Meet El Presidente
"Meet El Presidente" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Duran Duran | ||||
from the album Notorious | ||||
B-side | "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" | |||
Released | 13 April 1987[1] | |||
Recorded | June–September 1986 | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length |
| |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Duran Duran singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Meet El Presidente" on YouTube | ||||
"Meet El Presidente" is the sixteenth single by English rock band Duran Duran. Released in April 1987 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album, Notorious, it only reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart and stalled at number 70 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Background
The album version of the song is different from the single versions and remixes. The original key and tempo are maintained, but mixes elements of the master to differing degrees with increased percussion, stronger basslines, brass and backing vocal tracks. The idea of remixing "Meet El Presidente" came from at the behest of studio executives at Capitol Records, who intended to capitalize on the growing Latin scene in Miami and other markets in the US.[2]
During the band's appearance on the show Soul Train on 4 April 1987, lead singer Simon Le Bon referred to the single as the "political flagship of the album". Duran Duran played this song live, first on The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers on 27 February 1987, and on the final episode of British music show The Tube.[3]
Critical reception
In a contemporary review, Cash Box said it has a "smooth, sophisticated groove" and praised Le Bon's vocals saying, "he has learned to get the lower range of his voice without emotional intensity."[4]
Commercial performance
By the time "Meet El Presidente" was released as a single, interest in the Notorious album had already waned. Poor sales led the single to stall at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and failed to chart in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, stalling at number 70. It performed slightly better in Belgium reaching number 13 and number 16 in Italy. This was Duran Duran worst charting single up until that point.
Music video
"Meet El Presidente" was the third video directed for Duran Duran by duo 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 and was filmed during rehearsals, being was also filmed in black and white Super-8.
B-side 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, on which they included the "Meet El Beat" remix.
Formats and track listings
7": EMI / Tour 1 United Kingdom
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) – 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" – 4:43
12": EMI / 12 Tour 1 United Kingdom
- "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[5]
- This 12" is being labelled as "Meet El Presidente" on the cover.
- Also available on CD (CDTOUR 1)
12": EMI / 12 Club Tour 1 (Promo) United Kingdom
The Presidential Suite:
- "Meet El Presidente" – 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat)" – 5:30
- "Meet El Presidente" (45 mix) – 3:38
- "Skintrade" (Parisian mix) – 8:10
- "Skintrade" (S.O.S. dub) – 7:16
7": Capitol / B-44001 United States
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) – 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" – 4:43
12": Capitol / V-15294 United States
- "Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite)" – 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat)" – 5:30
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) – 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" – 4:43[5]
- This 12" is being labelled as "The Presidential Suite" on the cover.
12": Capitol / SPRO-79008 (Promo) United States
The Presidential Suite:
- "Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite)" – 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat)" – 5:30
- "Meet El Presidente" (radio) – 3:38
- "Skintrade" (Parisian mix) – 8:10
- "Skintrade" (S.O.S. dub) – 7:16
CD: The Singles 1986–1995 box set
- "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) – 3:38
- "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" – 4:43
- "Meet El Presidente" – 7:12
- "Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat)" – 5:30
Note:
- The 7" remix, 45 mix and "radio" are identical versions.
- "Meet El Presidente" and "Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite)" are the same version, also known as "The Presidential Suite mix" (EMI DDNX 331).
Charts
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 13 |
Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[7] | 27 |
Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 13 |
Italy (Musica e dischi)[9] | 10 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 31 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 24 |
US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 70 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi Singles Sales | 40 |
Personnel
Duran Duran
- Simon Le Bon – vocals
- John Taylor – bass guitars
- Nick Rhodes – keyboards
Additional musicians
- Steve Ferrone – drums
- Nile Rodgers – guitars
- The Borneo Horns – horns
- Curtis King – background vocals
- Brenda White-King – background vocals
- Tessa Niles – background vocals
- Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
Technical
- Nile Rodgers – producer
- Duran Duran – producer
- Daniel Abraham – remixer, engineer and mixer
- Larry Levan – remixer, "Skin Trade"
- Mark S. Berry – remixer, "Meet El Presidente"
References
- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 11 April 1987. p. 36.
- ^ Duran Duran Three To Get Ready Full Long Version, retrieved 25 March 2024
- ^ Duran Duran Performing Meet El Presidente, Skin Trade and Band Interview on Joan Rivers Show - 1987, retrieved 23 November 2023
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 18 April 1987. p. 9.
- ^ a b https://musicbrainz.org/release/577905e6-5c52-4ec8-9f69-58a9e9d85b9c at MusicBrainz
- ^ "Duran Duran – Meet El Presidente" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 May 1987. pp. 14–15.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Meet El Presidente". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 6 April 2024. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Duran Duran" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
- ^ "Duran Duran – Meet El Presidente" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Duran Duran: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of May 16, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- v
- t
- e
- Nick Rhodes
- John Taylor
- Roger Taylor
- Simon Le Bon
- Stephen Duffy
- Simon Colley
- Andy Wickett
- Alan Curtis
- Jeff Thomas
- Andy Taylor
- Warren Cuccurullo
- Sterling Campbell
- Duran Duran
- Rio
- Seven and the Ragged Tiger
- Notorious
- Big Thing
- Liberty
- Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)
- Thank You
- Medazzaland
- Pop Trash
- Astronaut
- Red Carpet Massacre
- All You Need Is Now
- Paper Gods
- Future Past
- Danse Macabre
- Arena
- Live at Hammersmith '82!
- A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011
EPs and remixes
- Carnival
- Master Mixes
- Decade
- Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran
- Greatest
- Strange Behaviour
- The Essential Collection
- Singles Box Set 1981–1985
- The Singles 1986–1995
- From Mediterranea with Love
- "Planet Earth"
- "Careless Memories"
- "Girls on Film"
- "My Own Way"
- "Hungry Like the Wolf"
- "Save a Prayer"
- "Rio"
- "Is There Something I Should Know?"
- "Union of the Snake"
- "New Moon on Monday"
- "The Reflex"
- "The Wild Boys"
- "A View to a Kill"
- "Notorious"
- "Skin Trade"
- "Meet El Presidente"
- "I Don't Want Your Love"
- "All She Wants Is"
- "Do You Believe in Shame?"
- "Burning the Ground"
- "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)"
- "Serious"
- "Ordinary World"
- "Come Undone"
- "Too Much Information"
- "Perfect Day"
- "White Lines (Don't Do It)"
- "Out of My Mind"
- "Electric Barbarella"
- "Someone Else Not Me"
- "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise"
- "What Happens Tomorrow"
- "Nice"
- "Falling Down"
- Duran Duran Video 45
- Duran Duran
- Dancing on the Valentine
- Sing Blue Silver
- Arena (An Absurd Notion)
- 6ix by 3hree
- Decade
- Greatest
- Live from London
- Live at Hammersmith '82!
- A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011
- Arcadia
- Neurotic Outsiders
- The Devils
- The Power Station
- Swahili Blonde
- TV Mania
- John Frusciante
- Dominic Brown
- Discography
- Songs
- Awards and nominations
- Reportage
- Tours
- All You Need Is Now
- Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983
- Making Patterns Rhyme
- Drum
- Eilean
- Yasmin Le Bon
- Amber Le Bon