David Bowie (Mar. 1993) Jump They Say – Single Advert

A minimalist, grayscale New Musical Express advert announcing David Bowie’s Jump They Say single — a stark, mirrored design reflecting the introspective tone of his Black Tie White Noise era.

WRITER / ARTIST / DATE / LENGTH

Writer: New Musical Express / BMG International

Artist: David Bowie

Date: March 20, 1993

Length: 4 min read

OVERVIEW

Published in NME on March 20, 1993, this advert promoted Bowie’s Jump They Say single — his first solo release in six years. The design features a mirrored portrait of Bowie’s face, split vertically to evoke duality and self‑reflection. The typography is clean and geometric, echoing the visual language of Black Tie White Noise. The advert’s restrained palette and symmetry convey Bowie’s modernist sensibility and the introspective mood of the song, which explores themes of mental health and legacy.

📰 Visual Archive

PUBLICATION

Publication: New Musical Express

Date: March 20, 1993

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Single Advert (Page 56)

Title: Jump They Say

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Promotion of Bowie’s 1993 single Jump They Say

Era: Early 1990s / Black Tie White Noise period

Tone: Minimalist, reflective, modernist

Photography: Mirrored portrait of Bowie in grayscale

Audience: NME readers and Bowie collectors

“Single of the Week — Our Price, HMV, W.H. Smith, Woolworth and Virgin.

THE STORY BEHIND IT

The advert marked Bowie’s return to solo prominence after the Tin Machine years. Jump They Say was inspired by the memory of his half‑brother Terry, who struggled with mental illness — a theme Bowie approached with empathy and restraint. The single’s release was supported by remixes from Leftfield and Meat Beat Manifesto, bridging Bowie’s art‑rock legacy with contemporary electronic music. The mirrored imagery symbolises introspection and fragmentation, aligning with the song’s lyrical exploration of identity and perception.

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Event: Promotion of Bowie’s single Jump They Say

Era: 1993 / Early 1990s revival

Tone: Minimalist, introspective, modern

Photography: Mirrored portrait of Bowie

Audience: Music press readers and Bowie fans

CONTEXT & NOTES

The advert’s grayscale palette and mirrored composition evoke psychological tension and self‑examination. The typography — clean sans‑serif with reversed alignment — reflects early‑1990s graphic trends and Bowie’s fascination with symmetry and abstraction. The inclusion of retail chains underscores the single’s mainstream reach, while the design’s austerity maintains Bowie’s avant‑garde edge. The layout’s balance between commercial clarity and artistic subtlety typifies his Black Tie White Noise visual identity.

“CD – Part one of 2 CD set (Part 2 available next week) includes exclusive 8‑page history and discography ’64–’93.”

“CD – Part one of 2 CD set (Part 2 available next week) includes exclusive 8‑page history and discography ’64–’93.”

RELATED MATERIAL

• David Bowie (Apr. 1993) Black Tie White Noise – Album Advert

• David Bowie – Glam Slam Guide

• Getting On Famously — Bowie & Brett – 3 Pages (Mar. 1993)

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.