Private Dancer (Tina Turner song)

Last updated
"Private Dancer"
Tina-turner-private-dancer-1985.jpg
U.S. vinyl release picture sleeve
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Private Dancer
B-side "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby or Nutbush City Limits (Live)"
ReleasedNovember 1984 (UK) [1]
Recorded1983
Length
  • 7:11 (album version)
  • 3:57 (single edit)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Mark Knopfler
Producer(s) Carter
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Better Be Good to Me"
(1984)		"Private Dancer"
(1984)		"I Can't Stand the Rain"
(1985)
Music video
"Private Dancer" on YouTube

"Private Dancer" is a song first released and made famous by American singer Tina Turner in 1984. The song was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, but never fully recorded or released by his band. Turner's recording was produced by John Carter for her fifth solo album of the same name and released as the album's fifth single. The track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US R&B chart. The song had moderate international success, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Contents

Background

The song was initially intended for Dire Straits' 1982 album Love over Gold . The instruments were recorded, but Mark Knopfler considered the lyrics unsuitable for a male singer, so the track was dropped from the project. [2] [3] Legal restrictions prevented the original recording being used by Tina Turner, so two years later it was remade by members of Dire Straits (minus Knopfler). Terry Williams replaced the original drummer, Pick Withers. Lead guitar was performed by Jeff Beck. Turner told DJ Roger Scott:

Roger [Turner's manager] knows Knopfler's manager Ed Bicknell, and Bicknell said, 'I think Mark has a song that could fit Tina, that he never used because he thought it was a song for a girl.' Mark produced the song and sang it, and after he did it he felt that it was not a song for a man, so it was just sitting on the shelf… He gave me the track and I copied it with Dire Straits people – most of them. At first I was going to try to just put my voice on Mark's tapes, but there was a record company problem, so we got Mark's musicians, Dire Straits, and went into the studio... Someone said, 'Why did you select "Private Dancer"? It's a song about a hooker. Is it because you've been a hooker?' And I was shocked... I didn't see her as a hooker... I can be naive about some of these things. But actually the answer is no. I took it because it was an unusual song. I'd never sung a song like it. And I wish you could hear Mark's version of it. He's got a very English-sounding voice... and it was really quite beautiful.... A very arty song... so I put the old soulful touch on it. [4]

Knopfler once said the song was ruined due to "them drafting in Jeff Beck to play the world's second-ugliest guitar solo". [5]

Critical reception

The Daily Vault's Mark Millan wrote, "It's a sexy, dark track that gives the album an edge and also a chance for Turner's powerful sexuality to sparkle." [6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Private Dancer", featuring dance choreography by Arlene Phillips, was directed by Brian Grant and filmed at the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park in London. [7] It features Turner as a disillusioned taxi dancer, although the song has also been interpreted as being sung from the perspective of a prostitute. [8] The video was later published on Turner's official YouTube channel in March 2009. It has amassed more than 40 million views as of June 2023. [9]

Personnel

Versions and mixes

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom
1984 release 		—250,000 [28]
United Kingdom (BPI) [29]
2004 release 		Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello recorded a cover version of the song for her album Ventriloquism , released on March 16, 2018. [30]

In 2015, Canadian electronic musician and performance artist Peaches performed a piano version of the song on The Strombo Show at the home of George Stroumboulopoulos. Peaches had previously played the song live at different concerts. [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits</span> British rock band

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.

<i>Private Dancer</i> 1984 studio album by Tina Turner

Private Dancer is the fifth solo studio album by Tina Turner. It was released on May 29, 1984, through Capitol Records and was her first album released through the label. After several challenging years of going solo after divorcing Ike Turner, Private Dancer propelled Turner into becoming a viable solo star, as well as one of the most marketable crossover singers in the recording industry. It became a worldwide commercial success, earning multi-platinum certifications, and remains her best-selling album in North America to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler</span> British musician (born 1949)

Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits. He pursued a solo career after the band first dissolved in 1988. Dire Straits reunited in 1990, but dissolved again in 1995. He is now an independent solo artist.

<i>Communiqué</i> (Dire Straits album) 1979 studio album by Dire Straits

Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 5 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album featured the single "Lady Writer," which reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and double-platinum in France.

<i>Brothers in Arms</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 13 May 1985 through Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It is credited with being the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

<i>Making Movies</i> 1980 studio album by Dire Straits

Making Movies is the third studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 October 1980 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album includes the single "Romeo and Juliet", which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as “Tunnel of Love,” featured in the 1982 Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman.

<i>On Every Street</i> 1991 studio album by Dire Straits

On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 September 1991 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultans of Swing</span> 1978 single by Dire Straits

"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.

<i>Love over Gold</i> 1982 studio album by Dire Straits

Love over Gold is the fourth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 24 September 1982 by Vertigo Records internationally and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album featured two singles: "Private Investigations," which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Industrial Disease," which reached No. 9 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States. The title track was released as a single two years later in its live version, and reached #15 in France, #29 in New Zealand, #43 in Netherlands and #50 in the band's native United Kingdom. The album reached number one on album charts in Australia, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, as well as number 19 in the United States. Love over Gold was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in France and Germany and double-platinum in Canada and the United Kingdom.

