china girl
Iggy Pop / The Stooges Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I could escape this feeling, with my China Girl
I feel a wreck without my, little China Girl
I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder
Saw they stars crashing
I'm a mess without my, little China Girl
Wake up mornings where's my, little China Girl
I hear her heart's beating, loud as thunder
Saw they stars crashing down

I feel a-tragic like I'm Marlon Brando
When I look at my China Girl
I could pretend that nothing really meant too much
When I look at my China Girl
I stumble into town just like a sacred cow
Visions of swastikas in my head
Plans for everyone
It's in the whites of my eyes
My little China Girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are
I'll give you television
I'll give you eyes of blue
I'll give you men who want to rule the world
And when I get excited
My little China Girl says

Oh baby just you shut your mouth
She says ... sh-sh-shhh

Overall Meaning

The song "China Girl" by Iggy Pop / The Stooges manifests the tumultuous emotions of the singer who is losing his grip on reality without his lover, whom he refers to as his "little China Girl." The singer is in significant distress and feels incomplete without her, showcasing his dependence on her through his continuous search for her even in his dreams. He compares his lovesick state to Marlon Brando, who portrayed characters consumed by their inner turmoil. However, the singer can pretend that nothing matters when he gazes at his lover, who serves as an escape from his quandaries.

As the song progresses, the singer's mental instability becomes more apparent. He describes himself as a "sacred cow" when he enters a town, which could be interpreted as him believing that he is above everyone else. The visions of swastikas in his head indicate a possible connection to Nazism or fascism. He also claims that he can give his lover everything, including eyes of blue, men who want to rule the world, and exciting experiences, but he also warns her not to mess with him as he can destroy everything she cherishes. His little China Girl responds by telling him to be quiet and calm down.

Line by Line Meaning

I could escape this feeling, with my China Girl
I feel trapped and burdened, but being with my China Girl makes me temporarily forget and feel free.

I feel a wreck without my, little China Girl
My China Girl is the source of my stability and sanity, without her, I'm broken.

I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder
Her love for me is strong and intense, and I can feel it in the rhythm of her heart.

Saw they stars crashing
My perception of reality is distorted, and I see catastrophic events happening.

I'm a mess without my, little China Girl
My China Girl is my emotional crutch, and without her, I'm overwhelmed by my own feelings and thoughts.

Wake up mornings where's my, little China Girl
I rely on my China Girl to give me a sense of purpose and direction, and when she's not there, I feel lost and aimless.

I hear her heart's beating, loud as thunder
My China Girl's love for me is so strong that I can hear it even when she's not with me.

Saw they stars crashing down
My perception of the world is so bleak that I can't see anything good, and everything seems to be falling apart.

I feel a-tragic like I'm Marlon Brando
My life is filled with pain and suffering, and I identify with Marlon Brando's tragic characters.

When I look at my China Girl
My China Girl is the one bright spot in my life, and looking at her fills me with hope and happiness.

I could pretend that nothing really meant too much
Being with my China Girl allows me to escape reality, and I can convince myself that nothing else matters.

I stumble into town just like a sacred cow
I feel like an outsider in society, and my sense of self is fragile and vulnerable.

Visions of swastikas in my head
My mind is filled with disturbing images and thoughts, and I can't escape them.

Plans for everyone
I have grand ambitions and dreams for the world, but they're unrealistic and impractical.

It's in the whites of my eyes
My emotions and desires are visible in my eyes, and I can't hide them.

My little China Girl
My China Girl is the only person in my life who truly understands me and accepts me as I am.

You shouldn't mess with me
I'm emotionally fragile and unstable, and if someone upsets me, I'll react badly.

I'll ruin everything you are
If someone hurts me or my China Girl, I'll retaliate by destroying everything they care about.

I'll give you television
I have the power to influence and manipulate others through the media.

I'll give you eyes of blue
I can make people see things the way I want them to see.

I'll give you men who want to rule the world
I have the charisma and influence to rally people to my cause and make them follow me blindly.

And when I get excited
When I'm overwhelmed by my emotions, I become unpredictable and dangerous.

My little China Girl says
My China Girl is the voice of reason and calmness in my life.

