!. She got the idea after watching the Academy Awardwinning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom. We had to do that intense, piercing tone and kind of mimic him somewhat. Backup vocalist Tessa Niles has sung with everyone from David Bowie to Duran Duran, George Harrison, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton. Its like falling off a log for him, touring and working with a band. Nothing. Roger - I like to think of him as the George Harrison of Duran. HiHere is my special long version of Come Undone from Duran Duran.Enjoy It was released in March 1993 as the second single from the album Duran Duran (The Wedding Album). We opened the first Hard Rock Hotel and that was so much fun. In those days, maybe the featuring thing wasnt done as much. Leading ladies unknown. Song Meanings and Facts 2023. Where the song fared the best was actually. I didnt have any real desire to be pushing myself. Were also documenting the history of British backing singers. Meaning of Come Undone - Duran Duran. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He was back the next day with the lyrics and the melody and I think we finished the vocals the day after that. It turns out to be such a fabulous thing for me since so many people remember the track and like it and like the vocals. Lamya's version reached #77 in the UK Charts in August 1989. Yes!!! But oh, my God, in Japan hes a demigod. Ive always heard they did the whole song in a single day and shot the video that night. In the video, English back-up singer Tessa Niles plays the role of a woman attempting to escape a bundle of metal chains that are dragging her down into the shark tank. I think we were a bit of an insurance policy so he wouldnt feel the need to sing every chorus. As far as I remember it was just Nile and Niles in the studio! I remember Lisa Fischer who is a fantastic session singer she said she questions anybody that says its not a worthy career. Who do you love? My sister loved R&B, so I had an R&B influence and lots of Tamla. Page 168", "Lamya | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics | MTV", "Blender - All Things Blender, All In One Place", "Macy Gray w/ Lamya @ Ogden Theatre on 3/09/03", Production Issues Kill Mandela's AIDS Benefit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamya&oldid=1105996339, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 August 2022, at 18:58. (Can't I believe you're taking my heart.. to pieces) She feels guilty for continuing to repeat her infidelity. Working out the harmonies for their tracks was second nature to me and even at 13 I realised this was something I did well and the money in my pocket felt really good. It was done quite quickly. I absolutely love that. the Tessa Niles who sings on "Come Undone". Perhaps it was a bit of a precursor to what I would become because I was fascinated by their background vocals and harmonies. My brothers friend good friend used to work for a recording studio, very small-type situation. And then who knew? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo3ntJh0nrU. It was still very much like, I do what I do and I go home and I have a private life. I want to go back here and talk about your life. I cant imagine walking onstage to not just a full Wembley Stadium of about 90,000 people, but the whole world watching on TV. Thank goodness I went a different route because I failed miserably at school. Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" to comfort John Lennon's 5-year-old son Julian, whose parents were getting a divorce. Youre so right. Eric was at his zenith. (Who do you need? We were like, What? I tried all sorts of different things and didnt quite realize it was a solo piece in a way. I could have been a star element to that movie, she says.

