Meet El Presidente

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 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.

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, on which they included the "Meet El Beat" remix.

There are 3 official mixes of "Meet El Presidente":

7": EMI. / Tour 1 United Kingdom

1. "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
2. "Vertigo" (Do the Demolition) - 4:43

12": EMI. / 12 Tour 1 United Kingdom

1. "Meet El Presidente" - 7:12
2. "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
3. "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
4. "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" - 4:43

12": EMI. / 12 Club Tour 1 (Promo) United Kingdom

The Presidential Suite:

1. "Meet El Presidente" - 7:12
2. "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
3. "Meet El Presidente" (45 Mix) - 3:38
4. "Skintrade" (Parisian Mix) - 8:10
5. "Skintrade" (S.O.S. Dub) - 7:16

7": Capitol Records. / B-44001 United States

1. "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
2. "Vertigo" (Do the Demolition) - 4:43

12": Capitol Records. / V-15294 United States

1. "Meet El Presidente" (The Presidential Suite) - 7:12
2. "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
3. "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
4. "Vertigo (Do the Demolition)" - 4:43

12": Capitol Records. / SPRO-79008 (Promo) United States

The Presidential Suite:

1. "Meet El Presidente" (The Presidential Suite) - 7:12
2. "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30
3. "Meet El Presidente" (Radio) - 3:38
4. "Skintrade" (Parisian Mix) - 8:10
5. "Skintrade" (S.O.S. Dub) - 7:16

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset

1. "Meet El Presidente" (7" remix) - 3:38
2. "Vertigo" (Do the Demolition) - 4:43
3. "Meet El Presidente" - 7:12
4. "Meet El Presidente" (Meet El Beat) - 5:30

 Note:

Chart positions

Personnel

Duran Duran are:

With:

Production: