"Nile Rodgers divulges the moment he realized 'Let's Dance' was a hit, detailing its creation alongside David Bowie"
In the world of music, few collaborations are as iconic as that between Nile Rodgers and David Bowie. One such example is the hit song "Let's Dance," released in 1983.
The song's title was inspired by Bowie's vision of it representing the dance people do when they first encounter each other or try to impress. However, the path to its final form was not a straightforward one.
Nile Rodgers, who had initially conceived the song as a cool mix of R&B, funk, and dance music, was initially unsure about Bowie's idea for "Let's Dance." Rodgers wrote an arrangement for the song at Queen's Mountain Studios in Montreux, which included two guitars, drums, and bass, forming a dominant pyramid rhythm.
To record the demo, Rodgers hired Stevie Ray Vaughan and three jazz musicians. This session took place at the David Bowie Centre in V&A East. It is unclear if Bowie's suggestion for the arrangement was used in the final version of the song.
Rodgers played the arrangement to Bowie for the first time during the recording studio session. Bowie was pleased with what he heard from the session players. Rodgers was confident that the arrangement was a smash after hearing it played in the studio.
Interestingly, Rodgers first heard "Let's Dance" as a different version, played on a 12-string guitar with only six strings.
Despite initial reservations, Rodgers believed that Bowie was testing him with his idea for "Let's Dance." Everyone he consulted said that Bowie was sincere when he said he thought "Let's Dance" was a hit.
The final version of "Let's Dance" was the lead single from Bowie's album of the same name. It became a global success, solidifying the collaboration between Rodgers and Bowie.
For those interested in learning more about this collaboration, the V&A has made an interview with Nile Rodgers about his work with Bowie and the making of "Let's Dance" available online. The new David Bowie Centre at the V&A East's Storehouse houses a collection of Bowie-related artefacts.
The legacy of "Let's Dance" continues to live on, with Rodgers believing that the best was yet to come, as he knew his own musicians would play it. The song remains a testament to the creative fusion of two musical giants.
