Talking to Girls About Duran Duran

One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut

De: Rob Sheffield

Narrado por: Scott Sheppard

The author of the national bestseller Love is a Mix Tape returns, with a different-but equally personal and equally universal- pin on music as memory."No rock critic-living or dead, American or otherwise-has ever written about pop music with the evocative, hyperpoetic perfectitude of Rob Sheffield."So said Chuck Klosterman about Love is a Mix Tape, Sheffield's paean to a lost love via its soundtrack. Now, in Talking to Girls About Duran Duran, Sheffield shares the soundtrack to his eighties adolescence.When he turned 13 in 1980, Rob Sheffield had a lot to learn about women, love, music and himself, and in Talking to Girls About Duran Duran we get a glimpse into his transformation from pasty, geeky "hermit boy" into a young man with his first girlfriend, his first apartment, and a sense of the world. These were the years of MTV and John Hughes movies; the era of big dreams and bigger shoulder pads; and, like any all-American boy, this one was searching for true love and maybe a cooler haircut. It all here: Inept flirtations. Dumb crushes. Deplorable fashion choices. Members Only jackets. Girls, every last one of whom seems to be madly in love with the bassist of Duran Duran.Sheffield's coming-of-age story is one that we all know, with a playlist that any child of the eighties or anyone who just loves music will sing along with. These songs-and Sheffield's writing-will remind readers of that first kiss, that first car, and the moments that shaped their lives.

Reseñas de la Crítica

A handful of rock writers can explain what they think about music, and lots of rock writers can explain what they feel about music. What makes Rob Sheffield different is that he understands how those feelings are generated. He can turn those abstract emotions into concrete thoughts. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the smartest guy in the room is also the funniest guy in the room...and the nicest guy...and the tallest guy...and the most vocal Chaka Khan fan. Read Talking to Girls About Duran Duran and enter that room."—Chuck Klosterman, New York Times bestselling author of But What If We're Wrong? and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs

"Sheffield goes deep into the '80s, into his own adolescent heart. Sheffield uses music the way some people use scripture-to elucidate and sanctify the mysteries of life. He raises teen angst into high art that is funny, charming, and profoundly pleasurable."—Darcey Steinke, author of Easter Everywhere

"A funny and insightful critic... After happily wallowing in this nostalgic journey, haul out your Go-Gos tunes, and you'll soon feel the same."—Miami Herald

"A lighthearted coming of age story about a music-addicted teen growing up in '80s Boston, driving an ice cream truck and gobbling up all things new wave. We all have songs that serve as emotional and biographical touchstones, but Sheffield has a gift for writing about such songs and bands in a way that brings his past to vivid life."—Dallas Morning News

"Readers who were teens during the Eighties will love Sheffield's anecdotes, insights, and odd pop-culture trivia and will find themselves humming the tunes as they read. Those who don't remember this time period will be looking up the bands to find out more. An endearing coming-of-age story, perfect for music lovers and all who feel nostalgic for the music and moments that shaped their lives."—Library Journal

"Sheffield is back with the same encyclopedic knowledge of pop music and touching, resonant prose in Talking to Girls About Duran Duran...incredible, almost stream-of-consciousness commentary on 1980s music."—Bookpage

"Much like the '80s, this book is chock-full of pure, guilty-pleasure cheese ... [but] Sheffield's writing is deeply introspective and thoughtful, not just entertaining."—Philadelphia City Paper

get out of my head! (how'd you do that?)

Rob and I seem to have lived the same adolescent life, half a continent apart and under completely different circumstances. it's truly uncanny how well I related to his memoir; very cleverly constructed against a backdrop of all those hits most of us are unable to admit we loved (and still love). If you are a post baby boomer, you'll get this book- so get it. get it?

Music and Memoir: Who Could Ask for Anything More?

This audio book is a terrific blend-- part memoir, part music history.

Because many of my own memories of the 80's and 90's are knitted together with the music of that era, I truly appreciated Sheffield's ability to move between telling his own story and it's relationship with the music of that time. Music is the vehicle by which Sheffield can tell his story-- one even suspects that the story wouldn't be a story at all if music weren't part of it.

This is a terrific book for anyone who grew up in the 80's-- particularly those who can hear a song and remember, say, driving in a car up I-95 with 4 other teenage girls screaming the words to "Push it (Real Good)", or walking down the streets of NYC singing "Nothing Compares to YOOOOUUU!" with your BFF, or dancing with a crush to "Crazy For You," or cramming into a recording booth on the Wildwood Boardwalk to sing "Livin' On A Prayer" with your 3 sisters (and one of you still has the cassingle produced from said recording booth... somewhere). These are my own memories, but they might as well be Sheffield's. You'll enjoy every bit of this trip in the way-back machine.

Ehh.

This book was just ok. I enjoyed the 80's references and hearing what it was like to experience the 80's first hand. However, Half way through the book I just stopped caring. It got old. He doesn't even mention Duran Duran until the very very end. I found the assumptions he made to be annoying. FYI I'm a female. I enjoy The Clash way more than Duran Duran. It was a coming of age story, and I expected to see character build up. There was none. No big ending. Just more of the same.

If you liked 'Hot Tub Time Machine'...

...and you like books, then this one just might be for you.

Having read and enjoyed Sheffield's first book (Love Is a Mixtape), I was excited to see that he had a new book out. While that first book concerned college, marriage, and 90's indie rock, this one is focused on high school and 80's music (with a focus on synth pop and new wave). He's a funny writer, and he trusts his audience to catch the obscure 80's references he drops -- to everything from Roy Parker Jr. lyrics to scenes from ET.

Favorite quote so far: "If you were famous in the Eighties, you will never be not famous. (In theoretical physics, this principle is formally known as the Justine Bateman Constant.) "

Great trip down memory lane!

What made the experience of listening to Talking to Girls About Duran Duran the most enjoyable?

80s bands galore! The frankness of it.......

What was one of the most memorable moments of Talking to Girls About Duran Duran?

Talking about life with his sisters.

What does Scott Shepherd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

An irony in his voice.

Any additional comments?

Rename it the title is misleading.