Nightclubbing (song)

The song, which was written and recorded in Berlin,[1][5] features David Bowie on piano with the aid of a Roland drum machine.[6][7] When Pop pronounced himself happy with the result, Bowie protested that they needed real drums to finish it off.[8] Pop insisted on keeping the rhythm machine, saying "it kicks ass, it's better than a drummer". Pop largely wrote the lyrics on the spot "in ten minutes", Bowie suggesting that he write about "walking through the night like ghosts".[8] The lyrics were immediately written just after the instrumental recording, after Bowie's suggestion that he write about "walking through the night like ghosts".[9] The song's riff has been perceived as a mischievous quote of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll".[10]

The song has been covered by many artists, including Grace Jones, The Jolly Boys, Bluvertigo and The Human League. Grace Jones' version achieved mainstream success and was included on her album of the same name.[5][11][12] Trent Reznor, Peter Murphy, Atticus Ross and Jeordie White also collaboratively covered the song live for a radio station in 2006.[13]

The song was featured in the 1996 film, Trainspotting, along with another Iggy Pop track, "Lust for Life".[4][14]

Nine Inch Nails' hit song, "Closer", features a modified sample of the Roland bass drum from the song.[7] Trent Reznor also covered the song with Peter Murphy during a live radio session. The drum loop of "Nightclubbing" was replicated by Oasis for "Force of Nature", a track recorded for their 2002 album Heathen Chemistry.

• Iggy Pop – lead vocals
• David Bowie – keyboards, synthesizer, piano, drum machine, backing vocals
• George Murray – bass
• Phil Palmer - guitar

Sources

• Bianco, David P. (1998). Parents aren't supposed to like it: rock & other pop musicians of the 1990s. U X L. ISBN 0787617326.
• DeCurtis, Anthony, James Henke and Holly George-Warren (1992). The Rolling stone album guide: completely new reviews : every essential album, every essential artist. Random House. ISBN 0679737294.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Easby, Amber & Henry Oliver (2007). The Art of the Band T-shirt. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1416947554.
• Ehrlich, Dimitri (1997). Inside the music: conversations with contemporary musicians about spirituality, creativity, and consciousness. Shambhala. ISBN 1570622736.
• Jennings, Ros & Abigail Gardner (2012). 'Rock On': Women, Ageing and Popular Music. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-1409428411.
• Pegg, Nicholas (2006). The complete David Bowie. Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1905287151.
• Pegg, Nicholas (2000). Op Cit.
• Powrie, Phil & Robynn Jeananne Stilwell (2006). Changing Tunes: The Use of Pre-existing Music in Film. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 0754651371.
• Paul Trynka (2011). Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed. Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0767927222.

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics