Jump They Say

Infobox Single
Name = Jump They Say


Caption =
Artist = David Bowie
from Album = Black Tie White Noise
A-side =
B-side = Pallas Athenas (Don’t Stop Praying Mix)
Released = March 1993
Format = 7”/12”/CD single
Recorded = Mountain Studios, Montreux; Hit Factory, New York, June/July 1992
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:53
Label = Arista Records
74321 139424
Writer =
Producer = Nile Rodgers
Certification =
Chart position =

• #9 (UK)

Last single = "Real Cool World"
1992
This single = "Jump They Say”
1993
Next single = "Black Tie White Noise"
1993
Misc =

"Jump They Say" is a song by David Bowie from his album "Black Tie White Noise". It was released as a first single from the album in March 1993.

The song dealt with Bowie’s feelings for his schizophrenic half-brother Terry, who had committed suicide on 16 January 1985. The lyrics tell of a man pushed to utter desperation by the pressure put on him. Bowie has also cited his own feelings about jumping into the unknown metaphysically. Musically, the influence of Nile Rodgers saw a more funk-based sound, though the track was also influenced by contemporary jazz.

As the lead-off single, “Jump They Say” received a considerable promotional push from Bowie’s new label, Savage Records (though Arista Records distributed the package in Europe). A striking video was shot by Mark Romanek, depicting Bowie as a businessman paranoid of his colleagues, who seemingly conduct experiments on him and find him a disturbing influence, forcing him to jump from the roof of the corporate building to his death. The video is heavly influenced by Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film "Alphaville", as well as Chris Marker's film "La Jetée" from 1962. The influence from Stanley Kubrick's film "" from 1968 is also obvious. The song, while not Bowie’s first release since Tin Machine, was pushed as a comeback single, and reached #9 in the UK charts – Bowie’s first top 10 single since “Absolute Beginners” in 1986, and his last to date.

While Bowie opted not to tour for the "Black Tie White Noise" album, the song would feature on his 1995 Outside Tour.

Track listing

7” version

# "Jump They Say (Radio edit)" – 3:53
# "Pallas Athena (Don't Stop Praying Mix)" – 5:36

12": Arista / 74321 139421 (EU)

# "Jump They Say (Hardhands Mix)" – 5:40
# "Jump They Say (Full album version)" – 4:22
# "Jump They Say (Leftfield 12" vocal)" – 7:42
# "Jump They Say (Dub Oddity Mix)" 4:44

12": Arista / 74 321 13 69 61 (EU)

# "Jump They Say (Club Hart remix)" – 5:05
# "Jump They Say (JAE-E Mix)" – 5:32
# "Jump They Say (JAE-E Dub)" – 4:48
# "Jump They Say (Leftfield remix)" – 7:41
# "Jump They Say (Dub Oddity (another Leftfield remix)" – 5:36
# "Pallas Athena (Don’t Stop Praying Mix)" – 5:36

CD: Arista / 74321 13696 2 (EU)

# "Jump They Say (Radio edit)" – 3:53
# "Jump They Say (JAE-E edit)" - 3:58
# "Jump They Say (Club Hart remix)" – 5:05
# "Jump They Say (Leftfield 12" vocal)" – 7:42
# "Pallas Athena (Album version)" – 4:40
# "Pallas Athena (Don’t Stop Praying Mix)" – 5:36

CD: Arista/ 74321 139422 (UK)

# "Jump They Say (7” version)" – 3:53
# "Jump They Say (Hard Hands Mix)" – 5:40
# "Jump They Say (JAE-E Mix)" – 5:32
# "Pallas Athena (Don’t Stop Praying Mix)" – 5:36

* includes "exclusive 8 page discography"
* released in 2CD case to house CD2 as well

CD: Arista / 74321 139432 (UK)

# "Jump They Say (Brothers in Rhythm Mix)" – 8:28
# "Jump They Say (Brothers in Rhythm Instrumental)" – 6:25
# "Jump They Say (Leftfield 12" vocal)" – 7:42
# "Jump They Say (Full album version)" – 4:22

Production credits

* Producers:
** Nile Rodgers

* Musicians:
**David Bowie: Vocals, Saxophone
**Nile Rodgers: Guitar
**Barry Campbell: Bass
**Sterling Campbell: Drums
**Richard Hilton: Keyboards
**Lester Bowie: Trumpet

Other releases

* The album version appeared on the compilation ""
* The Leftfield 12" vocal mix was released on a UK limited release of the single "Little Wonder" in January 1997.
* The "JAE-E edit" (called "alternate mix") was released as a bonus track on the CD-version of "Black Tie White Noise".
* On the bonus disc following the 10th anniversary edition of "Black Tie White Noise", three remixes of "Jump They Say" appeared: "Rock Mix", "Brothers in Rhythm 12" Remix" and "Dub Oddity".

Cover version

* Death to the Legion - "Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David Bowie" (1998)

References

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