Coming tomorrow: Exclusive Interview with French Author and musician Enrique Seknadje

Today’s featured cover from Enrique’s complete cover of the Diamond Dogs album is “1984.”

Before he conceived of Diamond Dogs, Bowie wanted to create a musical based on George Orwell’s 1984. Orwell’s widow rejected the idea, so Bowie developed his own vision of a dystopian future, as described in his album. Nonetheless, three songs make direct reference to the novel, including “We Are the Dead” and “Big Brother.” The most obvious example, though, is this song. Bowie’s “1984” also foreshadowed his future musical direction, moving away from the Glam style toward the funkier sound characteristic of his next album, Young Americans.

Bowie recorded his original version in 1974, but what’s probably the most famous cover of the song was released by Tina Turner on her Private Dancer album in 1974. Enrique’s version is distinct from both Bowie’s and Turner’s.

—-

Enrique Seknadje is a French author and musician who, among other things, wrote DAVID BOWIE Le phénomène Ziggy Stardust and recorded his own cover of the entire Diamond Dogs album. His book is not available in English, so English speakers who visit this blog will have their first exposure to Enrique’s thoughts on the topic this upcoming Saturday!

All week, I’ll feature a different song from Enrique’s Diamond Dogs.