Oh baby just you shut your mouth
My China Girl knows me well enough to know when to tell me to be quiet and calm down.

She says ... sh-sh-shhh
My China Girl soothes and comforts me, and I trust her completely.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: David Bowie, James Osterberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

オリーブ

33w↑9

I love the Bowie version but this OG recording really is something else. You really get the sense of desperation as he's singing and through the outro instrumental, like the cover reads as almost hopeful/wistful to me whereas this one is just raw despair. Very powerful

Marcos Ruiz

27w

both are versions of David Bowie xD

Luis M G

8y↑488

Love both versions. Iggy's is more heartfelt, Bowie's is more sexy. They're just different.

Jimmy Williamson

8y↑22

+Luis M G perfect description of the differences between the two

shawn hapney

5y↑8

Bowie's version has Stevie Ray Vaughn and Omar Hakim which was an interesting choice of musicians. I like both versions a lot.

XxSTACKxX

4y↑10

tbf. bowies was recorded way later and to help iggy

Timbo

4y↑2

@shawn hapney Great choice of musicians.

Jam Fuse

3y↑24

Iggy's version is heavy and devastating, Bowie's version is a commercial pop song. Iggy for the win.

10 More Replies...

efan2011

11y↑49

Both versions of this song are great, I just prefer Iggy's. I love the rock style of the song, and the instrumental solo at the end of the song is the best, epic stuff. Plus, I love how Iggy gets into the song, he was and still is really passionate about his music.

enialrev1

6y↑50

I love the crazy sonics of Iggy's version...the over-loud kick drum (straight from the "low" sessions) just drives everything along. It sounds like they were deliberately trying to get as far away as they could from the conventions of what each traditional rock instrument should sound like and what it should do within the finished track. Just love it.....

efan2011

9y↑24

The tone shift at about 2:11 is one of the all time best. Iggy seems down and lacking life then all of a sudden the band kicks in and he goes ape shit and Iggy is fully there again. Combined with the epic ending solo (one of the all time best imo,) this made a kick ass tune. Perfect way to kick off Iggy's solo career..

Mike Hughes

9y↑1

efan2011 Totally agree efan. He puts a lot into this.So full of feeling!!!

John Rush

9y↑1

agreed

Marios Rialas

5y↑21

I love both Iggy Pop and David Bowie versions...
Easily one of the greatest recorded songs of all time.

JLWing77

13y↑16

I like both versions of this song a lot. I like the instrumentation better on this one. Vocals are about even just a matter of taste either way. But the way Bowie says "Just you shut your mouth." is priceless.

Teresa Gomes

8y↑269

2:04 - one of the best screams ever in the history of rock and roll. So emotionally raw and powerful. I think Iggy sang this song better than Bowie, even though his vocal tecnique is inferior to Bowie's. Iggy sang it with much more feeling.

Chillz McKillz

8y↑2

+Teresa Gomes says you. this version is almost laughable.

Teresa Gomes

8y↑37

Chillz McKillz
thats just my opinion.

Teresa Gomes

8y↑9

Chillz McKillz
RIP David Bowie btw.

Joey Chapman

8y↑31

+Chillz McKillz I have to agree that iggys version is better. it's very intense

Chillz McKillz

8y↑1

nothing iggy has on his recording can match the intensity of bowie's 'i stumble ...... it's in the way of my eyes' line. factor in stevie ray vaughn and there is no question that bowie has the far superior version. iggy is gimmickly spastick.

44 More Replies...

Hiri David Feign

34w↑1

Amazing production. The whole album is genius.

Alberto Moraes

4y↑20

The last two minutes are simply the best for me. I keep listening to them over and over. Four guitar layers making a wonderful peace of melodic rock.

Record Grooves

10y↑339

I love both Iggy Pop and David Bowie versions...

SKS2406

9y↑21

Me too. Both versions are fantastic!

Alejandra García

6y↑6

Me gustan las dos también, pero la versión de Iggy tiene mucho feeling, creo que esta vez superó a Bowie con este disco del que al final también Bowie es parte.

Pawel Rozwadowski

6y↑3

you're right, Friend!!!

