Underground (song)

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“Underground”
Single by David Bowie from the album Labyrinth
B-side	"Underground (Instrumental)"
Released	June 1986
Format	7”/12” single
Recorded	1985
Genre	Rock
Length	4:25
Label	EMI EA216
Producer	David Bowie, Arif Mardin
David Bowie singles chronology
Absolute Beginners (1986) "Underground" (1986) Magic Dance (1986)

"Underground" is a song from the soundtrack of the film Labyrinth, performed by David Bowie.

Contents 1 Details 2 Track listing 2.1 7”: EMI / EA 216 (UK) 2.2 12": EMI / 12EA 216 (UK) 2.3 Download: EMI / iEA 216 (UK) 3 Production credits 4 Chart positions 5 References

[edit] Details

The track was something of an experiment for Bowie, dabbling in gospel music to a small extent, helped by a large chorus of backing vocalists and blues guitarist Albert Collins, but retaining use of synthesizers.

Steve Barron directed the video clip for promoting the song, which featured images of Bowie’s most notable “roles”, including Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke (Bowie’s 1975 persona, explicitly named during the title track of Station to Station), Thomas Newton (from The Man Who Fell to Earth), Jareth (from Labyrinth) and Baal, before Bowie dances with the puppet characters from the film and turns into a cartoon himself.

The single reached #21 in the UK charts. A video for “As the World Falls Down”, another track from the Labyrinth album, was mooted for a Christmas 1986 single release, with a 3:36 edit and another Steve Barron video made. However, this release was cancelled, for reasons that are still largely unknown. The video, comprising mainly of clips from the film, has since been released on Bowie collections. In January 1987, another track from the soundtrack, “Magic Dance”, was issued as an American 12”-only release.

Over the years it has been speculated that Underground was the inspiration for Madonna's 1989 hit "Like a Prayer", which also features a pop melody combined with a gospel song. 1987's 'Man in the mirror', co-wrote and sung by Michael Jackson, is another possible influence on 'Like a prayer' and, indeed, 'Underground' could have been an influence on 'Man in the mirror'.

[edit] Track listing

All tracks by Bowie

[edit] 7”: EMI / EA 216 (UK)

1. "Underground (single version)" – 4:25
2. "Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54

[edit] 12": EMI / 12EA 216 (UK)

1. "Underground (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:51
2. "Underground (Dub)" – 5:59
3. "Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54

• Additional production and Re-mix by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.

[edit] Download: EMI / iEA 216 (UK)

1. "Underground" – 4:25
2. "Underground (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:51
3. "Underground (Instrumental)" – 5:54
4. "Underground (Dub)" – 5:59

• released in 2007

[edit] Production credits

• Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • Arif Mardin

• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: Vocals
  • Robbie Buchanan: Keyboards, synthesizers, programming
  • Andy Thomas: Additional programming
  • Richard Tee: Acoustic piano, Hammond Organ
  • Albert Collins: Lead guitar
  • Nicky Moroch: Rhythm guitar
  • Steve Ferrone: Drum effects
  • Cissy Houston, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Fonzi Thornton, Marcus Miller, Marc Stephens, Daphne Vega, Garcia Alston, Mary David Canty, Beverly Ferguson, A. Marie Foster, James Glenn, Eunice Peterson, Rennele Stafford: Backing vocals

[edit] Chart positions

Chart	Position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	18
UK Singles Chart	21
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play	22
Canada Singles Chart	30

[edit] References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

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