Created by Nick Rhodes (keyboards) and John Taylor (bass) in Birmingham, England in 1978, it later add took in Roger Taylor (drums), Andy Taylor (guitar), and Simon Le Bon (lead vocals). The band has sold more than 100 million records over their more than 40 years of existence, making them one of the best-selling groups in history.
Their songs are often vivid, hook-laden pieces dance pop that have fared well on the radio, but what many remember best about Duran Duran is their iconic music videos. Though many of the videos were tongue-in-cheek, the band has never quite escaped the glamorous and decadent 'jet set' image that their early videos projected. Their flashy outfits and strident, art rock influenced music showed an immense debt to 70s English glam artists such as David Bowie and Roxy Music, yet the band grasped a sense of their own identity and became one of the keystones of the new romantic movement.
Their first singer and one of their original founding members was Stephen Duffy, and their original bassist was Simon Colley. Several drummers and guitarists were subsequently tried, as well as a handful of vocalists, after Duffy left Duran Duran early in 1979. The band felt that they had something special with vocalist Simon Le Bon, and the group smashed into the pop scene shortly afterwards when "Planet Earth", their debut single, was released on 2 February 1981.
"Planet Earth" became an immediate hit in the band's native U.K., reaching #12 on the U.K. Singles Chart on 21 February, and it did even better in Australia, hitting #8 there. Being Duran Duran's first Top 10 hit anywhere in the world, the song showed the group's interest in international stardom. The band's eponymous debut album came out promptly afterwards in June 1981. 'Duran Duran' hit #3 on the album charts and remained in the U.K. Top 100 for 117 weeks, achieving platinum status by December 1982. The initial United States release failed to generate much interest at first, but the group was a British sensation due to their strident mix of pop rock and electronic music.
Music videos for hit singles "Planet Earth" and "Careless Memories" were filmed in December 1980. As they also experienced considerable success with "Girls on Film", which hit #5 on the UK Singles Chart and #11 on the Australian Singles Chart, the group firmly grasped the opportunity to make a name for themselves in musical television. As their fame grew, some fans worried that Duran Duran could have peaked too early. They headed into AIR Studios in London in early 1982 anxious to somehow top themselves.
Band member John Taylor came up with the new album's title, 'Rio', as a product of his fascination with the flaunting sexuality and diverse atmosphere of Brazil. He later said, "Rio, to me, was shorthand for the truly foreign, the exotic, a cornucopia of earthly delights, a party that would never stop." The band had their own plans and ambitions for promotion and reunited with director Russell Mulcahy (who was behind the video for "Planet Earth") to plan out the release of a full length 'video album'— eleven videos in total. Totally dedicated to on-site filming, guitarist Andy Taylor even contracted a tropical virus and ended up hospitalized, thankfully getting better relatively quickly.
'Rio' was, simply, a commercial juggernaut. The band's second studio album, originally released worldwide on 10 May 1982, reached #2 in the UK and #1 in Australia. Massively popular in the U.S., it earned a gold disc on 1 March 1983 and went platinum on 26 April 1983, eventually reaching double-platinum status. As songs such as "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" received considerable airplay, critical acclaim also grew for the release. With MTV heavily playing the band's music videos, the album is still held as one of the best new wave albums ever. In April 2013, 'Rio' was even voted #3 in BBC Radio 2's 'Top 100 Favourite Albums of all time' list.
In 1985, Duran Duran performed "A View To A Kill" for the the James Bond film of the same name. The song appeared in the movie's title sequence and was also a best-selling single in its own right. In 1987, "Out Of My Mind" was featured at the end credits of the drama film 'The Saint' as well.
Like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran was among the earliest bands to work on their own remixes. From the very beginning, the band had a keen sense of style, and worked with stylist Perry Haines and fashion designers such as Kahn & Bell and Antony Price to build a sharp and elegant image, soon growing beyond the ruffles and sashes of the pirate-flavoured New Romantic look.
