Miracle Goodnight

{{Short description|1993 single by David Bowie}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

{{More footnotes|date=February 2010}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Miracle Goodnight

| cover = Bowie_MiracleGoodnight.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = David Bowie

| album = Black Tie White Noise

| B-side = Looking for Lester

| released = {{start date|1993|10|11|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=9 October 1993}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| length = 4:14

| label = Arista

| writer = David Bowie

| producer = Nile Rodgers

| prev_title = Black Tie White Noise

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = The Buddha of Suburbia

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|829mlJiRCIU|"Miracle Goodnight"}}}}

}}

"Miracle Goodnight" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in October 1993 by Arista Records as the third and final single from his 18th studio album, Black Tie White Noise (1993). The song was written by Bowie and produced by Nile Rodgers. It reached number 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston.

Background

While the previous two singles from the album, "Jump They Say" and "Black Tie White Noise", covered issues such as mental illness and legal injustice, "Miracle Goodnight" features a more unabashed recurring theme of the album – Bowie's love for his new bride, Iman Abdulmajid. He declared the whole album "a wedding present" for Iman.{{Cite web|title = Emi Catalogue Are Proud To Release David Bowie's Black Tie White Noise On 4th August 2003 As A Special Edition Three Disc Set - David Bowie Official Blog|url = http://www.davidbowie.com/news/emi-catalogue-are-proud-release-david-bowies-black-tie-white-noise-4th-august-2003-special|website = David Bowie Official Website|access-date = 2016-01-15}}

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "This is one of Black Tie White Noise{{'}}s more attractive tracks, an offbeat and intimate affair with flashes of the old Bowie in the counter harmonies."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 1993-10-23 |page= 12 |accessdate= 2021-04-03 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-23-S-OCR.pdf}} A reviewer from Philadelphia Inquirer commented, "'Miracle Goodnight' may boast one of the clumsiest lyrics D. B. has ever penned (I wished I was a sailor a thousand miles from here / I wished I had a future / Anywhere). But with a house-quaking foundation, Rodgers' sparkling, Caribbean-flavored guitar solo, and a Philip Glass-like coda, 'Miracle' adds up to one of Bowie's most endearing numbers.""Bowie Goes Solo to Win Back Those He Alienated". Philadelphia Inquirer. 6 April 1993. In his review of the album, Clark Collis from Select said, "In fairness, a few funk-fused tracks like 'Miracle Goodnight' is at least an improvement on Bowie's previous brace of solo outings."{{cite magazine|first=Clark|last=Collis|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/03/albums11.jpg|title=Reviews: New Albums|work=Select|date=May 1993|page=91|access-date=2025-01-01}}

Music video

The song's music video was directed by American artist, photographer, director and creative director Matthew Rolston, featuring Bowie unmoved by a harem of beautiful women while singing the song to camera, as well as scenes of him in a jester's outfit, playing with mirrors, dressed as a mime, and even returning briefly to his fashion style as the Thin White Duke from 1976. It was produced by Alison Dicky for O Pictures and released on 20 September 1993.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-04.pdf#page=14|title=Promos In Production|magazine=Music Week|date=1993-09-04|page=12|access-date=2025-06-08}}

Track listings

All tracks were by written by David Bowie.

  • 7-inch: Arista-BMG / 74321 16226 7 (Netherlands)
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:14
  2. "Looking for Lester" – 5:36
  • 12-inch: Arista-BMG / 74321 16226 1 (Netherlands)
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" (Blunted 2) – 8:12
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (Make Believe Mix) – 4:14
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:22
  4. "Miracle Goodnight" (Dance Dub) – 7:50
  • CD: Arista-BMG / 74321 16226 2 (Netherlands)
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:14
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:22
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (Masereti Blunted Dub) – 7:40
  4. "Looking for Lester" – 5:36
  • Digital download
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:15
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:25
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (Masereti Blunted Dub) – 7:43
  4. "Miracle Goodnight" (Make Believe Mix) – 4:30

Personnel

Production

Remix production

Musicians

Other releases

  • The "Make Believe Mix" of the song was included on the bonus disc for the 10th anniversary edition of Black Tie White Noise. It was the first time the mix was available on CD.

Charts

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1993)

!Peak
position

UK Singles (OCC)

|align="center"|40

UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-30.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=1993-10-30|page=32|access-date=2024-05-02}}

|align="center"|39

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

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

{{Refend}}

{{David Bowie singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1993 singles

Category:1993 songs

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:David Bowie songs

Category:Music videos directed by Matthew Rolston

Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers

Category:Songs written by David Bowie