David Bowie 'Let's Dance' demo released to commemorate 71st Birthday
Nile Rodgers has spoken about the recording
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Today (8 January 2018) would have been David Bowie’s 71st birthday.
To celebrate, a previously unreleased demo of the Nile Rodger’s produced track ‘Let’s Dance’ has been released, featuring some slightly different guitar parts but retaining the track’s disco funk.
At the end of the demo, Bowie can be heard celebrating, saying “That’s it, that’s it! Got it! We got it!” Listen via Spotify below.
The song was originally featured on the 1983 album of the same name which Bowie recorded at his Switzerland home alongside the Chic guitarist.
Speaking about those early recording sessions, Rodger’s said: “I’ve been blessed with a wonderful career but my creative partnership with David Bowie ranks very, very, very high on the list of my most important and rewarding collaborations.
“This demo gives you, the fans, a bird’s eye view of the very start of it! I woke up on my first morning in Montreux with David peering over me. He had an acoustic guitar in his hands and exclaimed, ‘Nile, darling, I think this is a HIT!’
“This recording was the first indication of what we could do together as I took his ‘folk song’ and arranged it into something that the entire world would soon be dancing to and seemingly has not stopped dancing to for the last 35 years! It became the blue print not only for ‘Let’s Dance’ the song but for the entire album as well.”
‘Let’s Dance’ went on to top the UK and US singles chart in 1983, quickly becoming one of Bowie’s best known songs. Following the singer’s death in early 2016, the song re-entered the UK charts, reaching number 23.
Bowie died on the 10 January 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday, following a battle with cancer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments