My Gen X Playlist: Rio – Duran Duran

I enjoy museums, but I can’t say that I know a lot about art, let alone choose a favorite artist. I do enjoy impressionists (Monet and Cezanne) and also abstract art (Rothko and Pollock). These styles are very appealing. But can I name one as a favorite artist? Probably not. Being a casual fan is OK by me.

I’ve bought art work from a local artist. I enjoy his work but can’t attest to my eye for art. I enjoy them and that’s all that matters to me. There is another abstract painting that hangs on one of our walls. Very few know the artist is me. I like it’s anonymity.

Patrick Nagel was a popular artist in the 80’s Gen X era. The picture shown was a print that hung on my wall when I was in high school. His models always seemed so mysterious. I always wondered who they were.

The Nagel woman

His female figures tended to have black hair, and bright white skin. Nagel worked with many models, including Playboy Playmates Cathy St.George, Tracy Vaccaro and Shannon Tweed, and also painted several celebrity portraits, including those of Joan Collins and Joanna Cassidy.

He created popular illustrations on board, paper, and canvas, most of which emphasize the female form in a distinctive style, descended from Art Deco and Pop art. He is best known for his illustrations for Playboy magazine and the pop music group Duran Duran, for whom he designed the cover of the best-selling album Rio, which has been acclaimed as one of the greatest album covers of all time.

– Wikipedia

I can’t help but think of Nagel when I think about the 80’s. Enough so, it’s inspiring me to play a little Rio right now to honor him and his iconic Duran Duran album cover. Seems nostalgia is hitting two birds with one stone this morning.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Moving on the floor now babe you're a bird of paradise
Cherry ice cream smile I suppose it's very nice
With a step to your left and a flick to the right you catch that mirror way out west
You know you're something special and you look like you're the best

Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande

I've seen you on the beach and I've seen you on TV
Two of a billion stars it means so much to me
Like a birthday or a pretty view
But then I'm sure that you know it's just for you

Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande

Hey now woo look at that did she nearly run you down
At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive
You make me feel alive, alive alive
I'll take my chance cause luck is on my side or something
I know what you're thinking I tell you something I know what you're thinking

Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twists across a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grand
Her name is Rio she don't need to understand
And I might find her if I'm looking like I can
Oh Rio, Rio hear them shout across the land
From mountains in the north down to the Rio Grande
Do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do