defend the indefensible "let's dance" by david bowie

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let dance....

― startrekman, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:05 (twenty-one years ago)

PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES AND DANCE THE BLUES

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:05 (twenty-one years ago)

it hardly qualifies as indefensible.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't even have to defend it.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:07 (twenty-one years ago)

one of his best tracks

haven't heard the album

― Masked Gazza, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:08 (twenty-one years ago)

someone change the title of this thread.

― startrekman, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

defend the indefensible "high enough" by bad english

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

nugent wears a hilarious outfit in the video

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 03:35 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not the side-effect of cocaine, I'm thinking that it must be crack cocaine....

― Ziggy Played Guitar!!!, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:10 (twenty-one years ago)

indefend the defensible then!

― ()ops (()()ps), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Offend the indie sensible

― Masked Gazza, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:14 (twenty-one years ago)

if its so defensible defend it then.

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:15 (twenty-one years ago)

for a serge rip-off it's not bad?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:16 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00001OH7Z/ref=dp_product-image-only_0/104-2218553-9424756?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

Bowie's got his boxing gloves on, I'm sure he can defend the album himself.

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Oops.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00001OH7Z.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

it's got some serious moonlight!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:21 (twenty-one years ago)

he's mr. blonde hair explosion in the video!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.algonet.se/~earflaps/bowie/pv83a.jpg

and the video was filmed in AUSTRALIA!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 04:25 (twenty-one years ago)

zoolander

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

How is this indefensible? This is like maybe my favorite Bowie song. When I was little I had this and Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung conflated in my mind into one super awesome song.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Desperately seeking defense:

http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgst3362.jpg

― Dr. Gene Scott (shinybeast), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

The album is certainly no worse than "Young Americans," and sometimes better. "Richochet" and the cover of "Criminal World" are pretty good.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll defend it:

"Let's Dance" is great. It's one of the 4 Bowie songs I've actually seen performed, and I was blown away.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Quite like the Stevie Ray Vogon guitar solo. It's no China Girl though. Uh uh uh oh!

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

this is a great great song. the entire first side is great.

― mrjosh (mrjosh), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Two of Bowie's most underrated numbers are on the album -- "Ricochet" and "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" -- and the singles are what first got me into him at the tender age of 12, so yay!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

12" = Nile Rogers vs. Girogio Moroder

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I stumble into town
Just like a sacred cow
Visions of swastikas in my head
Plans for everyone
It's in the whites of my eyes...

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

NickB OTM.

One of SRV's better solos. Very tasteful and not flashy.

― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I never liked it. It sounds like a watered-down "Fashion" to me.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

How does one dance the blues?

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Never mind -- figured it out:
http://hometown.aol.com/sillysongbooktwo/images/blues%20bros%20dance~2.jpg

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

If we're talking strictly about the song, I'd say screw you....it's a great track. What's not to like beyond the slightly ridculous lyrics (who dances to blues played on the radio whilst wearing red shoes?) Great song. Stevie Ray Vaughn on guitar. Great stuff all around.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

the combination of Nile Rogers and Stevie Ray is definitely one of the more interesting combinations of behind-the-scenes people that ever resulted in a hit record.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

A completely OK album. Not quite as great as most of what was before it, but still several great pop songs.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

And the award for "Best Exhortation to Dance to the Radio" goes to... it's a tie! Joy Division's "Transmission" and David Bowie's "Let's Dance."

― Heidy- Ho, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

M Ward's cover = CLASSIC

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i think "fame" might be indefensible... that song drives me nuts!

― dave k, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Also defensible for inspiring George Clinton's tribute/ripoff "Last Dance."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"Let's Dance" is a way better album than "Young Americans". Stronger songs.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

This song features the greatest rhythm section in the history of music so it is very tough to call out this song as indefensible, but Bowie (in white gloves no less) standing on the cliff aping SRV's solo is pretty lame.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:37 (twenty-one years ago)

i think "fame" might be indefensible... that song drives me nuts!

You're completely insane.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Bowie (in white gloves no less)

That always bugged me too.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

"Let's Dance" is a way better album than "Young Americans". Stronger songs"

But Let's Dance doesn't have "Win" or "Fascination."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

"Let's Dance" is a way better album than "Young Americans".

I think I might actually agree with this. The best songs on Let's Dance encompass the greatness of the best songs on Young Americans, IMO.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

i never could figure out why mr. bowie was wearing those white gloves, either.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I always liked how this song basically starts with a chorus (the title of the song), and then builds into like a super-chorus, and then does it again. And again. Ooh baby!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

worst thread title ever!! i don't think there is a dud song on this album and the single is great. nile rodgers had some interesting things to say about the album in the chic book. he laments that bowie didn't want to follow-up let's dance with another album in the same vein. surely this is one of the singles that makes 1983 so great. "modern love", too. the concert vid from this tour is classic.

― tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

it's a fine album and has suffered a lot over the years by being too popular and not one of his 70's RCA albums. But really there is a lot of cool weird shit on here even for a big popular album (Cat People and Ricochet) and it's filled with some of his catchiest tunes (shake it). Maybe' Iggy's China Girl is better, but this one is still good. The only thing I don't like is the cover.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I am not saying it's among his best, but it is fairly OK anyway. And better than "Young Americans", which is clearly his most overrated album and which doesn't contain much of value at all.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 19 May 2005 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

"clearly"

― tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I always assume that Geir once read that Young Americans is a soul record and has never bothered actually listening to it.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Young Americans is a weird appropriation of soul and funk to come up with something no soul or funk person would have ever done. The title track is one of the best things Bowie has done, that whole stream of consciousness lyric is brilliant. There are a lot of interesting things going on on Young Americans, and although Let's Dance is OK, it's far less interesting and trying just a bit too hard to be the big commercial sound of 1983.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Young Americans is a weird appropriation of soul and funk to come up with something no soul or funk person would have ever done.

