Underground (David Bowie song)
"Underground" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by David Bowie | ||||
from the album Labyrinth | ||||
B-side | "Underground (Instrumental)" | |||
Released | 9 June 1986[1] | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Pop, film soundtrack | |||
Length | 5:57 (Album version) 4:25 (Edited version) | |||
Label | EMI EA216 | |||
Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
7" Picture Disc Cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Underground" on YouTube |
"Underground" is a song written and recorded by David Bowie for the soundtrack of the film Labyrinth. It reached No. 21 in the UK Singles Chart.
Details
Bowie and producer Arif Martin recorded "Underground" at Atlantic Studios in New York. The track included a large chorus of backing vocalists (including Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross and Daphne Rubin-Vega)[2] and blues guitarist Albert Collins.
Video
Steve Barron directed the video clip for promoting the song, which included some characters from the movie, including Hoggle and the Junk Lady.[2] Jim Henson and his son Brian were impressed enough with Barron's style to offer him a job directing the pilot episode of The Storyteller.
Bowie was not happy with the video, saying in 1987, "I've found that the videos I put into other people’s hands have always been a mistake. Because of my lack of interest, I didn't get that involved with things like 'Underground' which I did for Labyrinth. I just left it up, and the result is just not my kind of video. I was a bit lax there. I didn't feel involved."[3][4] Despite Bowie's dislike for the video, Entertainment Weekly considered it to be among his best after he died in 2016.[5]
Follow-up singles
"As the World Falls Down" was considered for a Christmas 1986 single release, but was canceled.[6] "Magic Dance" was released as the second single from the soundtrack to limited countries in January 1987.
Track listing
All tracks by Bowie
7" Commercial Single/12" Promo Single: EMI / EA 216 (UK)
- "Underground (Edited version)" – 4:25
- "Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:40
- This is the only Instrumental version featuring the backing singers.
All other Instrumental versions are slightly longer, backing-tracks only except on the back of the promo 12-inch single.
12" Club Single: EMI / 12EA 216 (UK)
- "Underground (Extended dance mix)" – 7:51
- "Underground (Dub)" – 5:59
- "Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54
- Additional production and Re-mix by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.
7" Picture Disc: EMI / EAP 216 (UK)
- "Underground (Edited version)" - 4:25
- "Underground (Instrumental)" - 5:52
Download: EMI / iEA 216 (UK)
- "Underground (Edited version)" – 4:25
- "Underground (Extended dance mix)" – 7:51
- "Underground (Instrumental of album version)" – 5:54
- "Underground (Dub)" – 5:59
- released in 2007
Personnel
- David Bowie – vocals, backing vocals, producer
- Arif Mardin – producer
- Albert Collins – guitar
- Steve Ferrone – drums
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer
- Bob Gay - saxophone
- Chaka Khan – background vocals
- Cissy Houston – background vocals
- Fonzi Thornton – background vocals
- Luther Vandross – background vocals
Chart positions
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 26 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50)[8] | 10 |
Canadian Singles Chart[9] | 73 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] | 7 |
Germany (GfK)[11] | 20 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] | 7 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] | 6 |
Spain (AFYVE)[14] | 11 |
Swedish Singles Chart[15] | 19 |
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[16] | 14 |
UK Singles Chart[17] | 21 |
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 22 |
US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 18 |
In Popular Culture
References
- ^ Underground Discogs
- ^ a b c Block, Paula; Erdmann, Terry (2016). Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History. Insight Editions. p. 165 & 166. ISBN 978-1-60887-810-9.
- ^ "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output Magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013
- ^ "Dave In, Dave Out", Music & Sound Output Magazine, June 1987, retrieved 11 July 2013
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (11 January 2016). "David Bowie's 20 best music videos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ Pegg, Nicholas (October 2016). The Complete David Bowie New Edition: Expanded and Updated. Titan Books.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
- ^ "ultratop.be". Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada: Volume 44, No. 16, July 12 1986, 12 July 1986, retrieved 11 July 2014
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
- ^ "germancharts.de" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ "charts.nz". Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959-2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ "der Schweizer Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "OfficialCharts.com". Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5