Synopsis

Duran Duran purchase a sleek female android and take her home, where they dress, program, and test her as an idealized companion and domestic servant. The robot performs with precise mechanical movements before the band's playful fantasy becomes increasingly erotic and unpredictable. Set against glossy interiors, futuristic styling, and scenes of decadent socializing, the video turns the song's themes of technology, desire, and objectification into a deliberately provocative piece of late-1990s pop futurism.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video is a direct nod to the 1968 science-fiction film Barbarella. The character Dr. Durand Durand from that movie also provided the inspiration for the band's name.

• The android is portrayed by American model Myka Dunkle. Simon Le Bon later said that her dance background and ability to mimic robotic movement helped secure the role.

• Models Sophie Dahl and Devon Aoki appear among the guests in the party scenes.

• The video's sexualized robot premise caused controversy. MTV and VH1 required an edited version for television, while Canada's MuchMusic and MusiquePlus removed the clip from regular rotation after objecting to its tone.

• The video arrived during a significant moment in music distribution history. In September 1997, "Electric Barbarella" was sold as a digital download through Liquid Audio, an early major-label experiment in paid online music.

• The song was released as the lead single from Medazzaland, but its digital-first rollout, delayed availability in some markets, and the video controversy contributed to a relatively modest commercial performance.