Modern Love ( song ) - wikipedia Modern Love ( song ) This article is about the David Bowie song. For other songs with the same title, see Modern Love ( disambiguation ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2008 ) `` Modern Love '' Single by David Bowie from the album Let 's Dance B - side `` Modern Love ( Live ) '' Released September 1983 Format 7 '' 12 '' Recorded December 1982 Studio Power Station, Manhattan, New York City Genre Rock new wave soul Length 3 : 56 ( single ) 4 : 46 ( album ) Label EMI America -- EA158 Songwriter ( s ) David Bowie Producer ( s ) David Bowie Nile Rodgers David Bowie singles chronology `` China Girl '' ( 1983 ) `` Modern Love '' ( 1983 ) `` Without You '' ( 1983 ) `` China Girl '' ( 1983 ) `` Modern Love '' ( 1983 ) `` Without You '' ( 1983 ) Let 's Dance track listing `` Modern Love '' ( 1 ) `` China Girl '' ( 2 ) Music video `` Modern Love '' on YouTube `` Modern Love '' is a song written and recorded by David Bowie. It was the opening track to his fifteenth studio album Let 's Dance. It was issued as the third single from the album in 1983. Bowie claimed the song was inspired by Little Richard, and it maintains the album 's theme of a struggle between God and man. The line `` Get me to the church on time '' from the lyrics is the title of `` Get Me to the Church on Time '' from My Fair Lady. By the time `` Modern Love '' was issued and edited as a single, Bowie 's Serious Moonlight Tour was underway. The track had become a popular encore on the tour, and Jim Yukich 's video for the song used footage of Bowie and his band performing the song from concert in Philadelphia on 20 July 1983. A live version, recorded in Montreal on 13 July, was on the B - side. The single reached No. 2 in the UK, and No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. As well as being a staple of the tour, it featured in Bowie 's set at Live Aid in 1985, and in his subsequent Glass Spider Tour and Sound + Vision Tour of 1987 and 1990. A re-recording with Tina Turner was also featured on a Pepsi commercial in 1987. Contents 1 Formats and track listings 1.1 7 `` : EMI America / EA 158 ( UK ) 1.2 12 `` : EMI America / 12EA 158 ( UK ) 2 Credits and personnel 3 Chart performance 4 Other album appearances 5 In popular culture 5.1 Movies 5.2 TV 5.3 Rock Band music gaming platform 6 References 7 External links Formats and track listings 7 `` : EMI America / EA 158 ( UK ) `` Modern Love ( Edit ) '' ( David Bowie ) -- 3 : 56 `` Modern Love ( Live ) '' ( Bowie ) -- 3 : 43 12 `` : EMI America / 12EA 158 ( UK ) `` Modern Love '' ( Bowie ) -- 4 : 46 `` Modern Love ( Live ) '' ( Bowie ) -- 3 : 43 Credits and personnel David Bowie -- vocals Stevie Ray Vaughan -- guitar Nile Rodgers -- guitar Carmine Rojas -- bass guitar Omar Hakim -- drums Robert Sabino -- keyboards ; piano Robert Aaron -- saxophone Stan Harrison -- saxophone Steve Elson -- saxophone Sam Figueroa -- percussion Production David Bowie -- producer Nile Rodgers -- producer Chart performance Chart ( 1983 -- 2016 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 6 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( VRT Top 30 Flanders ) Canada ( RPM 50 Singles ) France ( SNEP ) 71 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 27 Ireland ( IRMA ) Israel ( Media Forest ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 9 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 10 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 6 Poland ( Polish Singles Chart ) 17 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 17 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 14 US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 6 Other album appearances The song has appeared on several compilations, almost always in its single edit form : Changesbowie ( 1990 ) Bowie : The Singles 1969 - 1993 ( 1993 ) The Singles Collection ( 1993 ) Best of Bowie ( 2002 ) Sound + Vision ( 2003 and later editions ) -- live B - side version The Platinum Collection ( 2006 ) The Best of David Bowie 1980 / 1987 ( 2007 ) Nothing Has Changed ( 2014 ) ( 3 - disc, 2 - disc, and vinyl editions ) Bowie Legacy ( 2016 ) ( 2 - disc and vinyl editions ) In popular culture Movies Featured in the opening credits of Couples Retreat ( 2009 ). Featured in the soundtrack of Adventureland ( 2009 ). Featured prominently in Leos Carax 's Mauvais Sang ( 1986 ). Heard on the radio in Hot Tub Time Machine ( 2010 ). Featured in the film Frances Ha ( 2013 ). Featured in the Brazilian film The Way He Looks ( 2014 ). Featured in the film The Business ( 2005 ). Featured in the film Sleeping with Other People ( 2015 ). Tv Featured on the soundtrack of the Season 1 episode titled `` Wedding '' in New Girl. The Venture Bros. 