"Music for Chameleons" is a 1982 single by Gary Numan

Gary Numan

Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...

 from his album, I, Assassin

I, Assassin

I, Assassin is the sixth studio album by Gary Numan. Released in 1982, it reached no.8 on the UK charts.Three songs; "Music for Chameleons", "We Take Mystery " and "White Boys and Heroes" were released as singles from the album and all reached the UK Top 20 I, Assassin is the sixth studio album...

. It peaked at number 19 in the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

. The song received its live debut on Numan's 1982 American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 tour (where he was living as a tax exile at the time) and was performed again in 1984 on the Berserker

Berserker (Gary Numan album)

Berserker is the eighth studio album, and sixth under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1984. It was his first album to be released under Numan's own record label, Numa Records.-Overview:...

Tour (captured on the White Noise live album).

Named after the 1980 literature anthology

Music for Chameleons

Music for Chameleons is an anthology by the American author Truman Capote, which includes both fiction and non-fiction. Capote's first offering of new material in 14 years, Music for Chameleons spent an unheard of 16 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.-Plot:The book is divided into three...

 by the American writer Truman Capote

Truman Capote

Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...

, the song was conceived during Numan's around-the-world flight in 1981, and he got the rhythm from the sound of the engines made over the ocean. The B-side, "Noise Noise", was recorded in 1981, and was originally planned to be released as a single in its own right. The track features features David Van Day

David Van Day

David Van Day is an English singer and media personality, formerly a member of the pop duo Dollar. He was also a member of the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls , and a latter-day version of Bucks Fizz....

 and Thereza Bazar

Thereza Bazar

Thereza Bazar is a British-Canadian singer, best known as one half of the pop duo, Dollar.- Career :Bazar first found fame in her teens as a member of 1970s group Guys 'n' Dolls, who scored a 1975 hit with There's A Whole Lot Of Lovin and went on to have a short hit career, which also included...

 of the vocal duo Dollar

Dollar

The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...

, as does the additional 12" B-side track, "Bridge? What Bridge?", Other collaborations were planned but never materialised.