'80s Classic of the Day: Duran Duran - My Own Way (1981)

This might just be Duran Duran's most underrated track. Released as a single at the end of 1981 as the follow-up to "Girls On Film," it reached the top 15 in the UK and the top 10 in Australia.

Single Version

Original video

The song was rerecorded at a slower tempo in 1982 for the group's second album, Rio:

US Album Version (Carnival Remix)


Of course, it couldn't be Duran Duran without the Night Version (based on the original single mix):

Night Version


Unfortunately, "My Own Way" hasn't appeared on any of the group's hits compilations. It was originally scheduled to be included on Greatest, but it and "Careless Memories" were pulled at the last minute for "Serious" and "Electric Barbarella." Anyway, give it up for "My Own Way"! This might just be my favorite DD song. Love that bass and the frenetic pace of the original.

Good song!

But my picks for DD's most underrated tracks would be one of these:

My Antarctica
I Believe/All I Need to Know
Out of My Mind
The Seventh Stranger
Secret Oktober
American Science

Yeah, I probably should've said most underrated hit single.

Shut Up!!!! I've been playing that song quite a bit the last couple of months. I definitely prefer the slower tempo version. Too bad they don't perform it live. Actually that's one of their least fave songs.

This is my fave lines:

I'm on 45 between 6th and Broadway, 45 between 6th
and Broadway 45 I'm drinking 7UP between 6th and
Broadway 7UP between 6th and Broadway, 7UP

I like it too, great song.

I think I have the Rio album on cd somewhere.

Hello... I'm Come funkateer 'Danceelectric'
from Housequake.com

I actually prefer the faster original version, but I think the slower one works better on Rio; basically, I love 'em both.

thedance, you better pull it out! Rio is one of the best albums of the '80s -- a stone cold classic through and through!

I'm trying to convince myself I don't need the recently released 2-cd special edition (since I have most of the mixes on it), but I'll probably get it anyway.

Duran has always been a favorite but they havent been able to still nail GREAT albums anymore. "rio" is a classic, but then the cracks formed, as they admit too, and then the side projects didnt help, i think they hurt them somewhat. "big thing" i still feel is an underrated record as is "pop trash", but duran is almost like Mariah, never hit with solid albums. though im always a fan and hope that the next album (if they go on) will have a guitarist back preferably Warren.