<i>Golden Heart</i> 1996 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Golden Heart is the debut solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 March 1996 by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Following a successful career leading British rock band Dire Straits and composing a string of critically acclaimed film soundtrack albums, Knopfler recorded his first solo album, drawing upon the various musical influences he'd engaged since emerging as a major recording artist in 1978. The album reached the top-10 position on charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album peaked at 105 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money for Nothing (song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Money for Nothing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, being the second track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's second single on 28 June 1985 through Vertigo Records. The song's lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. The song features a guest appearance by Sting who sings the signature falsetto introduction, background vocals and a backing chorus of "I want my MTV". The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987.

<i>On the Night</i> Live album by Dire Straits

On the Night is the second live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album features many of the band's later hits, including the singles "Walk of Life" and "Money for Nothing". The cover art of the album features dishes of the Very Large Array in central New Mexico.

<i>Break Every Rule</i> 1986 studio album by Tina Turner

Break Every Rule is the sixth solo studio album by Tina Turner. It was released on September 8, 1986, through Capitol Records. It was the follow-up to Turner's globally successful comeback album, Private Dancer, released two years earlier. Turner nearly scored her second Billboard Hot 100 number one with the lead single "Typical Male", peaking at number two for three consecutive weeks in October 1986, while "Two People" and "What You Get Is What You See" reached the top 20. "Back Where You Started" earned Turner her third consecutive Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female in 1987. It is her first solo album of original songs.

<i>Foreign Affair</i> 1989 studio album by Tina Turner

Foreign Affair is the seventh solo studio album by Tina Turner, released on September 13, 1989, through Capitol Records. It was Turner's third album release after her massively successful comeback five years earlier with Private Dancer and her third and last album with the label. Although the album was not a major success in Turner's native United States, it was a huge international hit, especially in Europe. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, her first number one album there. Dan Hartman produced most of the tracks on the album, including the hit single "The Best", which has gone on to become one of Turner's signature songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk of Life</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Walk of Life" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, being the third track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It subsequently appeared on their live album On the Night (1993). It was released as a single October 1985 but had first been available as the B-side of "So Far Away" released in advance of Brothers in Arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise Is Here</span>

"Paradise Is Here" is a song written by Paul Brady and first recorded by Tina Turner, for her album Break Every Rule. Brady subsequently released his own version on his 1987 album Primitive Dance, and it has also been covered by Cher for her twenty-first album It's a Man's World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Latest Trick</span> 1986 single by Dire Straits

"Your Latest Trick" is a song by Dire Straits, the fourth track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1986. It later appeared on the live album On the Night; the same live version is on Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits. The full-length studio album version was included on the compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Far Away (Dire Straits song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"So Far Away" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the opening track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It became the band's fourth top 20 hit, peaking at number 19. The original studio version of the track appeared on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler discography</span>

The Mark Knopfler discography consists of recordings by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, not including his work with Dire Straits. Knopfler began recording apart from Dire Straits in 1983, when he released his first soundtrack album Local Hero. That same year he produced his first album, Infidels for Bob Dylan. Between 1983 and 2016, Knopfler composed and released nine soundtrack albums, the last of which was with Evelyn Glennie.

"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" is an instrumental rock track by Mark Knopfler, and the closing track from the 1983 film Local Hero soundtrack. It was the debut solo single by Knopfler, and charted at #56 in the UK, at #26 in the Netherlands and at #18 in New Zealand. The soundtrack album also features a reprise called "Wild Theme", which consists of Knopfler’s acoustic guitar interpretation of the song's melody. Despite its rather modest chart position in Knopfler's native UK, "Going Home" remains one of the artist's most popular songs. The saxophone piece was played by the American jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker. The song is popular among fans of English football, in particular those of Knopfler’s home town club, Newcastle United, as it is played as the team runs out before every home game.

References

  1. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 847. ISBN   9780862415419.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Song Search for "private dancer"". AllMusic . Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ Pidgeon, John: Classic Albums: Interviews from the Radio One Series (BBC, 1991): pp178-179
  5. ↑ "The worst guitar solo in the world". stuff. February 4, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ Millan, Mark (February 8, 2011). "Private Dancer – Tina Turner". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Tina Turner – Private Dancer". Discogs . 1985. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ Shepherd, John; Horn, David; Laing, Dave; Oliver, Paul; Wicke, Peter (May 8, 2003). Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Part 1 Performance and Production. A&C Black. p. 664. ISBN   978-1-84714-472-0.
  9. ↑ "Tina Turner – Private Dancer". YouTube. March 13, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. Australia: St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  11. ↑ "Tina Turner – Private Dancer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9647." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Singlet 1985-02 helmikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  14. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Private Dancer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tina Turner" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Tina Turner – Private Dancer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Tina Turner – Private Dancer". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  18. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  19. ↑ "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Tina Turner Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Tina Turner - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1984" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  27. 1 2 "The Year in Music: 1985" (PDF). Billboard . December 28, 1985. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  28. ↑ Waack, William (June 20, 1984). "Tina Turner Da A Volta Por Cima". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 36. Retrieved July 1, 2023– via National Library of Brazil.
  29. ↑ "British single certifications – Tina Turner – Private Dancer". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Review: Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Ventriloquism'". NPR.org. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Peaches covers 'Private Dancer' – and it's beautiful". DangerousMinds. December 13, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
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.