Bill T

5y↑3

My man! I love your channel

4 More Replies...

Abiel Ticas

5y↑20

Both versions are awesome for me, but I just cannot stop listening to Iggy's.

Larz Gustafsson

Iggy rules.

Jade

7y↑144

Love it when that descending riff kicks in at 1:34.

latinboy906

6y↑13

My favorite part, even in the Bowie version.

M B

5y↑5

Same for me! Goosebumps...

Dixie Normous

3y↑5

GAHHH FUCK YES

Arthur Nares

6y↑50

This is the first song I ever learnt on guitar. Taught to me by a true hero of mine who is no longer alive. I fucking love this song, it really means a lot to me.

Selma M

6y↑8

Obra prima! 👏👏👏

Margo Gadet

8y↑4

I love both versions; Bowie's version is a little more favorable to me, but Iggy's version is also legendary :)

OrgytenThePyroxenes

4y↑15

I bought this LP when it first came out, having already bought Lust for Life. Bowie and Pop had worked on both. I loved both LP’s and you could see Bowie’s influence, as there is a definite Heroes sound to the Idiot in particular. I always think I can hear Bowie in backing vocals in various songs, but am never sure. When Bowie did China Girl in 1983, I was a bit taken aback. It was nice, but was so different to Pop’s version. In my mind there is no comparison. Iggy’s version is by far the best and in a different league to Bowie’s. Just listen to how Iggy sings the line “It’s in the white of his eyes” and you just know that his heart and soul went in to that line. Bowies’s is more of a crooner version, which was more the tone of his LP, particularly when you listen to his version of God Only Knows. Bowie’s LP was about dance and pop. Iggy’s version is one if my all time favourite songs of all time.

Joey Danielski

2y↑2

The Idiot would have been released before Lust for Life if I'm not mistaken. Bowie helped a lot on both records, and I'm fairly sure he provided many background vocals on many cuts on each. I've read that they worked very closely on this album in particular, where Bowie was responsible for the majority of the music and Pop took care of most of the themes and lyrics. An excellent partnership that I wish would have provided us with one more classic from this once in a lifetime team-up.

Fred Bloggs

@Joey Danielski Yep, The Idiot was released before Lust for Life.

Matthew Jaco

4y↑274

According to legend, David did his own version of the song to help Iggy out of debt by splitting the royalties.

Dream Letter

4y↑24

correct <3

usc trojans1987

3y↑63

@Dream Letter David Bowie was such a great friend to Iggy Pop, I can’t imagine how broken Iggy must have felt when he heard Bowie died in 2016. As he’d have been in a different place without him

Amanda L

3y↑24

ah David was lovely, something he'd definitely do.. they were great friends

Gordian Knot

3y↑19

David Bowie was truly revolutionary took two amazing yet failing artists lou and iggy and brought them into the light of mainstream kick starting their solo careers and breathing new life into them. Iggys best work was done with David.

Kris Scanlon

2y↑3

plus blah blah blah was a big friendly for the newly sober Iggy.

19 More Replies...

brainsick213

8y↑69

Easily one of the greatest recorded songs of all time.

Hee Min

5y↑2

I love both Iggy Pop and David Bowie versions...
Easily one of the greatest recorded songs of all time.
THIS ONE FEELS MORE RAW

Kurtis Lawe

2y↑5

In the nicest way possible, the fact that everyone likes both versions, is poetic of the western countries with Iggy's jagged soulful edges is as American as it gets, vs. Bowie's classical European training. I love them both

Razvan Dobos

5y↑40

Everything in this song blends perfectly.

Cheese and Onions

especially the idiocy that becomes genius at the end

Evrim Taş

1y↑1

What a endind! Fabulous guitars😮Phil Palmer🙏

WoodRatGirl

14y↑3

The work of the musicians on this song, is breathtaking!

Nicho Mastro

2y↑13

I love catharsis in music, that's why I love this song and in particular Iggy's version

Douglas Mac

8y↑20

Teresa Homes, you nailed it right in the head! The passion in which Iggy sang this, and the build up to the end is much more dramatic. Bowie's version is much more commercial. Not to slight David Bowie at all!!! They co wrote a masterpiece!!!

Robin Fox -- I SEE STARS

Was written in 1976, then released in 77. There was so much change for music after disco died.

