Blue Jean: Difference between revisions

"Blue Jean"
"Blue Jean"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Tonight
B-side	"Dancing with the Big Boys"
Released	10 September 1984
Recorded	May 1984
Studio	Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada
Genre	Rock; pop;
Length	3:08
Label	EMI America – EA181
Songwriter(s)	David Bowie
Producer(s)	David Bowie; Derek Bramble; Hugh Padgham;
David Bowie singles chronology
Alternative cover
Music video
	"Blue Jean" on YouTube

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"Blue Jean" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie for his sixteenth studio album Tonight (1984). One of only two tracks on the album to be written entirely by Bowie, it was released as a single ahead of the album and charted in the United States, peaking at No. 8, becoming his 5th and last top 10 hit with no features. The song is loosely inspired by Eddie Cochran.^[3]

Composition and reception

Interviewed in 1987 and asked to compare a track like "Time Will Crawl" to "Blue Jean," Bowie said "'Blue Jean' is a piece of sexist rock 'n roll. [laughs] It's about picking up birds. It's not very cerebral, that piece."^[4] BBC reviewer Chris Jones criticised the song in his appraisal of Best of Bowie in 2002, arguing "'Blue Jean' barely exists, so formulaic is it."^[5] More positively, rock commentator Chris O'Leary, while locating "Blue Jean" firmly "in the pastiche lane," has described the song as "clever" and "catchy" and one of Bowie's "best second-rate hits."^[6]

Cash Box said that it "features the dynamics of classic Bowie which range from the smooth and sultry verse to the exploding chorus."^[7]

Promotion

Following the commercial success of Bowie's previous album, Let's Dance, its singles and the Serious Moonlight Tour, "Blue Jean" was launched with a 21-minute short film, Jazzin' for Blue Jean, directed by Julien Temple.^[3] The song performance segment from this was also used as a more conventional music video. The film won the 1985 Grammy Award for "Best Video, Short Form", later renamed "Best Music Video", which proved to be the only competitive Grammy Award Bowie won during his lifetime for over three decades, although Bowie posthumously won four Grammys for his album Blackstar (2016).^[8]

Two shorter promotional videos of "Blue Jean" also exist: a three-minute version edited from the full Jazzin' for Blue Jean video and an alternate version recorded for MTV in England that has no relation to the other videos. Both of these videos, plus the original Jazzin' for Blue Jean, are available on the DVD release of Best of Bowie (2002).

Live performances

"Blue Jean" was part of Bowie's live repertoire for the rest of his career, being performed on his Glass Spider Tour (1987), released on the Glass Spider DVD and CD in 1988, the 1990 Sound+Vision Tour and his 2004 A Reality Tour.

Other releases

"Blue Jean" has appeared on a variety of compilation albums, including Changesbowie (1990), The Singles Collection (1993), Best of Bowie (2002), The Platinum Collection (2005), The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987 (2007), Nothing Has Changed (2014) (3-CD and 2-CD editions), and Bowie Legacy (2016) (2-CD edition). A remastered version of the song was released on Loving the Alien (1983–1988) (2018).

Track listing

7": EMI America / EA 181 (UK)

"Blue Jean" – 3:08
"Dancing with the Big Boys" – 3:32

Some versions of the 7" single were released on blue vinyl

12": EMI America / 12EA 181 (UK)

"Blue Jean" (Extended Dance Mix) – 5:15
"Dancing with the Big Boys" (Extended Dance Mix) – 7:28
"Dancing with the Big Boys" (Extended Dub Mix) – 7:15

"Blue Jean" (Extended Dance Mix) remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez at Sigma Sound – NYC – Engineer: Jay Mark.
"Dancing with the Big Boys" remixes produced by Arthur Baker.

Personnel

David Bowie – vocals
Carlos Alomar – guitar
Carmine Rojas – bass guitar; keyboards
Omar Hakim – drums
Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone; bass clarinet
Stanley Harrison – alto saxophone
Steve Elson – baritone saxophone
Guy St. Onge – marimba
Curtis King – vocals
George Simms – vocals
Robin Clark – vocals
Sammy Figueroa – percussion

