1984 (song)

"1984" is a song by English musician David Bowie, from his 1974 album Diamond Dogs. Written in 1973, it was inspired by George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and, like much of its parent album, originally intended for a stage musical based on the novel, which was never produced because permission was refused by Orwell's widow Sonia.[1]

This article is about the 1974 David Bowie song. For other songs called "1984", see 1984 (disambiguation).
"1984"
A-side label of the US vinyl single
Single by David Bowie
from the album Diamond Dogs
B-side"Queen Bitch" (US)
"Lady Grinning Soul" (Japan)
ReleasedJuly 1974
RecordedOlympic and/or Island, London, circa January 1974
GenreFunk rock
Length3:27
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)David Bowie
Producer(s)David Bowie
David Bowie singles chronology
"Diamond Dogs"
(1974)		 "1984"
(1974)		 "Knock on Wood"
(1974)
Alternative cover

Music and lyrics

The centrepiece of side two of the original vinyl album, in the context of Bowie's adaptation of Orwell's story, "1984" has been interpreted as representing Winston Smith's imprisonment and interrogation by O'Brien.[1] The lyrics also bear some similarities to Bowie's earlier song "All the Madmen", from The Man Who Sold the World ("They'll split your pretty cranium and fill it full of air").[2]

"1984"'s wah-wah guitar sound is often likened to the "Theme from Shaft" (1971) by Isaac Hayes.[1][3] Played by Alan Parker, it was one of the few instances on the Diamond Dogs album where Bowie himself did not take the lead guitar part.[2] The track's funk/soul influence has been cited as a clear indicator of where Bowie's style was headed on his next album, Young Americans.[2]

Recording and release

"1984" was first recorded during the Aladdin Sane sessions.[4] The song received its public debut, in a medley with "Dodo", known as "1984/Dodo", on the U.S. TV special The 1980 Floor Show (later bootlegged on record as Dollars in Drag), which was recorded in London on 18–20 October 1973.[1] A studio version of "1984/Dodo" was recorded around that time, but went unreleased until it appeared on the Sound + Vision box set in 1989. This was Bowie's last recording with Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and producer Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London.

In addition to the "1984/Dodo" medley, "Dodo" and "1984" were also recorded separately, "Dodo" as a demo in September 1973[5] and "1984" itself during the later Diamond Dogs sessions that winter.[6] Only "1984" made it onto the Diamond Dogs album, with the separated "Dodo" being released for the first time as a bonus track on the 1990 Rykodisc release of the album.

The final version of "1984" was faster and funkier than the medley and, as described by Bowie encyclopedist Nicholas Pegg, "an obvious single if there ever was one".[2] However, it was released as a single (PB 10026) only in America, Japan and New Zealand, where it failed to chart. The track generally opened the Diamond Dogs concerts in 1974 but was not performed live after the soul tour in 1975.

Billboard regarded "1984" as Bowie's "most commercial cut...in a long time."[7]

Personnel

Live versions
  • A July 1974 performance of "1984" from the Diamond Dogs Tour was released on David Live, Bowie's first official live album.
  • A live version from the second leg of the Diamond Dogs Tour, recorded in September 1974 (previously available on the unofficial album A Portrait in Flesh), was released in 2017 on Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles '74).
  • A live performance from the third leg of the tour, recorded in October 1974, was released in 2020 on I'm Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74).
  • A live in-studio performance recorded in November 1974 is included on the DVD set The Dick Cavett Show: Rock Icons.

Other releases
  • It was released as a single in the U.S. in July 1974, backed with "Queen Bitch" from Bowie's 1971 album Hunky Dory.
  • It appeared on several compilations:
  • "1984/Dodo" was released in the Sound + Vision box set in 1989, and on the bonus disc of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs in 2004.
  • "Dodo" was released as a bonus track on the 1990 Rykodisc reissue of Diamond Dogs, as well as on the bonus disc of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs in 2004.

Cover versions
  • The song has appeared in the Flip Skateboards video Sorry in Arto Saari's part.
  • The first few seconds of the song has been used in Xenon Entertainment's video logo, which is now Xenon Pictures.

References
  1. Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.64
  2. Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.153
  3. David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.214
  4. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974: p.283
  5. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974: p.307
  6. Chris O'Leary (2015). Rebel Rebel: p.317
  7. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 10, 1974. p. 74. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
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