More Joy

Album: Future Past (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This idiosyncratic disco-pop song with a Japanese flavor originated in a jam session between Duran Duran, Blur's Graham Coxon, and London-basedDJ/producer Erol Alkan. Simon Le Bon improvised quirky lyrics centered on the chant of "more joy." Duran Duran's keyboardist, Nick Rhodes, said:

    "It was such an unusual piece we weren't quite sure if it would fit in at first. It reminded me of one of those retro Japanese video games, which I always found quite uplifting. We came up with the chant "more joy" early on, and that became the key to the rest of the track."
  • Rhodes recommended adding some Japanese female voices to give it a J-pop flavor. Le Bon suggested that Chai, an all-girl punk band from Nagoya, Japan, would bring some energy and sense of fun to the track.

    LeBon told NME Chai laid down their vocals in Tokyo as the Duran Duran singer gave them direction via a live link. "What they've added is a sizzling youthfulness that us geezers who have been in Duran Duran for 40-odd years need a bit more of," he said.
  • Duran Duran released "More Joy" as the second single from Future Past. The band are longtime admirers of Japanese artist Daisuke Yokota so they hired him to create the front cover of the album. Rhodes first met Yokota when he was in Japan making a documentary on postwar photography.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.