Walter Bianco

6y↑2

Such a wonderful cooperation between Bowie and Iggy: The Idiot is an extraordinary album

Lester Ojeda

14y↑4

Big Bowie fan... but I gotta say this version won me over.

Morra

2y↑2

Either whichever version one fancies, it was made by both of them in their "Berlin Period". However, the song brought Iggy back from financial ruin when David decided to feature it on his "Let's Dance" album in 1983, so Iggy could collect Royalties from it. Hence saving his career.

As far as i am concerned Iggy and David's collaboration was too short lived. These two could have contributed out some truly amazing music together, would things have been different. But that is how the world turns.

Thank you both for great music <3

Walter Bianco

33w

Music by Bowie, words by Iggy. The melancholic Guitar player by Bowie, the desperate voice of Iggy. Two geniuses.
One Masterwork.

Eva Thomas

8y↑107

I didn't know that Iggy Pop was the co-writer/creative genius behind this song. I love his version.

Pablo Lozada

7y↑5

D Thomas well do you listen David Bowie ok is he in the chorus

themopedmetallist

7y↑16

He put it on "Let's Dance" to help Iggy get out of debt (probably to the "China (white) Girl" suppliers he already gave the television to). Good on everyone concerned to turn their lives around

Mr. WILSON

5y↑4

Bowie wrote both "the idiot" and "lust for life" albums for Iggy. He did went on tour with him too but i cant remember the date

Emily Sutton

4y↑5

@Mr. WILSON you're not wrong! The Passenger is about Iggy and Bowie's travels around Berlin

Old Vegan Gal

3y↑9

@Mr. WILSON You, sir, are deluded. "The Idiot" and "Lust for Life" were collaborations and, I would argue, outliers for a lot of Bowie's 'Berlin Trilogy'. The two worked together and inspired each other. Bowie could never have devised all the lyrics Iggy wrote. Roll them around your mind and mouth. They are Iggy's words. Co-operation was the key here; if you doubt it, just listen to Bowie's versions Neighbourhood Threat and the iconic line from this song, "I stumble into town, just like a sacred cow, visions of swastikas in my head and plans for everyone." Bowie and Iggy created something that stands the test of time here - neither could have done it alone.

1 More Replies...

Gary 65

4y↑5

Love this version. Bowie's is more radio friendly and very 80s but this is raw and powerful. This is how the song would have sounded if Tin Machine had recorded it...

Marcos Ruiz

27w

This version is produced by David Bowie, all the music was made by him...

Luiz Carlos Oliveira Jr

6y↑14

A pint of acid from Iggy & A pint of psychedelic charm from Bowie, frankly speaking they´re fabulous. Iggy´s scream is unique punky, Bowie´s tease is singular...thanks mates

Wes Mantooth

2y↑1

Stick to the mariachi music

Ralf Huwald

3y↑1

Iggy is a real genius.
His scream really gets me.
Fantastic!

Jade

7y↑132

This sounds so much more decadent and despairing than Bowie's later, cleaned up version. Both are good but the original definitely has the edge.

JB

5y↑1

And no stevie ray here

Zaraθuštra زرتشت

5y↑5

Yet both are Bowies versions!

Cheese and Onions

3y↑2

More drunken, more real...

Elwing1

3y↑1

@Zaraθuštra زرتشت to be accurate, both are Iggy Pop/David Bowie versions. It was a collaborative effort to write. The difference in recordings is because Niles Rogers put the clean-up and finish on the version Bowie released later.

Peter Jordan

Iggys version is just better and I wish it had been the hit. Saying that Bowie was an incomparable genius. Nile Rogers is great too but this will always be Iggys song!

superjojo99

44w

Me too, I love both versions... But the Iggy's version remains overwhelming

Deborah Davies

2y↑4

So many times I’ve listened to it and every time it leaves me sobbing.

Lostjoy IX

6y↑155

The scream at 2:04 always gets me, especially with the distortion. In my opinion, the only other person that could also pull it off that raw scream is Ian Curtis when he screams "It Was me" on New Dawn Fades.

LoveShatteredPride

4y↑15

And to think he went on to kill himself to this song (album)...

