Election Day (song) explained

Election Day
Cover:	Electionday.jpg
Caption:	7" single sleeve
Type:	single
Artist:	Arcadia
Album:	So Red the Rose
B-Side:	She's Moody and Grey, She's Mean and She's Restless
Released:	^[1]
Studio:	Studio de la Grande Armée (Paris)
Genre:	Art rock pop synth-pop
Length:	4:30 (single version) 8:39 (Consensus mix) 8:27 (Cryptic cut no voice mix) 9:06 (Cryptic cut/Fact and Story mix)
Label:	Parlophone
Producer:	Alex Sadkin
Next Title:	Goodbye Is Forever
Next Year:	1986

"Election Day" is the first single released by Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia.^[2]

It was released by Parlophone 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. In Italy, spurred on by several high profile TV appearances, it became a huge hit, spending seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 between November 1985 and January 1986. It also reached the Top 5 in New Zealand and Ireland. Along with the Arcadia members, "Election Day" features Grace Jones on vocals and speech segments.

Lyrical content

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.^[3]

Official remixes

It 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; title from first verse of the song
• Cryptic cut/Fact and Story mix (9:06) – Largely instrumental, featuring extended passages and a short 'political speech'
• Cryptic cut no voice mix (8:27) – The "Cryptic cut" mix, without the speech
• Early rough mix (9:04) – An early, mostly instrumental version

Formats and track listings

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 the "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

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

12": Townhouse / PSLP393 (UK)

1. "Election Day" (Cryptic cut / Fact and Story mix) – 9:06

• 1-sided UK promo, unlabelled
• This version was later referred to by Le Bon and Rhodes as the "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 (1985–1986)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	13
Belgium (Ultratop 50)^[5]	14
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6]	8
Germany (Media Control Charts)^[7]	21
Ireland (IRMA)^[8]	5
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[9]	1
Japan (Oricon)^[10]	93
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	4
Norway (VG-lista)^[13]	7
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)^[14]	18
UK Singles Chart^[15]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[16]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)! scope="col"

Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	86

Personnel

Arcadia

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

Additional musicians

• Grace Jones – guest vocalist
• Carlos Alomar – guitars
• Masami Tsuchiya – guitars
• Mark Egan – bass guitar; double bass
• Andy Mackay – tenor saxophone

Technical

• Alex Sadkin – producer; engineer

Covers, samples, and media references

On Duran Duran's 'Strange Behaviour' tour, the band performed a medley of "Election Day" and the Power Station's single, "Some Like It Hot".

External links

• Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes being interviewed on Arcadia and the theme of Election Day

Notes and References

1. 12 October 1985. New Singles. Music Week. 16. 17 August 2024.
2. Web site: Chicago Tribune. Duran Duran Spawns Yet Another New Band: Arcadia Scales The Charts. November 24, 1985. Lynn. Van Matre.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iskitQHgPEc "Filming Election Day"
4. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6 .
5. Web site: ultratop.be . nl. Ultratop. Hung Medien. 10 June 2017.
6. Web site: Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 14. RPM. 14 December 1985. 10 June 2017.
7. Web site: germancharts.de. de. Media Control. 10 June 2017.
8. Web site: The Irish Charts - IRMA. IRMA. 10 June 2017.
9. Top 3 in Europe. Eurotipsheet. 2. 48. 16. 2 December 1985.
10. Book: Oricon Chart Book: 1968–1997. Oricon. Tokyo. 1997. 4-87131-041-8.
11. Web site: dutchcharts.nl . Hung Medien. MegaCharts. 10 June 2017.
12. Web site: charts.nz . Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. 10 June 2017.
13. Web site: norwegiancharts.com . Hung Medien. 10 June 2017.
14. Web site: der Schweizer Hitparade. de. Hung Medien. 10 June 2017.
15. Web site: OfficialCharts.com . 10 June 2017.
16. Web site: Billboard - The Hot 100, 14 December 1985 . Billboard . 10 June 2017.
17. December 27, 1986 . 1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Y-21 . Billboard . 98 . 52.