Duran Duran – “Skin Trade”:
Funk, Falsetto, and the Price of Fame
Let’s dive into Duran Duran’s “Skin Trade,” a seriously bold move from a band that was clearly in the middle of a big transformation in 1987. By this point, they’d moved past their early ’80s teen idol days and were deep into reinvention. Their album Notorious saw them embrace a much sleeker, funkier sound, and “Skin Trade” – the album’s second single – was perhaps the best example of that shift. It was a daring artistic statement that definitely challenged what people expected from them and, well, it divided some fans.
A Big Step Away from Their Roots
“Skin Trade” was a dramatic departure from the band’s familiar synth-pop sound. Produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers, this track leaned heavily into R&B and funk. It featured a super prominent horn section from The Borneo Horns and a slinky groove that owed way more to Prince than it did to the New Romantic scene. And get this: Simon Le Bon sang a good chunk of the song in a falsetto, a stylistic choice he said was inspired by both Prince and Mick Jagger’s “Emotional Rescue.”
The lyrics, co-written by Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor, delivered a sharp critique of exploitation and commodification in the entertainment industry. That chorus – “In exploitation’s name / We must be working for the skin trade” – was a pretty clear-eyed look at fame, image, and the real cost of success.
Controversy and How it Landed
Despite getting a lot of love from critics, “Skin Trade” became one of Duran Duran’s first big commercial disappointments. It only peaked at No. 22 in the UK and No. 39 in the US. It did fare a bit better in some parts of Europe, hitting No. 9 in Belgium and No. 10 in Italy. Plus, the single’s original cover, which featured a stylized nude image, ended up being banned in several countries, which certainly added to its notoriety and likely impacted its sales.
Still, critics mostly applauded the band’s evolution. Smash Hits famously called it “seriously funky,” while AllMusic praised its “soul-searching” lyrics and atmospheric production. Over time, it’s really grown in appreciation and is now seen as one of the band’s most mature and musically adventurous tracks.
Visuals and Lasting Impact
The music video, directed by Peter Kagan and Paula Greif, used cool rotoscope animation to create a vivid, surreal look. Supermodel Tatjana Patitz appeared in the video, her image layered over abstract backgrounds – a visual echo of the song’s themes of objectification and allure.
Even if it wasn’t a chart-topper, “Skin Trade” left a definite mark. The band even named their publishing company Skin Trade Music Ltd. after it, and the phrase “Strange Behaviour” – pulled directly from the song’s lyrics – became the title of their 1987 tour and a remix EP. The track has since shown up on compilations like Decade and Greatest, and remains a fan favorite for its sheer boldness and lyrical depth.
“Skin Trade” might not have been a traditional hit, but it was a crucial turning point – a moment when Duran Duran chose artistry over sticking to a formula, and in doing so, really carved out a powerful new chapter in their legacy.