Are you—or one of your riders—a superfan of a particular artist? Maybe someone in your class is always requesting Taylor Swift…or Metallica! (Two very different vibes, we know, but hey—there’s room for all kinds of fandom in the cycling studio.) Some fans take their passion even further by creating Facebook groups, launching tribute pages, and even petitioning for their favorite artist to have an official day of recognition.
Last year, we featured one such celebration: Duran Duran Appreciation Day, a fan-initiated tribute that became an official day on the National Day Calendar. You’ll find that full post below, along with song ideas and cueing tips for your class.
Duran Duran is one of the rare few artists to have their very own official appreciation day—thanks to a devoted fan who took the time (and paid the fee!) to get it listed on the National Day Register. Another example is Global Beatles Day on June 25, which we featured here at ICA. But most artists aren’t lucky enough to have an “official” day in their honor. That doesn’t mean you can’t throw them a party anyway! Their birthday is the perfect excuse to build a themed playlist and celebrate their music in your class—no paperwork required.
If you’re not sure when your favorite artist’s birthday is, a quick Google search will usually do the trick. For a more streamlined approach, this handy RockontheNet birthday list includes modern artists organized by month and day—much easier to scan than wading through centuries of composers included in most lists!
Here are a few birthdays to spark ideas for your next class:
🎉 Artist Birthday Calendar for Theme Ride Inspiration
- January 8: David Bowie
- January 31: Justin Timberlake
- February 1: Harry Styles
- February 20: Rihanna
- March 25: Elton John
- March 28: Lady Gaga
- April 27: Lizzo
- May 10: Bono (U2)
- May 26: Stevie Nicks
- June 7: Prince
- June 25: George Michael
- July 4: Post Malone
- July 26: Mick Jagger
- August 16: Madonna
- August 29: Michael Jackson
- September 5: Freddie Mercury
- September 8: Pink
- September 23: Bruce Springsteen
- October 8: Bruno Mars
- November 10: Billy Idol
- November 26: Tina Turner
- December 13: Taylor Swift
- December 18: Billie Eilish
Once you’ve found your artist’s birthday or discovered they have an official “day,” you can plan a playlist in advance and surprise your class with a ride dedicated to one of music’s greats.
Now that the inspiration is flowing, let’s revisit one of the original fan-created artist days:
Duran Duran Appreciation Day!
Are you a big fan of ’80s music? Do you love the iconic sounds of Duran Duran? If your riders are also fans of their music or just passionate about the ’80s, we’ve got a fantastic idea for you! August 10 is Duran Duran Appreciation Day, offering a perfect opportunity to create a themed ride or celebrate with a few of their timeless hits. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their music, Duran Duran’s catchy tunes and energetic beats can add a unique twist to your cycling classes.
Duran Duran Appreciation Day was conceived by M. Kennedy, a radio DJ in Michigan, in 2003. He chose August 10, his birthday, as the celebration date. Since then, fans (known as Duranies) and the band have embraced this day, sharing messages, hosting gatherings, and enjoying Duran Duran’s music.
Duran Duran are legends of British music. Formed in 1980, the band consists of the “Fab Five”: Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor, and Simon Le Bon. Over four decades, they have committed to making pop music an art form, performing to massive audiences globally and achieving over 100 million record sales. They were key figures in the New Wave music movement of the ’80s and ’90s, characterized by its use of synthesizers, electronic drums, and other electronic instruments. In 2022, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing their legacy.
Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran, 3:42, 127 bpm
Originally failing to break into the US music market, Duran Duran’s fortunes changed when MTV put this video on high rotation, catapulting the band to stardom. The video won the first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1984. With a consistent beat at 64 rpm, this song is perfect for a fun climb. Push the intensity at 0:38–1:08 (30s), 1:43–2:13 (30s), and 2:42–3:27 (45s).
Save a Prayer, Duran Duran, 5:29, 113 bpm
Arguably the band’s best song, this 1982 hit is about a chance meeting between two people that turns into a one-night stand. Le Bon described it as “realistic, and not romantic.” At 113 bpm, it’s a challenging tempo in the cycling studio, but you can dissociate from the beat and ride on a flat road in the 80s or 90s rpm; the meditative melody and lyrics will help encourage a smooth pedal stroke. Option to add some cadence pushes to chase the beat (100+ rpm) for extra fun. It could also be used as a slow, hard climb at 57 rpm.
Rio, Duran Duran, 5:15, 142 bpm
According to the band, “Rio” is a metaphor for America, expressing their ambition to achieve success in the US—a goal they ultimately accomplished. The video greatly contributed to framing Duran Duran as international superstars. They appeared in expensive suits while riding a yacht, with the character Rio portrayed as an exotic-looking woman, sometimes wearing body paint, who is the object of their affections. The colorful video stood out on MTV, which had few videos at the time, leading to heavy rotation. Ride through “Rio” with a moderate climb at 71 rpm, incorporating seated or standing intervals at 1:09–1:36 (27s), 2:20–2:47 (27s), and 4:12–5:27 (1m 15s).
A View To A Kill, Duran Duran, 3:38, 125 bpm
Written for the James Bond movie of the same name in 1985, it became one of the band’s biggest hits. It’s a solid climb at 63 rpm with two standing surges at 1:13–1:44 (29s) and 2:45–3:32 (47s).
The Reflex, Duran Duran, 4:27, 127 bpm
Nile Rodgers helped Duran Duran with the remix of this song, helping to propel it to the top of the charts. This music video was filmed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Use the energy of the song to climb, standing on the chorus at 0:47–1:17 (30s), 2:40–3:10 (30s), and 3:41–4:15 (34s).
The Wild Boys, Duran Duran, 4:18, 116 bpm
This song adds a hard-rocking edge to the band’s danceable sound. It can be used as a flat road, dissociating from the beat and surging the legs to 100+ bpm on the chorus at 1:11–1:31 (20s), 2:21–2:41 (20s), and 3:20–4:05 (45s). It can also be used as a heavy climb at 58 bpm.
Come Undone, Duran Duran, 4:17, 174 bpm
This song was written as a birthday gift for Simon Le Bon’s wife, which explains why it brims with lovely imagery and tenderness. It makes for a delightful warm-up or an easy-to-moderate flat.
Ordinary World, Duran Duran, 5:40, 140 bpm
Released in 1992 from the Wedding Album, this song explores the emotional roller coaster of grieving the loss of a friend. With a consistent beat at 70 rpm, it’s perfect for a steady, moderate climb.
Is There Something I Should Know, Duran Duran, 4:10, 125 bpm
This song has a catchy, solid rhythm. Use it as a slow climb, with the option to stand on the chorus at 1:20–1:45 (25s), 2:34–2:56 (22s), and 3:23–4:00 (37s).
Notorious, Duran Duran, 4:18, 106 bpm
“Notorious” was produced by Nile Rodgers, who created a funky guitar sound that was “chic”-inspired dance rock. If 106 rpm is too fast for some of your riders, simply have them pedal at their highest sustainable cadence. Have some fun with this song with a game: start at a low intensity and add resistance every time you hear “No-no-notorious.” They sing this at 0:01, 0:08, 1:20, 2:32, 2:44, 2:53, 3:42, 3:46, 4:01, 4:05, and 4:10, but you may want to skip the first two so you can explain the game. You’ll end up close to breathless by the final one!
“Notorious” remains a fan favorite and gained even more popularity in 1999 when the Notorious B.I.G. sampled the song for his hit track, “Notorious B.I.G.,” featuring Lil’ Kim and Puff Daddy. This track, which was released posthumously, achieved global chart success, further cementing the original song’s legacy.
Notorious B.I.G., Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Lil’ Kim & Puff Daddy), 3:12, 101 bpm (Explicit)
New Moon on Monday, Duran Duran, 4:19, 122 bpm
Filled with contagious joy and nonsensical lyrics, this song makes for a great climb at 61 rpm. Use the chorus for intervals at 0:55–1:30 (35s), 2:05–2:40 (35s), and 3:00–4:00 (60s). For a longer climb, consider the 6-minute dance version, which features almost 3 minutes of instrumental music at the beginning—perfect for a serene, silent climb.
If you want to dive deeper into Duran Duran Appreciation Day, click here.
It might be a bit much (for some!) to dedicate an entire ride to Duran Duran, so consider incorporating just one or two (or five!) of their tracks in a playlist around Duran Duran Appreciation Day to honor the band. Alternatively, you could use their music as part of a broader theme ride, such as New Wave or ’80s hits, or focus on British bands of that era. Another fun idea is to pit Duran Duran against another iconic group, like INXS, Depeche Mode, or the Spice Girls, for a themed showdown.
Will you be celebrating Duran Duran Appreciation Day in your class? What’s your favorite song from the band? Share your thoughts and playlist ideas in the comments below!