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Real Cool World

{{short description|Song by David Bowie}}

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

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

{{Infobox song

| name = Real Cool World

| cover = Bowie RealCoolWorld.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = David Bowie

| album = Songs from the Cool World

| B-side = "Real Cool World" (instrumental)

| released = 10 August 1992

| recorded = June/July 1992

| studio = 38 Fresh (original writing & recording), Los Angeles; Mountain Studios, Montreux; Hit Factory, New York City

| genre = Rock

| length = 4:15

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = David Bowie

| producer = Nile Rodgers

| prev_title = Fame '90

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Jump They Say

| next_year = 1993

}}

"Real Cool World" is a song from the soundtrack of the American 1992 animated black comedy fantasy film Cool World. It is performed by British singer-songwriter David Bowie, and was released on 10 August 1992, representing his first new solo material since the dissolution of the band Tin Machine.

Song development

The track marked a reunion with Let's Dance producer Nile Rodgers, with whom Bowie began working in the first half of 1992. "Real Cool World" was the first song to come out of their year-long collaboration.{{sfn|O'Leary|p=334|2019}} After releasing this song, Bowie intended to go back to his band Tin Machine to record a third album,{{citation | title=Bowie's Wedding Album | first=David | last=Wild | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=21 January 1993 | page=14}} but when the band fell apart, Bowie and Rodgers instead recorded and produced the songs for Bowie's next solo album, Black Tie White Noise (1993).{{sfn|O'Leary|p=334|2019}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=219}} The song was included in the soundtrack to the film Cool World (1992).{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=219}}

Other releases

The song was included as a bonus track of the 2003 re-release of Black Tie White Noise, and a digital download version of the single was announced released in June 2010.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=219}}

Critical reception

A reviewer from Melody Maker wrote, "'Real Cool World' sees Bowie re-united with Nile Rodgers. The strings are pretty cool and the saxophone which suddenly pops up in the home straight is wonderfully sleazy. Sadly, the quick pace of the track is a bit too much for the Thin White Duke to handle. He sounds dreadfully tired, dreadfully old."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=15 August 1992|page=27|access-date=18 February 2023|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52672725707/}}

Track listing

All tracks written by David Bowie.

  • 12": Warner Bros. / W0127 (UK)
  1. "Real Cool World" (Edit) – 4:15
  2. "Real Cool World" (Instrumental) – 4:29
  • 12": Warner Bros. / W0127T (UK)
  1. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:28
  2. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #2) – 6:54
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #1) – 7:28
  4. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:10
  • 12": Warner Bros. / W0127CD (UK)
  1. "Real Cool World" (Album Edit) – 4:15
  2. "Real Cool World" (Radio Remix) – 4:23
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #1) – 7:28
  4. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:28
  5. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:10
  6. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing #2) – 6:54
  • Digital download: EMI
  1. "Real Cool World" (Album Edit) – 4:16
  2. "Real Cool World" (Radio Remix) – 4:24
  3. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing 1) – 7:29
  4. "Real Cool World" (12" Club Mix) – 5:30
  5. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Overture) – 9:12
  6. "Real Cool World" (Cool Dub Thing 2) – 6:56

Personnel

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1992)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2024/09/week-commecing-14-september-1992.html | title=Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 14 September 1992 |website=Bubbling Down Under|access-date=14 September 2024}}

| 131

{{single chart|Flanders|30|artist=David Bowie|song=Real Cool World|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2020}}
{{single chart|Germany|83|artist=David Bowie|song=Real Cool World|songid=100572|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|21|artist=David Bowie|song=Real Cool World|rowheader=true|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|27|artist=David Bowie|song=Real Cool World|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2020}}
{{single chart|Sweden|26|artist=David Bowie|song=Real Cool World|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2020}}
{{single chart|UK|53|date=19920822|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|11|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|9|artist=David Bowie|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite book|last=Pegg|first=Nicholas|title=The Complete David Bowie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqFkDQAAQBAJ|publisher=Titan Books|location=London|edition=revised and updated|year=2016|isbn=978-1-78565-365-0}}
  • {{cite book|title=Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016|first=Chris|last=O'Leary|publisher=Repeater Books|year=2019|isbn=978-1-912248-30-8}}

{{David Bowie singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 singles

Category:David Bowie songs

Category:Songs written by David Bowie

Category:Songs written for films

Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers

Category:1992 songs

Category:Warner Records singles