Francesco Henostroza

3y↑3

nice picture of the Jazz album!

Jabara

3y↑2

I'm sure you know this record was allegedly on Ian Curtis' record player at his time of death

Nathan Gray

2y↑2

@LoveShatteredPride it was honestly more likely mass production

Joe Doe

@Nathan Gray I feel like it was "Tiny Girls". The sax at the end could break a man who feels down.

Milton Silva

2y↑6

Con el respeto del Maestro Bowie esta versión es mejor. Iguana eres inspiración para muchos que amamos el rock! Que álbum xD! Curtis rumbo al inframundo!

Pauley H

13y↑7

one of pop's lost masterpieces

Rolando Pino

2y↑10

Love this version because is so "viseral"

Martin Dove

5y↑2

A real-deal nut kicker of a song , Pop & Dave just hammer and nail it . Classic.

Pulse2AM

9y↑3

My favorite album by Iggy. Thanks for sharing.

Holden Caulfield

2y↑3

I think the discussion of the merits of Iggy’s and Ziggy’s versions of My China Girl is an allegory of the differences of the personas.
Slick Ziggy is the commercial mass-market product.
Iggy is an unapologetic, unredeemed rock ‘n’ roller.
I’ve found Iggy’s version haunting and ever memorable even after years.

I Stand Corrected

13y↑1

too unique of a song! i been jammin to this one since i was a teen. I love songs that just START like this one does.

widM

7y↑102

2:00 best part. That scream is stunning.

M. Lawson

10y↑3

I know nothing nor do I want to know anything about the drug aspects of this song, but the musical aspects appeal to me more than do those of the Bowie version. I am a fan of both artists. This one totally rocks!

JB

Knowing nothing about the drugs closes you off from truth. The truth is, both musicians were into drugs. And if they hadn't been, i doubt the music would be.

Doctori Ordi

13y↑2

"China Girl", originally called "Borderline", was a tale of unrequited love inspired by Kuelan Nguyen, partner of French actor/singer Jacques Higelin, who was also recording at Château d'Hérouville at the time. The protagonist's "Shhh..." was a direct quote from Nguyen after Pop confessed his feelings for her one night.[7] Production-wise it was raw and unpolished compared to Bowie's hit remake in 1983.[9] Other songs included "Funtime", a proto-gothic number that Bowie .... we had a drink :)

Robin Fox -- I SEE STARS

Bowie was with Grace Jones at that time

1 More Replies...

Raven Lynn

36w

I was looking up China Girl by David Bowie because I didn't know about this version and came across an article about it. So I had to come listen to this version and I must say I do like it. It's not bad at all. Although I still prefer David Bowie's version more, this one is good too.

Monica Ritvo

51w↑2

I knew David Bowie's cover first but this original version is much viscerally rawer,incredibly intense.

Marcos Ruiz

27w↑1

This version is produced by David Bowie, all the music was made by him...

Ross Hauler

5y↑32

The scream is the reason I like this version more it’s just to good!

Ahavah

Exactly this.

lilly2202

1y↑1

45 years old today still great

john emeigh

4y↑14

"She says, Jimmy, you just shut your mouth." "I'll give you television, I'll give you eyes of blue." Never has there ever been better lyrics.

Dave P

2y↑3

Love the guitar.Way better than bowies in a rocker way.Heard this for the first time this week.Remember when Fame came out as a single.

yoshtodd

6y↑8

This version really captures a feeling of self loathing. Can't think of another song that does so as much as this one.

Ryan

i can

1 More Replies...

Rick JamesSPLIFF

Those awesome dueling guitar harmonies and solos at the end still sound so good to me! So the legend goes Ian Curtis loved this song so much and apparently he was listening to this during his suicide.. lan Curtis RIP

Richard

It's hard for me to say one version is better than the other. Bowie's version was more for want of a better word, pop to me, whereas this version has the punk rock edge that gives it more heart. But I do think Bowie is the superior vocalist. I think if you managed to combine the two you'd get the perfect version of China Girl. Bowie would provide the polish and Iggy providing the feeling

U Suck

6y↑6

The song (both versions) has a certain beautiful, seductive eeriness to it...

