Absolute Beginners (David Bowie song)

"Absolute Beginners (song)" redirects here. For the Jam song, see Absolute Beginners (The Jam song).

"Absolute Beginners"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Absolute Beginners: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	"Absolute Beginners" (dub mix)
Released	3 March 1986 (1986-03-03)
Recorded	June 1985,[1] August 1985[2]
Studio	Westside Studio, London[1] Westside (Shepherds Bush, London)[2]
Length	8:03 (full-length album version) 5:36 (single version)
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	David Bowie
Producer(s)	David Bowie Alan Winstanley Clive Langer
David Bowie singles chronology
"Dancing in the Street" (1985) "Absolute Beginners" (1986) "Underground" (1986)
Music video
"Absolute Beginners", "David Bowie Impersonates..." Mark Saunders, January 22, 2016. on YouTube

"Absolute Beginners" is a song written and performed by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. Recorded in August of 1985, and released on 3 March 1986, it was the theme song to the 1986 film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners). 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.

Bowie performed "Absolute Beginners" live on his 1987 Glass Spider Tour, his 2000 "Mini" Tour, and his 2002 Heathen Tour. The song has been included on a number of Bowie's compilation and "Best-of" releases, and was included as a bonus track on the 1995 re-release of Tonight (1984).

Background and recording

Bowie was good friends with the film's director, Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the Jazzin' for Blue Jean short film). Bowie agreed to Temple's request to write music for the film if he could also play the part of Vendice Partners.

It was recorded at Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley's Westside Studios, Shepherds Bush, London in the summer of 1985. One of the musicians, Kevin Armstrong said that after only twenty minutes of trying various things, they had a structure and shape that seemed to please Bowie. He took a pen and paper and started jotting down lyrics. They recorded the whole thing in one or two takes, and David seemed really impressed and asked the band members to be ready to do the real session in a week’s time at Westside Studios near Ladbroke Grove. ‘Oh, and I need to find a girl singer who sounds like a shopgirl’ David said. ‘My sister Janet sings a bit, and she works in Dorothy Perkins’ Kevin answered. ‘Great’ he laughed. ‘Get her in.’ So next week Kevins sister came in and recorded the song with 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. The song featured Rick Wakeman on piano, who had previously performed on Bowie's "Space Oddity" single and Hunky Dory studio album. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record the charity cover of "Dancing in the Street" with Bowie, which used many of the same musicians. Bowie recorded the lead vocal of "Absolute Beginners" at Westside Studios in August.^[2]

Critical reception

AllMusic described "Absolute Beginners" as "the gem of his post-Let's Dance '80s output, a big, breathtaking ballad allowing him to indulge the [Frank] Sinatra croon that's driven many of his best performances".^[3] It was chosen by Jeremy Allen in The Guardian as one of Bowie's "ten of the best" songs.^[4] Biographer Paul Trynka described "Absolute Beginners" as "Bowie's last great composition of the 1980s",^[5] while rock critic Chris O'Leary described it as "gorgeous and valedictory," with "one of the great Bowie melodies" in its refrain.^[6] Mojo chose the song as number 61 in its countdown of Bowie's 100 greatest songs.^[7] Don Weller's saxophone solo has been described by musicOMH as "perhaps the best" saxophone solo in a Bowie song. They characterised it as "the sound of one man trying to violently expel his innards through the bell of his instrument" and "one of the most heartbreaking things put to record".^[8]

"Absolute Beginners" was the second song played on Absolute Radio after officially rebranding from Virgin Radio on 29 September 2008, after the Beatles' "A Day in the Life", and on 19 January 2023, it became the last song to be played on the station's AM frequencies, as part of a tribute to the 1215khz frequency, with Christian O'Connell's DJ intro to the song from 2008 also included.

Music video

Julien Temple shot the music video, which echoed the 1950s style of the movie. The video was a homage to an old British advert for Strand cigarettes. The ill-fated advertising tagline "You're never alone with a Strand" is quoted by Partners in the film. The video also uses footage from the film.

In 2016, Entertainment Weekly chose it as one of Bowie's 20 best music videos. They stated the video "does a far better job of expressing the noirish romanticism" of MacInnes' novel than the film did and also praised the "great dance-fighting scene at the end".^[9]

Live versions

Bowie performed the song live during his 1987 Glass Spider Tour (released on Glass Spider (1988/2007)), a 25 June 2000 performance of the song at the Glastonbury Festival was released in 2018 on Glastonbury 2000, and another live version recorded at BBC Radio Theatre, London, two days later was released on the bonus disc accompanying the first release of Bowie at the Beeb in 2000. The song was performed live on several occasions on the 2002 Heathen Tour as a duet with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey; usually the song would end with Bowie and Dorsey dancing. Mark Plati would play bass while she sang.

