Miracle Goodnight Explained

Miracle Goodnight
Cover:Bowie_MiracleGoodnight.jpg
Type:single
Artist:David Bowie
Album:Black Tie White Noise
B-Side:Looking for Lester
Released:[1]
Studio:
Length:4:14
Label:Arista
Producer:Nile Rodgers
Prev Title:Black Tie White Noise
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:The Buddha of Suburbia
Next Year:1993

"Miracle Goodnight" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in October 1993 by Arista Records as the third and final single from his 18th studio album, Black Tie White Noise (1993). The song was written by Bowie and produced by Nile Rodgers. It reached number 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston.

Background

While the previous two singles from the album, "Jump They Say" and "Black Tie White Noise", covered issues such as mental illness and legal injustice, "Miracle Goodnight" features a more unabashed recurring theme of the album – Bowie's love for his new bride, Iman Abdulmajid. He declared the whole album "a wedding present" for Iman.[2]

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "This is one of Black Tie White Noises more attractive tracks, an offbeat and intimate affair with flashes of the old Bowie in the counter harmonies."[3] A reviewer from Philadelphia Inquirer said, "'Miracle Goodnight' may boast one of the clumsiest lyrics D. B. has ever penned (I wished I was a sailor a thousand miles from here / I wished I had a future / Anywhere). But with a house-quaking foundation, Rodgers' sparkling, Caribbean-flavored guitar solo, and a Philip Glass-like coda, "Miracle" adds up to one of Bowie's most endearing numbers."[4]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by American artist, photographer, director and creative director Matthew Rolston, featuring Bowie unmoved by a harem of beautiful women while singing the song to camera, as well as scenes of him in a jester's outfit, playing with mirrors, dressed as a mime, and even returning briefly to his fashion style as the Thin White Duke from 1976.

Track listings

All tracks were by written by David Bowie.

  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:14
  2. "Looking for Lester" – 5:36
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" (Blunted 2) – 8:12
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (Make Believe Mix) – 4:14
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:22
  4. "Miracle Goodnight" (Dance Dub) – 7:50
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:14
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:22
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (Masereti Blunted Dub) – 7:40
  4. "Looking for Lester" – 5:36
  1. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:15
  2. "Miracle Goodnight" (2 Chord Philly Mix) – 6:25
  3. "Miracle Goodnight" (Masereti Blunted Dub) – 7:43
  4. "Miracle Goodnight" (Make Believe Mix) – 4:30

Personnel

Production

Remix production

Musicians

Other releases

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)40
UK Airplay (Music Week)[5] 39

References

Notes and References

  1. Single Releases. Music Week. 27. 9 October 1993.
  2. Web site: Emi Catalogue Are Proud To Release David Bowie's Black Tie White Noise On 4th August 2003 As A Special Edition Three Disc Set - David Bowie Official Blog. David Bowie Official Website. 2016-01-15.
  3. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles . . 1993-10-23 . 12 . 2021-04-03 .
  4. "Bowie Goes Solo to Win Back Those He Alienated". Philadelphia Inquirer. 6 April 1993.
  5. The Airplay Chart. Music Week. 1993-10-30. 32. 2024-05-02.