Underground (David Bowie song)
"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.
"Underground" | ||||
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Single by David Bowie | ||||
from the album Labyrinth | ||||
B-side | "Underground (Instrumental)" | |||
Released | 9 June 1986[1] | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Pop, soul | |||
Length | 5:57 (Album version) 4:25 (Edited version) | |||
Label | EMI EA216 | |||
Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
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7" Picture Disc Cover | ||||
![]() EAP 216 (UK) | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Underground" on YouTube |
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
- 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. Archived from the original on 25 August 1999. 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