David Bowie (May 31, 1983) China Girl - 7" / 12" Single
- May 31, 1983
- 2 min read
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist: David Bowie
Label: EMI America
Date: May 31, 1983 (UK)
Catalogue: EA 158
Format: 7" Vinyl Single (also 12" and limited CD)
Country: United Kingdom
A-Side: “China Girl”
Written by: David Bowie, Iggy
Pop Produced by: David Bowie, Nile Rodgers
B-Side: “Shake It”
THE STORY
A shimmering Let’s Dance‑era reinvention — Bowie transforms the stark 1977 Iggy Pop original into a sleek, global pop hit. Issued as the second single from Let’s Dance, “China Girl” paired Bowie’s polished, Nile Rodgers‑produced version with the B-side “Shake It”, continuing the album’s run of major chart successes.
CONTEXT & NOTES
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. Co‑produced with Nile Rodgers, the single became a global hit. Its music video, featuring New Zealand actress Geeling Ng, presented an interracial romance and cultural tension; Bowie described it as a deliberate anti‑racism statement. The track became a staple of the Serious Moonlight Tour.
TRACK LIST
7" Vinyl (EA 158)
A. China Girl
B. Shake It
12" Vinyl (12EA 158)
A. China Girl (Extended Dance Mix)
B1. Shake It (Extended Mix)
B2. China Girl (7" Version)
CD Single (select territories)
China Girl
Shake It
China Girl (Extended Dance Mix)
CHART PERFORMANCE
UK Singles Chart:
Peak Position No. 2
Weeks on Chart: 14
Entry Date: June 5, 1983
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Standard EMI America company sleeve
Paper label and silver injection moulded label variants
Poster sleeve edition (EA 158P) in select markets
UK VARIANTS
EA 158 – 7" Vinyl (Paper Label / Silver Injection)
12EA 158 – 12" Vinyl
EA 158P – 7" Vinyl, Poster Sleeve
RELATED MATERIAL
Let’s Dance (single, 1983)
Modern Love (single, 1983)
Let’s Dance (album, 1983)
For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.
SOURCES
Discogs
45cat
BBC Official Charts
Wikipedia
All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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