"Loving the Alien" is a track from the album Tonight by David Bowie. One of only two tracks on the album written solely by Bowie, the song was a surprisingly late release as a single (coming nine months after the release of "Blue Jean" as a single, and eight months after the album), reputedly because Bowie read a review saying it would make a good single.

The song covers Bowie's dislike of organised religion, and is a plea for greater unity between the faiths of the world. The lavish video, co-directed by Bowie with David Mallet, fitted the idea well, questioning perceived wisdom about religion.

It was remixed as a single and issued in May 1985. Considering the age of the track (the music market had changed considerably since the day RCA could release a two-year old album track and be rewarded by a top 3 hit, as with "Life on Mars?"), the single performed well, reaching #19 in the UK.

Bowie has since performed the track on his Glass Spider Tour. He would later reflect that the production on the song undid the power of the lyric, and admitted the demo version had been better. On the Reality Tour in 2003 and 2004, he again performed this track, but this time a stripped down version with only Bowie on vocals and Gerry Leonard on guitar; in a filmed performance of the tour, Bowie remarked that this arrangement was perhaps "the way it should have always been done."

In late 2002, the track was remixed and re-released by The Scumfrog (credited as The Scumfrog Vs. Bowie), doing poorly in the mainstream charts, but reaching number 9 on the club charts. The remix video was similar to the original but featured more editing techniques.

Track listing

7": EMI America / EA 195 (UK)

1. "Loving the Alien [Remixed version]" (Bowie) – 4:43
2. "Don't Look Down [Remixed version]" (Pop, Williamson) – 4:04

12": EMI America / 12EA 195 (UK)

1. "Loving the Alien [Extended Dance Mix]" (Bowie) – 7:27
2. "Don't Look Down [Extended Dance Mix]" (Pop, Williamson) – 4:50
3. "Loving the Alien [Extended Dub Mix]" (Bowie) – 7:14
4. Also available as a picture disc (EMI America / 12EAP 195)
5. Re-mixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero
6. The Extended Dance Mix of Loving The Alien is actually identical to the album version, but with an added drum break.

Download: EMI / iEA 195 (UK)

1. "Loving the Alien [Remixed version]" (Bowie) – 4:43
2. "Don't Look Down [Remixed version]" (Pop, Williamson) – 4:04
3. "Loving the Alien [Extended Dance Mix]" (Bowie) – 7:27
4. "Loving the Alien [Extended Dub Mix]" (Bowie) – 7:14
5. "Don't Look Down [Extended Dance Mix]" (Pop, Williamson) – 4:50
6. released in 2007

Production credits

• Producers:
• David Bowie
• Hugh Padgham
• Derek Bramble

• Musicians:
• David Bowie: Vocals
• Tina Turner: Vocals
• Carlos Alomar: Guitar
• Derek Bramble: Bass, Synthesizer
• Carmine Rojas: Bass
• Sam Figueroa: Percussion
• Omar Hakim: Drums
• Guy St Onge: Marimba

The Scumfrog vs Bowie

In 2002 the Dutch producer The Scumfrog made a club mix of the song and released it as a single together with the original video of the song.

Track listing

1. "Loving the Alien (Radio edit)"
2. "Loving the Alien (Original Club mix)"
3. "8 Days, 7 Hours (by Scumfrog)"
4. "Loving the Alien (video)"

Other releases

• It also appeared on the compilation albums Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993), ''Best of Bowie (2002) and ISELECT(2008).

Cover versions

• Iva Davies & Icehouse - The Berlin Tapes (1995), also included on Diamond Gods: Interpretations of Bowie (2001)
• The Rockridge Synthesiser Orchestra - Plays David Bowie Classic Trax
• The Nine - Diamond Gods: Interpretations of Bowie (2001)
• Heartbreak - Life Beyond Mars (2008)

References