Seven Years in Tibet (song)
"Seven Years in Tibet" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by David Bowie | ||||
from the album Earthling | ||||
Released | 18 August 1997 | |||
Studio | Looking Glass, New York City | |||
Genre | Industrial rock | |||
Length | 4:01 (single edit/Fleeting Moment) 6:21 (album version) | |||
Label | BMG/Arista | |||
Producer(s) | David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Mark Plati | |||
David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
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"Seven Years in Tibet" is a song written by English musician David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels from the 1997 album, Earthling. It was released as the album's fourth single. In some territories, a version of the song sung by Bowie in Mandarin Chinese was released as "A Fleeting Moment".
"Seven Years in Tibet" peaked at number 61 in the UK,[1] and was the last number one song in Hong Kong before the Chinese takeover in June of 1997.[2]
Song development
"Seven Years in Tibet" was recorded between August and November 1996 during the Earthling studio sessions.
Critical reception
A reviewer from
Live versions
At Bowie's 50th Birthday Bash concert in January 1997, Bowie performed this song together with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters.[2] A July 1997 performance at the Phoenix Festival was released in 2021 on Look at the Moon! (Live Phoenix Festival 97). Bowie played the song at GQ Awards in New York City on 15 October 1997, a performance which was later released on the live album LiveAndWell.com in 2000.[2]
Other releases
In the US, the "Mandarin version" was released on Earthling in the City, a promotional CD distributed in the November 1997 issue of GQ magazine. In Hong Kong, it was released on a separate bonus disc that followed the release of Earthling in 1997. It also appeared on the bonus disc of the Digibook Expanded Edition of Earthling from 2004.
Track listing
All lyrics written by David Bowie, except "Seven Years in Tibet (Mandarin version)" by Lin Xi.
All music composed by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, except "Pallas Athena (live)" by David Bowie.
7-inch single: RCA / 74321 51254 7 (UK)
- "Seven Years in Tibet (edit)" – 4:01
- "Seven Years in Tibet (Mandarin version)" – 3:58
RCA / 74321 51255 2 (UK)
- "Seven Years in Tibet (edit)" – 4:01
- "Seven Years in Tibet (Mandarin version)" – 3:58
- "Pallas Athena (live)" – 8:18
- Also available as limited edition digipak (RCA / 74321 51254 2)
Production credits
- Producers:
- David Bowie
- Mark Plati (co-producer)
- Reeves Gabrels (co-producer)
- Musicians:
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar, saxophone, samples, keyboards
- Reeves Gabrels – programming, synthesizers, real and sampled guitars, vocals
- loops, samples, keyboards
- Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, vocals
- drum loops, acoustic drums, electronic percussion
- Mike Garson – keyboards, piano
Charts
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Hong Kong | 1 |
Scotland (OCC)[8] | 61 |
UK Singles (OCC )
|
61 |
References
- ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET". Official Charts. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Pegg 2016, pp. 239–239.
- ^ a b c d O'Leary 2019, pp. 422–424.
- from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 August 1997. p. 12. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Alan (16 August 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 31. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Jackson, Alan (16 August 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 24 August 1997 - 30 August 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- Pegg, Nicholas (2016). The Complete David Bowie (revised and updated ed.). London: ISBN 978-1-78565-365-0.
- O'Leary, Chris (2019). Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016. ISBN 9781912248308.