Modern Love (3:57)

“Modern Love” is a song written and recorded by David Bowie, and the first track on his album Let’s Dance. It was issued as the third single from the album in 1983.

Bowie has claimed the song is inspired by Little Richard, and it maintains the album’s theme of a struggle between God and man. Some commentators noted the similarities between the track and Elton John’s near-simultaneous hit “I’m Still Standing”, although both parties admitted the songs were recorded at roughly the same time with no knowledge of the other, and it seems to be just a coincidence.

By the time “Modern Love” was issued and edited as a single, Bowie’s Serious Moonlight Tour was underway. The track had become a popular encore on the tour, and Jim Yukich’s video for the song used footage of Bowie and his band performing the song from the 20 July 1983 concert in Philadelphia. A live version, recorded in Montreal on July 13, was on the B-side.

The single reached #2 in the UK, and #14 in America. It would be performed throughout the Serious Moonlight Tour, and feature in Bowie’s set at Live Aid, later continuing on the Glass Spider and Sound+Vision tours. A re-recording with Tina Turner was also featured on an ill-fated Pepsi commercial.