DJ

David Bowie, Benny Benassi

About DJ

"DJ" is a song by David Bowie, released on the 1979 album Lodger, and then as a single on 29 June 1979. A cynical comment on the cult of the DJ, the track is noted for Adrian Belew's guitar solo, which was recorded in multiple takes, and then mixed back together for the album track. In a biography of Talking Heads, it is said this song was an attempt by Bowie to sing like David Byrne, who was befriending Brian Eno at the time. The single was an edited version, but was still possibly too uncommercial for substantial chart success – it peaked at No. 29 in the UK and No. 106 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart in the US. 


Year:
2016
4:02
94 

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I'm home, lost my job, and incurably I'll
You think this is easy, realism
I've got a girl out there, I suppose
I think she's dancing
Feel like Dan Dare lies down
I think she's dancing, what do I know?

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh, ooh
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh no

I am a D.J., I am what I play
I got believers 
Believing me, oh

One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces
Fast food, living nostalgia
Humble pie or bitter fruit

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around no, ooh

I am a D.J., I am what I say
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, ooh
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I've got believers 
Believing me

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no 

Time flies when you're having fun
Break his heart, break her heart
He used to be my boss and now he is a puppet dancer
I am a D.J., and I've got believers

I've got believers 
I've got believers
I've got believers in me
I've got believers
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I am a D.J.

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David Bowie

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known by his stage name David Bowie ( /ˈboʊ.i/ BOH-ee), was an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable eclecticism of his work. more »

30 fans

Written by: GRACE JONES

Lyrics © UNIDISC MUSIC, TINTORETTO MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Reception
"DJ" is a song by English musician David Bowie that was released in 1979 as the second single off his 13th studio album, "Lodger."
Chart Performance
Despite its catchy melody and unique sound, "DJ" did not fare particularly well on the charts. It peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart, and it did not chart in the United States.
Lyrics and Themes
In "DJ", Bowie satirizes the artificiality and superficiality of disc jockeys and the music industry in general. He sings about the artifice of the position and the emptiness he feels even when he is driving crowds wild with his song choices.
Musical Style
"DJ" features a hybrid musical style that fuses elements of pop and avant-garde. It's representative of the experimental phase of Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, which includes the albums "Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger."
Music Video
The music video for "DJ" was directed by David Mallet. In it, Bowie is seen carting about a city and tearing off his DJ persona while people around him remain indifferent. The video was shot in London and features a cameo from radio DJ Rusty Egan of the band Visage.
Collaborations
The song was co-written by Bowie, Brian Eno and Carlos Alomar. Eno contributed with innovative ambient sound techniques, and Alomar played the guitar.
Live Performances
Although Bowie did perform "DJ" live during the 1995-96 Outside Tour with Nine Inch Nail, it appears that he did not have much affection for the song, considering that he didn't include it on many of his setlists.
Later interpretations
Bowie himself would reflect on the song years later, noting in the liner notes to the 2007 reissue of "Lodger" that "DJ" was a signpost for the kind of irony and societal critique that would define much of his future work.
Cover Versions
"DJ" has been covered by the likes of LCD Soundsystem, who performed an impromptu version of the song during a session for the BBC, as a tribute to Bowie after his death.
Legacy
As with much of Bowie's work, "DJ" has been re-evaluated in the years since its release and is looked upon more favorably by critics and fans alike, recognizing the genius of his satirical take on the industry and his innovation in music-making.

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    "DJ Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33567044/David+Bowie/DJ>.

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