Other releases

In 1995, the full-length version appeared as a bonus track on the Virgin Records rerelease of Bowie's 16th studio album Tonight (1984). The 5:36 single version has appeared on the following compilations: Bowie: The Singles 1969–1993 (1993), The Singles Collection (1993), ChangesTwoBowie (1998 reissue), Best of Bowie (2002) (most editions), The Platinum Collection (2005), The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987 (2007), and Nothing Has Changed (2014) (3-CD and vinyl editions). A 4:46 edit, released to promote the single in 1986, was included on the 1-CD and 2-CD editions of Nothing Has Changed and the 2-CD version of Bowie Legacy (2016).

Track listings

All tracks are written by David Bowie, except where noted.

3-inch CD: Virgin CDT 20 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 8:03
2. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:40

CD: Virgin CDF 20 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 8:03
2. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:40

7-inch: Virgin VS 838 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
2. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:42

12-inch: Virgin VSG 838–12 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" (full length version) – 8:00
2. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:42

• issued in a gatefold sleeve

12-inch: EMI America SPRO 9623 (US)

1. "Absolute Beginners" (edited version) – 4:46
2. "Absolute Beginners" (full length version) – 8:00

• includes exclusive "edited version"

Download: EMI iVS 838 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
2. "Absolute Beginners" (full length version) – 8:00
3. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:42

Download: Amazon.com (US)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:37
2. "Absolute Beginners" (full length version) – 8:03
3. "Absolute Beginners" (dub mix) – 5:39
4. "That's Motivation" – 4:14
5. "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" (Comp.: Domenico Modugno) – 3:13

• Original release date (of E.P. download with added tracks 4 and 5): 28 May 2007

Personnel

Producers

• Alan Winstanley

• Clive Langer

Engineer

• Mark Saunders

Musicians

• David Bowie – vocals
• Rick Wakeman – piano
• Kevin Armstrong – guitar
• Matthew Seligman – bass
• Neil Conti – drums
• Luís Jardim – percussion
• Mac Gollehon – trumpet
• John Thirkell – trumpet
• Don Weller, Gary Barnacle, Paul "Shilts" Weimar, Willie Garnett, Andy MacKintosh, Gordon Murphy – saxophones
• Steve Nieve – keyboards
• Janet Armstrong – backing vocals

Gil Evans sings the refrain of the song in the film.

Charts

Weekly charts 1986 weekly chart performance for "Absolute Beginners" Chart (1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 45 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[14] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 1 France (SNEP)[16] 21 Greece (IFPI)[17] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[18] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)[19] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 4 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[24] 6 Spain (AFYVE)[25] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 53 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[30] 9 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[31] 61 West Germany (GfK)[32] 7 2016 weekly chart performance for "Absolute Beginners" Chart (2016) Peak position Portugal (AFP)[33] 81

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Absolute Beginners" Chart (1986) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[34] 40 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 22 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 27 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[37] 25 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[38] 41 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 53 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 37 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 30 UK Singles (Gallup)[42] 52 West Germany (Official German Charts)[43] 73

Certifications

Certifications for "Absolute Beginners"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[44]	Silver	250,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Thompson, Dave (2006). Hallo Spaceboy: The Rebirth of David Bowie. ECW Press. p. 321. ISBN 978-1-55022-733-8.
2. Shepherd, Jack (21 January 2016). "David Bowie impersonates Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed in newly unearthed recording". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
3. LeRoy, Dan. "Absolute Beginners – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
4. Allen, Jeremy (3 December 2014). "David Bowie: 10 of the best". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
5. Trynka, Paul (2012). David Bowie: Starman. Sphere. ISBN 978-0-7515-4293-6. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
6. O'Leary, Chris (2019). Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976–2016. Repeater Books. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-912248-30-8.
7. "David Bowie – The 100 Greatest Songs". Rocklist.net. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
8. Jeffery, Alex (12 January 2016). "The Pranny Genius Of David Bowie". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
9. Anderson, Kyle (11 January 2016). "David Bowie's 20 best music videos". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
12. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0670." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
14. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 17. 3 May 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
15. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
16. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
17. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 20. 24 May 1986. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Absolute Beginners". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
19. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "David Bowie" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – David Bowie" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
21. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
22. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
23. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". VG-lista. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
24. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
27. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
28. "David Bowie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
29. "David Bowie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
30. "David Bowie Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
31. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending May 10, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
32. "Offiziellecharts.de – David Bowie – Absolute Beginners" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
33. "David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". AFP Top 100 Singles.
34. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. 29 December 1986 – via Imgur.
35. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1986". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 22 May 2021.
36. "Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
37. "European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 28. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
38. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
39. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
40. "Top Selling Singles of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
41. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 22 May 2021.
42. "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
43. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
44. "British single certifications – David Bowie – Absolute Beginners". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 October 2022.

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

External links

• "Absolute Beginners" at Discogs (list of releases)