Wikipedia

Dancing with Myself

For the NBC show, see Dancing with Myself (TV series).

"Dancing with Myself" is a song by the punk rock band Gen X, first commercially released in the United Kingdom in October 1980, where it reached number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed and re-released by the band's singer/frontman Billy Idol as a solo artist in the United States in 1981, where the song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Nouvelle Vague covered the number in 2006 and released it on their album, Bande à Part.

"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Gen X
from the album Kiss Me Deadly
ReleasedOctober 1980
Genre
Length3:45 (album version)
3:30 (7" version)
4:06 (12" version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Keith Forsey
"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Don't Stop
ReleasedMarch 1981[3]
Recorded1980 (remixed in 1981)
Genre
Length4:50 (album version)
3:19 (single version)
6:05 (12" version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
  • Billy Idol
  • Tony James
Producer(s)Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Dancing with Myself"
(1981) 		"Mony Mony"
(1981)
Music video
"Dancing with Myself" on YouTube

Theme

edit

The inspiration for the song occurred during a tour of Japan by the English post-punk band Generation X in mid-1979, when its vocalist/frontman Billy Idol and its bassist Tony James were struck by the sight of the young crowd in a Tokyo discotheque dancing with their own reflections in mirrored walls rather than with one another.[6]

Production

edit

The song was written and first recorded by Generation X during demo sessions in mid-1979 at Olympic Studios in West London (this demo-recording was first commercially released retrospectively on the long-player K.M.D.-Sweet Revenge (1998)).[7] After that band had split later in that year, Idol and James re-branded the act as Gen X, and in production sessions with Keith Forsey for a new long-player at AIR Studios in London in mid-1980, the song was re-recorded for commercial release as a single. The guitar parts of the song were a mix of the playing of three guitarists with distinctively differing styles, viz. Steve New playing the lead, Steve Jones playing rhythm, with another layer being added by Danny Kustow.[8] On commercial sales in October 1980 as a pre-release single from the new band's forthcoming long-player Kiss Me Deadly (1981), "Dancing with Myself" was a retail failure, reaching only number 62 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1981, Idol, now a solo artist after Gen X had broken up, had Forsey remix the record for its release as a single in the United States, fading down the guitar(s) and bass tracks from their dominance in the 1980 UK release and accentuating the vocal and percussion tracks, to produce a more rhythmic sound for the American commercial market. It became his first hit single in the United States and launched his career there, two versions being issued: the 3:20 single version (which was later included on Idol's 11 of the Best compilation) and the 4:50 extended version that appeared on Idol's Don't Stop EP.

Music video

edit

For the 1981 United States single release a music video for use on the newly launched MTV was made, directed by Tobe Hooper, with Idol in a scenario drawn from the 1971 cinema film The Omega Man, playing a lone figure in a post-apocalyptic cityscape besieged upon a skyscraper rooftop by partying mutant street-waifs.[7]

Cover art

edit

The portrait image of Idol on the cover of the 1980 release was photographed by Iain McKell.

Formats and track listings

edit

Gen X release

edit

7″: Chrysalis – CHS 2444 (UK)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself" (3:30)
  2. "Ugly Rash" (4:30)

12″: Chrysalis – CHS 12 2444 (UK)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself" (4:06)
  2. "Loopy Dub" (5:08)
  3. "Ugly Dub" (3:05)

12″ Chrysalis – CHS 2488 (45 rpm)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself"
  2. "Untouchables"
  3. "Rock On"
  4. "King Rocker" (produced by Ian Hunter)

Billy Idol release

edit

7″: Chrysalis – CHS 2488 (US)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself" (3:19) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
  2. "Happy People" (4:23)

7″: Chrysalis – IDOL 1 (UK – 1983)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself" (3:19) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
  2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)

12″: Chrysalis – IDOLX 1 (UK – 1983)

edit
  1. "Dancing with Myself" (6:05) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
  2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)
  3. "White Wedding" (8:20)
  4. "Hot in the City" (5:20)

Charts

edit

Gen X version

edit
Chart (1980-1981) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[9] 62

Billy Idol version

edit
Chart (1981) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[10] 27
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 102
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 39
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 9

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] Platinum 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Maren Morris version

edit
"Dancing with Myself"
 
Single by Maren Morris
ReleasedFebruary 15, 2024 (2024-02-15)
GenreAlt-pop
Length4:11
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gabe Simon
Maren Morris singles chronology
"42"
(2023) 		"Dancing with Myself"
(2024) 		"Cut"
(2024)
Music video
"Dancing with Myself" on YouTube

In 2024, the song was re-arranged and covered by American singer and songwriter Maren Morris.[14] The cover was released as a single in February 15, 2024, under Columbia Records, in a partnership with the mobile app Visible for their "Singles Awareness Day" campaign. It marks Morris first release since her collaboration with DJ an electronic artist Diplo, "42" in 2023.[15][16][17]

