China Girl

"China Girl" is a song written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie in 1976, and first released by Pop on his debut solo album, The Idiot (1977). Inspired by an affair Pop had with a Vietnamese woman, the lyrics tell a story of unrequited love for the protagonist's Asian girlfriend, realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her. Like the rest of The Idiot, Bowie wrote the music and Pop improvised the lyrics while standing at the microphone. The song was released as a single in May 1977 and failed to chart. Bowie re-recorded a more well-known version during the sessions for his 1983 album Let's Dance, reportedly to assist Pop with his poor finances at the time. It was co-produced by Nile Rodgers, who transformed the song into a pop number with an Asian-inspired guitar riff. Bowie's version was released as the second single from the album in May 1983, reaching number two in the UK and number 10 in the US. Its accompanying music video featured New Zealand actress Geeling Ng. Containing an interracial romance and clashing cultural perspectives, Bowie said the video was intended as a statement against racism. He performed the song frequently during his concert tours. Bowie's version has also appeared on compilation albums and lists of the artist's best songs. Iggy Pop original version Recording Written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, "China Girl" began as a piece called "Borderline" that the two came up with one night residing at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France, during the sessions for Pop's debut solo album The Idiot. During a visit by the French actor and singer Jacques Higelin, Pop had a brief affair with Higelin's Vietnamese girlfriend Kuelan Nguyen. The two did not speak the same language, communicating through gestures and expressions. Their brief encounter inspired the lyrics for "China Girl", which Pop improvised while standing at the microphone.