Nightclubbing (song)

"Nightclubbing"
Song by Iggy Pop
from the album The Idiot
Released	March 18, 1977 (1977-03-18)
Recorded	1976–1977
Genre	Art rock
Length	4:14
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Iggy Pop David Bowie
Producer(s)	David Bowie

"Nightclubbing" is a song written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop,[1][2][3] first released by Iggy Pop on his debut solo studio album, The Idiot in 1977. It has been since considered "a career highlight", along with "Lust for Life"[4] and has been covered by many artists. It is also extensively featured on other media.

Background

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 Iggy 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 song's riff has been perceived as a mischievous quote of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll".[6]: 242–250 

Cover versions and use in media

The song has been covered by many artists, including Grace Jones, The Jolly Boys, and Bluvertigo. Grace Jones' version achieved mainstream success and was included on her album of the same name.[5][9][10] The Human League has a version on their Holiday '80 EP (1980).

Siouxsie Sioux with her band The Creatures covered the song on their 1999 live album Sequins in the Sun.

In 2021, American gothic rock/post-punk band Damien Done released a cover of "Nightclubbing" as a single.[11]

Nine Inch Nails' hit 1994 song, "Closer" from their album The Downward Spiral, features a modified sample of the Roland bass drum from the song.[7][12] Trent Reznor, Peter Murphy, Atticus Ross and Jeordie White later covered the song during a live radio session.[13]

The drum loop from "Nightclubbing" was used by Oasis in their song "Force of Nature", a track written for the soundtrack of Love, Honor and Obey, and recorded for their 2002 album Heathen Chemistry.[14][12]

The song was featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting and appeared on its soundtrack, along with another Iggy Pop track, "Lust for Life".[4][15]

The song also appeared in the HBO series Westworld, as part of the third season, in the episode "Genre".[16][17]

Personnel

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

References

1. Easby and Oliver (2007)
2. Pegg (2006), p.154
3. Bianco (1998)
4. Wolk, Douglas (September 1996). "Various artists - Soundtracks (Trainspotting)". CMJ (37): 39. ISSN 1074-6978.
5. Ehrlich (1997), p.96
6. Paul Trynka (2011), Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed: The Biography, p. 145, Hachette
7. Rule, Greg (April 1994). "Trent Reznor". Keyboard.
8. Pegg 2000, pp. 152–153.
9. DeCurtis, Anthony and James Henke and Holly George-Warren (1992), p. 378
10. Jennings and Gardner (2012)
11. Ramirez, Carlos (February 5, 2021). "Damien Done Goes "Nightclubbing" on Iggy Pop Cover (Premiere)". No Echo. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
12. Perry, Kevin (May 26, 2020). "The perfect marriage: why Iggy Pop and David Bowie's Berlin year inspired the new breed of punks". NME. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
13. Marvilli, Joe (January 31, 2010). "Watch: Trent Reznor and Peter Murphy cover Iggy Pop, The Normal, NIN". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
14. Howard, Tom (May 20, 2019). "The Masterlist – every song Oasis ever recorded ranked in order of greatness". NME. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
15. Powrie, Phil and Robynn Jeananne Stilwell (2006), p.134
16. Writers: Crouse, Karrie. Nolan, Jonathan. Director: Foerster, Anna. (April 12, 2020). "Genre". Westworld. Season 3. Episode 5. HBO.
17. Renfro, Kim (April 12, 2020). "'Westworld' cocreator Jonathan Nolan breaks down Sunday's 'Genre' episode and the inspiration for each movie theme". Insider. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020.

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; Holly George-Warren (1992). The Rolling stone album guide: completely new reviews : every essential album, every essential artist. Random House. ISBN 0679737294.
• 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). The Complete David Bowie.
• 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.