Music Review: David Bowie "China Girl"
David Bowie
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China Girl
Album: Let’s Dance
Year: 1983
According to Wikipedia, Iggy Pop had a hit solo single with “China Girl” in 1977. He would later record “Lust For Life” in 1979 and experience superstardom. However, he would later fall into heroin addiction. David Bowie would later record the single for his own 1983 album, “Let’s Dance” and release it to help Pop out financially.
Iggy Pop can’t exist without his heroin fix in the murky “China Girl.”
Anxious guitars and percussion open the single, setting a fraught tone. In the first verse, he says he’s downhearted. Heroin, which he gives the affectionate nickname of ‘china girl’, is his lover that soothes him. When he’s not on it, he’s jittery and can’t concentrate. His insides ache the searing on the veins and pulsing heartbeat. He thinks the world is going to collapse around him.
In the second verse, he says without it he can’t function. In the morning, the first thing he reaches for his needle. However, sometimes it’s misplaced and he feels as though he will be sick.
In the chorus, he says he loathes his addiction. He wishes he could end it. He can let his insecurity dissipate into the white powder and become larger than life.
A searching guitar solo follows.
In the bridge, he says he’d walk all day and night in the city as though he were a deity. He saw himself as a torturous leader, determining people’s fates.
Another searching guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he warns the heroin to get away from him. He will corrupt it and turn it into something ugly. He is willing to devote his life to it, though by quitting his television show appearances and his charisma. He also says he will get other rising pop stars hooked on to it, too.
In the final verse, he says the heroin calms him and works as a behavioral monitor.
An adrift guitar solo continues for another two minutes to close the single.
Heroin controls every aspect of Pop’s life. It tells him how to behave and think. It changes his personality. It becomes a friend only he knows and sees. The drug is much like a girlfriend for him. It has a firm grasp on him, demanding slavish loyalty.
Pop’s incoherent, fazed vocals sob for another chance. However, before he can start to feel, the heroin numbs him, stopping the pain. It has destroyed him and can’t comprehend as to why. It was supposed to help, not hinder him.
The black arrangement straggles from note to note, trying to find the end of the addiction but seeing nothing but white.
The disturbing “China Girl” is an effective anti-drug song.
David Bowie controls his fragile girlfriend in the dulcet “China Girl.”
A luring guitar and oriental strings open the single, setting a malleable tone. In the opening, he gives her a condescending nickname, which infantilzes and labels her.
In the first verse, he says when he feels weak, he tries to contact his Asian girlfriend. With her, he has power and can form her thoughts, if he chose.. Her eyes light up whenever he calls her. Her life revolves around his.
In the second verse, he says he is confused and insecure when he’s away at work. He looks for her immediately in the morning and wants to know where she is, if she’s not sleeping in bed next to him. His world crumbles when he can’t order her around.
In the chorus, she makes him feel like a wanted movie star with fascinating stories to tell. Having her in his life has given him masculinity and pride, which he never had.
A placid guitar solo follows.
In the bridge, he says his newfound confidence makes him believe he could own the city and exact revenge on those who have bullied or silenced him.
An unhinged guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he cautions his girlfriend not to speak up. He threatens to tear her self-esteem and identity apart. He will no longer let her have any intellectual curiousity. He will only let her focus on her beauty and she will see the worst of his anger.
In the final verse, he says she arouses him by putting her fingers to his lips and playfully chastising him. Then, she kisses him.
Next, is a stimulated guitar solo.
At the end, he repeats his nickname for her,
In his cover, he is a man yearning for dominance. Outside of his home, he is an everyday minion in a huge company, striving to get to the top. The only way he can release his frustration is on his nonresisting girlfriend. She’s there solely to fulfill his needs and has no will of her own. The lack of free thinking and compliance is why he loves her so much.
Bowie’s cracked, low vocals expect unquestioning obedinence. In his mind, he is God, but he is a furious one, wondering why he is not heard by others.
The browbeaten arrangement gives voice to Bowie’s subconscious. It unearths every twinge of madness hiding inside and exposes the coldness. The oriental strings hint at a social issue (imperialism) but do not last long enough to bond with the lyrics.
The comely “China Girl” reinterprets Iggy Pop’s version with extreme care. The abusive angle is a bit shaky at times. However, it catches it balances and brushes iself off. The single, though, cannot match the raw intensity of the original. The single wasn’t meant to be pretty.
Album: Let’s Dance
Year: 1983
According to Wikipedia, Iggy Pop had a hit solo single with “China Girl” in 1977. He would later record “Lust For Life” in 1979 and experience superstardom. However, he would later fall into heroin addiction. David Bowie would later record the single for his own 1983 album, “Let’s Dance” and release it to help Pop out financially.
Iggy Pop can’t exist without his heroin fix in the murky “China Girl.”
Anxious guitars and percussion open the single, setting a fraught tone. In the first verse, he says he’s downhearted. Heroin, which he gives the affectionate nickname of ‘china girl’, is his lover that soothes him. When he’s not on it, he’s jittery and can’t concentrate. His insides ache the searing on the veins and pulsing heartbeat. He thinks the world is going to collapse around him.
“I couldn't escape this feeling/With my china girl/I'm just a wreck without/My little china girl/I'd hear hearts beating/Loud as thunder/See the stars crashing.”