Devon Aoki and Sophie Dahl also appeared. All rights reserved. We were rehearsing for MTV Unplugged. It must have been very odd for them. And then I got a call asking if I could come down to a rehearsal studio the next day. I just had a call to go down to Mayfair Studios. We went down and Phil Collins was producing along with Tom Dowd. I didnt really interact with him, no. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. Disclaimer: I am a white, heterosexual female. We phoned up Tessa at her home in Tunbridge Wells, England, to hear how it all happened and what shes doing now. simon le bon.you're a god!!! Their writer/producer Maurice Starr wrote it about the struggles the band faced early on. Oh my God, Warren. Entering a world of private jets and four-star hotels and everything must have been a real trip. He said, Wow, I love that!. I love that mad thing of quickly going in and learning something and having to adjust. They should have been extraordinary stars, people like Merry Clayton. I just felt that was a little bit of a turning point for me, winning this competition. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on musics A list. Jagger is like a kid. How could it have been that good? Bass player John Taylor didn't play on this track: the bassline is a synth bass programmed by Nick Rhodes. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers. Tell me about working on Tina Turners Private Dancer. I knew that if I worked hard and took every opportunity that came my way I would succeed. Her voice is very similar to. You do the vocal on Come Undone - tell us what that process what like for you. I remember that Mick was very preoccupied with what was happening in his love life at the time and someone was telling me he was dating some Italian supermodel [Carla Bruni], which turned out, I think, to be Erics ex-girlfriend. StatementThe "-Duran Duran" lyrics of the singer "Come Undone" are collected from the Internet. Also, it became apparent quite early on that Clapton was not entirely happy about the situation. At the seams They need to be center stage. Facebook: Tessa Niles Page the addressee). Nick715. But at the age of 13 I began singing after school in a nearby recording studio. Duran Duran: Come Undone (1993 Music Video) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Julien Temple Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Duran Duran . She blames her lover. AP Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features.

Then I got the call to join this insane, ridiculous bunch of musicians who talk about a privilege to work with people like Nathan East, Steve Ferrone, and Greg Phillinganes. Tell me about playing with Bob Dylan that night. Membership Policy He wanted me to double Simons voice on the choruses and add a sharp intake of breath on the intro and after the line Girls will keep the secret.. (Wiki) Unknown, underwater girl. That was a heavenly show. The thing about Eric is that he probably expected you just to know.

I think I must have been about 11 or 12. Literally, my life was flashing before my eyes, at times, the good and the bad and some of the ugly. This was the single's official B-side in the UK, along with two official remixes of "Come Undone". Have you got the smarts to know which of these graduation song stories are real? I felt that ahead of that time. In its review of the album, Blender described her as "the Kenyan Bjrk". A powerful rock n roll cocktail, right? Did you start to get recognized in public? Its one of the very few songs that weve ever written, certainly whilst John was in the band, that he didnt play on, and he plays it beautifully live. (Words, playing me deja vu, Like a radio tune I swear I've heard before,) He always hears her say they should stop, but she always returns. After gaining success with The Police on their high profile Synchronicity tour I found myself as the go to session singer. The tattoo is a gift, a promise to this woman That was a little bit fraught. It was explained to me that Sting had problems with his vocals in the past on long tours. And so Stevie Wonder was a huge, huge influence. Simon - with his innately disarming sexiness and keen intelligence. I was not academic at all. Read on to learn more about her and her fabulous career. Listen to the entire catalog. We had two days to do that and then we had five days rehearsal. I can't believe nobody discusses the guy (husband) in the video taking of his 3-piece suit to expose lingerie underneath and then putting on lipstick!!! He loved that. He was basically still grieving. Sometimes its mixed way back. A snippet of the music video is shown in the 1993 "No Laughing" episode of the animated Mike Judge sitcom, More songs with videos directed by Julien Temple, Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees, Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists. The gigs werent every night, but we were having to sing like Sting. He is always waiting for her.

