Jump They Say

Last updated

"Jump They Say"
Bowie JumpTheySay.jpg
Single by David Bowie
from the album Black Tie White Noise
B-side "Pallas Athena" (Don't Stop Praying mix)
Released15 March 1993 (1993-03-15) [1]
RecordedApril–November 1992 [2]
Studio
Genre Progressive house [3]
Length
  • 4:22(album version)
  • 3:53 (radio edit)
Label Arista
Songwriter(s) David Bowie
Producer(s) Nile Rodgers
David Bowie singles chronology
"Real Cool World"
(1992)		"Jump They Say"
(1993)		"Black Tie White Noise"
(1993)
Music video
"Jump They Say" on YouTube

"Jump They Say" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie from his 18th album Black Tie White Noise (1993). It was written by Bowie, produced by Nile Rodgers and released as the first single from the album in March 1993 by Arista Records. While Bowie opted not to tour for the Black Tie White Noise album, the song was performed on his 1995–96 Outside Tour and released as part of the live concert No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham 95) (2020). The accompanying music video for "Jump They Say" was directed by Mark Romanek and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe. [4]

Contents

Background and style

The song dealt with Bowie's feelings for his schizophrenic half-brother Terry Burns, who had died by suicide on 16 January 1985 when he walked in front of a train at Coulsdon South railway station, having previously been held in Cane Hill Hospital. [5] [6] Lyrically, the song is loosely based on Burns and Bowie's relationship with and memories of him. [5] Musically, the influence of Nile Rodgers led to a funk-based sound, though the track was also influenced by contemporary jazz, with a solo from avant-jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie.

Promotion

Released on 15 March 1993 as the lead-off single, [2] "Jump They Say" received a considerable promotional push from Bowie's new label, Savage Records (though Arista Records distributed the package in Europe). A striking video was shot by Mark Romanek, depicting Bowie as a businessman paranoid of his colleagues, who seemingly conduct experiments on him and find him a disturbing influence, forcing him to jump from the roof of the corporate building to his death. The video is heavily influenced by Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film Alphaville , Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971), as well as Chris Marker's film La Jetée and Orson Welles' The Trial – both from 1962. The uniformed women shown monitoring Bowie through high powered telescopes are an homage to the stewardesses in the Pan-Am space plane in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe, [4] and was praised by Entertainment Weekly after Bowie died in 2016, saying "Bowie is an excellent actor, and this video may be his best character performance in a music video." [7]

Chart performance

The song, while not Bowie's first release since Tin Machine, was pushed as a comeback single, and reached No. 9 in the UK charts – Bowie's only top 10 single between 1986's "Absolute Beginners" and 2013's "Where Are We Now?". [8]

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Peek into Bowie's first solo album in eons is a kinetic pop/funk throwdown. That incomparable voice wafts over a barrage of jangly guitars, wriggling rhythms, and jolting horns. New collaboration with "Let's Dance" co-producer Nile Rodgers has the potential to meet with similar top 40 approval, although innovative batch of remixes is already shaping up to be a club favorite here and abroad. A most welcome return." [9] Jon Selzer from Melody Maker complimented the song as "sophisticated, mock-wayward funk, pretending it's balancing precariously over a tightrope when it's really on solid ground." He added that it's "by far the best thing he's done" since "Let's Dance". [10] Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week, describing it as "a typical theatrically crooned throwback to his glory days", and adding, "Club-goers will glory in the Brothers In Rhythm/Leftfield mixes which drag it on to the dancefloor." [11] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt that jazz trumpet player Lester Bowie's brief entrance "enlivens the otherwise pastel "Jump They Say", which recurs as a remix toward the end of the album." [12] A reviewer from Philadelphia Inquirer constated that Bowie "reaffirms his commitment to arty dance-rock", [13] while Reading Evening Post complimented the song is "surprisingly good". [14] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update noted "his droning adenoidal vocal". [15]

In a 2017 retrospective review, Quentin Harrison from Albumism noted that "that romantic energy" from Bowie's marriage to Iman "put a skip in the sonic step of some of the set's darker material", like "Jump They Say". He saw the song lyrically "engage with the personal conflicts that matter to Bowie." [16] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic remarked the "paranoid jumble" of the song, naming it one of the "moments" from the album, that "are the first in a long time to feel classically Bowie". [17]

Track listing

Live performances

Bowie performed the song live on the Arsenio Hall Show in May 1993, and it was performed occasionally on his Outside Tour of 1995–96. [5] A live version of the song was released on the concert album No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham 95) (2020).

Other releases

The radio edit version has appeared on some editions of the compilations Bowie: The Singles 1969–1993 (1993), Best of Bowie (2002), Nothing Has Changed (2014), and Bowie Legacy (2016). The Leftfield 12" vocal mix was released on a UK limited release of the single "Little Wonder" in January 1997. The "JAE-E edit" (called "alternate mix") was released as a bonus track on the CD-version of Black Tie White Noise . On the bonus disc following the 10th anniversary edition of Black Tie White Noise, three remixes of "Jump They Say" appeared: "Rock Mix", "Brothers in Rhythm 12" Remix" and "Dub Oddity".