In the second verse, he says without it he can’t function. In the morning, the first thing he reaches for his needle. However, sometimes it’s misplaced and he feels as though he will be sick.
“I'm a mess without/My china girl/Wake up mornings, there's/No china girl/I'd hear hearts beating/Loud as thunder/
I'd see stars crashing down.”
In the chorus, he says he loathes his addiction. He wishes he could end it. He can let his insecurity dissipate into the white powder and become larger than life.
“I'd feel tragic/Like I was Marlon Brando/When I'd look at my china girl/I could pretend that nothing/Really meant too much/When I'd look at my china girl.”
A searching guitar solo follows.
In the bridge, he says he’d walk all day and night in the city as though he were a deity. He saw himself as a torturous leader, determining people’s fates.
“I'd stumble into town/Just like a sacred cow/Visions of swastikas in my head/And plans for everyone/It's in the white of my eyes.”
Another searching guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he warns the heroin to get away from him. He will corrupt it and turn it into something ugly. He is willing to devote his life to it, though by quitting his television show appearances and his charisma. He also says he will get other rising pop stars hooked on to it, too.
“My little china girl/
You shouldn't mess with me/I'll ruin everything you are/I'll give you television/I'll give you eyes of blue/I'll give you men who want to rule the world.”
In the final verse, he says the heroin calms him and works as a behavioral monitor.
“And when I get excited/My little china girl says/”Oh Jimmy, just shut your mouth”/She says “shhhh..”
An adrift guitar solo continues for another two minutes to close the single.
Heroin controls every aspect of Pop’s life. It tells him how to behave and think. It changes his personality. It becomes a friend only he knows and sees. The drug is much like a girlfriend for him. It has a firm grasp on him, demanding slavish loyalty.
Pop’s incoherent, fazed vocals sob for another chance. However, before he can start to feel, the heroin numbs him, stopping the pain. It has destroyed him and can’t comprehend as to why. It was supposed to help, not hinder him.
The black arrangement straggles from note to note, trying to find the end of the addiction but seeing nothing but white.
The disturbing “China Girl” is an effective anti-drug song.
David Bowie controls his fragile girlfriend in the dulcet “China Girl.”
A luring guitar and oriental strings open the single, setting a malleable tone. In the opening, he gives her a condescending nickname, which infantilzes and labels her.
“Oh oh oh oh little china girl/Oh oh oh oh little china girl.”
In the first verse, he says when he feels weak, he tries to contact his Asian girlfriend. With her, he has power and can form her thoughts, if he chose.. Her eyes light up whenever he calls her. Her life revolves around his.
“I could escape this feeling, with my china girl/I feel a wreck without my little china girl/I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder/Saw the stars crashing.”
In the second verse, he says he is confused and insecure when he’s away at work. He looks for her immediately in the morning and wants to know where she is, if she’s not sleeping in bed next to him. His world crumbles when he can’t order her around.
“I'm a mess without my little china girl/Wake up in the morning. where's my, little china girl?/I hear our heart's beating, loud as thunder/I saw the stars crashing down.”
In the chorus, she makes him feel like a wanted movie star with fascinating stories to tell. Having her in his life has given him masculinity and pride, which he never had.
“I'm feelin' tragic like I'm Marlon Brando/When I look at my china girl/I could pretend that nothing really meant too much/When I look at my china girl.”
A placid guitar solo follows.
In the bridge, he says his newfound confidence makes him believe he could own the city and exact revenge on those who have bullied or silenced him.
“I stumble into town just like a sacred cow/Visions of swastikas in my head/Plans for everyone/It's in the white of my eyes.”
An unhinged guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he cautions his girlfriend not to speak up. He threatens to tear her self-esteem and identity apart. He will no longer let her have any intellectual curiousity. He will only let her focus on her beauty and she will see the worst of his anger.
“My little china girl/You shouldn't mess with me/
I'll ruin everything you are/I'll give you television/I'll give you eyes of blue/I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world.”
In the final verse, he says she arouses him by putting her fingers to his lips and playfully chastising him. Then, she kisses him.
“And when I get excited/My little china girl says/Oh baby just you shut your mouth/She says... shh/She says... shh/She says/She says.”
Next, is a stimulated guitar solo.
At the end, he repeats his nickname for her,
“Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl/Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl/Oh oh oh oh little china girl/Oh oh oh oh little china girl/Oh oh oh oh little china girl.”
In his cover, he is a man yearning for dominance. Outside of his home, he is an everyday minion in a huge company, striving to get to the top. The only way he can release his frustration is on his nonresisting girlfriend. She’s there solely to fulfill his needs and has no will of her own. The lack of free thinking and compliance is why he loves her so much.
Bowie’s cracked, low vocals expect unquestioning obedinence. In his mind, he is God, but he is a furious one, wondering why he is not heard by others.
The browbeaten arrangement gives voice to Bowie’s subconscious. It unearths every twinge of madness hiding inside and exposes the coldness. The oriental strings hint at a social issue (imperialism) but do not last long enough to bond with the lyrics.
The comely “China Girl” reinterprets Iggy Pop’s version with extreme care. The abusive angle is a bit shaky at times. However, it catches it balances and brushes iself off. The single, though, cannot match the raw intensity of the original. The single wasn’t meant to be pretty.