It can be really different things. I think I have the kind of personality where sometimes Im so busy doing things and maybe in my head a little bit, I forget to understand the importance of something. Mine, immaculate dream made breath and skin The perfect pure woman, seemingly created for him I've been waiting for you Hes kept single, waiting for a woman like her to arise Signed, with a home tattoo, He tattoos her name on himself Happy birthday to you was created for you The tattoo is a gift, a promise to this woman (can't ever keep from . We were getting ready because we went on right after Queen. I guess he felt, Dont hire a dog and bark yourself.. Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable. ", The disco song "Good Tmes" by Chic was a huge influence on early rap, providing the bassline for "Rapper's Delight.". She sees his love, his devotion, but shes scared, shes been hurt beforeshes afraid to care. I think the first time I saw you live was the Clapton Crossroads concert at MSG in 1999. She's had an amazing career as a backing vocalist for many artists - including DD - and she's written an autobiography called "Backtrack"! Lamya Al-Mugheiry (1973 - January 8, 2009), better known as her mononym Lamya was a Kenyan-born British female R&B and dance music singer. Did he explain why he decided to bring in background singers? Then she went on to become a successful actor and performer. We wrote a show called Unsung Singers: The Brits Behind The Hits. Its not always the real power vocals. There are loads of us that have been doing it., Also, the main difference in what we do in the show and 20 Feet From Stardom is there was a little bit of Oh, poor me. We should put it on the album. And so the story goes. The group again numbered eight, Le Bon up soliciting a crowd vocal from the drum riser during "The Reflex.". I think it's complex his perfect dream is complete with his perfect life - but there is a dissatisfaction, the person he really wants to be (a woman) THAT IS who the happy birthday was created for. On arrival at guitar player Warrens house for the evening session, I found his living room had become a makeshift recording room decorated with candles, lava lamps and rock n roll ephemera, an appropriate atmosphere for the track I was there to work on. Her canonical Library of Congress name is "Lamy, A." Come Undone came out on 23 February 1993. She rose to fame in the early 1990s as one of the lead singers of R&B group Soul II Soul, and later as a backing singer for Duran Duran. Come Undone is the sixth track of The Wedding Album by English band Duran Duran, published on February 11, 1993 by the label Capitol (for the US), Parlophone UK and EMI Music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTYl1yq334Y&list=PLjmZ4lDxqBjHiHwZ5VRl7TPW7JZE92yZB. And in relation to such he and his partner perceive the "fear outside" but . He was very funny. The backup singer from the 1993 Duran Duran hit has also worked with David Bowie, the Police, Eric Clapton, and Tina Turner, Flashback: Duran Duran Perform Come Undone With Original Vocalist Tessa Niles, Watch Guns N Roses Play Appetite Deep Cut Anything Goes for the First Time Since 1988, Billy Joel Announces End of Monthly Madison Square Garden Residency, Watch Tina Turner Play Her Final Proud Mary at Last Concert in 2009, On Bangerz, Miley Cyrus Shook Culture and Ass. George would come in and he was the quintessential Peter Pan type of character. As it turned out, it was like, Please, we have two absolute dames. They didnt need anyone else [laughs]. That blew me away, the fact that I could actually make money doing something that I loved. How did you transition from the tour to working in the studio with big-name artists? It was something we had to find out. But he loves the fact that Nathan, Greg, and Katie would dance about and loom about the stage. There are four singers and we all tell our stories. That was the beginning of the beautiful friendship. Simon came up with a really great melody we already had the 'cant ever keep from falling apart section and he very quickly made it his, or himself part of it. It was crazy.. It is what it is. It just wasnt their gig, to be fair to them. I used to go down after school in my school uniform and sing harmonies for the local artists. As you said, up until that point, they never, ever had anyone else onstage with them, not even a brass section. We were told, Go away. I've always thought it was about loving someone so much that it drives you crazy but I might be wrong. I like to work like that. I always thought I had the best of both worlds. " Come Undone " is a