I'm glad you asked:
"Fame '90"
A
remixed version of "Fame" was released by
EMI in 1990 to coincide with the
Sound+Vision Tour and the release of the
Changesbowie compilation. Bowie wanted to remix a successful American single for the tour & album release, and of the two options ("Let's Dance" and "Fame"), "Let's Dance" was simply too recent. Bowie liked the choice: "It covers a lot of ground, Fame; it stands up really well in time. It still sounds potent. It's quite a nasty, angry little song. I quite like that."
[2]
The "Gass Mix" was also included on the
Pretty Woman soundtrack.
Track listing
Song written by
David Bowie,
Carlos Alomar, and
John Lennon.
US CD single (Rykodisc RCD5 1018)
- "Fame '90 (with Queen Latifah)" – 4:10
- "Fame '90 (House Mix)" – 5:58
- "Fame '90 (Gass Mix)" – 3:38
- "Fame '90 (Hip Hop Mix)" – 5:58
- "Fame '90 (Absolutely Nothing Premeditated/Epic Mix)" – 14:25
West Germany maxi CD single (EMI CDP 560-20-3805-2)
- "Fame '90 (House Mix)" - 5:58
- "Fame '90 (Hip Hop Mix)" - 5:58
- "Fame '90 (Gass Mix)" - 3:38
- "Fame '90 (Queen Latifah's Rap Version)" - 3:10
"Exclusive Changes pack" 7" vinyl single (FAMES 90)
- "Fame '90 (Gass Mix)" – 3:38
- "Fame '90 (Queen Latifah's Rap Version)" - 3:10
Limited edition 7" vinyl picture disc (FAME PD 90)
- "Fame '90 (Gass Mix)" – 3:38
- "Fame '90 (Bonus Beat Mix)" – 4:45
- The single was released in a variety of formats: as a 7" single, a cassette single, a 12" single, CD singles and two limited edition releases: a picture disc (featuring the unique "Bonus Beat mix") and a 7" envelope pack that included 3 prints reflecting different phases in Bowie's career and a unique mix of Queen Latifah's mix[12]
Video
Film director
Gus Van Sant directed the promotional video for this version, which featured clips from many of Bowie’s previous videos.
[12] In the music video, Bowie also performs a dance with
Louise Lecavalier, one of the main dancers of the
Québécois contemporary dance troupe
La La La Human Steps (whom Bowie would collaborate with on the
Sound + Vision tour).
[13]
David Bowie's "Fame" was used as the soundtrack of an animated music video of the same title, directed by
Richard Jefferies (screenwriter) and
Mark Kirkland while students at California Institute of the Arts. The film, released in 1975, went on to win the
Student Academy Award for animation and aired on NBC's
The Midnight Special (TV series).
Other releases
- "Fame '90" also appeared on:
- Changesbowie (1990)
- Best of Bowie (2002) (Germany/Switzerland/Austria and Australia versions; Colombia/Ecuador/Peru/Venezuela contains both versions)
Chart positions
Chart Peak position Belgium Singles Chart 22
[14] Holland Singles Chart 16
[14] New Zealand Singles Chart 32
[14] Switzerland Singles Chart 29
[14] UK Singles Chart 28
[15]