Personnel

According to Chris O'Leary: [5]

Technical

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Pressure</span> 1981 single by Queen and David Bowie

"Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Queen's second number-one hit in their home country and Bowie's third, and also charted in the top 10 in more than 10 countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nile Rodgers</span> American musician (born 1952)

Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bowie discography</span> List of works by the English singer-songwriter

During his lifetime, English singer-songwriter David Bowie (1947–2016) released 26 studio albums, nine live albums, two soundtrack albums, 26 compilation albums, eight extended plays, 128 singles and six box sets. Since his death, one further studio album, 13 live albums, one soundtrack album, one compilation album, four extended plays and six box sets have been released. Bowie also released 28 video albums and 72 music videos. Throughout his lifetime, Bowie sold at least 100 million records worldwide. In 2012, Bowie was ranked ninth best selling singles artist in United Kingdom with 10.6 million singles sold. As of January 2016, 12.09 million David Bowie singles had been sold in Britain. In a period of 24 months since his death, five million records were sold in UK, 3.1 million singles and two million albums.

<i>Lets Dance</i> (David Bowie album) 1983 studio album by David Bowie

Let's Dance is the fifteenth studio album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 April 1983 through EMI America Records. Co-produced by Bowie and Nile Rodgers, the album was recorded in December 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. The sessions featured players from Rodgers' band Chic and the then-unknown Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar. For the first time ever, Bowie only sang and played no instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Jean</span> Song by David Bowie

"Blue Jean" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie for his sixteenth studio album Tonight (1984). One of only two tracks on the album to be written entirely by Bowie, it was released as a single ahead of the album and charted in the United States, peaking at No. 8, becoming his 5th and last top 10 hit with no features. The song is loosely inspired by Eddie Cochran.

<i>Tonight</i> (David Bowie album) 1984 studio album by David Bowie

Tonight is the sixteenth studio album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 24 September 1984 through EMI America Records. The follow-up to his most commercially successful album Let's Dance, it was written and recorded in mid-1984 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Canada, following the conclusion of the Serious Moonlight Tour. Bowie, Derek Bramble and Hugh Padgham co-produced the album. Many of the same personnel from Let's Dance and the accompanying tour returned for Tonight, with a few additions. Much of Bowie's creative process was the same as he used on Let's Dance, similarly playing no instruments and offering little creative input to the musicians.

<i>Black Tie White Noise</i> 1993 studio album by David Bowie

Black Tie White Noise is the 18th studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 5 April 1993 through Savage Records in the United States and Arista Records in the United Kingdom. Conceived following Bowie's marriage to model Iman and the disbandment of his rock band Tin Machine, it was recorded throughout 1992 between studios in Montreux, Los Angeles and New York City. Bowie co-produced with his Let's Dance (1983) collaborator Nile Rodgers, who voiced dissatisfaction with the project in later decades. The album features several guest appearances, including previous collaborators Mike Garson and Mick Ronson, and new arrivals Lester Bowie and Chico O'Farrill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fame (David Bowie song)</span> 1975 single by David Bowie

"Fame" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released on his 1975 album Young Americans and was later issued as the album's second single by RCA Records in June 1975. Written by Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, it was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City in January 1975. It is a funk rock song that represents Bowie's dissatisfaction with the troubles of fame and stardom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat People (Putting Out Fire)</span> 1982 song by David Bowie

"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is a song recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie as the title track of the 1982 erotic horror film Cat People. Bowie became involved with the track after director Paul Schrader reached out to him about collaborating. The song was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland in July 1981. Bowie wrote the lyrics, which reflected the film, while the Italian producer Giorgio Moroder composed the music, which is built around only two chord changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Dance (David Bowie song)</span> 1983 single by David Bowie

"Let's Dance" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally included as the title track of his 1983 album of the same name. Co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic, it was recorded in late 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. With the assistance of engineer Bob Clearmountain, Rodgers transformed the song from its folk rock origins to a dance number through studio effects and new musicians Bowie had yet to work with. Bowie hired then-unknown Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who added a blues-edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Girl (song)</span> Song by David Bowie and Iggy Pop

"China Girl" is a song written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie in 1976, and first released by Pop on his debut solo album, The Idiot (1977). Inspired by an affair Pop had with a Vietnamese woman, the lyrics tell a story of unrequited love for the protagonist's Asian girlfriend, realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her. Like the rest of The Idiot, Bowie wrote the music and Pop improvised the lyrics while standing at the microphone. The song was released as a single in May 1977 and failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Love (song)</span> 1983 song by David Bowie

