Walking on Thin Ice
Encyclopedia
"Walking on Thin Ice" is a New Wave
/dance
song by Yoko Ono
, released in 1981. She and John Lennon
concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota
(their home in New York City
) that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman
. Lennon was clutching a tape of a final mix when he was shot.
The song is also included on the experimental compilation album called Disco Not Disco
(2000).
, a new intro was added, where John Lennon can be heard remarking "I think you just cut your first number one, Yoko."
In 2003, riding on the success of several Ono club remixes including "Open Your Box
" and "Kiss Kiss Kiss", "Walking on Thin Ice" was released as a maxi-single with remixes by dance artists including the Pet Shop Boys
, Danny Tenaglia
and Felix Da Housecat
. It met incredible success, spending many weeks on the US dance chart before reaching number one, beating Madonna
and Justin Timberlake
. In the UK, it reached number 35 on the chart, exactly the same position as the original reached in 1981.
"It Happened" was selected as the B-side to the 1981 single - a slower, mellow track about acceptance - from Ono's vaults that was originally recorded for A Story
and had already seen limited release in Japan
as the B-side to "Yume O Moto", but was remixed for inclusion on the single. Much like the A-side, the lyrics have a new haunting quality given Lennon's murder: "It happened at a time of my life/When I least expected... And I know there's no return, no way". In the essay on the back of the single, Ono talks about how Lennon picked out this track from her old tapes and marked it as a hit. She said "No way!" to which he responded "I'll make it a hit". He was murdered hours later.
for "Walking on Thin Ice" which was released in February 1981. In 2003 Mike Mills
and Arya Senboutaraj (one half of the directing duo Rainbows & Vampires) directed an animated black and white video featuring the "Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix Edit" of the song. You can watch it here or here.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
/dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song by Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, released in 1981. She and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota
The Dakota
The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartment building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City...
(their home in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman is an American prison inmate who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He committed the crime as Lennon and Yoko Ono were outside of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Chapman aimed five shots at Lennon, hitting him four times in his back...
. Lennon was clutching a tape of a final mix when he was shot.
The song is also included on the experimental compilation album called Disco Not Disco
Disco Not Disco
-Personnel:"Walking On Thin Ice" *Engineers: Lee DeCarlo, Sam Ginsberg*Drums: Andy Newmark*Bass guitar: Tony Levin*Rhythm guitar: Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken*Editing: Joseph Watt*Producers: Jack Douglas, John Lennon, Yoko Ono"Cavern"...
(2000).
Background
Lennon's lead guitar work on the track, which he recorded on 8 December 1980, is praised by many as the most fascinating of his career. This was his final creative act. At the end of January 1981, "Walking on Thin Ice" was released as a single and became Ono's first chart success, peaking at number 58 in the US and gaining major club/underground airplay. The single was released in February 1981 in the UK and reached number 35 on the chart. The lyrics talk of the unpredictability of life and death — of "throwing the dice in the air" — and reach the conclusion, "when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story....". On the version included on 1992's OnoboxOnobox
Onobox is a 1992 comprehensive 6-disc collection of Yoko Ono's work from 1968 to 1985. The discs are grouped by era and theme. Disc six is the previously unreleased 1974 album A Story, which was later reissued separately along with the rest of Ono's back catalogue. There was also an accompanying...
, a new intro was added, where John Lennon can be heard remarking "I think you just cut your first number one, Yoko."
In 2003, riding on the success of several Ono club remixes including "Open Your Box
Open Your Box
Open Your Box is a song by Yoko Ono, released on 12 March 1971 as the B-side of John Lennon's single Power to the People. It was remixed and re-released by Orange Factory in 2001....
" and "Kiss Kiss Kiss", "Walking on Thin Ice" was released as a maxi-single with remixes by dance artists including the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
and Felix Da Housecat
Felix da Housecat
Felix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
. It met incredible success, spending many weeks on the US dance chart before reaching number one, beating Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. In the UK, it reached number 35 on the chart, exactly the same position as the original reached in 1981.
"It Happened" was selected as the B-side to the 1981 single - a slower, mellow track about acceptance - from Ono's vaults that was originally recorded for A Story
A Story (album)
A Story is an album by Yoko Ono, recorded in 1974, during the "lost weekend" sessions in which John Lennon produced Walls And Bridges. The album went unreleased until the 1992 box set Onobox, which featured material from A Story on disc six. It only saw proper release as an individual album in...
and had already seen limited release in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as the B-side to "Yume O Moto", but was remixed for inclusion on the single. Much like the A-side, the lyrics have a new haunting quality given Lennon's murder: "It happened at a time of my life/When I least expected... And I know there's no return, no way". In the essay on the back of the single, Ono talks about how Lennon picked out this track from her old tapes and marked it as a hit. She said "No way!" to which he responded "I'll make it a hit". He was murdered hours later.
Promo 12" / Cassingle
- A. "Walking On Thin Ice" - 5:59
- B1. "It Happened" - 5:08
- B2. "Hard Times Are Over" - 3:26
CD Maxi
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
Radio Mix - 4:09 - Danny TenagliaDanny TenagliaDanny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
Walked Across the Lake Mix - 12:40 - Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix - 6:37
- Felix da HousecatFelix da HousecatFelix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
's Tribute Mix - 5:29 - Pet Shop Boys Extended Dance Mix - 7:58
- Rui da SilvaRui da SilvaRui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
's Kismet Mix - 10:42 - Peter RauhoferPeter RauhoferPeter Rauhofer is a DJ, remixer and producer who formerly went under the moniker Club 69 as well as Size Queen. A native of Vienna, Austria, he is famous for his remixes of a number of Madonna's songs including "Nothing Really Matters", "American Life", "Nothing Fails, "Nobody Knows Me", "Get...