The Peace Bear

4y↑1

What a great song!❤️🔥👍😄

figsjelly

12y↑7

Damn, I remember being sixteen listening to this on a boring sunday. Made me day!

Cheese and Onions

Love this song... in all of its versions...

Exergue13

1y↑3

Is anyone else in love with the discordant toy piano over the rocks instrumentation? I am a sucker for bells, marimbas, xylophones, and unexpected melodic percussion in rock music. Yes, I said a piano is a percussion instrument. If you know, you know.

nilsrulz

12y↑1

just like dope is cut and is not so strong, any version other than this one is STEPPED ON. This is pure.

Jean-Christophe MURAT

29w

The last minute of the song is phenomenal!

G M

5y↑3

Iggy Pop + Phil Palmer (lead guitar) + Bowie (sax and keyboards) every bit the equal to - though wildly different than - Bowie + Stevie Ray Vaughan (lead guitar).

I love Bowie's raw sax in the background here. Just adds so much to the feel of sleaze and desperation oozing through this track.

eclectica1

10y↑1

Never realised that Iggy Pop released this earlier version until now. You really do learn something new every day.

jimmy page

If you are lucky

BrokenGrin

13y

However, I don't think Iggy's work can be reduced to "just writing the lyrics", 1rst because lyrics aren't indeed a secondary detail, and then because the interpretation of the singer gives a lot of its price to the song (especially in Iggy's case). So David sure had a huge role in these albums but it doesn't mean they aren't Iggy's as well. I guess if people are talking that much about Bowie, it's because he's the most famous of the two. But why one or the other should be ran down 'cause of it?

EPhilly

13y

@BrokenGrin I remember when this album came out. This was the first song I heard and I was blown away. It wa unlike anything I had heard. I remember feeling that Bowie and Iggy were true collaborators and in the case of this album and the others in which Bowie was a collaborator, it was intended to enhance Iggy's style. Bowie was a fan and wanted to work with him. he did not want to outshine him because he already had commercial success. If there are typos, sorry - lost glasses.

Le Rutabagarre

2y↑3

This song is such a beauty...

Everett Butler

I forgot to mention I love Iggy Pop's version best the instrumntal the electric guitat=r playing is truly great and the synthesizer makes thes song extra special. Ian w
had good taste in a lot of his musiciations of other groups.

MST3Killa

The guitar outro portion always gets me.

Dalia Ibarra

2y↑4

Woow!! atónito con semejante cover Good, Good, Good❤️❤️👍👍

Marcos Ruiz

27w

ajajaj, esta version es la original, salio en 1977 en el album the idiot, pero esta version tambien es de david bowie, pues produjo el album entero, el y iggy pop era buenos amgos, bowe el produjo muchisimos discos

ÅᑎƬwΛN aƦᡶur0 ᗩNᗪƦΞϟƠИ

It is a tale of unrequited love inspired by Kuelan Nguyen, partner of French actor-singer Jacques Higelin, who was also recording at the château at the same time. The protagonist's "Shhh ..." was a direct quote from Nguyen after Pop confessed his feelings for her one night.[13] Pop improvised most of the lyrics while standing at a studio microphone.[47] 😟😟😟

annarboriter

I recall hearing this song on regular repeat during the early days of MTV. Oh, wait...

Elaine Ewalt

2y↑1

I never heard Iggy's version before, and I inherited this album along w/many others. But I like David Bowie's version better.

shadow_boxing

I never heard the Iggy version before, but there are some really good parts in it. Though I still prefer Bowie s voice

Yeehawww

5y↑1

A song that begins rather innocuously but that guitar riff is orgasmic.

Corbin Markey

I think I like this version more than Bowie's because it felt more naked and personal (probably because he wrote the lyrics). I'd describe Iggy's ver. as a rush of butterflies and nervousness; Bowie's is flinging the doors open knowing how the night will end. Both are great, but Iggy barely edges out for me.

Puto Cracker

3y↑3

Bowie had an incredible ear for music. When I hear the original, I value the songwriting, but I wonder if I would have paid it any attention without Bowie transposing it the way he did.

Li Lise

Just because Bowie's production sucks! I've heard his cover many a times but it never stuck with me. Whereas in Iggy's live renditions you can hear raw emotion....

