Has there ever been a greater need to celebrate enduring, earnest pop than right now? On another glorious (or scorching, depending on your relationship with heat) summer’s day at BST Hyde Park, the legendary British group Duran Duran closed out a celebration of pop, disco and new music that united generations of fans who had journeyed from as far as the USA, India and more.
As usual the Great Oak Stage set the tone. Groove Armada’s DJ set eased Hyde Park into the afternoon with an infectious selection of dance classics, laying the foundations for a day that kept people dancing throughout.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC followed in their wake, delivering another fantastic set. Rodgers remains one of pop’s greatest guitarists and pioneers, yet his love for music is every bit as striking as his and CHIC’s catalog. The unmistakable opening riff of “Le Freak“ got thousands down to boogie, while “We Are Family“ and “He’s the Greatest Dancer“ reminded the crowd just how many enduring pop and dance anthems Rodgers has worked on.
One of the loudest singalongs of the afternoon arrived with Daft Punk’s iconic summer track “Get Lucky”, with the audience sing-along heard far beyond the boundaries of the BST enclosure. Whether revisiting his own catalogue or paying tribute to collaborators, their set was pure fun from start to finish.
Scissor Sisters ensured such glittering energy never dipped. Returning with the confidence and swagger that made them one of Britain’s most magnetic and exportable pop acts in the 2000s, the ensured that Hyde Park remained one a giant dancefloor. Well-known hits “Filthy/Gorgeous” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'” prompted even more singalongs. A new high was hit when Melanie C from the Spice Girls hit the stage alongside them for a rendition of “Take Your Mama”, with the buzz remaining at a joyful peak until the band brought their carefree energy to a close with “Music Is the Victim“.
The festival’s smaller stages proved equally rewarding. Melanie C’s Rainbow Stage DJ set had been one of the day’s biggest talking points, with the former Spice Girl delighting fans through performances of “2 Become 1” and “Spice Up Your Life”.
Also on the Rainbow Stage, Sophie Grey offered something entirely different earlier in the day. The retro electro artist showcased her ambition to transport listeners into another sonic galaxy and alongside Harrison’s smile-inducing performance earlier in the afternoon, the Rainbow Stage added to the electic pop fun of the day.
Rising stars also had their moment over on the Birdcage Stage: SISTRA bulit a captivating set around songs from their new EP, She Won’t Let Go, including the transportative “Where Did She Go?”. Their alternative electro-pop sound provided a refreshing contrast to the day’s more established acts, while Wendy Bevan and singer-songwriter Sam Scherdel further highlighted how work from the pop icons on the bigger stages continues to transform and inform the pop sound of the future.
So it was that the stage was more than set by the time Duran Duran took to the Great Oak Stage. Opening ahead of schedule with “Is There Something I Should Know?“, Simon Le Bon and the crew immediately demonstrated that, after more than four decades, they remain one of Britain’s most magnetic live acts. Still performing with confidence, vitality and a dash of eighties style, they seemed utterly delighted to connect with the sixty-two thousand people that had sold out the park specially to see them.
Their fans responded with unbridled enthusaism. The James Bond classic “A View to a Kill“ drew enormous cheers across Hyde Park, and cheeky dedication of “Ordinary World“ to the England football team proved especially fitting, as fans were later celebrating England’s dramatic victory over Mexico.
Nile Rodgers returned to the stage as a special guest for “Notorious“ and the band’s newer single “Free to Love“. BST Hyde Park has always had standout special guests, and collaboration between two legends of the genre was not to be missed.
As the final notes of “Rio” (of course) rang out, audiences of all ages danced their way to the ending of a glorious weekend. Supported by fantastic performances from other legends and up-and-comers in the genre, Duran Duran closed another unforgettable festival day by proving they have lost none of the fire or fun that made them icons in the first place.
BST Hyde Park runs from the 27th of June to the 12th of July. Find out more here.
