Underground (David Bowie song): Difference between revisions

"Underground"
"Underground"
Song
B-side	"Underground (Instrumental)"

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"Underground" is a song from the soundtrack of the film Labyrinth, performed by David Bowie.

Details

The track was something of an experiment for Bowie, dabbling in gospel music to a small extent, helped by a large chorus of backing vocalists and blues guitarist Albert Collins, but retaining use of synthesizers.

The single reached No. 21 in the UK charts.

Video

Steve Barron directed the video clip for promoting the song, which featured images of Bowie’s most notable "roles", including Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke (Bowie’s 1976 persona, explicitly named during the title track of Station to Station), Thomas Newton (from The Man Who Fell to Earth), Jareth (from Labyrinth) and Baal, before Bowie dances with the puppet characters from the Labyrinth film and turns into a cartoon. Bowie was not happy with the video, in 1987 saying "I've found that the videos I put into other people’s hands have always been a mistake. Because of my lack of interest, I didn't get that involved with things like "Underground" which I did for Labyrinth. I just left it up, and the result is just not my kind of video. I was a bit lax there. I didn't feel involved."^[2]^[3]

Follow-up singles

A video for "As the World Falls Down", another track from the Labyrinth album, was mooted for a Christmas 1986 single release, with a 3:36 edit and another Steve Barron video made. However, this release was canceled, for reasons that are still largely unknown. The video, consisting mainly of clips from the film, has since been released on Bowie collections. In January 1987, another track from the soundtrack, "Magic Dance," was issued as an American 12"-only release.

Track listing

All tracks by Bowie

7" Commercial Single/12" Promo Single: EMI / EA 216 (UK)

"Underground (Edited Version)" – 4:25
"Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:40
- This is the only Instrumental version featuring the backing singers.

All other Instrumental versions are slightly longer, backing-tracks only except on the back of the promo 12-inch single.

12" Club Single: EMI / 12EA 216 (UK)

"Underground (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:51
"Underground (Dub)" – 5:59
"Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54

Additional production and Re-mix by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.

7" Picture Disc: EMI / EAP 216 (UK)

"Underground (Edited Version)" - 4:25
"Underground (Instrumental)" - 5:52

Download: EMI / iEA 216 (UK)

"Underground (Edited Version)" – 4:25
"Underground (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:51
"Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54
"Underground (Dub)" – 5:59

released in 2007

Production credits

Producers

Musicians

David Bowie: Vocals
Robbie Buchanan: Keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Andy Thomas: Additional programming
Richard Tee: Acoustic piano, Hammond Organ
Albert Collins: Lead guitar
Nicky Moroch: Rhythm guitar
Steve Ferrone: Drum effects
Cissy Houston, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Fonzi Thornton, Marcus Miller, Marc Stephens, Daphne Vega, Garcia Alston, Mary David Canty, Beverly Ferguson, A. Marie Foster, James Glenn, Eunice Peterson, Rennele Stafford: Backing vocals

Chart positions

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Canadian Singles Chart	73^[4]
UK Singles Chart	21
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play	22
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	18

References

^ Underground Discogs
^ "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013
^ "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013
^ Library and Archives Canada: Volume 44, No. 16, July 12 1986, 12 July 1986, retrieved 11 July 2014

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

External links

Template:MetroLyrics song

[1] Underground Discogs

[TW87x-2] "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013

[EDB13-3] "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013

[CCDIDO-4] Library and Archives Canada: Volume 44, No. 16, July 12 1986, 12 July 1986, retrieved 11 July 2014

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 ==Video==
-[[Steve Barron]] directed the video clip for promoting the song, which featured images of Bowie’s most notable "roles", including [[David Bowie#Ziggy Stardust|Ziggy Stardust]], The Thin White Duke (Bowie’s 1975 persona, explicitly named during the title track of ''[[Station to Station]]''), Thomas Newton (from ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)|The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''), Jareth (from ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'') and Baal, before Bowie dances with the puppet characters from the ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'' film and turns into a cartoon.
+[[Steve Barron]] directed the video clip for promoting the song, which featured images of Bowie’s most notable "roles", including [[David Bowie#Ziggy Stardust|Ziggy Stardust]], The Thin White Duke (Bowie’s 1976 persona, explicitly named during the title track of ''[[Station to Station]]''), Thomas Newton (from ''[[The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)|The Man Who Fell to Earth]]''), Jareth (from ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'') and Baal, before Bowie dances with the puppet characters from the ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'' film and turns into a cartoon.
 Bowie was not happy with the video, in 1987 saying "I've found that the videos I put into other people’s hands have always been a mistake. Because of my lack of interest, I didn't get that involved with things like "Underground" which I did for Labyrinth. I just left it up, and the result is just not my kind of video. I was a bit lax there. I didn't feel involved."<ref name=TW87x>{{citation | url=http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Appearances/Press/1987/0601/mso.html | title=Dave In, Dave Out | journal=Music & Sound Output magazine | date=June 1987 | accessdate=11 July 2013}}</ref><ref name=EDB13>{{citation | url=http://exploringdavidbowie.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/dave-in-dave-out/ | title=Dave In, Dave Out | journal=Music & Sound Output magazine | date=June 1987 | accessdate=11 July 2013}}</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"