Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers at BST Hyde Park 10th July 2022

Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers bring BST Hyde Park 2022 to a glorious close with  feelgood hit packed sets

Words: Kahmel Farahani

Photos: Aggie Anthimidou Photography

After two weeks of impressive shows that have included everyone from The Eagles and The Rolling Stones to two back to back Pearl Jam performances, BST Hyde Park 2022 comes to its final day with the very biggest and best of the 80s being represented. It happens to coincide with that rarest of British summer time events, an actual hot and sunny day.

Nile Rodgers wastes no time getting the immense crowd dancing, running through a medley of Chic hits like Everybody Dance and I Want Your Love before delving into his considerable back catalogue of number 1 hits for other artists.

 

 

Whether its Sister Sledge’s We Are Family or Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out/Upside Down, the sheer volume of hit records that Rodgers pulls off with ease is simply stunning. Rodgers goes onto tell the story of his helping out a hungry young singer called Madonna before playing a medley of Like A Virgin/Material Girl.

 

Rodgers goes onto tell the audience about his collaberation with French Electronic duo Daft Punk and their smash hit Get Lucky before playing Bowie’s Let’s Dance. Rodgers ends a superb set with Le Freak and a medley that includes Good Times and Rapper’s Delight. If there is a textbook example of what a feelgood, hit packed festival pleasing set looks like, then we’ve just witnessed it.

 

Following the 40th anniversary of their debut album and a guest spot at The Queen’s jubilee concert, Duran Duran have been riding high recently. Their recent album Future Past was met with the best reviews they’ve had in years and now they are set to close this year’s BST festival before a crowd that stretches as far as the eye can see. Duran Duran walk on to a massive roar and, still looking unbelievably trim and stylish, launch into Wild Boys. Frontman Simon Le Bon still sounds on fine form while Keyboardist Nick Rhodes and the rhythm section of John and Roger Taylor look and play as truly ageless icons. The band is rounded out by more than able session man Dom Brown on guitar.

Striking a perfect balance between old and new, Duran Duran dip into their latest album with tracks like the upbeat All Of You and Invisible to the much loved classics like A View To A Kill and Union Of The Snake. An honorary member of Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers is invited back onstage to play Notorious and Pressure Off with the band. Its a marvellous treat for the fans and it’s followed stark and beautiful Come Undone. As with all the BST shows we’ve witnessed, the sound and mix coming out of the speakers tonight is truly superb and its worth noting especially when compared to many other big, open air gigs.

It’s a testament to their ability and skill as songwriters that so many of Duran Duran’s biggest songs have transcended genre and simply passed into the very fabric of popular music. Hungry Like The Wolf is a perfect example, and its greeted by a perfectly massive sing along by the crowd. The spacey, apocalyptic ballad Ordinary World is dedicated to peace and the people of Ukraine. The big dance hits The Reflex and Girls On Film end the main set and, with the sun finally set over Hyde Park, the band return for their encore.

All phone lights and lighters are held aloft as Duran Duran begin Save A Prayer. The sing along is immense the feeling of listening to something truly special fills the warm summer air. “There’s only one song left we can play right?” asks a grinning Simon Le Bon. The drum roll starts of Rio and, with the iconic album art on the big screens behind them, Lebon, Taylor and Brown walk the runway and lead the crowd in one last, massive sing along. Its the perfect ending to a wonderful day of music and, indeed, a fabulous series of concerts in Hyde Park.

For More info and details of BST Hyde Park, see their official website below.

https://www.bst-hydepark.com/