Although the group never disbanded, it went through several line-up changes over the years - American guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (formerly of Missing Persons) was also a member of the band from 1989 to 2001, and drummer Sterling Campbell was a member from 1989 to 1991. John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor all returned in 2001 and created a stir among music media and the band's fans. Duran Duran released the first album from the reunited line-up, Astronaut, in 2004, which was in turn followed up by many sold out shows in England, most notably Wembley Arena, where a live DVD of the tour was filmed in 2004/2005.
In October of 2006, it was announced on Duran Duran's website that Andy Taylor had left the band. The band's latest album, 'Red Carpet Massacre' was released in November 2007. They performed the album live in New York City on Broadway at the Barrymore Theater, for what was originally scheduled as an unprecedented 10-night run. A stage hand union strike shortened the run by a few nights, but Duran Duran were able to re-schedule the shows elsewhere. They went on to tour the world, ending their successful run in December of 2008.
2008 also saw the release of a new DVD that documents the making of their now-classic "Rio" album (called "Classic Albums: Rio (Collector's Edition)"), and a book called "Would Someone Please Explain?"- a compilation of questions from the "Ask Katy" area of their popular website.
Duran Duran returned at the end of 2010 with their 13th album, the digital and self-released album All You Need Is Now which debuted at number one on the iTunes charts in many countries (including the USA). The physical version of the album will be released with bonus tracks in February 2011. The album was produced by Mark Ronson.
2015 saw the band return with the album Paper Gods, which was led by the single "Pressure Off" featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers. The album was the band's first top 10 chart success in the U.S. in over 20 years, and also reached number 5 in the U.K.
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Meet El Presidente
Duran Duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bend your rubber rules.
Take your time, but don't take
Off your high heeled shoes.
She's in demand at dinner time;
She's on the factory wall.
And when the gentlemen retire
Guess who's in control?
On taking a cruise.
If that isn't funny,
Well, watch out teacher.
[Chorus]
Ooh, ooh. When the chamber's empty
She said ooh, ooh, Meet El Presidente.
Dressed in flimsy clothing,
Use your lipstick line
To colour fear and loathing
With a pink disguise.
You've never refused when she lies back
Put a stripe on the union; and a star on the jack.
She's on the case at dinner time.
She's on the evening news.
And if you dare step out of line
You're going to be abused.
You may not like it;
You may not be scared.
But hell has no fury like a
Young girl's ego.
[Chorus]
Ooh, ooh. Doo, doo, doo.
You might adopt an attitude;
Look on the moral side.
But if police are after you,
Where's the best place to hide?
For this production
They gave her a gun.
Ain't no director
So watch out actors!
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of ‘Meet El Presidente’ by Duran Duran are about a woman who uses her feminine wiles to gain power and control in a society dominated by men. The song is about a woman who is very attractive and manipulative, using her sex appeal to her advantage. The song suggests that women can be just as powerful and dangerous as men, but they often do it in more subtle and less direct ways.
The lyrics describe a woman who is in control of the men around her, not by force but by using her charm and beauty to manipulate them. She is portrayed as a cunning and dangerous character, who can be difficult to read and understand. The lyrics suggest that she is in control of her own destiny, and that she is not afraid to take risks to achieve her goals.
Overall, ‘Meet El Presidente’ is a song about the power of women in society and the way that they use their wiles to get what they want. It is a powerful and thought-provoking song that challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Line by Line Meaning
Miss November Tuesday
Referring to a woman who is beautiful and desirable, and makes men look forward to Tuesdays in anticipation of seeing her.
Bend your rubber rules
Be flexible and open-minded with regards to what you will and won't do.
Take your time but don't take off your high heel shoes
Be patient, but don't let your guard down or compromise your femininity.
She's in demand at dinner time
This woman is sought after and popular in social settings like dinner parties or other fancy gatherings.
She's on the factory wall
She is so popular and in-demand that her image is printed on factory walls, possibly as a form of advertising.
And when the gentlemen retire
When the men have finished their conversations or activities, moving on from her influence.
Guess who's in control?
Hinting at the idea that the woman has the power in such social situations.
