Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
Encyclopedia
"Cat People" is a song by David Bowie
, the title song of the 1982 film Cat People
. It was written by Bowie with producer Giorgio Moroder
. A re-recorded version of the song appears on the album Let's Dance. In 2009, the original version of the song was used for the soundtrack
of the film Inglourious Basterds.
The song itself, in keeping with the dark tone of the film, has some slight goth rock influences, with Bowie singing in a deep baritone
croon while being backed up by a female chorus, a combination that The Sisters of Mercy
would commonly employ years later.
Because of Moroder's contract, the single was issued by MCA
. The full-length version appeared on the soundtrack album, and the 12" single, while a 4:08 edited version was made for the 7" release. The single reached #26 in the UK, and #67 in the US - Bowie's biggest hit there since "Golden Years
". It peaked at #1 in New Zealand, remaining there for three weeks, as well as in Sweden for four weeks. It was also #1 in Norway for seven consecutive weeks, and then returned to the top for a further week.
The single was released three separate times by MCA. First with "Cat People" as the A-side, then again two months later with "Paul's Theme" as the A-side, and finally in November 1982 with "Cat People" back on the A-side. Notable contribution as orchestrator was made by Hungarian-born composer, Sylvester Levay
.
In 1983, Bowie re-recorded the song for his album Let's Dance. This version was also released as the B-side to the title track's single release, and performed on Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour
. He had originally planned on using the original version of the song, but MCA Records
refused to license it, as Moroder was under contract to them at the time, and they were not about to let a competing label--EMI America--to use a song by one of its artists on their project.
In 2009, the track was used in another film, Quentin Tarantino
's Inglourious Basterds.
Sharleen Spiteri
recorded a new version of the song in 2010 which was included on her album The Movie Songbook
.
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, the title song of the 1982 film Cat People
Cat People (1982 film)
Cat People is a 1982 American erotic horror film directed by Paul Schrader and starring Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell and John Heard. The film co-stars Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley, Jr. and John Larroquette. Jerry Bruckheimer served as executive producer...
. It was written by Bowie with producer Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
. A re-recorded version of the song appears on the album Let's Dance. In 2009, the original version of the song was used for the soundtrack
Inglourious Basterds (soundtrack)
Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds: Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's motion picture Inglourious Basterds. It was originally released on August 18, 2009. The soundtrack uses a variety of music genres, including spaghetti western soundtrack excerpts, R&B and...
of the film Inglourious Basterds.
History
Schrader engaged Bowie for a theme song in 1981, with Moroder having already recorded most of the music. Bowie was to put lyrics to the main theme. The words only had a basic relation to the film. The B-side is a Moroder-only instrumental which featured no input from Bowie.The song itself, in keeping with the dark tone of the film, has some slight goth rock influences, with Bowie singing in a deep baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
croon while being backed up by a female chorus, a combination that The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
would commonly employ years later.
Because of Moroder's contract, the single was issued by MCA
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
. The full-length version appeared on the soundtrack album, and the 12" single, while a 4:08 edited version was made for the 7" release. The single reached #26 in the UK, and #67 in the US - Bowie's biggest hit there since "Golden Years
Golden Years (song)
An updated single for "Golden Years" was released in 2011 to coincide with the re-release of Station to Station. 4 new remixes were provided by DJs from radio station KCRW in California.-Track listing:# "Golden Years " - 3:27...
". It peaked at #1 in New Zealand, remaining there for three weeks, as well as in Sweden for four weeks. It was also #1 in Norway for seven consecutive weeks, and then returned to the top for a further week.
The single was released three separate times by MCA. First with "Cat People" as the A-side, then again two months later with "Paul's Theme" as the A-side, and finally in November 1982 with "Cat People" back on the A-side. Notable contribution as orchestrator was made by Hungarian-born composer, Sylvester Levay
Sylvester Levay
Sylvester Levay is a Hungarian composer. He was born 16 May 1945 in Subotica , in the North Bačka District of Vojvodina, Yugoslavia ; his name is pronounced in English similarly to "lave-ah-ee."...
.
In 1983, Bowie re-recorded the song for his album Let's Dance. This version was also released as the B-side to the title track's single release, and performed on Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour
Serious Moonlight Tour
The David Bowie Serious Moonlight Tour was thus far Bowie's longest, largest and most successful concert tour. The tour opened at the Vorst Forest Nationaal - Brussels on 18 May 1983 and ended in the Hong Kong Coliseum on 8 December 1983; 16 countries visited, 96 performances, 2,601,196 tickets...
. He had originally planned on using the original version of the song, but MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
refused to license it, as Moroder was under contract to them at the time, and they were not about to let a competing label--EMI America--to use a song by one of its artists on their project.
In 2009, the track was used in another film, Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
's Inglourious Basterds.
Sharleen Spiteri
Sharleen Spiteri
Sharleen Spiteri is a Scottish recording artist and songwriter, best known as being the lead singer of Scottish rock/blues band Texas. Texas began their career in 1986, and shot to fame in 1989 with their UK Top Ten single, "I Don't Want a Lover" released from Southside...
recorded a new version of the song in 2010 which was included on her album The Movie Songbook
The Movie Songbook
The Movie Songbook is the second studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Sharleen Spiteri. It was released on 1 March 2010. The album consists of film song covers, chosen and recorded by Spiteri herself in 2009.- Reception :...
.
7": MCA / MCA 770 (UK)
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 4:08
- "Paul's Theme (Jogging Chase)" (Moroder) – 3:51
12": MCA / MCAT 770 (UK)
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 6:41
- "Paul's Theme (Jogging Chase)" (Moroder) – 3:51
12": MCA / DS 12087 (Australia)
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 4:08
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 9:20
- label states running time of 6:41, but is actually 9:20
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 15 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 17 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
26 |
| US Billboard Pop Singles Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
67 |
| US Billboard Club Play Singles Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
14 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock | 9 |
Production credits
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s:- Giorgio MoroderGiorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
- Giorgio Moroder
- MusicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s:- David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
: Vocals - Giorgio MoroderGiorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
: SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
: Electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- David Bowie
Other releases
- The "Let's Dance" version was released as the B-side of the single "Let's DanceLet's Dance (David Bowie song)"Let's Dance" is the title album track on David Bowie's album Let's Dance. It was also released as the first single from that album in 1983, and went on to become one of his biggest-selling tracks....
" in March 1983. - It also appeared on the compilation Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 in 1993.
- It also appeared on the compilation The Best of 1980/1987 in 2007.
- The "Let's Dance" version contains lead guitar work by a then little-known Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
. - Also used in the soundtrack of the Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Basterds in 2009.
- Also used in a episode of The Office, Cafe DiscoCafe Disco"Cafe Disco" is the twenty-seventh episode of the fifth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the 99th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 7, 2009. Feeling the office is overworked after the recent reign of Charles Miner,...
.
Cover versions
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- The Movie SongbookThe Movie SongbookThe Movie Songbook is the second studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Sharleen Spiteri. It was released on 1 March 2010. The album consists of film song covers, chosen and recorded by Spiteri herself in 2009.- Reception :...
(2010)