The Jean Genie

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"The Jean Genie"
Image:Bowie JeanGenie.jpg
Single by David Bowie
From the album Aladdin Sane
B-side "Ziggy Stardust”
Released November 1972
Format 7" single
Recorded New York; September 1972
Genre Glam Rock
Length 4:02
Label RCA
2303
Producers Ken Scott, David Bowie
Chart positions #2 (UK)
#71 (USA)
David Bowie singles chronology
"John, I’m Only Dancing"
1972 		"The Jean Genie"
1972 		"Drive-In Saturday"
1973

The Jean Genie was a single by David Bowie. One of Bowie’s most famous songs, “The Jean Genie” was the first release from the Aladdin Sane album. There was some controversy in the UK at the time as the song was considered very similar to Sweet’s “Blockbuster!”, written and recorded at a slightly later date, but in the charts at the same time. Both Bowie and Nicky Chinn have claimed not to have heard the other’s song before writing their respective tracks.

Mick Rock directed a film clip to promote the song, featuring the Spiders posing at the Mars Hotel while Bowie eyed up Cyrinda Foxe in the bar. The song was Bowie’s biggest hit to date. The single stayed in the UK chart for 13 weeks, peaking at #2. In the US chart it reached #71.

The title of the song is a pun on the name of the homosexual author Jean Genet, referenced in lines like "sits like a man/but smiles like a reptile". At the time, the press was speculating as to whether Bowie was gay or not.

Contents

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Track listing

  1. "The Jean Genie" (Bowie) – 4:02
  2. "Ziggy Stardust" (Bowie) – 3:13

The US release had "Hang Onto Yourself" as the B-side, while the B-side of the Japanese release was "John, I'm Only Dancing".

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Production credits

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Live versions

  • A live version recorded at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 20 October 1972 was released on Santa Monica '72. This version also appeared on the Japanese release of RarestOneBowie and on the bonus disc of the Aladdin Sane - 30th Anniversary Edition in 2003.
  • The song was played at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, July 3rd, 1973 but was left off the Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture album. This particular version features Jeff Beck on guitar.
  • A live version from the 1974 tour was released on David Live. Another live recording from the 1974 tour was released on the semi-legal album A Portrait in Flesh.
  • Billy Corgan performed the song live with David Bowie on Bowie's 50th Birthday Bash concert in Januar 1997.
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Other releases

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Cover versions

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References

  • Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-15
  • Tremlett, George, David Bowie: Living on the Brink, Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1996, ISBN 0786704659
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