Sergio Nicolas Barbosa1251

Gran cancion

Retro earthling

2y↑1

If i were a f'in dj when this came out i would have been playing this on the air when bowies version became a hit. Without QUESTION. Holy f'in sh*t it's amazing

Spike Burst

5y↑2

Masterpiece

Pierre Singer

47w

Never listened to the original version until today, I like it too,an hovering punk rock song

BrokenGrin

13y

It's a shame to see so many arguments about whose work, between Bowie's and Iggy's, is the most important on "The Idiot" and "Lust for Life", because the richness of these albums resides for much in the fact that it's a collaboration (at least that's what I think). Sure, it can be quite annoying to keep hearing about Bowie on Iggy's vids, but we can't deny either the significance of his involvement : he created great instrumentals and did play an important role as a producer.

Sophie Heath

9y↑5

I like this version- but I love Bowie's. It's a sign of great songwriting however that Bowie could build on the original so well (especially with Roger's guitar)

007Elvisofnazareth

SRV!!!!

maynardmoleman

6y↑2

Love Iggy's original version right here....it smacks of desperation...

GoldenWeeks1981

15y

Yes better but Bowie's version is also good and good and brings it across to the mtv generation well (great vid).

Greg Stokes

The climax of this song just takes me to a different place.

mosriteminion cause

33w

I had this on my car radio...early 90's...and I was singing along. My Girl - (Later my Wife) is sitting in silence listening. She was tall....5'11 with dark brunette hair...brown eyes and was Italian/Scottish. Suddenly she puts her hand on the back of my neck.. and says I, love you, you know that don't you? She reacted to "China Girl," like I was singing about her, I dared not laugh....I lost my "Little China Girl" to bone cancer about 7 years later....but Iggy, - you and me made a impression on her that both she and I will never forget....
"I'm a Wreck without my Little China Girl."

Todd Strandberg

49w

This was a double surprise. #1 I didn't know that Bowie was doing a cover of China Girl. #2 I can't believe how bad Iggy's version sucks. David Bowie is an absolute genius to be able to pull this song out of the dumpster.

Gianmaria Framarin

4y↑49

Iggy's version is of course Berlin-esque, David's is straight from 'Let's Dance'.
Simple as that.

ClearOutSamskaras

3y↑1

David's is as serious as moonlight...

Rogelio Palos

5y↑8

I like Iggy’s version more for the scream, damn does it gets me everything time

Ben Culture

10y↑3

Some of Iggy Pop's songs, like this one and "Don't Look Down", start so abruptly and "in progress", it's as if the band had been playing for about two minutes before the recording even began!
And are those cocktail glasses I'm hearing among the cacophony?
The music tracks are quite cleverly compressed so Iggy's baritone, speak-singing isn't lost among the guitars and bass.

Ben Culture

***** Thanks, yeah, I like both versions of "Don't Look Down".

D D

8y↑1

Not cocktail glass. It's a toy piano.

Ben Culture

+Dee Dee Interesting, thanks!

Jim Zafiriou

2y↑4

Iggy rocks, Bowie rolls.

Yesenia Valdivia

11y↑2

This song is perfect

MST3Killa

Goosebumps

Brad Bean

Iggy n Bowie are a match made in heaven

rivariad

13y↑1

i grew up listening to bowie's and this is the first time i hear this, quite unregular and great but lacks the power of bowie's rerecording in my opinion

Paul Black

5y↑1

Bowie was about to cash in with this turn of sound, Iggy took another 20 years...

Ljudi Čovjek

iggy gave this song to Bowie to give him a hand as a friend, and a good stepping stone in form of a hit song in a bit down phase of bowies career, and it did him a fucking good favour too

N Leslie

6y↑5

This is the original co-written Bowie-Iggy Pop version. This is gritty and real. The travesty version of this song which everyone is referring to as 'Bowie's version' on the 'Let's Dance' album was Bowie's cover version of his OWN song in an 80s disco format. So both are Bowie. I have always loved Bowie. He is my favourite music artist ever. He admitted later that the 'Let;s Dance' album was his most commercially successful - but least artistic and creative.

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