Originally written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop in 1976 and first released on Pop’s 1977 album The Idiot, “China Girl” began as a raw, emotionally fraught piece. Bowie’s 1983 re-recording — created partly to support Pop financially — reshaped the song into a bright, melodic pop track built around an Asian‑inflected guitar motif.

Iggy Pop - May 20, 1977 Release day for Iggy Pop’s single “China Girl” on RCA Victor (PB 9093). Co-written with David Bowie and produced by him during their Berlin period, this was one of the key tracks from the sessions that also produced the album The Idiot. The B-side was “Baby”. The single failed to make an impression on the UK Singles Chart A significant moment in Iggy’s artistic rebirth, with Bowie’s influence clearly shaping the sound and direction. Written by David B