Mick Jagger and David Bowie shared a bond for five decades, but it was during the 1980s that their friendship truly blossomed. During this period, they were inseparable, and a Bowie song reminds Mick Jagger of those precious times.
The two are among the most charismatic, eccentric, and talented musicians England has ever produced. It wasn't until the early 70s that their paths first crossed, although Jagger later admitted he couldn't remember exactly where or when they met, "which is strange," he said.
Bowie and Jagger attended the same parties in London and felt a strong connection to each other. Over the years, Jagger witnessed Bowie's development not only artistically, but also as a human being. Later in life, the two lived in New York during the 1980s and solidified their friendship by covering "Dancing In The Street".
Jagger's favorite song came from that same era. The reasons behind it aren't purely musical. Bowie's "Let's Dance" reminds the Rolling Stones of the nights in Manhattan they spent together. "We were very close in the '80s in New York," Mick Jagger recalled after Bowie's death. "We went out a lot and went to clubs. We were very influenced by the downtown New York scene at that time."
“That’s why ‘Let’s Dance’ is my favorite song,” he explained. “It reminds me of those times and has such a good rhythm. He had a chameleon-like ability to take on any genre, always with a unique take, musically and lyrically.”.
“Let’s Dance” was Bowie’s way of moving with the times and staying fashionable without compromising his artistry. It was more pop than anything he had done before, and it was produced by Nile Rodgers , who helped usher The Starman into a new era.
Although the song is a great reminder of the friendship between the artists, working with Bowie remains the most cherished memory of their time together. "My favorite memory was the time we did 'Dancing in the Street' together," he said.
“We had to record the song and shoot the video in one day. We went straight from the studio to the set,” Jagger added. “At the end of the day, we were saying, ‘Look, this can be done! Why are we spending years in the studio?’ We like camping. The video is hilarious to watch. It was the only time we really collaborated on something, which is pretty stupid when you think about it.”.
