Single release: Let’s Dance

David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ single was released on 14 March 1983, one month to the day before the album of the same name.

The song was a huge international hit, topping the charts in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was also a top five hit in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and South Africa.

‘Let’s Dance’ gave Bowie a much-needed hit in the US. It was his second and final single to reach number one, following ‘Fame’ in 1975.

Despite its success, the song was not Bowie’s initial choice for release as a single.

The truth is, I told Nile, “Why on earth you think that’s a single, I have no idea.” I had serious doubts – I wanted ‘China Girl’ to be the first single. But he said to me, ‘No, you’re wrong. ‘Let’s Dance’ is the one.’ And he was absolutely right.

‘Let’s Dance’ remains Bowie’s second-best-selling single, after ‘Space Oddity’. Its success propelled Bowie into pop’s 1980s premier league, beginning a period of huge commercial sales, stadium tours, and diminishing artistic returns.