THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

302-David Bowie-Boys Keep Swinging.

1979-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.30 (Check out the songs official video) I don’t fancy yours much.

‘Boys Keep Swinging’ was the lead single released from David Bowie’s 13th studio Album ‘Lodger’ from May 1979.’Boys Keep Swinging’ was co-written by Bowie, and Brian Eno, who had worked with Bowie on his previous two Albums ‘Low,’ and ‘Heroes.’ This song and the ‘Lodger’ Album were produced by Toni Visconti, who had previously worked with Bowie since 1969 on seven Albums, and would go on to produce another six, including Bowie’s final studio Album ‘Blackstar’ in 2016.

Although the ‘Lodger’Album is the third in the so called ‘Berlin Triolgy,’ following on from ‘Low’ (January 1977) and ‘Heroes,’ (October 1977) the ‘Lodger’ Album was not recorded at the ‘Hansa’ studio in West Berlin, Germany, where the previous two had been, in fact ‘Lodger’ was recorded at the ‘Mountain’ studio in Switzerland, and mixed at the ‘Record Plant’ in New York City.

For ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) wanted to create a ‘garage band’ sound, so at the suggestion of Brian Eno (see also best songs 766-190-109 and 57) the musicians on the song actually played instruments that they were not totally familiar with, for example the accomplished guitarist Carlos Alomar played the drums on the track, while the lead guitar on the track was played by Adrian Belew, who was told to improvise as he wished. Tony Visconti (see also best songs 386-209 and 118) added bass guitar over the finished song, which many music critics have noted has a similarity to the Beach Boys 1965 song ‘You’re So Good to Me.’ The other musicians on the track were David Bowie, (vocals, guitar, and piano) Brian Eno, (piano, and synthesizer) and Simon House (violin.)

David Bowie was always one step ahead with the latest technological breakthroughs, and the ever changing ways in which new music was promoted. This was two years before the debut of ‘MTV,’ but Bowie knew that the best way to get his music across to the masses was to make a promotional video. The songs memorable video which was directed by David Mallet sees Bowie dressed in drag, as a ‘working class tart,’ the actress Lauren Bacall, and also, in a third guise, as a combination of the actresses Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo. Bowie also promoted the release of ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ with a comical performance on ‘The Kenny Everett Video Show,’ which was also directed by Mallet, that also helped get the song in to the UK top 10 singles chart.Bowie teases us with the lyrics on ‘Boys Keep Swinging.’ It can appear that Bowie is telling us how wonderful it is to be born male, as you can achieve so much with the advantage of being born that gender, but with tongue in cheek he was probably having a dig at the stereo typical male who sees himself as ‘a bit of a lad.’ Bowie has said,’The glory in that song was ironic. I do not feel that there is anything remotely glorious about being either male or female. I was merely playing on the idea of the colonisation of a gender.’

‘Uncage the colours, unfurl the flag, luck just kissed you hello when you’re a boy. They’ll never clone ya, you’re always first on the line, when you’re a boy.’