‘The Reflex’ is the eleventh single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released in 1984. The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third studio album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983). The single became the band's first to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and their second to top the UK Singles Chart. The song became the band's most successful single, topping the UK chart on 5 May 1984. It was their second UK No. 1, after 1983's ‘Is There Something I Should Know?’, and would prove to be their last. The single entered the charts in America on 21 April 1984 at No. 46, and became Duran Duran's first of two singles to hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (2 weeks) on 23 June 1984, and was a huge hit internationally. (Their only other single to hit No. 1 in the US was the title song to the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill.)
Le Bon, the lead singer and lyricist for the group, won't reveal the meaning of the song’s lyrics and sometimes gets aggravated when asked. "It's a kind of childish song," he told Absolute Radio. "There have been times when I've felt a little tired of it, but that's also to do with the fact that people always ask me what the song's about, and I never tell people what songs are about." "It's a really interesting lyric," bass player John Taylor added. "You wouldn't hear a lyric like that today. The early '80s was really great for profoundly weird, paranoid pop lyrics."
‘The Reflex’ is primarily a concert video, accurately portraying Duran Duran's performance style during the Sing Blue Silver tour. However, in keeping with the band's insistence that their music videos "never be ordinary", the video screen above the stage displayed bits of naked models wearing collars and chains illuminated with black light, occasionally interrupted by computerized video white noise. At one point, a computer graphics–generated waterfall appears to pour out of the video screen above the stage to soak the audience.
Cash Box said, "Spotlighting the slick vocals of Simon Le Bon and the tight Euro-pop rhythms set to a funk beat, 'The Reflex' will certainly cause a stir for current fans and it will probably reach a new, more dance-oriented crowd."
Labels – EMI, Capitol
Songwriters – Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, Nick Rhodes
Producers – Duran Duran, Alex Sadkin, Ian Little
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]You've gone too far this time
But I'm dancing on the Valentine
I tell you somebody's fooling around
With my chances on the danger line
I'll cross that bridge when I find it
Another day to make my stand, oh woah
High time is no time for deciding
If I should find a helping hand, oh woah
[Refrain]
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
[Chorus]
The reflex is a lonely child who's waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark
[Verse 2]
I'm on a ride, and I want to get off
But they won't slow down the roundabout
I sold the Renoir and TV set
Don't wanna be around when this gets out
[Refrain]
So why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
[Chorus]
The reflex is a lonely child, he's waiting in the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves an answer with a question mark
[Instrumental Break]
[Refrain]
So why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
[Chorus]
The reflex is a lonely child who's waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves me answered with a question mark
Oh, the reflex, what a game, he's hiding all the cards
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark