Duran Duran Easter Eggs in The Idea of You
The movie adaptation of Robinne Lee’s novel “The Idea of You” is streaming on Prime Video and fans are taking notice. That’s because, despite the rumors that the the main character is based on Harry Styles, the author says that’s only partially true. The book is actually based on a hodgepodge of people including Prince Harry, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne, Michael Hawkins – and Simon Le Bon and John Taylor of Duran Duran.
“The Idea of You” was published in 2017 and is centered around the fictional band August Moon, described as “a quintet of handsome lads from Britain who sang pleasant pop songs and drove tween girls mad.”
Gallery owner Solène, (played by Duranie Anne Hathaway in the movie) has an affair with Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon.
Is August Moon Based on Duran Duran?
There’s a lot of evidence that August Moon, the fictional band in the book, “The Idea of You,” was based on Duran Duran. Here’s just a few notable coincidences:
August Moon is Based on Duran Duran ‘The Wild Boys’ lyrics.
As any true Duranie will tell you, “august moon” is a lyric from Duran Duran’s ‘The Wild Boys’.
The wild boys are calling on their way back from the fire
In August moon’s surrender to a dust cloud on the rise
Wild boys fallen far from glory, reckless and so hungered
On the razor’s edge you trail because there’s murder
By the roadside in a sore afraid new world
August Moon’s Albums are Named After Duran Duran Songs
Fizzy Smile is the titular track from August Moon’s first album. We Duranies know that is in reference to Duran Duran’s song, I Take the Dice, from their first album.
Show me your secret and tell me your name
Catch me with your fizzy smile
Try to remember again and again
What it is that I recognize
Don’t ask me now
When I need you I don’t know how
To believe in your advice
Just this once I take the dice
August Moon then released an album called Petty Desires. Duranies will easily recognize that as a lyric from To the Shore, an early Duran Duran song that was released as a B-side to the U.S. release of “Planet Earth” in 1981.
Words are falling to the floor
Glands stand pouring fruit tree
Now they glisten on the waterline
See how you are at the shore
I’m moving Chrissie pretty flowers in the shutter maze
Haul up all your petty desires
Author Robinne Lee is an Admitted Duranie
Lee told People Magazine that she was an obsessed Duranie when she was young.
Robinne Lee with Nick Rhodes
“When I was about 13, I was obsessed with Duran Duran, so I knew what it was like to be a 13-year-old girl, obsessed with a band, and thinking that if they can only see me, one day, they’ll marry me,” Lee says.
Lee also told S.M. Nystoriak’s Writers Block that she wrote fan fiction about Duran Duran when she was young. “When I was younger, I wrote fan fiction about Duran Duran. At the time, I would just write short stories about what I thought their lives were like, based on what I could tell from reading interviews and watching documentaries or whatever. So I had an idea. It’s not like I just made things up some things I made up out of the blue, but a lot of it I was trying to stick with what I what I saw in videos and documentaries and so forth, and what I knew of what their schedules were like, the kind of craziness of travel etc.”
She told Entertainment Weekly that The Idea of You is NOT One Direction fan fiction and the lead character, Hayes Campbell, is a mixture of many people. “He’s very much like JFK Jr. when he was dating Daryl Hannah, and they were hanging out in the Hamptons — that was definitely the Hamptons Hayes,” Lee says. “And then there’s some Michael Hutchence sexiness when he was dating Helena Christensen. And I was obsessed with Duran Duran when I was young, so there’s a lot of Simon, and there’s a lot of John, and there’s a lot of actual Duran Duran Easter eggs throughout the entire book.”
August Moon Fans are Called Augies
Augies… Duranies… Just to be clear, One Direction fans are not called One’ies or Directionies.
There’s actually a character named Simon (played by Viktor White).
Other names that could’ve been taken from Duranie-world include Izzy (Andy’s daughter), Tracy (Andy’s wife), and Georgia (Andy’s son is named Georgie, John Taylor’s daughter’s name is Atlanta), just to name a few.
| The Idea of You Cast | Character |
|---|---|
| Anne Hathaway | Solène Marchand |
| Nicholas Galitzine | Hayes Campbell |
| Ella Rubin | Izzy |
| Reid Scott | Daniel |
| Perry Mattfeld | Eva |
| Annie Mumolo | Tracy |
| Mathilda Gianopoulos | Georgia |
| Jordan Aaron Hall | Zeke |
| Jaiden Anthony | Adrian |
| Raymond Cham Jr. | Oliver |
| Viktor White | Simon |
| Dakota Adan | Rory |
One thing is for sure, “The Idea of You” dances to the beat of Robinne Lee’s Duran Duran fandom and that makes her the ultimate Duranie in our eyes.
Robinne Lee Bio
Born on July 16, 1974, in Mount Vernon, New York, Lee has established herself as a talented performer across various mediums. She is of Jamaican and Chinese descent, which has contributed to her unique and striking presence on screen.
Lee began her acting career in the late 1990s, making her debut in the independent film Hav Plenty (1997). She gained wider recognition through her roles in popular films such as National Security (2003) alongside Martin Lawrence, Hitch (2005) with Will Smith, and Deliver Us from Eva (2003). Her performance in the romantic drama Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and its sequel Fifty Shades Freed (2018) further solidified her place in Hollywood, where she portrayed Ros Bailey, a confident and loyal business associate of Christian Grey.
In addition to her acting career, Robinne Lee is an accomplished author. Her debut novel, The Idea of You (2017), received critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of love, desire, and the complexities of relationships. The novel, which tells the story of a 39-year-old mother who falls in love with a younger man, struck a chord with readers and has garnered a passionate fan base.
Lee holds a law degree from Columbia University, showcasing her academic prowess alongside her artistic talents. Despite her legal background, she chose to follow her passion for acting and writing, a decision that has paid off in her successful and diverse career.
Interesting Facts About Robinne Lee:
Advocate for Diversity: Lee is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, often speaking out about the need for more representation of women and people of color in the entertainment industry.
Bilingual Abilities: Robinne Lee is fluent in French, a skill that she has used in various aspects of her career, including roles that require a command of the language.
Martial Arts Enthusiast: Lee is trained in Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art, which adds to her dynamic range as an actress capable of performing physically demanding roles.
Behind the Scenes: In addition to acting, Robinne Lee has worked as a producer on several projects, including the documentary Crown Heights (2017), which sheds light on the racial tensions in Brooklyn in the early 1990s.
Inspiration for Writers: Her novel, The Idea of You, has inspired many aspiring writers and is often discussed in literary circles as a prime example of modern romantic fiction that challenges traditional narratives.