's David Bowie character ( voiced by James Urbaniak ) quoted the first line of this song `` I know when to go out '' in the episode `` Showdown at Cremation Creek ( Part I ) '' Used as the opening theme for WWF All - Star Wrestling from 1984 to 1986. Used in the last episode of My Mad Fat Diary ( S2, E7 ). Used in the second episode of Deutschland 83 ( S1, E2 ). Used in the fourth episode of Dead of Summer. The song also gives the name of the episode. Featured on BBC 's Homes Under the Hammer on January 7, 2016. Featured on BBC 's Match of the Day on 13 January 2016 - the first edition of the programme following Bowie 's death. Featured in the first episode of Dynasty ( 2017 ). Rock band music gaming platform It was made available to download on 25 January 2011 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and PRO mode which utilizes real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals. References Jump up ^ Thompson, Dave. `` David Bowie - Modern Love song review ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 7 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie : Album guide ''. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016. Jump up ^ Breihan, Tom ( 19 January 2016 ). `` Greg Dulli -- `` Modern Love '' ( David Bowie Cover ) ``. Stereogum. Retrieved 7 June 2016. Jump up ^ Joel Whitburn ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition ( Billboard Publications ) Jump up ^ Williamson, Laura ( 12 November 2009 ). `` EXCLUSIVE : Didier Drogba unleashed... the shocking, other side of the Chelsea striker ''. Dailymail.co.uk. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ Buskin, Richard ( April 2005 ). `` CLASSIC TRACKS : Chic ' Le Freak ' ''. Sound On Sound. Retrieved 5 July 2017. Jump up ^ bulion. `` Forum - ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts - CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 ''. ARIA. Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- David Bowie -- Modern Love '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Modern Love - DAVID BOWIE ''. VRT ( in Dutch ). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 3 Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 39, No. 10, November 05 1983 ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste ''. Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc ( in French ). InfoDisc.fr. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search `` David Bowie '' Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- David Bowie -- Modern Love ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts - All there is to know ''. IRMA. Retrieved 29 July 2013. 2nd result when searching `` Modern love '' Jump up ^ `` Media Forest weekly chart ( year 2016 week 02 ) ''. Retrieved 29 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- David Bowie - Modern Love search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- David Bowie -- Modern Love '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- David Bowie -- Modern Love ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` MODERN LOVE - David Bowie ''. Nowe Media, Polskie Radio S.A. LP3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- David Bowie -- Modern Love ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Let 's Dance awards at Allmusic ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Adventureland review at Allmusic ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. `` Hot Tub Time Machine ( Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) review at Allmusic ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Nicholas Pegg