"Goodbye Is Forever" by Arcadia

Song#:  2608
Date:  02/01/1986
Debut:  64
Peak:  33
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Synthpop, New Wave



Pop Bits:  The Duran Duran offshoot band led by Simon Le Bon was able to score a #6 hit with "Election Day," the first single from their one and only album So Red the Rose. To follow it up, this next track was selected for single release. It was unable to replicate the success of the first hit and ended up stalled just shy of the Pop Top 30. It would be the band's final single to hit the chart. The band never toured and besides supplying the song "Say the Word" to the soundtrack of the 1986 comedy film Playing for Keeps, they didn't do any further recordings. After their side project was over, Le Bon and Nick Rhodes went back to their Duran Duran day job while drummer Roger Taylor would step away from Duran Duran and basically retire. He'd officially rejoin the band in 2001.

ReduxReview:  Arcadia was basically an experiment from three Duran Duran members just wanting to do something different, therefore the album was not going to be chock full of marketable singles and it certainly showed. "Election Day" was really the only radio-ready track on the album. There were a couple of interesting tracks on the LP, but nothing that was going to top the charts including this mid-tempo tune. It feels too slow, is a bit clunky and it casts a dour shadow. Those descriptors are ones you don't want to have when trying for a Pop hit.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  The cover for So Red the Rose was created by fashion illustrator and photographer Tony Viramontes. For the cover, Viramontes drew an image of performer/model Violeta Sanchez. He also did portraits of the Arcadia band members for the inside album sleeve. Viramontes would design several album covers including ones for Janet Jackson (Control) and The Motels (Shock). His works were seen in various magazines and newspapers including Vogue. Unfortunately, Viramontes passed away at the age of 31 in 1988. His death was AIDS-related.

_________________________________________________________________________________