The 2 Cover Songs at Duran Duran’s Tampa Concert
Whenever I get my hands on a setlist for an upcoming concert, the first thing I look for is what cover songs will be done. Saturday night when Duran Duran played to a sold out crowd at Amalie Arena [PHOTOS], they included two covers. One was predictable. The other one had me chuckling.
I had completely forgotten Duran Duran recorded and released as a single their cover of “White Lines (Don’t Do It).” The 1983 classic by Melle Mel speaks to the dangers of cocaine addiction. The bassline is unforgettable. Many (including yours truly) think it’s a Grandmaster Flash song. It’s not. In fact there was a breakup and Grandmaster Flash had already stopped touring with Mel when it was released. There were even lawsuits over the song. It did really well in the U.K. but had limited success here in the U.S.
Duran Duran is of course from the U.K. Simon LeBon called the song “a milestone in hip hop music.” Their cover in 1995 featured background vocals BOTH Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash. Check out this rare footage from the 90s when everyone got together on stage at Wembley Arena in England.
At first, I thought the other cover song Duran Duran performed Saturday night at Amalie Arena was MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This.” I chuckled and the odd choice. I figured maybe they were paying tribute to Steven Stamkos from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Simon did after all throw on a Bolts jersey at the end of the show. But it wasn’t Hammertime. Once Simon LeBon started busting out the lyrics “She’s a very freaky girl…” I chuckled.
Duran Duran did a fun rendition of Rick James’ “Super Freak” after “Lonely In Your Nightmare.” Didn’t even think of how well the two songs blend together.
Front Row Photos: Duran Duran at Amalie Arena in Tampa
