Valentine's Day (David Bowie song) explained

Valentine's Day
Cover:David Bowie - Valentine's Day cover art.jpg
Type:single
Artist:David Bowie
Album:The Next Day
B-Side:Plan
Recorded:24 July & 18 September 2012
Studio:
  • Magic Shop, New York City
  • Human Worldwide, New York City
Prev Title:The Next Day
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Love Is Lost
Next Year:2013

"Valentine's Day" is a song by English rock musician David Bowie, the fourth single from his 25th studio album The Next Day. The single was released on 19 August 2013. This was to be Bowie's final 7-inch single issued from a new album released in his lifetime. The lyrics are based on the psychology of a school shooter.[1]

Recording

"Valentine's Day" was one of the final songs recorded for The Next Day. The backing track was recorded on 24 July 2012 at the Magic Shop in New York City, while Bowie's vocals were recorded on 18 September 2012 at Human Worldwide Studios in New York City.

Release details

The single was released on 19 August 2013 in the UK and on the 20th in the US and other countries.[2] In early August 2013, the single was added to the BBC Radio 2's A-list.[3] The single entered UK's Airplay Chart Top 40 on 9 August 2013, making it the second most successful single from The Next Day (after "Where Are We Now?") in terms of airplay. It reached the 179th spot on the UK chart.[4]

Video

The video for "Valentine's Day" was directed by Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri and Markus Klinko, who previously collaborated with Bowie on his 2002 album Heathen. It features Bowie in the abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. In the video, Bowie plays a G2T Hohner guitar[5] while performing the song. Many commentators contrasted the video with the controversial preceding video for "The Next Day" and described it as more "subdued" in comparison.[6] [7] However, visual hints towards gun violence and the National Rifle Association of America were also noted,[8] suggesting the video was conveying a subtle anti-gun message.[9]

Personnel

According to biographer Chris O'Leary:

Production

Charts

Chart (2013)!scope="col"
Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[10] 179

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Claudia. Schmidt. The unlikely story behind 'Valentine's Day' by David Bowie. happymag.tv. 14 February 2020. 1 June 2021. 5 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210705223318/https://happymag.tv/the-unlikely-story-behind-valentines-day-by-david-bowie/. live.
  2. Web site: Valentine's Day picture disc 45 due for August . 14 July 2013 . David Bowie Official Website . 12 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130821050043/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/valentine-s-day-picture-disc-45-due-august-51891 . 21 August 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  3. Web site: Valentine's Day single added to BBC Radio 2 A-list . 4 August 2013 . David Bowie Official Website . 12 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161201211001/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/valentine-s-day-single-added-bbc-radio-2-list-51941 . 1 December 2016 . dead .
  4. Web site: Chart Log UK – Weekly Updates Sales 2013. zobbel.de. 11 March 2018. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053756/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2013.HTM. live.
  5. Web site: David Bowie playing HOHNER Headless Guitar . 23 August 2013 . playhohner.com . 10 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829182227/http://us.playhohner.com/news/david-bowie-playing-hohner-headless-guitar/ . 29 August 2014.
  6. Web site: David Bowie: Valentine's Day. 17 July 2013. top40-charts.com. 30 July 2013. 15 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215005943/http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=91902. live.
  7. Web site: David Bowie Turns Sinister In Stylish New Video For 'Valentine's Day' (VIDEO) . 16 July 2013 . Adam . Miller . entertainmentwise.com . 30 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140713074727/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/120872/David-Bowie-Turns-Sinister-In-Stylish-New-Video-For-Valentines-Day-VIDEO . 13 July 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: NME picks up on Valentine's Day subtleties . David Bowie Official Website . 10 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828231849/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/nme-picks-valentine-s-day-subtleties-51936 . 28 August 2017 . dead .
  9. Web site: David Bowie Takes On The NRA & Charlton Heston? . 30 July 2013 . Lucy . Jones . . 30 July 2013 . 1 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801062104/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/david-bowie-takes-on-the-nra-charlton-heston?recache=1&t=1231314 . live .
  10. Web site: Chart Log UK – Weekly Updates Sales 2013. zobbel.de. 11 March 2018. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053756/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2013.HTM. live.