"Meet ''El Presidente''" is a song by the English

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...

band

Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. After several early changes, the band's line-up settled ...

, released on 13 April 1987 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album, '' Notorious'' (1986). It 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 Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

, who intended to capitalize on the growing Latin scene in Miami and other markets in the US. During the band's appearance on the show ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. After airing locally on WCIU-TV in Chicago, Illinois, for a year, it aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featu ...

'' on 4 April 1987, lead singer

Simon Le Bon Simon John Charles Le Bon (born 27 October 1958) is an English singer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the new wave band Duran Duran and its offshoot Arcadia. Le Bon has received three Ivor Novello Awards from the Briti ...

referred to the single as the "political flagship of the album". Duran Duran first performed the song on '' The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers'' on 27 February 1987, and on the final episode of British music show ''

The Tube The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The Undergro ...

''.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' 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."

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 A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...

, 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 * 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

# "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 * This 12″ is being labelled as "The Presidential Suite" on the cover.

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 * This 12″ is being labelled as "The Presidential Suite" on the cover.

12″: Capitol / SPRO-79008 (Promo) United States

# "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 * This 12″ is being labelled as "The Presidential Suite" on the cover.

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

Personnel

Duran Duran *

– lead vocals * John Taylor – bass guitar *

Nick Rhodes Nick Rhodes (born Nicholas James Bates; 8 June 1962) is an English keyboardist and producer, best known as a founding member and the keyboardist of the band Duran Duran. He has also been the only constant member of the group since their 1978 ...

– keyboards Additional musicians *

Steve Ferrone Stephen A. Ferrone (born 25 April 1950) is an English drummer. He is known as a member of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from 1994 to 2017, replacing original drummer Stan Lynch, and as part of the "classic lineup" of the Aver ...

– drums *

Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...

– guitar *The Borneo Horns – horns *Curtis King – background vocals *Brenda White-King – background vocals * Tessa Niles – background vocals *Cindy Mizelle – background vocals Technical *

– producer *Duran Duran – producer *Daniel Abraham – remixer, engineer and mixer *

Larry Levan Lawrence Philpot (July 20, 1954 – November 8, 1992), known as Larry Levan ( ), was an American 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 moder ...

– remixer, "Skin Trade" * Mark S. Berry – remixer, "Meet ''El Presidente''"

References

{{Authority control 1986 songs 1987 singles Duran Duran songs Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers Songs written by Simon Le Bon Songs written by John Taylor (bass guitarist) Songs written by Nick Rhodes