Election Day (song)
"Election Day" | ||||
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![]() 7" single sleeve | ||||
Single by Arcadia | ||||
from the album So Red the Rose | ||||
B-side | "She's Moody and Grey, She's Mean and She's Restless" | |||
Released | October 1985 | |||
Recorded | , Paris | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Parlophone - NSR1 | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Alex Sadkin | |||
Arcadia singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Election Day" on YouTube | ||||
Audio | ||||
"Election Day" (Extended Version) on YouTube |
"Election Day" is the first single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia.[1]
It was released by Parlophone Records in October 1985 and subsequently hit the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at No. 6 in the US and No. 7 in the UK. The single reached the Top 5 in New Zealand and Ireland. 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 is a short cameo appearance by an actor dressed like William S. Burroughs. A documentary film was made on the filming and production of the music video.[2]
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.
Formats and track listing[]
7": Parlophone. / NSR 1 (UK)[]
- "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
- "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)[]
- "Election Day" (Consensus Mix) - 8:39
- "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
- "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)[]
- "Election Day" (Cryptic Cut No Voice Mix) - 8:27
- "Election Day" (Single version) - 4:30
- "Election Day" (Consensus Mix) - 8:39
- Track 2 is also known as "7 Inch Mix".
12": Townhouse. / PSLP393 (UK)[]
- "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.
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 13 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50)[4] | 14 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] | 8 |
Germany (GfK)[6] | 21 |
Ireland (IRMA)[7] | 5 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] | 12 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] | 4 |
Norwegian Singles Chart[10] | 7 |
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[11] | 18 |
UK Singles Chart[12] | 7 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 6 |
Year-end chart (1986) | Rank |
---|---|
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[14] | 86 |
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
Covers, samples, and media references[]
On Duran Duran's 'Strange Behaviour' tour, they performed a medley of "Election Day" and the Power Station single, "Some Like It Hot".
References[]
- ^ Van Matre, Lynn (November 24, 1985). "Duran Duran Spawns Yet Another New Band: Arcadia Scales The Charts". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Filming Election Day" - September 1985, Paris, France. Video.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "ultratop.be". Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 14". RPM. 14 December 1985. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "germancharts.de" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - IRMA". IRMA. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "charts.nz". Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "der Schweizer Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "OfficialCharts.com". Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Billboard - The Hot 100, 14 December 1985". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 27, 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21.
External links[]
- Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes being interviewed on Arcadia and the theme of Election Day - filmed at the time of the release of Election Day in 1985.
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- 1985 debut singles
- Arcadia (band) songs
- Number-one singles in Italy
- 1985 songs
- Songs written by Simon Le Bon
- Songs written by Nick Rhodes
- Song recordings produced by Alex Sadkin
- Parlophone singles