Electro Mix - 6:08 - Orange Factory Radio Mix - 3:54
- FKEK Vocal Mix - 9:55
- Peter Rauhofer Chill Mix - 4:58
2x12" single
- Danny TenagliaDanny TenagliaDanny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
Walked Across the Lake Mix - 12:40 - Peter RauhoferPeter RauhoferPeter Rauhofer is a DJ, remixer and producer who formerly went under the moniker Club 69 as well as Size Queen. A native of Vienna, Austria, he is famous for his remixes of a number of Madonna's songs including "Nothing Really Matters", "American Life", "Nothing Fails, "Nobody Knows Me", "Get...
Future Mix - 10:07 - Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix - 6:37
- Pet Shop Boys Extended Dance Mix - 7:58
- Rui da SilvaRui da SilvaRui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
's Kismet Mix - 10:42 - FKEK Hard As Ice Dub - 8:35
- Orange Factory "Larry" Dub - 6:20
- Orange Factory Yoko-pella - :34
UK 12" single
- Danny TenagliaDanny TenagliaDanny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
Walked Across the Lake Mix - 12:40 - Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix - 6:37
US 12" single
- Danny Tenaglia Dub - 9:07
- Felix da HousecatFelix da HousecatFelix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
's Tribute Mix - 5:29 - FKEK Vocal Mix - 9:55
iTunes single
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
Radio Mix - 4:09 - Danny TenagliaDanny TenagliaDanny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
Walked Across the Lake Mix - 12:40 - Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix - 6:37
- Felix da HousecatFelix da HousecatFelix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
's Tribute Mix - 5:29 - Pet Shop Boys Extended Dance Mix - 7:58
- Rui da SilvaRui da SilvaRui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
's Kismet Mix - 10:42 - Peter RauhoferPeter RauhoferPeter Rauhofer is a DJ, remixer and producer who formerly went under the moniker Club 69 as well as Size Queen. A native of Vienna, Austria, he is famous for his remixes of a number of Madonna's songs including "Nothing Really Matters", "American Life", "Nothing Fails, "Nobody Knows Me", "Get...
Electro Mix - 6:08 - Orange FactoryOrange FactoryOrange Factory psychoacoustic arts and music publishing house, Sofia is a Bulgarian artistic studio, experimenting with music and multimedia, organising concerts, competitions and festivals, publishing...
Radio Mix - 3:54 - FKEK Vocal Mix - 9:55
- Peter RauhoferPeter RauhoferPeter Rauhofer is a DJ, remixer and producer who formerly went under the moniker Club 69 as well as Size Queen. A native of Vienna, Austria, he is famous for his remixes of a number of Madonna's songs including "Nothing Really Matters", "American Life", "Nothing Fails, "Nobody Knows Me", "Get...
Chill Mix - 4:58 - Peter Rauhofer Future Mix - 10:07
- FKEK Hard As Ice Dub - 8:35
- Orange Factory "Larry" Dub - 6:20
- Orange Factory Yoko-pella - :34
- Danny Tenaglia Dub - 9:07
2007
- "Walking On Thin Ice" (with Jason PierceJason PierceJason Pierce , also known as J. Spaceman or Spaceman, is an English musician. He was formerly the joint leader – with Peter Kember – of the alternative rock band Spacemen 3, and is now the leader and sole permanent member of the band Spiritualized.In between his work with Spiritualized...
of SpiritualizedSpiritualizedSpiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
) - 5:07 - "Toyboat" (with Antony of Antony and the JohnsonsAntony and the JohnsonsAntony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...
and Hahn RoweHahn RoweHahn Rowe is an internationally renowned violinist, guitarist, composer, and record producer involved in a wide-range of projects. Originally a violinist and guitarist with New York City dream-poppers Hugo Largo, Rowe became a session player in the New York scene.As a musician, he has played on...
) - 4:24
Promos
Yoko Ono herself directed a music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Walking on Thin Ice" which was released in February 1981. In 2003 Mike Mills
Mike Mills (director)
Michael C. "Mike" Mills is an American film and music video director and graphic designer. He is perhaps best known for his independent films Thumbsucker and Beginners.-Early life:...
and Arya Senboutaraj (one half of the directing duo Rainbows & Vampires) directed an animated black and white video featuring the "Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix Edit" of the song. You can watch it here or here.
Covers
- Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and The AttractionsThe AttractionsThe Attractions were best known as the backing band for Elvis Costello between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They also released one album as an independent entity in 1980.-History:...
(ft. the TKO Horns) on the album Every Man Has a WomanEvery Man Has a WomanEvery Man Has a Woman is a tribute album to Yoko Ono for her 50th birthday. It contains covers of her songs from the albums Approximately Infinite Universe , Double Fantasy , Season of Glass , and It's Alright . The album was purportedly one of John Lennon's projects, but he died before he could...
(1984); the song was featured as a bonus trackBonus trackIn terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
on Rykodisk's 1995 re-issue of Costello's 1983 album Punch the ClockPunch the ClockPunch the Clock is an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was Costello's eighth album, his seventh with the Attractions since 1978. The album featured Costello's first U.S... - We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use ItWe've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use ItWe've Got A Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It were an English alternative rock group. Formed in Birmingham in 1985, the all-female quartet originally consisted of Vix, Maggie Dunne, Jo Dunne and Tina O'Neill. The band's name was shortened to Fuzzbox for the U.S. release of their first album...
(aka Fuzzbox) (1989) - The Picketts on the album The Wicked Picketts (1985)
- Miss Tila covered this song on her EP Welcome to the Darkside.
Charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... ) |
48 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... ) |
6 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 35 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
13 |
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 35 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
1 |
| US Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
5 |