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The song

"Hungry Like the Wolf" is a song by the British New Wave band Duran Duran. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Colin Thurston for the group's second studio album "Rio" (1982). The song was released in May 1982 as the band's fifth single in the United Kingdom. It reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart, and received a silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

"Hungry Like the Wolf"'s Russell Mulcahy-directed music video was filmed in the jungles of Sri Lanka, and evoked the atmosphere of the film "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Although the band initially failed to break into the U.S. market, MTV placed the "Hungry Like the Wolf" video into heavy rotation. Subsequently, the group gained much exposure; the song peaked at the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1983, and Duran Duran became an international sensation. The video won the first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.

Music video

In 1982, music video director Russell Mulcahy, who had directed the band's first video "Planet Earth" was brought back to make the music video for "Hungry Like the Wolf". The band had a vision of jungles and exotic women, and Mulcahy suggested Sri Lanka, a country he had just visited. The video was lush and cinematic, with shots of jungles, rivers, elephants, cafes and marketplaces.

Covers, samples, & media references

The song has been used in the soundtracks of several movies, including "Hot Dog... The Movie" (1984), "Small Sacrifices" (1989 TV movie), "Big Fat Liar" (2002), and "Old School" (2003). The "Far Far Away Idol" contest at the end of the movie "Shrek 2" featured a performance of the song by the Big Bad Wolf. It has also appeared in episodes of the television shows "Keen Eddie", "King of the Hill", "Lizzie McGuire" and "The Shield".

Sources: Wikipedia and Duran Duran Wiki.