Dancing Barefoot Explained

Dancing Barefoot
Cover:	Dancing Barefoot - Patti Smith Group.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Patti Smith Group
Album:	Wave
B-Side:	"5-4-3-2-1" (Live)
Recorded:	Bearsville Studios
Length:	4:18
Label:	Arista
Producer:	Todd Rundgren

"Dancing Barefoot" is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Ivan Král, and released as a second single from the Patti Smith Group's 1979 album Wave.^[1] According to the album sleeve, the song was dedicated to women such as Amedeo Modigliani's mistress Jeanne Hébuterne.

In 1998, the song featured on the soundtrack of Whatever, a coming of age film starring Liza Weil.^[2]

In 2000, a live version was released on the benefit album Broadcasts Vol. 8 from KGSR in Austin, Texas.^[3]

In 2010, the song ranked number 331 on Rolling Stones list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".^[4]

In 2023, the song was used as the opening theme on the television miniseries Daisy Jones & the Six.^[5]

Cover versions

• 1986 – Niki Mono & Berry Sakharof (Fuck Your Dreams, This Is Heaven soundtrack)
• 1986 – The Feelies
• 1986 – The Mission (Extra track on The Mission II, a 12-inch single released in July 1986. Also included on The First Chapter album released in 1987.)
• 1987 – Eastern Bloc ("Eastern Bloc")
• 1988 – The Celibate Rifles (12-inch EP, bonus track on reissued CD version of Roman Beach Party)
• 1989 – U2 (B-side to the "When Love Comes to Town" single, also on the compilation The Best of 1980–1990; features on the soundtrack of the 1994 movie Threesome; reached number one in Iceland in early 1995^[6])
• 1991 – Xymox (Phoenix)
• 1995 – Johnette Napolitano (Spirit of '73: Rock for Choice)
• 1997 – Die Cheerleader (Barb Wire soundtrack)
• 1998 – Sin ("Insinuation")
• 2001 – Simple Minds (Neon Lights)
• 2004 – (The Stolen Child)
• 2005 – Lea DeLaria (Double Standards)
• 2008 – Allison Moorer (Mockingbird)
• 2010 – Pearl Jam (Performed at Bridge School Benefit October 23, 2010)
• 2010 - Spencer P. Jones & the Escape Committee (Sobering Thoughts)
• 2011 – Shakespears Sister (Cosmic Dancer)
• 2011 – First Aid Kit (Performed for Patti Smith at the Polar Music Prize 2011 during the award ceremony)^[7]
• 2014 - Simple Minds (Big Music, bonus track, featuring Sarah Brown)^[8]

• 2017 - Simple Minds (Acoustic In Concert)
• 2021 - DireSloth, played live on the main stage at the 38th Boston Freedom Rally

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dancing Barefoot . 2008-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080112181302/http://www.pattismithland.com/sotw.htm . 2008-01-12 . dead .
2. Web site: Whatever (1998) soundtrack . IMDb.com. 2014-02-05.
3. Web site: KGSR Broadcasts Vol.8 - Radio sampler . 2010-06-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718012926/http://www.webhostingpal.com/jdv/html/kgsr8_v.htm . 2011-07-18 .
4. Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . October 1, 2015 . . April 7, 2011.
5. Web site: March 05 . Maureen Lee Lenker . Why 'Daisy Jones and the Six' chose a Patti Smith track as its theme song . EW.com . 21 March 2023 . en.
6. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.2 '95 – 25.2 '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 18 February 1995. 9 October 2019.
7. Web site: Dancing Barefoot - First Aid Kit (Patti Smith cover) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/rJkbShz3c9Q . 2021-12-20 . live. . 2012-08-01 . 2016-10-14.
8. Web site: "Big Music (Deluxe Edition)" von Simple Minds auf Apple Music. Itunes.apple.com.