She blew your money
She spent your money on something extravagant or frivolous, potentially demonstrating the privileges that come along with her social status.
On taking a cruise
Spending money on something luxurious like a cruise and not feeling guilty about it.
If that isn't funny
It might be ironic or amusing that despite being treated well, she still spends their money extravagantly and doesn't feel bad.
Well, watch out teacher...
A warning to someone in authority, telling them to watch out because the girl will cause trouble if she's pushed too far.
Ohh ohh, when the chamber's empty
An interlude-like phrase that serves to build up anticipation for the next sentence or verse.
She said, "Ohh, ohh, meet El Presidente"
Referring to someone in power and expressing admiration or looking to make a connection with that person.
Dress in flimsy clothing
Wearing transparent, thin or revealing apparel while behaving audaciously, shaking up social norms and breaking taboos.
Use your lipstick line
Taking advantage of feminine wiles to get what she wants, potentially by manipulating or seducing people.
To cover fear and loathing
Using a veneer of pink or other source of disguise to hide her true feelings of dislike and anger.
She never refuses when she lies back
Open to having sex in most scenarios and doesn't reject it, especially when it serves her purposes.
Put a stripe on the union, and a star on the jack
A clever play on words that could refer to adding a stripe to the officer's uniform, and a star to the flag, referencing the idea of the woman having power over men.
She's on the case at dinner time
On the hunt for something - perhaps seeking out someone or something she desires, during social settings like dinner parties.
She's on the evening news
Her fame has brought her to public attention, such that she is a topic of discussion on the evening news.
And if you dare step out of line
A warning to anyone who tries to interfere, saying the woman will use her power and influence to control them.
You're going to be abused
Threatening to take/hurt someone if they act out of line with her demands or wishes.
You may not like it
People may not like the way she utilizes her power and influence to control.
You may not be scared
People may not be afraid of her, because they don't understand the full extent of her power.
But hell has no fury like a
A reference to the classic saying 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,' emphasizing the true power dynamic at play.
Young girl's ego
The source of her power lies in her young femininity, sex appeal, and the way she manipulates that image to her own benefit.
You might adopt an attitude,
Look on the moral side
(Looking on the moral side)
Even if you try to take the moral high ground or be the better person, you may not necessarily come out on top in your dealings with her.
But if police are after you,
Where's the best place to hide?
Suggesting that even the police can't do anything to stop her, making her untraceable and unstoppable.
For this production,
They gave her a gun...
The woman has been given a gun, which enhances her power and further reinforces the idea that she is in control.
Ain't no director,
So watch out actors!
There is no one in charge or above her, so people should be careful not to cross her, since she could create or determine the plot.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN NIGEL TAYLOR, NICK RHODES, SIMON JOHN CHARLES LE BON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arsen Jaho
One of their best songs. I love notorious album. Cant get enough of listening to it.
Daniel Marquis
I also loved this “new era” of Duran Duran. As much as I love their New Wave roots, this funky side of them was cool 😎.
Trish G
I agree! I feel their sound became more refined after Arcadia/Power Station, the musicality became more fine-tuned & mature as well..
K V
this song and mv are SOOOO underrated despite it being a single on the album. i miss andy and especially roger in this era but still, ugh. this is perfection.
Trish G
Their look in this era matches the musical perfection ❤
Antarctica Alc
@Trish G , I agree with you. Notorious era is one of their best with Arcadia
Trish G
@Antarctica Alc yep 💯
Matt Ma
"Meet El Presidente" is definitely the best uptempo tune of the album~ John's funky bassline is so friggin' cool~ "Notorious" is second best.
Marcelo Souza
Duran Duran e minha paixao ! Execelente banda, musicos de execelencia, discografia notavel e hits ilimitados Big band! Duranie forever! Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Jhon Taylor, Andy Taylor e Roger Tayler, possuem 40 anos de carreira e entregam, ate hoje, musica de qualidade.
Patricia Harrison
Oh my, I can never get enough of Nicks smile, and the way he moves to the beat!!