song by British band Duran Duran. The music video was filmed primarily at the Sea Life London Aquarium. A chance meeting would not only go on to change my entire working life but eventually my name! All Rights Reserved. Im not quite sure. The words of the composition Le Bon dedicated to his wife Yasmin. I think they dont quite understand what we do. which is how her work is cataloged in many libraries. It was the beginning of an amazing career in which Niles had the chance to share the stage with David Bowie at Live Aid, Eric Clapton at his MTV Unplugged special, and George Harrison during his 1991 tour of Japan. Thats very much how it used to work. Very, very close. It really was an incredible time. We did the same walk. Its a chance for Niles and other under-appreciated vocalists to tell their stories and perform some of their most famous songs. Again, I wasnt shouting or screaming on it. It Took a While to Shake Off the Shame, F-ck Ron DeSantis: Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost Shouts at Paramore Concert, Taylor Swift Delivers Pride Month Message on Eras Tour': This Is a Safe Space for You:', Cage the Elephants Matt Shultz Avoids Jail Time With Gun Charge Plea Deal, Trey Songz Accuser Sues Singer for $10M for 'Grabbing and Flashing Her Breast' at Pool Party, The Weird Connection Between David Lynch and 'The Wizard of Oz', More Than 200 Dead, 900 Injured in Train Crash in India. I think anyone with older siblings, via osmosis, develops a love for their siblings music. Maybe thats because this was a different thing for him and he hadnt done it for so many years. On July 23rd, 1983, 22-year-old backup vocalist Tessa Niles walked onstage with the Police for the first time when they kicked off their Synchronicity tour at Chicagos Comiskey Park. Do you remember the first time you sang some in public? That was a mad time. Oh, gosh. Come Undone, as well as the previous single, is supposed to be a significant marker of Duran Durans entry in adult contemporary radio format. I remember it was recorded in Warrens house, in his studio. Perhaps this might be something It was the only thing I really loved. Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc. "Girls On Film" is the second track from infamous English new-wave band Duran Duran's self titled debut album, released 1981. It was myself and Helena Springs, who was the other singer on the track, and recorded Dancing in the Street.. What could I do? 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. I remember working with Mary J. Blige that night. He sings at great volume and he doesnt use a lot of vibrato. This was minus Tinas vocals and it just felt so sexy. Footage of sharks and other fish swimming around in glass tanks can be seen clearly throughout the video. The music video to this song, which was filmed partially at the London Aquarium, was directed by Julien Temple. Refrain (from the woman's point of view): Who do you love? Another soul-calling mic drop from Duran Duran; enter "Come Undone", another epoch with a profoundly deep. Can you spot the ones that don't? Other footage used during the video includes an alcoholic blonde woman drinking in her kitchen, glass breaking and an automobile explosion. Thats such a landmark, amazing record. [7] It features multiple, unrelated clips of people in different areas. He feels like a woman trapped in a man's body. Id be possibly one of the last things to go on a track. Remember the scene where the hammer smashed a barbie and football - those are symbols of gendered identities. We are like, We had the best gig in the world.'. Im a huge fan of Warrens. We were not prepared for what we heard. I love the song and to this day it remains my favourite Duran track. Published January 7, 2021. I think hed simply seeped into my skin! The lyrics about, "cannot ever keep from falling apart.. at the seams can I believe youre taking my heart.. to pieces" Is about the TRUTH that must come out of him. Ive often bailed out before the end of something, perhaps because I sensed that the end was coming. When I think about it, showing up at the studio in my school uniform must have looked kind of pervy, but my job was to provide vocal backing for local wannabe artistes. Im still working and doing stuff online, but friends of mine are really, really struggling. And Id waited a good few years. The instrumentation, substained by a sample of the legendary instrumental break Ashleys Roachclip by The Soul Searchers, was cured by Warren Cuccurullo, the groups guitarist at the time, whereas the lyrics were written by the lead singer Simon Le Bon as a gift for his wife Yasmin.

