18 ("Daniel Abraham Mix")
- "Notorious" (Live) – 4:16 (Recorded live at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, 7 May 1987)
Covers
Allison Iraheta and her band Halo Circus recorded a cover version for the 2014 compilation album Making Patterns Rhyme: A Tribute to Duran Duran.
Chart positions
Despite the collectibility of this release, it reached no higher in the charts than #30 in the UK and #72 in the US. It also reached #14 in Italy.
Other appearances
Apart from the single, "Do You Believe in Shame?" has also appeared on:
Albums:
- Big Thing (1988)
- Tequila Sunrise OST (1988)
- Singles Box Set 1986-1995 (2004)
Personnel
- Duran Duran
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards
- John Taylor - bass guitar
with:
- Warren Cuccurullo - guitar
- Sterling Campbell - drums
- Steve Ferrone - drums
- Daniel Abraham - primitive guitar
Also credited:
- Jonathan Elias - co-producer
- Daniel Abraham - co-producer and mixer