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DJ (David Bowie song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = DJ
| cover = Bowie_DJ.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = David Bowie
| album = Lodger
| B-side = Repetition
| released = 29 June 1979
| recorded = Mountain, Montreux, September 1978; Record Plant, New York City, March 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = New wave, funk rock
| length = 3:59 (Album Version)
3:20 (Single Version)
| label = RCA
BOW 3
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Boys Keep Swinging
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Yassassin
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'DJ'" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1979 album 'Lodger', and then as a single on 29 June 1979.
A cynical comment on the cult of the DJ, the track includes an Adrian Belew's guitar solo, which was recorded in multiple takes, and then mixed back together for the album track. In a biography of Talking Heads, it is said this song was an attempt by Bowie to sing like David Byrne, who was befriending Brian Eno at the time. The single, an edited version, peaked at No. 29 in the UK and No. 106 on the 'Billboard' Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart in the US.
Track listing
# "DJ" (Bowie, Eno, Alomar) 3:20
# "Repetition" (Bowie) 2:59
Benny Benassi Remix
# "DJ (David Bowie vs. Benny Benassi)" 2:35
# "DJ (David Bowie vs. Benny Benassi)" (extended) 6:19
Personnel
* David Bowie
* 'musicians':
* David Bowie vocals, Chamberlin, piano, production
* Adrian Belew guitar
* Carlos Alomar guitar
* George Murray bass guitar
* Dennis Davis drums
* Simon House violin
* Brian Eno synthesizer on "Repetition"
* Tony Visconti production
Music video
David Mallet filmed a music video for the song, featuring Bowie destroying a DJ studio, mixed with Bowie strolling around London and attracting a crowd of curious passers-by.
Other releases
* It appeared on the following compilations:
** 'Chameleon' (Australia/New Zealand 1979)
** 'ChangesTwoBowie' (1981) (single edit)
** 'Fame and Fashion' (1984)
** 'The Singles Collection' (1993) (single edit on U.S. version)
** 'The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979' (1998)
** 'Best of Bowie' (US/Canada 2002)
** 'The Platinum Collection' (2005/2006)
* It was released as a picture disc in the RCA 'Life Time' picture disc set.
* The single edit of the song was included on 'Re:Call 3', part of the 'A New Career in a New Town (19771982)' compilation (2017).
Cover versions
* Danny Michel - 'Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie' (2004)
* Momus - 'Turpsycore' (2015)
References
Sources
* Pegg, Nicholas, 'The Complete David Bowie', Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000,
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