Peak
2
Weeks
18
Score
3,839
Chart Year
1984
Scores & Rankings
Chart Performance
Peak Position2
Peak DateDec 15, 1984
Weeks at Peak4
Weeks Charted18
Weeks in Top 4014
Weeks in Top 108
Weeks at #24
Weeks at #10
Scoring
Summary Calc2,055
Weekly Calc1,784
Total Score3,839
Rankings
Year Ranking#31
Decade Ranking#225
Billboard Year#20
Top 5000#2,164
Details
- Album
- Arena
- Label
- Capitol Records
- Genre
- Synthpop
- Media Type
- AC
- Composer(s)
- Simon LeBon;Nick Rhodes;Andy Taylor;John Taylor;Roger Taylor
- Entered Chart
- Nov 3, 1984
- Peak Date
- Dec 15, 1984
- Released
- 22 October 1984
- Recorded
- Unknown
- Catalog #
- Capitol 5417
- B-Side
- (I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement
Music Video
The music video for "The Wild Boys" was directed by Russell Mulcahy. The cost totalled over one million pounds, a staggering sum for music videos at the time, as his design filled one entire end of the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and make-up effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. The choreography of dance routines was undertaken by Arlene Phillips, including intricate stunts and fire effects added to the cost. Mulcahy meant the video to be a teaser for his full-length Burroughs film, demonstrating his vision to the movie studios he was wooing, but that project was never made. The video featured all of the band members imprisoned and in peril, wearing uncharacteristically rough and ragged outfits similar to the pieced-together clothing of the film Mad Max 2 (1981). John Taylor was strapped to the roof of a car suffering a psycho-torture with pictures of his childhood and early past; Nick Rhodes was caged with a pile of computer equipment; Roger Taylor was put in a hot-air balloon that was dangling from the ceiling, leaving him high off the ground; Andy Taylor was bound (guitar and all) to a ship's figurehead; and Simon Le Bon was strapped to a blade of the windpump, his head dunked in water as the blade passed through the pool. "The Wild Boys" was named British Video of the Year at the 1985 Brit Awards.
Notes
"The Wild Boys" is the twelfth single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 22 October 1984 in the United Kingdom. The song was the only studio track on the band's live album Arena (1984), and was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously remixed the band's previous single "The Reflex". It was recorded at the end of July 1984 at Maison Rouge Studios in London
Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild, wild, boys, boys The wild boys are calling On their way back from the fire In August moon's surrender to A dust cloud on the rise Wild boys fallen far from glory Reckless and so hungered On the razors edge you trail Because there's murder by the roadside In a sore afraid new world They tried to break us Looks like they'll try again Wild boys (wild boys) never lose it Wild boys (wild boys) never chose this way Wild boys (wild boys) never close your eyes Wild boys always shine You got sirens for a welcome There's bloodstain for your pain And your telephone been ringing While you're dancing in the rain Wild boys wonder where is glory Where is all you angels Now the figureheads of have fell And lovers war with arrows Over secrets they could tell They tried to tame you looks like they'll try again Wild boys (wild boys) never lose it Wild boys (wild boys) never chose this way Wild boys (wild boys) never close your eyes Wild boys always shine Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys Wild boys (wild boys) never lose it Wild boys (wild boys) never chose this way Wild boys (wild boys) never close your eyes Wild boys always Wild boys (wild boys) never lose it Wild boys (wild boys) never chose this way Wild boys (wild boys) never close your eyes Wild boys always Wild boys (wild boys) never lose it Wild boys (wild boys) never chose this way Wild boys (wild boys) never close your eyes Wild boys always Wild boys
Chart History (18 weeks)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 3, 1984 | 38 | 88 |
| 2 | Nov 10, 1984 | 28 | 98 |
| 3 | Nov 17, 1984 | 19 | 107 |
| 4 | Nov 24, 1984 | 12 | 114 |
| 5 | Dec 1, 1984 | 7 | 119 |
| 6 | Dec 8, 1984 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Dec 15, 1984 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Dec 22, 1984 | 2 | 124 |
| 9 | Dec 29, 1984 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | Jan 5, 1985 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Jan 12, 1985 | 3 | 123 |
| 12 | Jan 19, 1985 | 7 | 119 |
| 13 | Jan 26, 1985 | 15 | 111 |
| 14 | Feb 2, 1985 | 29 | 97 |
| 15 | Feb 9, 1985 | 59 | 67 |
| 16 | Feb 16, 1985 | 75 | 51 |
| 17 | Feb 23, 1985 | 86 | 40 |
| 18 | Mar 2, 1985 | 94 | 32 |