Background and composition

edit

According to critics, Morris version features banjos, strummed acoustic guitars which are complemented by Morris' signature smoky vocals on the track produced by Gabe Simon.[18] Morris said about the cover origin: "I partnered with Visible because I loved the theme of their messaging, which is independence and ownership," she added, "For me right now, I'm really leaning into my sort of singleness and it's daunting but exciting."[19] She also explained further why she chose Idol's song to cover: "i decided to cover one of my longtime favorite songs by Billy Idol because it's always been a beautifully melancholic anthem for me, It also captures where I am at right now; a little blue but a lot relieved. Dancing through my feelings and shaking off the expired layers that no longer strengthen me."[20]

Reception

edit

Morris version received mostly postive reviews by music critics. Gil Kaufman for Billboard praised Morris' delivery, stating that the singer "sounds perfectly fine on her own".[21] Scott Bernstein for JamBase dubbed the cover as a "fresh spin" of Idol's song.[22] In a more mixed review Tom Breihan for Stereogum said that Morris cover doesn't "seem likely to incite much dancing" describing it as "significantly less rambunctious and more serene" in comparison to the original.[23]

Music Video

edit

An official music video directed by Mehdi Zollo, sponsored by Visible was released alongside the single.[24] The video was shot in East Nashville at Grimey's Records, and shows Morris dancing through the record store, sporting a leather trenchcoat, white tank top, jeans, and sunglasses.[25] The music video pays homage to the 2000 film High Fidelity.[26]

Release history

edit
Release date and formats for "Dancing with Myself" (Maren Morris version)
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various February 15, 2024
Columbia Records [27]
edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Don't Stop - Billy Idol | Songs, Reviews,Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. ^ Osterberg, Christopher (29 June 2022). "A survivor of rock'n'roll's extreme lifestyle". The Budapest Times. Retrieved 20 September 2022. "Dancing with Myself" defined him as a member of the glam rock contingent made popular by music videos in that decade.
  3. ^ "Billy Idol and Gen X - Dancing with Myself". 45cat.com.
  4. ^ Brennan, Collin (30 June 2016). "Civil Twilight turn Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" into a sparse, understated ballad – listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "I". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  6. ^ Billy Idol explaining the song's origin, Billy Idol Unplugged (2001), (1.11. mins).
  7. ^ a b Idol, Billy (2014). Dancing with Myself. Simon & Schuster.
  8. ^ Interview with Tony James, April 2002, for the Generation X Anthology (2003).
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 224. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ "Billy Idol | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4439." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Generation X (Billy Idol) – Dancing with Myself". Radioscope. Retrieved 18 December 2024. Type Dancing with Myself in the "Search:" field.
  14. ^ "Maren Morris Reimagines Billy Idol's 'Dancing With Myself' for Singles Awareness Day". Rolling Stone. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Maren Morris Shares Reimagined Cover Of Billy Idol's 'Dancing With Myself'". RTTNews. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Maren Morris Covers Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" -". mxdwn Music. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  17. ^ Dancing with Myself by Maren Morris on Apple Music, 15 February 2024, retrieved 9 January 2025
  18. ^ "Maren Morris puts new spin on "Dancing with Myself" for Singles Awareness Day". Consequence. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Maren Morris says she doesn't 'have anything to prove anymore.' Now, she's embracing 'singleness' and a new era of independence". Yahoo Entertainment. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Maren Morris Shares Cathartic Cover of Billy Idol's 'Dancing with Myself': 'I Truly Gave Zero F---s'". People.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  21. ^ Kaufman, Gil (15 February 2024). "Maren Morris Drops Sultry, Banjo-Spiked Cover of Billy Idol's 'Dancing With Myself'". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  22. ^ "Maren Morris Reimagines Billy Idol's 'Dancing With Myself' For 1st New Music Of 2024". JamBase. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Maren Morris Covers Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself": Listen". Stereogum. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  24. ^ MarenMorrisVEVO (15 February 2024). Maren Morris - Dancing with Myself (Official Video). Retrieved 9 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Maren Morris Shares Cathartic Cover of Billy Idol's 'Dancing with Myself': 'I Truly Gave Zero F---s'". People.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Maren Morris Shares Cathartic Cover of Billy Idol's 'Dancing with Myself': 'I Truly Gave Zero F---s'". People.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  27. ^ Dancing with Myself by Maren Morris on Apple Music, 15 February 2024, retrieved 9 January 2025
  28. ^ "De Kreuners receive Lifetime Achievement Award at MIAs". myprivacy.dpgmedia.be. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Can't Buy Me Love (1987)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  30. ^ ""Before You Were Punk [1997] - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  31. ^ "Mean Girls (2004) Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dancing_with_Myself&oldid=1268451337"
pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy