top of page




"China Girl" is a song written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie in 1976, and first released by Pop on his debut solo album, The Idiot (1977). Inspired by an affair Pop had with a Vietnamese woman, the lyrics tell a story of unrequited love for the protagonist's Asian girlfriend, realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her.


Bowie re-recorded a more well-known version during the sessions for his 1983 album Let's Dance, reportedly to assist Pop with his poor finances at the time. It was co-produced by Nile Rodgers, who transformed the song into a pop number with an Asian-inspired guitar riff. Bowie's version was released as the second single from the album in May 1983, reaching number two in the UK and number 10 in the US. Its accompanying music video featured New Zealand actress Geeling Ng.





Comments


bottom of page