Production

David Bowie – producer
Derek Bramble – producer
Hugh Padgham – producer

Charts

Chart (1984–1985)	Peak position
Australian Kent Report Singles Chart^[9]	12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11]	4
Canadian Singles Chart^[12]	6
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[13]	11
France (SNEP)^[14]	22
Germany (GfK)^[15]	21
Guatemala (UPI)^[16]	8
Ireland (IRMA)^[17]	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[18]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[19]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[20]	7
Norway (VG-lista)^[21]	3
Spain (AFYVE)^[22]	3
Spain (Los 40 Principales)^[23]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[24]	5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[26]	6
US Billboard Hot 100^[27]	8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[28]	2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[29]	2

Certifications


Country/Region	Sales	Certification
Canada	>40,000	Gold^[30]

References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

^ Birch, Ian (13–26 September 1984). "David Bowie: Back & Blue". Smash Hits. 6 (18): 40–41.
^ Inskeep, Thomas (12 July 2005). "On Second Thought: David Bowie – Tonight". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b Murray, Charles Shaar (25 October 1984), "Let's Talk, A Conversation with David Bowie", Rolling Stone magazine (433): 14, 18, 74
^ "David Bowie – The Interview" 1987, EMI America (Album) Track 24
^ Jones, Chris. "David Bowie Best Of Review". BBC. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
^ Chris O'Leary (2019). Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976–2016: p. 207
^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 15 September 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
^ Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles, 27 October 1984, retrieved 12 February 2016
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). 19 November 1984. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blue Jean". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – David Bowie" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean". VG-lista. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "LOS 40 PRINCIPALES Y M80 RADIO OFRECEN HOY UNA PROGRAMACIÓN ESPECIAL EN HOMENAJE A DAVID BOWIE". Los 40 Principales (in Spanish). 11 January 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "David Bowie Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ "Gold/Platinum – Music Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[1] Birch, Ian (13–26 September 1984). "David Bowie: Back & Blue". Smash Hits. 6 (18): 40–41.

[2] Inskeep, Thomas (12 July 2005). "On Second Thought: David Bowie – Tonight". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.

[RSMag84-3] Murray, Charles Shaar (25 October 1984), "Let's Talk, A Conversation with David Bowie", Rolling Stone magazine (433): 14, 18, 74

[DBI87-4] "David Bowie – The Interview" 1987, EMI America (Album) Track 24

[5] Jones, Chris. "David Bowie Best Of Review". BBC. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

[Ashes_to_Ashes,_p._207-6] Chris O'Leary (2019). Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976–2016: p. 207

[cb-7] "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 15 September 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2022.

[8] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[auchart-9] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Austria_David_Bowie-10] "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Flanders_David_Bowie-11] "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2020.

[CCDIDO-12] Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles, 27 October 1984, retrieved 12 February 2016

[13] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.

[sc_France_David_Bowie-14] "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Germany_David_Bowie-15] "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[16] "Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). 19 November 1984. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[sc_Ireland2_David_Bowie-17] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blue Jean". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Dutch40_David_Bowie-18] "Nederlandse Top 40 – David Bowie" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 7, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_David_Bowie-19] "David Bowie – Blue Jean" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_David_Bowie-20] "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 February 2017.

[sc_Norway_David_Bowie-21] "David Bowie – Blue Jean". VG-lista. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[22] Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[23] "LOS 40 PRINCIPALES Y M80 RADIO OFRECEN HOY UNA PROGRAMACIÓN ESPECIAL EN HOMENAJE A DAVID BOWIE". Los 40 Principales (in Spanish). 11 January 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.

[sc_Sweden_David_Bowie-24] "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Switzerland_David_Bowie-25] "David Bowie – Blue Jean". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_David_Bowie-26] "David Bowie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Billboardhot100_David_Bowie-27] "David Bowie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Billboarddanceclubplay_David_Bowie-28] "David Bowie Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_David_Bowie-29] "David Bowie Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

[30] "Gold/Platinum – Music Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

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@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 | prev_title = [[White Light/White Heat (song)|White Light/White Heat]]
 | prev_year  = 1983
-| next_title = [[Tonight (Iggy Pop song)|Tonight]]
 | next_year  = 1984
+| next_title = [[Tonight (Iggy Pop song)|Tonight]]
+| misc       = {{Extra album cover
+  }}
+{{External music video|{{YouTube|NZnryZ5rDbs|"Blue Jean"}}}}
 }}
-"'''Blue Jean'''" is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter [[David Bowie]] for his sixteenth studio album ''[[Tonight (David Bowie album)|Tonight]]'' (1984). One of only two tracks on the album to be written entirely by Bowie, it was released as a single ahead of the album and charted in the United States, peaking at No. 8, becoming his 5th and last top 10 hit with no features. The song is loosely inspired by [[Eddie Cochran]].<ref name=RSMag84>{{Citation | last=Murray | first=Charles Shaar | title=Let's Talk, A Conversation with David Bowie | journal=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone magazine]] | issue=433 | date=25 October 1984 | pages=14, 18, 74}}</ref>
+"'''Blue Jean'''" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter [[David Bowie]] for his sixteenth studio album ''[[Tonight (David Bowie album)|Tonight]]'' (1984). One of only two tracks on the album to be written entirely by Bowie, it was released as a single ahead of the album and charted in the United States, peaking at No. 8, becoming his 5th and last top 10 hit with no features. The song is loosely inspired by [[Eddie Cochran]].<ref name=RSMag84>{{Citation | last=Murray | first=Charles Shaar | title=Let's Talk, A Conversation with David Bowie | journal=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone magazine]] | issue=433 | date=25 October 1984 | pages=14, 18, 74}}</ref>
 == Composition and reception ==
@@ Line 41: / Line 44: @@
 == Other releases ==
-"Blue Jean" has appeared on a variety of compliation albums, including ''[[Changesbowie]]'' (1990), ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|The Singles Collection]]'' (1993), ''[[Best of Bowie]]'' (2002), ''[[The Platinum Collection (David Bowie album)|The Platinum Collection]]'' (2005), ''[[The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987]]'' (2007), ''[[Nothing Has Changed]]'' (2014) (3-CD and 2-CD editions), and ''[[Bowie Legacy]]'' (2016) (2-CD edition)
+"Blue Jean" has appeared on a variety of compilation albums, including ''[[Changesbowie]]'' (1990), ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|The Singles Collection]]'' (1993), ''[[Best of Bowie]]'' (2002), ''[[The Platinum Collection (David Bowie album)|The Platinum Collection]]'' (2005), ''[[The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987]]'' (2007), ''[[Nothing Has Changed]]'' (2014) (3-CD and 2-CD editions), and ''[[Bowie Legacy]]'' (2016) (2-CD edition). A remastered version of the song was released on ''[[Loving the Alien (1983–1988)]]'' (2018).
 == Track listing ==
@@ Line 54: / Line 57: @@
 # "Dancing with the Big Boys" (Extended Dance Mix) – 7:28
 # "Dancing with the Big Boys" (Extended Dub Mix) – 7:15
-* "Blue Jean" (Extended Dance Mix) remixed by [[John Benitez|John "Jellybean" Benitez]] at [[Sigma Sound Studios|Sigma Sound]] – NYC – Engineer: Jay Mark.
+* "Blue Jean" (Extended Dance Mix) remixed by [[John Benitez|John "Jellybean" Benitez]] at [[Sigma Sound Studios, New York City|Sigma Sound]] – NYC – Engineer: Jay Mark.
 * "Dancing with the Big Boys" remixes produced by [[Arthur Baker (musician)|Arthur Baker]].
@@ Line 76: / Line 79: @@
 * [[Hugh Padgham]]&nbsp;– producer
-== Chart performance ==
+== Charts ==
 {|class="wikitable sortable"
 !Chart (1984–1985)
@@ Line 98: / Line 101: @@
 |-
 {{singlechart|Germany|21|artist=David Bowie|song=Blue Jean|songid=1166|access-date=February 10, 2021}}
+|-
+|Guatemala ([[UPI]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ztVDAAAAIBAJ&dq=branigan&pg=PA14&article_id=1722,3517608|title=Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica|newspaper=[[La Opinión (Los Angeles)]]|language=es|access-date=October 11, 2024|date=November 19, 1984}}</ref>
+|align="center"|8
 |-
 {{singlechart|Ireland2|3|artist=David Bowie|song=Blue Jean|access-date=February 10, 2021}}
+|-
+{{singlechart|Dutch40|10|artist=David Bowie|song=Blue Jean|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
 |-
 {{singlechart|Dutch100|10|artist=David Bowie|song=Blue Jean|access-date=September 28, 2020}}
@@ Line 106: / Line 114: @@
 |-
 {{singlechart|Norway|3|artist=David Bowie|song=Blue Jean|access-date=February 10, 2021}}
-|-
-|Poland ([[Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego|LP3]])<ref>{{cite web|title= BLUE JEAN – David Bowie |publisher= LP3 |access-date= 29 January 2017 |url=http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/utwor/artykul1627,329_blue_jean.aspx |language= pl}}</ref>
-|align="center"|9
 |-
 |Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>

