Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Election Day (song)

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Released
  
October 1985

Format
  
7" 12"

B-side
  
"She's Moody and Grey, She's Mean and She's Restless"

Recorded
  
Studio de la Grande Armée, Paris

Genre
  
Art rock new wave synthpop

Length
  
4:30 (Single Version) 8:39 (Consensus Mix) 8:27 (Cryptic Cut No Voice Mix) 9:06 (Cryptic Cut/Fact and Story Mix)

"Election Day" was the first single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia.

Contents

It was released by Parlophone Records in October 1985 and subsequently hit the top ten on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at #6 in the US and #7 in the UK, but was the most successful in Ireland, peaking at #5 and in Italy, peaking at #1 (also reaching the Top 25 in Germany). Along with the Arcadia members, "Election Day" features Grace Jones on vocals and speech segments.

About the song

When Smash Hits published the lyrics in their magazine, they published the complete lyric, which included a verse that was subsequently dropped from the released version of the song:

Don't even try to induce, In all my restrain there's no hesitation All the signs on the loose 'cause sanity's rare this end of the hard day Shadows are crawling out of the subway Any way that you choose in every direction just to confuse me

This additional verse was also included in the lyrics which were printed on the back of the sleeve of the Cryptic Cut No Voice release.

Music video

The dark and moody video — with Gothic imagery inspired by Jean Cocteau's 1946 film, La Belle et la Bête — was shot in and around Paris in late September 1985. It was directed by Roger Christian. There was a short cameo appearance by William S. Burroughs. A documentary film was made on the filming and production of the music video.

Official remixes

This was the first Duran Duran–related single to have more than one remix of the lead track, a feature that would continue on "Notorious" a year later.

There were a total of seven mixes of "Election Day":

  • Album Version 5:29 - Original mix; all except the Early Rough Mix are different permutations of this version.
  • Single Version 4:30 - Edited Album Version.
  • Consensus Mix 8:39 - 12" and promo video version.
  • "She's Moody and Grey, She's Mean and She's Restless" 4:28 - Instrumental B-side; the title comes from the song's first verse.
  • Cryptic Cut/Fact and Story Mix 9:06 - Largely instrumental, featuring extended passages and a short 'political speech'.
  • Cryptic Cut No Voice 8:27 - The Cryptic Cut mix, with the speech edited out.
  • Early Rough Mix 9:04 - An early, mostly instrumental version.

    • 7": Parlophone. / NSR 1 (UK)

    1. "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
    2. "She's Moody And Grey, She's Mean And She's Restless" - 4:28
  • Track 1 is also known as "7 Inch Mix".
  • B-side is an instrumental version of "Election Day"

    • 12": Parlophone. / 12 NSR 1 (UK)

    1. "Election Day" (Consensus Mix) - 8:39
    2. "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
    3. "She's Moody And Grey, She's Mean And She's Restless" - 4:28
  • Track 2 is also known as "7 Inch Mix".

    • 12": Parlophone. / 12 NSRA 1 (UK)

    1. "Election Day" (Cryptic Cut No Voice Mix) - 8:27
    2. "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
    3. "Election Day" (Consensus Mix) - 8:39
  • Track 2 is also known as "7 Inch Mix".

    • 12": Townhouse. / PSLP393 (UK)

    1. "Election Day" (Cryptic Cut / Fact and Story Mix) - 9:06
  • 1-sided UK promo, unlabeled
  • This version was later referred to by LeBon and Rhodes as "Cryptic Cut".
  • The name "Fact and Story Mix" comes from the spoken word part in the mix and was first referred to by this name on a bootleg remix album.

    • Other appearances

    Albums:

  • So Red the Rose (1985)

    • Singles:

  • "The Flame" (1986)

    • Personnel

    Arcadia are:

  • Simon Le Bon - vocals
  • Nick Rhodes - keyboards
  • Roger Taylor - drums

    • Also credited:

  • Alex Sadkin - producer and engineer
  • Grace Jones - guest vocalist

    • References

    Election Day (song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA