The Chauffeur

The song The Chauffeur, included in the album Rio by Duran Duran, is distinguished by its ethereal atmosphere and a sonic approach that departs from the album's more direct compositions. Its structure is built on electronic foundations, using synthesizers and drum machines, and is enriched with unconventional elements such as homemade ambient sounds—the crackle of an ice cube, for example—and the use of an ocarina. This piece originated from a poem that Simon Le Bon had written before joining the band, and it was Nick Rhodes who, perceiving the visual strength of the lyrics, conceived an almost entirely electronic piece.The recording of The Chauffeur took place in 1982 at AIR Studios in London.

Unlike other songs on the album Rio, this one was not fully defined before entering the studio. Simon Le Bon contributed an initial acoustic idea, but it was in the studio where, with the collaboration of Colin Thurston, the piece took its definitive form. Nick Rhodes spent time in an auxiliary studio, programming sequences, layering synthesizers, and programming rhythms on a Roland TR-808, in addition to incorporating those curious sound effects. Simon Le Bon later joined to contribute vocals and collaborate on the ocarina melody, which came from the producer's percussion collection. The result was a piece that, according to Rhodes, did not require additional live instrumentation because it "sounded good," marking an important step in the band's sonic exploration.