v t e David Bowie singles
Discography Songs
1960s	"Liza Jane" "I Pity the Fool" "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" "Baby Loves That Way" "Can't Help Thinking About Me" "Do Anything You Say" "I Dig Everything" "Rubber Band" "The London Boys" "The Laughing Gnome" "Love You till Tuesday" "Space Oddity"
1970s	"The Prettiest Star" "Memory of a Free Festival" "Holy Holy" "Moonage Daydream" "Hang On to Yourself" "Changes" "Starman" "John, I'm Only Dancing" "The Jean Genie" "Drive-In Saturday" "Time" "Life on Mars" "Let's Spend the Night Together" "Sorrow" "Rebel Rebel" "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" "Diamond Dogs" "1984" "Knock on Wood" "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" "Young Americans" "Fame" "Golden Years" "Station to Station" (French promo) "TVC 15" "Suffragette City" "Stay" "Sound and Vision" "Be My Wife" "'Heroes'" "Beauty and the Beast" "Breaking Glass" "Boys Keep Swinging" "D.J." "Yassassin" "Look Back in Anger" "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"
1980s	"Alabama Song" "Crystal Japan" "Ashes to Ashes" "Fashion" "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" "Up the Hill Backwards" "Under Pressure" "Wild Is the Wind" "The Drowned Girl" "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" "Let's Dance" "China Girl" "Modern Love" "Without You" "White Light/White Heat" "Blue Jean" "Tonight" "This Is Not America" "Loving the Alien" "Dancing in the Street" "Absolute Beginners" "Underground" "When the Wind Blows" "Magic Dance" "Day-In Day-Out" "Time Will Crawl" "Never Let Me Down" "Under the God" "Heaven's in Here" "Tin Machine" / "Maggie's Farm (live)" "Prisoner of Love"
1990s	"Fame '90" "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" "Baby Universal" "One Shot" "Real Cool World" "Jump They Say" "Black Tie White Noise" "Miracle Goodnight" "The Buddha of Suburbia" "Ziggy Stardust" "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" "Strangers When We Meet" / "The Man Who Sold the World (live)" "Hallo Spaceboy" "Telling Lies" "Little Wonder" "Dead Man Walking" "Seven Years in Tibet" "Pallas Athena" "I'm Afraid of Americans" "I Can't Read" "Without You I'm Nothing" "Thursday's Child" "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"
2000s	"Survive" "Seven" "Slow Burn" "Everyone Says 'Hi'" "I've Been Waiting for You" "Shadow Man" "New Killer Star" "Just for One Day (Heroes)" "Rebel Never Gets Old"
2010s	"Golden Years David Bowie vs KCRW" "Where Are We Now?" "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" "The Next Day" "Valentine's Day" "Love Is Lost" "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" "Blackstar" "Lazarus" "I Can't Give Everything Away"
Other songs	"Silly Boy Blue" "Let Me Sleep Beside You" "Karma Man" "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" "Cygnet Committee" "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" "The Width of a Circle" "All the Madmen" "Black Country Rock" "After All" "She Shook Me Cold" "The Man Who Sold the World" "The Supermen" "Oh! You Pretty Things" "Kooks" "Quicksand" "Andy Warhol" "Song for Bob Dylan" "Queen Bitch" "The Bewlay Brothers" "Bombers" "Five Years" "Soul Love" "Lady Stardust" "Velvet Goldmine" "Sweet Head" "Amsterdam" "Round and Round" "Watch That Man" "Aladdin Sane" "Panic in Detroit" "Cracked Actor" "Lady Grinning Soul" "All the Young Dudes" "Future Legend" "Sweet Thing" "Big Brother" "Can You Hear Me?" "Right" "Fascination" "Word on a Wing" "Speed of Life" "What in the World" "Always Crashing in the Same Car" "Warszawa" "Art Decade" "Weeping Wall" "Subterraneans" "Joe the Lion" "Sons of the Silent Age" "Blackout" "V-2 Schneider" "Sense of Doubt" "Neuköln" "Fantastic Voyage" "It's No Game" "Teenage Wildlife" "Scream Like a Baby" "As the World Falls Down" "Girls" "Nite Flights" "I'm Deranged" "Nature Boy" "Cactus" "Pablo Picasso" "The Loneliest Guy" "Try Some, Buy Some" "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" "Bring Me the Disco King" "Girl Loves Me" "Dollar Days"