Dancing in the Street f.t Mick Jagger (From Dancing in The Street EP – 1985)
‘Dancing in the Streets’ features two men of great musical talent – but its Bowie that brings what poet and playwright, Federico Garcia Lorca called ‘duende’ to the track. Duende can refer to the inability to pinpoint exactly what makes a piece of art so brilliant, leaving you only with the knowledge that there is something wonderful about it. Bowie’s high energetic performance both vocally and visually show a man in a moment of complete contentment, “Laughing, and singing with music swingin’’ as he enthusiastically sings.
This is not Bowie in his apex of creativity, but it no doubt deserves recognition as one of his greatest songs due to the sheer silliness and positivity it pumps out into the world. “All we need is music, sweet music” as Bowie reminds us and that’s what he delivers here; the power of music to give us a sense of fun and excitement.
Words by Issy Marcantonio
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ&w=740&h=422]