The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" is a song by English musician David Bowie; it serves as the second single from his twenty-fourth studio album The Next Day. The song's official music video was released on 25 February 2013 and the song itself was released for digital download the following day.[2][3] In the UK it joined BBC Radio 2's Playlist in the B list in March 2013, "The Next Day" was also the album on the week beginning 11 March, the week in which it was released. The song was released with "Where Are We Now?" – the album's first single – on a limited edition 7" 45 vinyl record on 20 April 2013 in celebration of Record Store Day.[4] In December 2013 the song was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the category 'Best Rock Performance'.
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" | ||||
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Single by David Bowie | ||||
from the album The Next Day | ||||
B-side | "Where Are We Now?" | |||
Released | 25 February 2013 | |||
Recorded | The Magic Shop (New York, New York) | |||
Genre | Art rock, alternative rock[1] | |||
Length | 3:57 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
Producer(s) |
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David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" on YouTube |
Composition and reception
According to Rolling Stone's Eric B. Danton, "the song starts with a slow, heavy backbeat and guttural guitar that dissolve into a propulsive bassline topped with shards of guitar and atmospheric synthesizers, for an effect reminiscent of vintage Bowie."[5]
Andrew Trendell of Gigwise described the song as a "fierce but vibrant classic Bowie rocker in the vein of material from the brilliant ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’," while Billboard critic Eric B. Danton interpreted it as "a return to alternative rock for Bowie."[1]
Music video
The official music video for the song premiered on 25 February 2013, and was made by Italian-Canadian director Floria Sigismondi.[6] It stars Bowie and English actress Tilda Swinton as his wife.[7] Andreja Pejić plays one of the "stars" and Saskia de Brauw plays the other.[8] The Norwegian model Iselin Steiro plays the young Bowie.[9]
Charts
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 88 |
Israel (Media Forest)[11] | 9 |
Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 89 |
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[13] | 47 |
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[14] | 7 |
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[15] | 36 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] | 102 |
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] | 21 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] | 29 |
Personnel
- David Bowie: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
- Gail Ann Dorsey: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Janice Pendarvis: Backing Vocals
- Gerry Leonard: Guitar
- David Torn: Guitar
- Tony Visconti: String Arrangement, Recorder
- Zachary Alford: Drums
References
- Brandle, Lars (25 February 2013). "David Bowie Drops New Song, Video for 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- "David Bowie to release new song 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)' on February 26". NME. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- Minsker, Evan (17 February 2013). "David Bowie Probably Releasing New Track "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" on February 26". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- Bowie, David. "The Stars (Are Out April)". Facebook. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- Danton, Eric B. (26 February 2013). "David Bowie Confronts Fame in 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- Boilen, Bob (26 February 2013). "David Bowie's New Song Is..." NPR Music. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "David Bowie unveils new single 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)' - listen". NME. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- Bowie, David. "The Stars (Are Out Tonight) VIDEO EXCLUSIVE". Facebook. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "Iselin Steiro as David Bowie in his new video". Dagbladet. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – David Bowie – The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "David Bowie – The Stars (Are Out Tonight) Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
- "Chart Track: Week 17, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
- "David Bowie Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- "David Bowie – Chart history". Billboard Mexico Ingles Airplay for David Bowie. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "David Bowie Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- "David Bowie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.