Real Cool World

Last updated

"Real Cool World"
Bowie RealCoolWorld.jpg
Single by David Bowie
from the album Songs from the Cool World
A-side "Real Cool World" (Edit)
B-side "Real Cool World" (Instrumental)
Released10 August 1992
RecordedJune/July 1992
Studio 38 Fresh (original writing & recording), Los Angeles; Mountain Studios, Montreux; Hit Factory, New York City
Genre Rock
Length4:15
Label Warner Bros.
W0127
Songwriter(s) David Bowie
Producer(s) Nile Rodgers
David Bowie singles chronology
"Fame '90"
(1990)
"Real Cool World"
(1992)
"Jump They Say"
(1993)

"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.

Contents

Song development

The track marked a reunion with Let's Dance producer Nile Rodgers, with whom Bowie began working in the first half of 1992. "Real Cool World" was the first song to come out of their year-long collaboration. [1] After releasing this song, Bowie intended to go back to his band Tin Machine to record a third album, [2] but when the band fell apart, Bowie and Rodgers instead recorded and produced the songs for Bowie's next solo album, Black Tie White Noise (1993). [1] [3] The song was included in the soundtrack to the film Cool World (1992). [3]

Other releases

The song was included as a bonus track of the 2003 re-release of Black Tie White Noise, and a digital download version of the single was announced released in June 2010. [3]

Critical reception

A reviewer from Melody Maker wrote, "'Real Cool World' sees Bowie re-united with Nile Rodgers. The strings are pretty cool and the saxophone which suddenly pops up in the home straight is wonderfully sleazy. Sadly, the quick pace of the track is a bit too much for the Thin White Duke to handle. He sounds dreadfully tired, dreadfully old." [4]

Track listing

All tracks written by David Bowie.

  1. "Real Cool World" (Edit) – 4:15
  2. "Real Cool World" (Instrumental) – 4:29
  1. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:28
  2. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #2) – 6:54
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #1) – 7:28
  4. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:10
  1. "Real Cool World" (Album Edit) – 4:15
  2. "Real Cool World" (Radio Remix) – 4:23
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #1) – 7:28
  4. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:28
  5. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:10
  6. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #2) – 6:54
  1. "Real Cool World" (Album Edit) – 4:16
  2. "Real Cool World" (Radio Remix) – 4:24
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing 1) – 7:29
  4. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:30
  5. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:12
  6. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing 2) – 6:56

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [5] 30
Germany (Official German Charts) [6] 83
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [7] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [8] 27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [9] 26
UK Singles (OCC) [10] 53
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [11] 11
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 9

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.

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

Let's Dance is the 15th studio album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 April 1983 through EMI America Records. After the release of Scary Monsters (1980), Bowie began a period of numerous musical collaborations and film appearances. By 1982, he left RCA Records out of dissatisfaction and signed with EMI America. Wanting a fresh start, he chose Nile Rodgers of the band Chic to co-produce his next record.

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

Black Tie White Noise is the 18th studio album by 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 the disbandment of Bowie's rock band Tin Machine and his marriage to model Iman, 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.

"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third studio album, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in London in May 1970, towards the end of the album's sessions; Bowie recorded his vocal on the final day of mixing for the album, reflecting his generally dismissive attitude during the sessions. Musically, it is based around a "circular" guitar riff from Mick Ronson. Its lyrics are cryptic and evocative, being inspired by numerous poems including the 1899 "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns. Bowie's vocals are heavily "phased" throughout and have been described as "haunting".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVC 15</span> 1976 song by David Bowie

"TVC 15" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1976 album Station to Station. RCA Records later released it as the second single from the album on 30 April 1976. The song was recorded in late 1975 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Co-produced by Bowie and Harry Maslin, the recording featured guitarists Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, pianist Roy Bittan and Warren Peace on backing vocals. The upbeat song is mostly art rock performed in a style reminiscent of the 1950s. Lyrically, the song concerns a character's girlfriend being eaten by a television set. It was inspired by a dream of Iggy Pop's and Bowie's role in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Some lyrics are also influenced by the Yardbirds and Kraftwerk.

<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 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 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 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 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.

"Tonight" is a song written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop for the latter's second solo studio album, Lust for Life (1977). The song was later made into the title-track for Bowie's own album Tonight (1984).

<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">Loving the Alien</span> Song by David Bowie

"Loving the Alien" is a song written and recorded by David Bowie. It was the opening track to his sixteenth studio album Tonight. One of two tracks on the album written solely by Bowie, an edited version of the song was released as a single in May 1985, nine months after the release of lead single "Blue Jean" and eight months after the release of the album. "Loving the Alien" peaked at No. 19 in the UK Singles Chart. "Loving the Alien" inspired the title of Christopher Sandford's 1997 biography of Bowie and the 2018 Bowie box set release, Loving the Alien (1983–1988).

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

"Absolute Beginners" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. Released on 3 March 1986, it was the theme song to the 1986 film of the same name. Although the film was not a commercial success, the song was a big hit, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 on the main singles charts in ten other countries. In the US, it peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump They Say</span> Song by David Bowie

"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. 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 (2020). The accompanying music video for "Jump They Say" was directed by Mark Romanek and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.

<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 1993 album of the same name. Featuring guest vocals by Al B. Sure!, it was produced by Nile Rodgers and released as the second single from the album in June 1993. 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 as the third single from his 1993 album, Black Tie White Noise. While the previous two singles from the album, "Jump They Say" and "Black Tie White Noise", covered issues such as mental illness and legal injustice, "Miracle Goodnight" features a more unabashed recurring theme of the album – Bowie's love for his new bride, Iman Abdulmajid. He declared the whole album "a wedding present" for Iman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Strangers When We Meet" is a song by English musician David Bowie, originally recorded for his 1993 album The Buddha of Suburbia. In 1995, Bowie re-recorded the song for his Outside album, and this version was edited and released as the second single from the album, paired with a reworked version of Bowie's 1970 song "The Man Who Sold the World".

<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 1995 album Outside. 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".

<i>Chic-ism</i> 1992 studio album by Chic

Chic-ism is the eighth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on the Warner Bros label in 1992.

<i>Loving the Alien (1983–1988)</i> 2018 box set by David Bowie

Loving the Alien (1983–1988) is a box set by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 12 October 2018. A follow-up to the compilations Five Years (1969–1973), Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976), and A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982), the set covers the period of Bowie's career from 1983 to 1988, his most commercially successful period, and includes eleven compact discs or fifteen LPs.

References

  1. 1 2 O'Leary 2019, p. 334.
  2. Wild, David (21 January 1993), "Bowie's Wedding Album", Rolling Stone , p. 14
  3. 1 2 3 Pegg 2016, p. 219.
  4. "Singles". Melody Maker . 15 August 1992. p. 27. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  5. "David Bowie – Real Cool World" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. "David Bowie – Real Cool World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – David Bowie" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  8. "David Bowie – Real Cool World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  9. "David Bowie – Real Cool World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. "David Bowie Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  12. "David Bowie Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2023.