Loving the Alien
Encyclopedia
"Loving the Alien" is a track from the album Tonight by David Bowie
. One of only two tracks on the album written solely by Bowie, the song was a surprisingly late release as a single (coming nine months after the release of "Blue Jean" as a single, and eight months after the album), reputedly because Bowie read a review saying it would make a good single.
It was remixed as a single and issued in May 1985. Considering the age of the track (the music market had changed considerably since the day RCA
could release a two-year old album track and be rewarded by a top 3 hit, as with "Life on Mars?
"), the single performed well, reaching #19 in the UK.
Bowie has since performed the track on his Glass Spider Tour
. He would later reflect that the production on the song undid the power of the lyric, and admitted the demo version had been better. On the Reality Tour
in 2003 and 2004, he again performed this track, but this time a stripped down version with only Bowie on vocals and Gerry Leonard on guitar; in a filmed performance of the tour
, Bowie remarked that this arrangement was perhaps "the way it should have always been done."
.
Musicians
made a club mix of the song and released it as a single together with the original video of the song.
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. One of only two tracks on the album written solely by Bowie, the song was a surprisingly late release as a single (coming nine months after the release of "Blue Jean" as a single, and eight months after the album), reputedly because Bowie read a review saying it would make a good single.
It was remixed as a single and issued in May 1985. Considering the age of the track (the music market had changed considerably since the day RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
could release a two-year old album track and be rewarded by a top 3 hit, as with "Life on Mars?
Life on Mars?
"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie first released in 1971 on the album Hunky Dory. The song—which BBC Radio 2 later called "a cross between a Broadway musical and a Salvador Dalí painting"—featured guest piano work by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When released as a single in 1973,...
"), the single performed well, reaching #19 in the UK.
Bowie has since performed the track on his Glass Spider Tour
Glass Spider Tour
In 1987, David Bowie embarked on The Glass Spider Tour in support of the album Never Let Me Down alongside famed guitarist Peter Frampton. The tour was named after the album track "Glass Spider." The concert tour was the most ambitious by Bowie up to that date, surpassing the Serious Moonlight Tour...
. He would later reflect that the production on the song undid the power of the lyric, and admitted the demo version had been better. On the Reality Tour
A Reality Tour
A Reality Tour was a worldwide concert tour by David Bowie in support of the Reality album. The tour commenced on 7 October 2003 at the Forum, Copenhagen, Denmark continuing through Europe, North America, Asia, including a return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since the 1987 Glass...
in 2003 and 2004, he again performed this track, but this time a stripped down version with only Bowie on vocals and Gerry Leonard on guitar; in a filmed performance of the tour
A Reality Tour (film)
A Reality Tour is a DVD released in 2004 of David Bowie's performance at Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland in 2003 during the Reality Tour.-Repertoire:...
, Bowie remarked that this arrangement was perhaps "the way it should have always been done."
7": EMI America / EA 195 / EAP 195 (UK)
- "Loving the Alien" (Re-mixed version) (Bowie) – 4:43
- "Don't Look Down" (Re-mixed version) (PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Williamson) – 4:04
- The 7" was released in a gatefold sleeve that contained still images from the video on the inside and back covers.
- The 7" shaped picture disc (EAP 195) contained the same tracks (a very small number of these were pressed on translucent amber vinyl).
12": EMI America SEAV-7860 / 12EA 195 / 12EAP 195 (UK)
- "Loving the Alien" (Extended Dance Mix) (Bowie) – 7:27
- "Don't Look Down" (Extended Dance Mix) (PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Williamson) – 4:50 - "Loving the Alien" (Extended Dub Mix) (Bowie) – 7:14
- The 12" single was released in a gatefold sleeve that covered in images from the video. The lyrics to "Loving the Alien" were also printed on the inner sleeve. A "limited" version of the 12" single also included a fold-out poster.
- Also available as a picture disc.
- Re-mixed by Steve ThompsonSteve Thompson (musician)-Biography:Steve Thompson is an American record producer, Having worked with Guns N Roses, Madonna, John Lennon, Wu Tang, Korn, Cutting Crew, Belouis Some,Public Enemy, Whitney Houston, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers...
and Michael BarbieroMichael BarbieroMichael Francis Barbiero , is an American record producer, mixer, engineer, songwriter, and journalist.-Background:Michael Barbiero has worked with a number of artists, such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tesla, Cinderella, Blues Traveler, Ziggy Marley, Belouis Some, Cutting Crew, Counting Crows,...
. - The Extended Dance Mix of Loving The Alien is very similar to the album version, the differences include a remixing of the marimba, an added drum break and an extra instrumental passage between the first chorus and second verse.
