| Private Dancer | |
| Cover: | Tina-turner-private-dancer-1985.jpg |
| Caption: | U.S. vinyl release picture sleeve |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Tina Turner |
| Album: | Private Dancer |
| B-Side: | Keep Your Hands Off My Baby or Nutbush City Limits (Live) |
| Released: | October 1984 (EU)[1] November 5, 1984 (UK)[2] |
| Recorded: | 1983 |
| Length: |
|
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Carter |
| Prev Title: | Better Be Good to Me |
| Prev Year: | 1984 |
| Next Title: | I Can't Stand the Rain |
| Next Year: | 1985 |
"Private Dancer" is a song first released and made famous by Tina Turner in 1984. The song was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, but never fully recorded or released by his band. Turner's recording was produced by John Carter for her fifth solo album of the same name and released as the album's fifth single. The track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US R&B chart. The song had moderate international success, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was initially intended for Dire Straits' 1982 album Love over Gold. The instruments were recorded, but Mark Knopfler considered the lyrics unsuitable for a male singer, so the track was dropped from the project.[3] [4] Legal restrictions prevented the original recording being used by Tina Turner, so two years later it was remade by members of Dire Straits (minus Knopfler). Terry Williams replaced the original drummer, Pick Withers. Lead guitar was performed by Jeff Beck. Turner told DJ Roger Scott:
Knopfler once said the song was ruined due to "them drafting in Jeff Beck to play the world's second-ugliest guitar solo".[5]
The song shares the same tune as the song "Love Over Gold" which had been recorded by Dire Straits 2 years previously and later released as a live single.
The Daily Vault's Mark Millan wrote, "It's a sexy, dark track that gives the album an edge and also a chance for Turner's powerful sexuality to sparkle."[6]
The accompanying music video for "Private Dancer", featuring dance choreography by Arlene Phillips, was directed by Brian Grant and filmed at the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park in London.[7] It features Turner as a disillusioned taxi dancer, although the song has also been interpreted as being sung from the perspective of a prostitute.[8] The video was later published on Turner's official YouTube channel in March 2009. It has amassed more than 40 million views as of June 2023.[9]
| Chart (1984–1985) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 21 | |
| scope="row" | ||
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] | 11 | |
| scope="row" | ||
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[12] | 6 | |
| West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 20 |
| Chart (1984) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] | 74 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 24 |
| Chart (1985) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 93 | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 39 |
American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello recorded a cover version of the song for her album Ventriloquism, released on March 16, 2018.[17]
In 2015, Canadian electronic musician and performance artist Peaches performed a piano version of the song on The Strombo Show at the home of George Stroumboulopoulos. Peaches had previously played the song live at different concerts.[18]