This is a perfect description. Of "Station To Station", that is...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

No, because Station To Station mixed it up with rock melody lines and a touch of Teutonic experimentation. Whereas Young Americans, in the words of the man himself, is "the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey."

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Young Americans overrated? Doubt it. "Ziggy Stardust" is overrated.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

No, because Station To Station mixed it up with rock melody lines and a touch of Teutonic experimentation.

Which is why "Station To Station" is great.

Whereas Young Americans, in the words of the man himself, is "the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey."

Which is why it hasn't got much value.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, because taking chances never got an artist anywhere.

― tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

gr8 shots of Australia.is it an adaption of cinderella ?

― koori kid, Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:02 (twenty-one years ago)

the album version
(bowie free jazz sax duet):
SO GANGSTA IT HURTS

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, because taking chances never got an artist anywhere.

He rarely took less chances than on "Young Americans". The rest of his 70s albums were all kind of twisted, crowded with irony, references and lots of artistic qualities. "Young Americans" was just an R&B influenced pop album, the same way most of his 80s albums were just AOR influenced pop albums. It didn't have those extra qualities that his other 70s stuff did.

"Let's Dance" and "Tonight" aren't any more adventurous than "Young Americans", but they do at least have better tunes, which is why I rank them ahead of it.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 19 May 2005 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

let dance.

― john bender, Saturday, 9 July 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

let sway?

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 9 July 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

Had a bit of a downer on the Let's Dance single at the time 'cos it knocked Is There Something I Should Know off No.1, but it's pretty great. China Girl and Modern Love occupy cosier places in my heart, though.

Oh, and Young Americans WAS a risky album. Taken in context, that is. I was 3, so I don't really remember the context.

― Buffalo Stan (Buffalo Stan), Saturday, 9 July 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

I bought "let's dance" on vinyl for fifty cents yesterday.

― peter in montreal (spaces are allowed), Saturday, 9 July 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

― nayrj26, Monday, 7 February 2011 17:46 (fifteen years ago)

whoops

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5SPyGVIDzo

― nayrj26, Monday, 7 February 2011 17:47 (fifteen years ago)

― buzza, Monday, 7 February 2011 17:53 (fifteen years ago)

this song was playing in trader joe's last time i was shopping there fyi

― ciderpress, Monday, 7 February 2011 17:56 (fifteen years ago)

loved this song as a kid; still like it ok

― rockapads, Monday, 7 February 2011 18:12 (fifteen years ago)

we'll dance the blues very much

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 7 February 2011 18:14 (fifteen years ago)

Bowie is so weird:

Chic's rhythm section and SRV on top.

okay....

― i love you but i have chosen snarkness (Steve Shasta), Monday, 7 February 2011 18:46 (fifteen years ago)

pretty cool

― pajamagram sam (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 7 February 2011 18:47 (fifteen years ago)

Nile Rodgers telling the story at EMP last year about how he met Bowie and the recording sessions and all was a hell of a treat. The whole album was recorded, done and dusted in two, three weeks.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 February 2011 18:50 (fifteen years ago)

this song just sounds so good, love the digital delay dub echo on everything

― The indie rocker is the modern hippie, and the internet is his LSD (herb albert), Monday, 7 February 2011 18:52 (fifteen years ago)

defend the indefensible "high enough" by bad english

wrong band

― billstevejim, Monday, 7 February 2011 19:14 (fifteen years ago)

six years pass...

Is it just me that thinks this LP is as good as anything he did in the '70s?

― ...so music and chicken have become intertwined (Turrican), Sunday, 9 April 2017 20:40 (nine years ago)

yes

― mark s, Sunday, 9 April 2017 20:41 (nine years ago)

yes

― stanley weebeard (bizarro gazzara), Sunday, 9 April 2017 20:46 (nine years ago)

Hmm. Three of his best ever tracks on side one ('Modern Love', 'China Girl', the title track) and then 'Ricochet', 'Cat People' and 'Criminal World' on side two... it's at least as good as Diamond Dogs or Young Americans, and I'd easily choose to listen to it over The Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory or Aladdin Sane ...

― ...so music and chicken have become intertwined (Turrican), Sunday, 9 April 2017 20:49 (nine years ago)

lol ok

― mark s, Sunday, 9 April 2017 20:53 (nine years ago)

^ Top quality musical discussion happening here.

― ...so music and chicken have become intertwined (Turrican), Sunday, 9 April 2017 21:23 (nine years ago)

Is it just me that thinks this LP is as good as anything he did in the '70s?

I mean I prefer the Let's Dance period to the Ziggy Stardust period but trying to 'rate' the Bowie periods always just gives me a headache kind of thing

― Never changed username before (cardamon), Sunday, 9 April 2017 22:09 (nine years ago)

Let's Dance also seems to work for people on a dancefloor in a way the Ziggy stuff doesn't, if this matters

― Never changed username before (cardamon), Sunday, 9 April 2017 22:10 (nine years ago)

eight years pass...

The demo of Let's Dance is fantastic...never got on with the overproduced finished version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PExpZECskrs

― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Thursday, 8 May 2025 04:49 (one year ago)

This song and Modern Love were my introduction to Bowie and so they’ll always have a special place in my heart. I don’t know about the rest of the album, but those two songs are up there with his best IMO.

― o. nate, Sunday, 11 May 2025 21:48 (one year ago)

in that demo bowie sounds like... an ex-prince protege

it's cool but i prefer the overproduced finished version which is beyond classic.

― five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Sunday, 11 May 2025 21:51 (one year ago)

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