"Modern Love" is a song written by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released as the opening track on his 1983 album Let's Dance and issued as the third single from the album later in the year. Co-produced by Bowie and Nile Rodgers of the American band Chic, it is a rock song that contains elements of new wave music. It was recorded at the Power Station in Manhattan and was one of the first tracks recorded for the album. It was performed by Bowie on the Serious Moonlight Tour, where it often closed the shows. A music video for the song, directed by Jim Yukich and featuring a performance of the song during the tour, was released in 1983 and played frequently on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is Not America</span> Song by David Bowie

"This Is Not America" is a song by English singer David Bowie and American jazz fusion band Pat Metheny Group, taken from the soundtrack to the 1985 film The Falcon and the Snowman. It was released as a single in February 1985, reaching number 14 in the United Kingdom and number 32 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Cool World</span> Song by David Bowie

"Real Cool World" is a song from the soundtrack of the American 1992 animated black comedy fantasy film Cool World. It is performed by British singer-songwriter David Bowie, and was released on 10 August 1992, representing his first new solo material since the dissolution of the band Tin Machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Tie White Noise (song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Black Tie White Noise" is the title track from British singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie's 18th album of the same name (1993). Featuring guest vocals by Al B. Sure!, it was written by Bowie, produced by Nile Rodgers and released as the second single from the album in June 1993 by Arista, BMG and Savage. It peaked at number 36 in the UK. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Mark Romanek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miracle Goodnight</span> Song by David Bowie

"Miracle Goodnight" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in October 1993 by Arista Records as the third and final single from his 18th studio album, Black Tie White Noise (1993). The song was written by Bowie and produced by Nile Rodgers. It reached number 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallo Spaceboy</span> Song by David Bowie

"Hallo Spaceboy" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 20th studio album, Outside (1995). It originated as an instrumental by Reeves Gabrels called "Moondust", which Bowie and Brian Eno stripped down and used to form the final track. An industrial rock and electronica number influenced by the Pixies and Nine Inch Nails, the song contains a hypnotic sound, with synthesisers, loops and distorted guitar lines. Lyrically influenced by Brion Gysin, the song contains images of apocalypse and continues the androgynous conundrums of former Bowie songs such as "Rebel Rebel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Wonder (David Bowie song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Little Wonder" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released as the second single from his 21st album, Earthling (1997). "Little Wonder" backed by three remixes, was issued on 27 January 1997. The single was a success, peaking at number 14 in the UK and topping the chart in Japan. The accompanying music video was directed by Floria Sigismondi and depicts Bowie at three different ages. Biographer David Buckley considers it a dance-oriented video rather than a rock one, reminiscent of Orbital's "The Box" (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are Family (song)</span> 1979 single by Sister Sledge

"We Are Family" is a song recorded by American vocal group Sister Sledge. Composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, they both offered the song to Atlantic Records; although the record label initially declined, the track was released in April 1979 as a single from the album of the same name (1979) and began to gain club and radio play, eventually becoming the group's signature song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost in Music</span> 1979 single by Sister Sledge

"Lost in Music" is a song by American vocal group Sister Sledge, released in July 1979 as the third single from their third studio album, We Are Family (1979), an album entirely written, produced, and arranged by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. The "intoxicating" song was a no. 35 hit on the American R&B charts. In 1984 and 1993, "Lost in Music" was re-released in new remixes.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 13 March 1993. p. 17.
  2. 1 2 O'Leary 2019, p. 349.
  3. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say (1993, CD2, CD)". Discogs . 30 August 1993.
  4. 1 2 "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 19. 8 May 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 O'Leary 2019, pp. 349–350.
  6. ↑ Pegg, Nicholas. The Complete David Bowie. p. 120.
  7. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (11 January 2016). "David Bowie's 20 best music videos". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  8. ↑ O'Leary 2019, p. 350.
  9. ↑ Flick, Larry (27 March 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 82. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Selzer, Jon (20 March 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 26. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Jones, Alan (20 March 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles – Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week . p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "David Bowie". Orlando Sentinel .
  13. ↑ "Bowie Goes Solo to Win Back Those He Alienated". Philadelphia Inquirer . 6 April 1993.
  14. ↑ Reading Evening Post . 18 March 1993. p. 23.
  15. ↑ Hamilton, James (13 March 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  16. ↑ Harrison, Quentin (6 December 2017). "Lest We Forget: Revisiting David Bowie's 1993 Album 'Black Tie White Noise'". Albumism. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  17. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "David Bowie – Black Tie White Noise". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  19. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1744." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  21. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 17. 24 April 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  23. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 18. 1 May 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  24. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
  25. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Jump They Say". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "Regional EHR Top 20: South" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 13. 27 March 1993. p. 31.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  29. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  31. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  33. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  34. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  35. ↑ "David Bowie – Jump They Say". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  36. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  37. ↑ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . 10 April 1993. p. 16. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  38. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 27 March 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  39. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 27 March 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  40. ↑ "David Bowie Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  41. ↑ "David Bowie Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  42. ↑ "David Bowie Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  43. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.