Meet El Presidente
Encyclopedia
"Meet El Presidente" is the 16th single
from Duran Duran
, and the third single from the Notorious album.
The album version of the song is considerably different from the version used on the single and remixes and on the video. The album version has the same tempo but slightly different drums during the chorus, while the other versions use stronger basslines, a horn section, increased percussion (most notable during the lyric "Hell has no fury like a young girl's ego"), and female backing vocals (including a recurring "Ooh ooh" hook). In these ways, the non-album version is somewhat more similar to songs recorded for the subsequent Big Thing
album than it is to other songs on Notorious.
Duran Duran played this song live, among others, on the final episode of British music show The Tube
.
It was also the first single that Duran Duran released as a CD single
, on which they included the "Meet El Beat" remix.
With:
Production:
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, and the third single from the Notorious album.
About the song
According to a studio report in Star Hits magazine, one of the early drafts of this song was called "One of the Faithful". A demo version using that name can be found on several bootlegs.The album version of the song is considerably different from the version used on the single and remixes and on the video. The album version has the same tempo but slightly different drums during the chorus, while the other versions use stronger basslines, a horn section, increased percussion (most notable during the lyric "Hell has no fury like a young girl's ego"), and female backing vocals (including a recurring "Ooh ooh" hook). In these ways, the non-album version is somewhat more similar to songs recorded for the subsequent Big Thing
Big Thing
Big Thing is the fifth album by Duran Duran, released worldwide in 1988. It reached #15 in the UK and #24 in the US.A CD reissue was released in 1994. The album is was reissued as a three disc boxset on .- Background :...
album than it is to other songs on Notorious.
Duran Duran played this song live, among others, on the final episode of British music show The Tube
The Tube (TV series)
The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987...
.
Music video
"Meet El Presidente" was the third video directed for Duran Duran by Peter Kagan and Paula Greif. It was a basic concert video, featuring the band in their stagewear from the Strange Behaviour tour which supported the release of the Notorious album. It was also filmed in black and white Super-8.B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
"Meet El Presidente" was backed by album track "Vertigo (Do The Demolition)". This was the second single from Notorious to have an album track as b-side.It was also the first single that Duran Duran released as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
, on which they included the "Meet El Beat" remix.
Chart positions
- #24 UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(25 April 1987) - #70 Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
(2 May 1987) - #40 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
- #10 Italian charts
7": EMI / Tour 1 (UK)
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" - 4:43
12": EMI / 12 Tour 1 (UK)
- "Meet El Presidente" - 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" - 4:43
- also available on CD (CD TOUR 1)
- labelled 'The Presidential Suite' in the US
12": EMI / 12 Club-Tour 1 (UK)
- The Presidential Suite:
- "Meet El Presidente" - 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
- "Meet El Presidente" (Radio) - 3:38
- "Skin Trade" (Parisian Mix) - 8:10
- "Skin Trade" (S.O.S. Dub) - 7:16
- UK promo 12"
Personnel
Duran Duran are:- Simon Le BonSimon Le BonSimon John Charles Le Bon is an English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia.-Early life:...
- Vocals - John TaylorNigel John TaylorJohn Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
- Bass - Nick RhodesNick RhodesNick Rhodes is an English musician, is best known as the keyboardist of the pop rock band Duran Duran...
- Keyboards
With:
- Warren CuccurulloWarren CuccurulloWarren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York is an American rock musician who worked with Frank Zappa, was a founding member of Missing Persons, and has been a long term member of Duran Duran. He also has some notoriety in the porn industry after making nude appearances in a magazine and...
- Guitars - Andy TaylorAndy Taylor (guitarist)Andy Taylor is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station....
- Guitars - Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- Guitars - The Borneo Horns - Horns
- Curtis KingCurtis KingCurtis Albert King is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
- Background Vocals - Brenda White-King - Background Vocals
- Tessa NilesTessa NilesTessa Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of artists.-Early life and career:Born in Kent, Niles began her professional singing career, as both a lead and a backing vocalist, in 1979...
- Background Vocals - Cindy Mizelle - Background Vocals
Production:
- Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- Producer - Duran DuranDuran DuranDuran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
- Producer - Daniel AbrahamDaniel Abraham (record producer)Daniel Abraham is a French record producer, sound engineer and record mixer.He has most closely been associated with the band Duran Duran, with whom he worked on the Notorious and Big Thing albums....
- Remixer, Engineer and Mixer - Larry LevanLarry LevanLarry Levan was a DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club. He developed a cult following who referred to his sets as "Saturday Mass"...
- Remixer