Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Genre
Label
Catalogue Number
Story Behind The Song
Released in 1983 as the title track of Bowie’s fifteenth studio album, “Let’s Dance” marked a dramatic change of direction, bringing together pop, funk, disco and blues in a sleek, highly danceable production. Written by Bowie and produced by Bowie and Nile Rodgers, the recording featured members of Chic alongside the young Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The song began life in a much simpler form. Bowie originally conceived it as an acoustic, almost folk-like piece, but Rodgers transformed the arrangement into the powerful funk-driven recording that became familiar. The rhythm section provides an insistent groove, while Rodgers’ crisp guitar and Vaughan’s blues-influenced solo give the track its distinctive combination of dance-floor energy and rock guitar.
Although its title and music suggest uncomplicated celebration, the lyrics contain a more ambiguous emotional undercurrent, touching on romance, attraction and vulnerability. Bowie’s vocal performance is deliberately controlled, allowing the increasingly elaborate production to provide much of the song’s momentum.
The accompanying video, directed by David Mallet and filmed in Australia, gave the song an important social dimension. Its story follows Aboriginal characters confronting racism, exploitation and the seductive imagery of Western consumer culture, with a pair of red shoes becoming a recurring symbol. Bowie’s transformation of a relatively simple song into a sophisticated funk-pop production remains one of the most notable reinventions of his career.
The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK singles chart on 9th April 1983.
UK 7'' SLEEVE COVERS
Shown below are the picture sleeve covers (front and back) for the UK release of this single. If no cover sleeve was issued in the UK, we will display another country’s picture sleeve.
UK 7'' TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Let’s Dance (4:07) (Bowie) Produced By David Bowie, Nile Rodgers |
| B-Side | Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (5:09) (Bowie, Moroder) Produced By David Bowie, Nile Rodgers |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [10 Weeks] – 26th March 1983 – 28th May 1983 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
All officially released versions that appeared in the 80s:-
- Let’s Dance (Single Version) (4:07)
- Let’s Dance (Album Version) (7:37)
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OFFICIAL VIDEO
SONG LYRICS
Ah, ah, ah, ah
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance) Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
(Let’s dance) To the song they’re playing on the radio
(Let’s sway) While colour lights up your face
(Let’s sway) Sway through the crowd to an empty space
If you say run, I’ll run with you
And if you say hide, we’ll hide
Because my love for you would break my heart in two
If you should fall, into my arms and tremble like a flower
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance) For fear your grace should fall
(Let’s dance) For fear tonight is all
(Let’s sway) You could look into my eyes
(Let’s sway) Under the moonlight, the serious moonlight
And if you say run, I’ll run with you
And if you say hide, we’ll hide
Because my love for you would break my heart in two
If you should fall, into my arms and tremble like a flower
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance) Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
(Let’s dance) To the song we’re playing
(Let’s sway)
(Let’s sway) Under the moonlight, the serious moonlight
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s)
(Let’s)
(Let’s)
(Let’s sway)
(Let’s)
Let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance
(Let’s dance)
Let’s sway
Let’s sway
Let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance, let’s dance
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
(Let’s dance)
Written By David Bowie
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