The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1 - 903111 - 14 - 5 External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics David Bowie singles 1960s `` Liza Jane '' `` I Pity the Fool '' `` You 've Got a Habit of Leaving '' `` Ca n't Help Thinking About Me '' `` Do Anything You Say '' `` I Dig Everything '' `` Rubber Band '' `` The Laughing Gnome '' `` Love You till Tuesday '' `` Space Oddity '' `` Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola '' 1970s `` The Prettiest Star '' `` Memory of a Free Festival '' `` Holy Holy '' `` Moonage Daydream '' `` Hang On to Yourself '' `` Changes '' `` Starman '' `` John, I 'm Only Dancing '' `` The Jean Genie '' `` Drive - In Saturday '' `` Time '' `` Life on Mars '' `` Let 's Spend the Night Together '' `` Sorrow '' `` Rebel Rebel '' `` Rock ' n ' Roll Suicide '' `` Diamond Dogs '' `` 1984 '' `` Knock on Wood '' `` Rock ' n ' Roll with Me '' `` Young Americans '' `` Fame '' `` Golden Years '' `` TVC 15 '' `` Suffragette City '' `` Stay '' `` Sound and Vision '' `` Be My Wife '' `` ' Heroes ' '' `` Beauty and the Beast '' `` Breaking Glass '' `` Boys Keep Swinging '' `` DJ '' `` Yassassin '' `` Look Back in Anger '' `` John, I 'm Only Dancing ( Again ) '' 1980s `` Alabama Song '' `` Crystal Japan '' `` Ashes to Ashes '' `` Fashion '' `` Scary Monsters ( And Super Creeps ) '' `` Up the Hill Backwards '' `` Under Pressure '' `` Wild Is the Wind '' `` The Drowned Girl '' `` Cat People ( Putting Out Fire ) '' `` Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy '' `` Let 's Dance '' `` China Girl '' `` Modern Love '' `` Without You '' `` White Light / White Heat '' `` Blue Jean '' `` Tonight '' `` This Is Not America '' `` Loving the Alien '' `` Dancing in the Street '' `` Absolute Beginners '' `` Underground '' `` As the World Falls Down '' `` Magic Dance '' `` When the Wind Blows '' `` Day - In Day - Out '' `` Time Will Crawl '' `` Never Let Me Down '' `` Under the God '' `` Heaven 's in Here '' `` Tin Machine '' / `` Maggie 's Farm ( live ) '' `` Prisoner of Love '' 1990s `` Fame ' 90 '' `` You Belong in Rock n ' Roll '' `` Baby Universal '' `` One Shot '' `` Real Cool World '' `` Jump They Say '' `` Black Tie White Noise '' `` Miracle Goodnight '' `` The Buddha of Suburbia '' `` Ziggy Stardust '' `` The Hearts Filthy Lesson '' `` Strangers When We Meet '' / `` The Man Who Sold the World ( live ) '' `` Hallo Spaceboy '' `` Telling Lies '' `` Little Wonder '' `` Dead Man Walking '' `` Seven Years in Tibet '' `` Pallas Athena '' `` I 'm Afraid of Americans '' `` I Ca n't Read '' `` Without You I 'm Nothing '' `` Thursday 's Child '' `` The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell '' 2000s `` Survive '' `` Seven '' `` Slow Burn '' `` Everyone Says ' Hi ' '' `` I 've Been Waiting for You '' `` Shadow Man '' `` New Killer Star '' `` Just for One Day ( Heroes ) '' `` Never Get Old '' `` Rebel Never Gets Old '' 2010s `` Where Are We Now ? '' `` The Stars ( Are Out Tonight ) '' `` The Next Day '' `` Valentine 's Day '' `` Love Is Lost '' `` ' Tis a Pity She Was a Whore '' `` Sue ( Or in a Season of Crime ) '' `` Blackstar '' `` Lazarus '' `` I Ca n't Give Everything Away '' `` Life on Mars ? ( 2016 Mix ) '' Discography Book : David Bowie Book : Bowie singles and songs Category : David Bowie Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modern_Love_(song)&oldid=807218115 '' Categories : 1983 singles David Bowie songs British new wave songs Song recordings produced by David Bowie Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers Songs written by David Bowie Songs critical of religion EMI America Records singles EMI Records singles 1983 songs Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Use British English from January 2014 Use dmy dates from January 2014 Articles needing additional references from December 2008 All articles needing additional references Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2015 Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 26 October 2017, at 17 : 17. 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Question: what does modern love by david bowie mean
Answer: inspired by Little Richard