"China Girl" written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie in 1976, and first released by Pop on his debut solo album, The Idiot.
Inspired by an affair Pop had with a Vietnamese woman, the lyrics tell a story of unrequited love for the protagonist's Asian girlfriend, realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her.
Bowie wrote the music and Pop improvised the lyrics while standing at the microphone. The song was released as a single in May 1977 and failed to chart.
Bowie re-recorded a more well-known version during the sessions for his 1983 album Let's Dance, reportedly to assist Pop with his poor finances at the time.
Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar, hired by Bowie after seeing Vaughan perform at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
The whole video is a parody of white men fetishizing Asian women. There is literally a clip of Bowie's character dressed as monopoly man "saving" her from a camp while allied with the people who put her there. His character also progressively becomes more aggressive towards his Asian girlfriend. Hence why his character makes that racist gesture as a response to her making fun of him and laughing at him.
DippyHippy420 on October 11st, 2024 at 13:54 UTC »
"China Girl" written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie in 1976, and first released by Pop on his debut solo album, The Idiot.
Inspired by an affair Pop had with a Vietnamese woman, the lyrics tell a story of unrequited love for the protagonist's Asian girlfriend, realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her.
Bowie wrote the music and Pop improvised the lyrics while standing at the microphone. The song was released as a single in May 1977 and failed to chart.
Bowie re-recorded a more well-known version during the sessions for his 1983 album Let's Dance, reportedly to assist Pop with his poor finances at the time.
Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar, hired by Bowie after seeing Vaughan perform at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
FrabjousPhaneron on October 11st, 2024 at 14:08 UTC »
An eyelash fell into each eye and he was trying to get them out
Kite_Wing129 on October 11st, 2024 at 15:17 UTC »
People really taking things out of context.
The whole video is a parody of white men fetishizing Asian women. There is literally a clip of Bowie's character dressed as monopoly man "saving" her from a camp while allied with the people who put her there. His character also progressively becomes more aggressive towards his Asian girlfriend. Hence why his character makes that racist gesture as a response to her making fun of him and laughing at him.