Black Tie White Noise (song)

The track was inspired by Bowie's stay in Los Angeles in April 1992, when the city saw race riots in reaction to the Rodney King incident."Bowie's Wedding Album" by David Wild, Rolling Stone magazine, 21 January 1993, page 14

It is among the most jazz- and soul-influenced tracks on the album, highlighted by the key vocal of Al B. Sure!, although Lenny Kravitz was reportedly Bowie's first choice for the duet. Essentially a rhythm and blues tune, the song ultimately reinforced the feeling of Bowie's tendency as a chameleon of musical styles.{{cn |date=March 2024}}

Released as the album's second single, "Black Tie White Noise" was a top 40 hit in Britain and subsequently reached No. 36 in the UK chart{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/black%20tie%20white%20noise%20ft%20al%20b%20sure/ | title=Official singles Chart results matching: black tie white noise ft al b sure | website=Official Charts | access-date=3 August 2017}} and No. 74 in Australia.{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}

Dave Simpson from Melody Maker commented, "This isn't bad. Nice cosmopolitan New York rhythm section, vague hints of Low-era sax. Hmmm. Apparently it's inspired by the LA riots, or rather David's view of them from the rooftop of his mansion."{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Simpson|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52884918775/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=1993-05-22|page=27|access-date=2023-05-14}} Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "This oddly churning but attractive track is a little too slow for current dancefloor tastes. Not as instant as many of Bowie's bigger hits, it will need a lot to push it into the top end of the chart. A moderate hit."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 1993-06-05 |page= 6 |accessdate= 2021-03-28 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-06-05.pdf}} Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt it's "one of the better ones" on the album, adding, "The groove is faux-funky, and the melody is undercooked, but Bowie's trumpet injects flavor, and the lyrics have something to say about race relations in America: "Getting my facts from a Benetton ad/ looking through African eyes/ lit by the glare of an L.A. fire/ I've got a face, not just my race." Bowie's cool, detached voice is nicely partnered by that of soul singer Al B. Sure!, and Bowie sneaks in a Marvin Gaye allusion."Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "David Bowie". Orlando Sentinel. James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "gloomy slow roller".{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |title= Djdirectory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 1993-06-12 |page= 2 |accessdate= 2021-03-28 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-06-12.pdf |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave it five out of five, declaring it as "fabulous", "funky and soulful – and you could listen to it again and again and never get bored. Genius."{{cite magazine|first= Leesa |last= Daniels |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/35569116372/in/album-72157685900313945/ |title= New Singles |magazine= Smash Hits |date= 1993-04-28 |page= 49 |accessdate= 2021-04-27}}

The music video for "Black Tie White Noise" was produced by American filmmaker and photographer Mark Romanek, featuring a montage of African-American youth playing in urban Los Angeles, while intercut with scenes of Bowie in a blue suit with his saxophone and Al B. Sure! singing. The video attempted to capture Bowie's image behind the song: multiple ethnic groups coexisting with their own identities, and not attempting to absorb one another.{{cn |date=March 2024}}

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• 7" version

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Radio Edit) (Bowie) – 4:10
2. "You've Been Around" (Dangers Remix) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:24

• 12" version

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Extended Remix) (Bowie) – 8:12
2. "Black Tie White Noise" (Trance Mix) (Bowie) – 7:15
3. "Black Tie White Noise" (Album Version) (Bowie) – 4:52
4. "Black Tie White Noise" (Club Mix) (Bowie) – 7:33
5. "Black Tie White Noise" (Extended Urban Mix) (Bowie) – 5:32

• CD version

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Radio Edit) (Bowie) – 4:10
2. "Black Tie White Noise" (Extended Remix) (Bowie) – 8:12
3. "Black Tie White Noise" (Urban Mix) (Bowie) – 4:03
4. "You've Been Around" (Dangers Remix) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:24

• US commercial CD (Savage 74785-50045-2)

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Waddell's Mix) – 4:12
2. "Black Tie White Noise" (3rd Floor Mix) – 3:42
3. "Black Tie White Noise" (Al B. Sure! Mix) – 4:03
4. "Black Tie White Noise" (Album Version) – 4:52
5. "Black Tie White Noise" (Club Mix) – 7:33
6. "Black Tie White Noise" (Digi Funky's Lush Mix) – 5:44
7. "Black Tie White Noise" (Supa Pump Mix) – 6:36

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• US promo DJ 12" (Savage SADJ-50045-1)

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Extended Remix) – 8:12
2. "Black Tie White Noise" (Club Mix) – 7:33
3. "Black Tie White Noise" (Trance Mix) – 7:15
4. "Black Tie White Noise" (Digi Funky's Lush Mix) – 5:44
5. "Black Tie White Noise" (Supa Pump Mix) – 6:36
6. "Black Tie White Noise" (Funky Crossover Mix) – 3:45
7. "Black Tie White Noise" (Extended Urban Remix) – 5:32

• US promo DJ CD (Savage SADJ-50046-2)

1. "Black Tie White Noise" (Chr Mix 1) – 3:43
2. "Black Tie White Noise" (Chr Mix 2) – 4:12
3. "Black Tie White Noise" (Churban Mix) – 3:45
4. "Black Tie White Noise" (Urban Mix) – 4:03
5. "Black Tie White Noise" (Album edit) – 4:10

• 'CHR Mix 1' is the '3rd Floor Mix' on the regular US CD
• 'CHR Mix 2' is the 'Waddell's Mix' on the regular US CD
• 'Urban Mix' is the 'Al B. Sure! Mix' on the regular US CD

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Tracks #1-3 re-produced, re-arranged and mixed by Marc 'Funkyman' Paley, Raul 'DJ EFX' Recinos & Jeremy 'DJ Digit' Cowan

Track # 2 remix and additional production by John Waddell

Track # 4 remix and additional production by Al B. Sure & Timar

• Producers:
• Nile Rodgers
• Musicians:
• David Bowie – vocals
• Al B. Sure! – vocals
• Nile Rodgers – guitar
• Barry Campbell – bass
• Sterling Campbell – drums
• [http://www.hiltonius.com/ Richard Hilton] – keyboards
• Lester Bowie – trumpet
• Reeves Gabrels – guitar on "You've Been Around"

The "3rd Floor US Radio Mix" and "Here Come Da Jazz" remixes appeared on the bonus disc of the 10th anniversary re-release of the Black Tie White Noise album.

{{reflist}}

• Black Tie White Noise Limited Edition DVD, 2004
• Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, {{ISBN|1-903111-14-5}}

{{David Bowie singles}}

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Category:1993 singles

Category:David Bowie songs

Category:Music videos directed by Mark Romanek

Category:Songs about black people

Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia

Category:Songs written by David Bowie

Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers

Category:1992 songs

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:Al B. Sure! songs

Category:1992 Los Angeles riots