Absolute Beginners

by

David Bowie

Album: Absolute Beginners Soundtrack     Released: 1986

US Chart: 53      UK Chart: 2

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This song was written for the 1986 film of the same name. Bowie was in the movie, which is a musical based on a book by Colin MacInnes. The book is set in London in the late '50s and deal with the youth culture that would eventually become the Mod movement. The musical was directed by Julien Temple and starred Patsy Kensit.

The soundtrack version of this song runs 8:02, while the single version runs around 5:38 (it can be found on various versions of the Best of Bowie anthology). (thanks, Justin - Felts Mills, NY, for above 2)

This features former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman on piano. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

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Comments:

Quoting Wikipedia : "The sessions, at Abbey Road Studios, were set up in a novel way, with a group of session musicians all receiving a card to work at the studio with "Mr X", who turned out to be Bowie. The sessions were completed rapidly, but the song was delayed due to the problems with completing the film. Virgin wanted the release to tie in with the film's opening. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record "Dancing in the Street", which used many of the same musicians. The song fused 1950s-style doo-wop with Bowie's 1980s sound. Temple also filmed the promotional clip, which fitted in with the 1950s style of the movie. The video was a homage to an old British advert for Strand cigarettes. Their ill-fated advertising tagline "You're never alone with a Strand." is quoted by Partners in the film. It also uses footage from the film."
- JL , French Guyana, -

Are you sure he repeats "there's no reason" in the second chorus? I am not. And if indeed he changes for "if there's reason", it changes the meaning, doesn't it?
- JL , French Guyana, -

I, too, love this song; the melody, the words; to me it's a very romantic song.
- Shirley , Ocean, NJ

Movie sadly lacked something (apart from DB of course!) for me but the song..... I could listen to it all day
- Charlotte , Norwich, United States

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