- The Extended Dub Mix is a stripped-down version of the track with full vocals.
Download: EMI / iEA 195 (UK)
- "Loving the Alien" (Re-mixed version) (Bowie) – 4:43
- "Don't Look Down" (Re-mixed version) (PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Williamson) – 4:04 - "Loving the Alien" (Extended Dance Mix) (Bowie) – 7:27
- "Loving the Alien" (Extended Dub Mix) (Bowie) – 7:14
- "Don't Look Down" (Extended Dance Mix) (PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Williamson) – 4:50
- released in 2007
Music video
The lavish video was co-directed by Bowie with David MalletDavid Mallet (director)
David Mallet is a British director particularly noted for his work on music videos, including David Bowie's innovative "Ashes to Ashes", Rush's "Distant Early Warning, and Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" videos. He has also served as a producer on television programmes including...
.
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 19 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 9 |
| Australian Kent Report Singles Chart | 65 |
| German Singles Chart | 27 |
Production credits
Producers- David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
- Hugh PadghamHugh PadghamHugh Padgham is a British record producer. He has won many awards, including four Grammys, with Producer of the Year and Engineer of the Year. A 1992 poll in Mix magazine voted him one of the world's Top Ten Most Influential Producers....
- Derek Bramble
Musicians
- David Bowie: Vocals
- Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
: Vocals - Carlos AlomarCarlos AlomarCarlos Alomar is an American guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician...
: GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Derek Bramble: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Carmine RojasCarmine RojasCarmine Rojas, Bassist, Musical Director, Composer & Producer born February 14, 1953, Brooklyn, NY.With the efforts and support of his family, friends and professional relationships, Carmine has traveled the World earning the reputation as one of the most renowned and respected bass players in the...
: Bass - Sam Figueroa: Percussion
- Omar HakimOmar HakimOmar Hakim is an American jazz, jazz fusion and pop music drummer.Hakim credits jazz vibraphonist Mike Mainieri with giving him his first break in 1980; Hakim appeared in a video with Mainieri called The Jazz Life and began working with singer Carly Simon through Mainieri...
: DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Guy St Onge: MarimbaMarimbaThe marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
The Scumfrog vs Bowie
In 2002 the Dutch producer The ScumfrogThe Scumfrog
Jesse Houk is a DJ/remixer/producer/artist from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is better known by his pseudonym, The Scumfrog, under which he has remixed songs by artists as varied as Britney Spears, David Bowie, Dido, Enrique Iglesias, and J-Pop Superstar Utada Hikaru. His first release was a...
made a club mix of the song and released it as a single together with the original video of the song.
Track listing
- "Loving the Alien (Radio edit)" - 3:20
- "Loving the Alien (Original Club mix)" - 8:23
- "8 Days, 7 Hours (by Scumfrog)" - 7:43
- "Loving the Alien (video)"
Other releases
- It also appears on the compilation albums Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993), ChangestwobowieChangestwobowieChangestwobowie, released in 1981, was a David Bowie compilation album issued by RCA Records. Its title and packaging followed the format of RCA's first Bowie compilation, Changesonebowie in 1976. As well as post-1976 singles, the album collected songs from earlier in Bowie's career that had not...
(1998 Reissue), Best of BowieBest of BowieBest of Bowie is a career-spanning greatest hits album by multi-platinum recording artist David Bowie. The songs range from his second album to 2002. It was released 35 years after his first album, David Bowie....
(2002), The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987The Best of David Bowie 1980-1987 is a David Bowie compilation album. The CD was originally released by EMI as part of The Platinum Collection in 2005/06. The 2007 release is part of EMI's two-disc Sight & Sound series, each of which features a CD and DVD of material from the same artist...
(2007) and ISELECTISELECTiSelect is a David Bowie compilation CD first released 29 June 2008 in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland only....
(2008). - The original uncensored video for "Loving the Alien" also appears on the "Day-In Day-OutDay-In Day-Out"Day-In Day-Out" is the first track on David Bowie's album Never Let Me Down. It was issued as a single ahead of the album's release.The song criticised the urban decay and deprivation in American cities at the time, concerned largely with the depths a young mother has to sink to in order to feed...
Video EP" released in 1987.
Cover versions
- Iva Davies & IcehouseIcehouse (band)Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
- The Berlin Tapes (1995), also included on Diamond Gods: Interpretations of Bowie (2001) - The Rockridge Synthesiser Orchestra - Plays David Bowie Classic Trax
- The Nine - Diamond Gods: Interpretations of Bowie (2001)
- Heartbreak - Life Beyond Mars (2008)
- Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (forthcoming)