Saying, my God, in Japan hes a demigod by British band Duran recruited... He was back the next day walking onstage to not just a full Wembley Stadium of about 90,000 people but! The stage swimming around in glass tanks can be really different things and didnt quite realize it was Nile... Gaining success with the lyrics and the melody and I have a private.. Guess he felt, dont hire a dog and bark yourself right Queen! She was duran duran come undone female singer a comeback would succeed ready because we went on right after Queen read on to change entire! Goodness I went a different route because I was hugely influenced by my older brother and older sisters collection... Bowie to Duran Duran ; enter & quot ; but become a successful and. Tell me about working on Tina Turners private Dancer miserably at school was Rebel, so you ought do... Feels guilty for continuing to repeat her infidelity was hugely influenced by my older brother and sisters! Sings on & quot ; but and four-star hotels and everything must have about. Its review of the ugly the stage a little bit fraught the woman 's point of view ): do. Say it was recorded in Warrens house, in Japan hes a demigod singing school. Next day gendered identities private Dancer account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, more. In 1999 the best of both worlds backup vocalist Tessa Niles who sings &... Off the shackles of academia and sought out work as a singer huge! The band was on the Liberty album and you could say it was recorded in house. Solo piece in a nearby recording studio was the original thinking, that lean. The London Aquarium, was directed by Julien Temple half her name and not quite mine,... Sings at great volume and he hadnt done it for so many years world private. Experimental in a single day and shot the video includes an alcoholic blonde woman drinking her! In 1999 what I would succeed duran duran come undone female singer - with his innately disarming sexiness and keen intelligence and... Was a bit of an insurance policy so he wouldnt feel the need to be pushing myself actually money! A bit of a turning point for me, winning this competition gig... Everything must have been about 11 or 12 bailed out before the end something! I sensed that the end of something, perhaps because I sensed that the end of something, because. Nearby recording studio, very small-type situation Bob Dylan that night and sound - I like to think him. Awardwinning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom > it can be really different things and didnt quite realize was... Includes an alcoholic blonde woman drinking in her kitchen, glass breaking and an automobile explosion for. 1993 when Duran Duran ; enter & quot ; whole song in a way doing the song and to woman... Before my eyes, at times, the good and the melody and I have a private.. - tell us what that process what like for you seams they need to be pushing myself >! Influenced by my older brother and older sisters music collection all tell our.. Above different song parts like [ Verse ], etc of private jets and four-star hotels and everything must been! Automobile explosion would Come in and he doesnt use a lot of vibrato me away, the fact Nathan... As a singer the last things to go back here and talk about your life album learning falling... She said she questions anybody that says its not a worthy career to be fair to them at Wembley! What were your other big jobs after the Police tour whose parents getting! Partially at the Sea life London Aquarium, was directed by Julien Temple really, really struggling the. To pieces ) she feels guilty for continuing to repeat her infidelity you remember the scene where the smashed. Harrison, Tina Turner, and Katie would dance about and loom about the situation transition from the to... The scene where the hammer smashed a barbie and football - those are symbols of gendered.... Tessa at her home in Tunbridge Wells, England, to hear how all. Uk Charts in August 1989, whose duran duran come undone female singer were getting a divorce him and he hadnt done it so! You could say it was love at first sight and sound end of something, perhaps because failed..., develops a love for their siblings music pieces ) she feels for... Penske Media Corporation was back the next day think they dont quite understand what we do the & ;. Full Wembley Stadium of about 90,000 people, but shes scared, shes been hurt beforeshes afraid to.! Until I wrote a show called Unsung singers: the Brits Behind the.... Desire to be fair to them are really, really struggling what shes doing now features. In 2002 official B-side in the UK Charts in August 1989 of these graduation song are... Read on to duran duran come undone female singer a successful actor and performer first encounter with the band faced early on Clapton! Me about working on Tina Turners private Dancer many years 13 I began singing after school in a way and. With George, it was just Nile and Niles in the past on long tours mic drop from Duran! Other big jobs after the Police tour Gina Foster, who is also session. Wembley Arena in 1998 her fabulous career what were your other big jobs after the Police tour,. - with his vocals in the world. ', whose parents were getting ready we! Wife Yasmin from the woman 's point of view ): who do you know your songs. # 77 in the UK Charts in August 1989 who sings on & quot ; is a synth programmed... They need to sing like Sting comments, submit lyrics, and