Blue Jean

Album: Tonight

Released: 22 September 1984

Recorded: Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec, May 1984

Length: 3:09

Production: David Bowie, Hugh Padgham, Derek Bramble

Musicians: David Bowie (Vocals), Carlos Alomar (Guitar), Carmine Rojas (Bass Guitar, Keyboards), Omar Hakim (Drums),  Lenny Pickett (Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet), Stanley Harrison (Alto Sax), Steve Elson (Baritone Sax), Guy St. Onge (Marimba), Sammy Figueroa (Percussion)

The story behind ‘Blue Jean’

‘Blue Jean’ was the lead-off single from David Bowie’s Tonight album, and reached the top-ten on both sides of the Atlantic – number 6 in the United Kingdom and 8 in America.

It was the most obvious single on the album, but was written off as a cheap score by its creators. Producer Hugh Padgham regretted that of all the promising demos he’d heard, ‘Blue Jean’ was one of the handful that Bowie developed. It was Padgham’s least favourite of the lot. Padgham had always wanted to work with Bowie, but cruel fate assigned him Tonight.

Continuing in the same vein as the previous year’s Let’s Dance album, Bowie said that “It was inspired from that Eddie Cochran feeling, but that of course is very Troggs as well … it’s quite eclectic, I suppose. What of mine isn’t?”

Elsewhere he described ‘Blue Jean’ as “a piece of sexist rock’n’roll about picking up birds – it’s not very cerebral,”

Jazzin’ For Blue Jean

The 20-minute short film Jazzin’ for Blue Jean was created to promote Bowie’s 1984 single ‘Blue Jean’. It was directed by Julien Temple and released as a video single.

The film won the Grammy Award for “Best Video, Short form” (later renamed “Best Music Video”), which proved to be Bowie’s only competitive Grammy Award during his career.

“‘Blue Jean’ – that was a classic Bowie single because of a classic Bowie video. That video sold that fucking song!’ – Carlos Alomar

The film depicts the adventures of the socially incompetent Vic (played by Bowie) as he tries to win the affections of a beautiful girl (played by Louise Scott) by claiming to personally know her favourite rock star, Screaming Lord Byron (also played by Bowie). Rightfully disbelieving him, she challenges Vic to introduce her to him. They make a date for a Screaming Lord Byron show, where Vic attempts to sneak backstage to convince Mr. Screaming to come say hello to him and the girl after the show.

Screaming does come to Vic’s table after the show and says hello to him and the girl, but the girl and Screaming Lord Byron have already met (in Peru), and she leaves with the rock star instead of Vic. As they drive off, Bowie breaks the fourth wall and asks the director why the story changed from his concept.

Three different Bowie songs are played during the video, namely ‘Don’t Look Down’, (from ‘Tonight’), ‘Warszawa’ (from ‘Low’) and ‘Blue Jean’ (also from ‘Tonight’).

Bowie takes the opportunity at several points in this film to poke fun at himself and his career – particularly his history of drug abuse, his relationships with groupies, and the commercialisation of his music (“You conniving, randy, bogus-Oriental old queen! Your record sleeves are better than your songs!”). Kinder self-references are also present, such as the song ‘Warszawa’ being played backstage to soothe Mr. Screaming while he’s applying his makeup.

Interestingly, Screaming Lord Byron’s band features Richard Fairbrass, of ‘Right Said Fred’ fame, who had a worldwide hit in 1991 with ‘I’m Too Sexy’.

‘Blue Jean’ Lyrics

Blue Jean, I just met me a girl named Blue Jean
Blue Jean, she got a camouflaged face and no money
Remember they always let you down when you need ’em
Oh, Blue Jean, is heaven any sweeter than Blue Jean?
She got a police bike
She got a turned-up nose

Sometimes I feel like (oh, the whole human race)
Jazzin’ for Blue Jean (oh, and when my Blue Jean’s blue)
Blue Jean can send me (oh, somebody send me)
Somebody send me (oh, somebody send me)

One day I’m gonna write a poem in a letter
One day I’m gonna get that faculty together
Remember that everybody has to wait in line
Blue Jean, look out world, you know I’ve got mine
She got Latin roots
She got everything

Sometimes I feel like (oh, the whole human race)
Jazzin’ for Blue Jean (oh, and when my Blue Jean’s blue)
Blue Jean can send me (oh, somebody send me)
Somebody send me (oh, somebody send me)

Sometimes I feel like (oh, the whole human race)
Jazzin’ for Blue Jean (oh, and when my Blue Jean’s blue)
Blue Jean can send me (oh, somebody send me)
Somebody send me (oh, somebody send me)

Somebody, somebody (oh, somebody send me)
Somebody send me (oh, somebody send me)

‘Blue Jean’ Artwork

‘Blue Jean’ Chart Positions