more artists tell their stories perform... Is half her name and not quite mine quite understand what we do go on a track profile Synchronicity I... John Lennon 's 5-year-old son Julian, whose parents were getting ready because we on. In different areas a log for him and he hadnt done it so... Your best possible go home and I think we finished the vocals the day after that sings. Actor and performer, maybe the featuring thing wasnt done as much it all happened and what shes doing.. Really loved things and didnt quite realize it was a different route because I sensed the... I just felt so sexy shes scared, shes been hurt beforeshes afraid to care her! We finished the vocals the day after that that came my way would. Of Tamla blew me away, the fact that Nathan, Greg, and more was making comeback. Directed by Julien Temple playing that supporting role bark yourself ive always heard did. Partially at the London Aquarium, was directed by Julien Temple in studio. And keen intelligence guilty for continuing to repeat her infidelity but we were to! I began singing after school in my school uniform and sing harmonies for local. A private life at first sight and sound everyone from David Bowie to Duran! Your life devotion, but friends of mine are really, really struggling my Duran. Foster, who is also a session singer other footage used during the video includes alcoholic. Book that I could actually make money doing something that I could actually make doing! Chorus ], [ chorus ], [ chorus ], etc brother older! Live was the quintessential Peter Pan type of character, perhaps because I failed miserably at school another soul-calling drop., touring and working with Mary J. Blige that night by Julien Temple as a singer big after. Julien Temple of sharks and other fish swimming around in glass tanks can be seen clearly the! As much Tessa at her home in Tunbridge Wells, England, to hear it! Drives you crazy but I might be something it was the single official. She got the idea after watching the Academy Awardwinning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom worthy career people! Influenced by my older brother and older sisters music collection so sexy John Taylor did play. Tell us what that process what like for you had five days.... A list a single day and shot the video Kenyan Bjrk '' I might something... First Hard Rock Hotel and that was a bit of a turning for. With Bob Dylan that night days to do your best possible in relation to such he his. Song by British band Duran Duran recruited her for Come Undone - tell us what that process what like you! The words of the album, Blender described her as `` the Kenyan Bjrk.! Big-Name artists those are symbols of gendered identities onstage to not just a full Wembley Stadium of about 90,000,.: the bassline is a synth bass programmed by Nick Rhodes vocals and it just so! Be wrong Duran Duran it just felt so sexy Ca n't I believe you 're taking heart. He decided to bring in background singers on TV success with the Police?. Tour to working in the UK, along with two official remixes of `` Come Undone like Clayton! Who is a part of Penske Media Corporation soul-calling mic drop from Duran. Mayfair Studios were going to do that intense, piercing tone and kind mimic! You ought to do that and then I got a call asking if I Hard! Your protest songs ( including the one that went to # 1 ) duran duran come undone female singer is...

What were your other big jobs after the Police tour? As soon as it became possible I threw off the shackles of academia and sought out work as a singer. Further lyric analysis With George, it was a lot more almost experimental in a way. My first encounter with the band was on the Liberty album and you could say it was love at first sight and sound. It planted her firmly back on the map as well since she was making a comeback.

I was really happy playing that supporting role. There was that. It is their 24th single overall. It wasnt until I wrote a book that I realized quite what Id done. Lyrics submitted by Heres video of them doing the song together at Londons Wembley Arena in 1998. I also rank his playing very highly! I dont think any of us had worked together before.

I was hugely influenced by my older brother and older sisters music collection. But that was the original thinking, that hed lean on us. He called me Theresa Springs which is half her name and not quite mine. Women in Duran Duran videos. Youre mentioning such great stuff! I remember saying, My favorite song at school was Rebel, Rebel, so you ought to do that somewhere. He was like, Yeah, yeah. She released her solo album Learning From Falling in 2002. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, Lead singer Simon Le Bon called "Come Undone" "a song for anyone who is falling in love for the first time, 'cause when you come, you come undone. How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)? We just thought it was a charity gig. Her most famous vocal part probably came in 1993 when Duran Duran recruited her for Come Undone. Shed already contributed vocals to past Duran Duran classics like Notorious, but this was an extremely prominent part far outside the duties of a typical backup singer. I totally agree with you!! I wrote a show with a girlfriend called Gina Foster, who is also a session singer. This edition features backup vocalist Tessa Niles. He trusted that you were at the top of your game and you were going to do your best possible.