Meaning of “China Girl” by David Bowie
The titular “China Girl” is actually a reference to a female the song’s co-writer, Iggy Pop, was smitten with at the time of its original penning. And for the sake of accuracy, it should be noted that said lady (Kuelan Nguyen) was not actually Chinese but rather Vietnamese. So in a broader sense it can be said this song is about the David Bowie’s feeling for a woman of East Asian descent.
Bowie himself is Caucasian and more or less lets such be known during the middle of the song. He makes some racially-sensitive statements not in the sense of offending the “China girl” but rather presenting himself as a foreign invader – if you will – whose love for her will inevitably change her life.
But despite the potentially off-putting undertone of this track, this is definitely a love song. It is based on the singer’s feelings for and relationship with a woman who is of, broadly speaking, Chinese descent.
Writing and Production of “China Girl”
“China Girl” was written by David Bowie (1947-2016) and fellow rock star Iggy Pop. Pop actually dropped the song first, on his 1977 album The Idiot. However, it did not become a hit until Bowie released his own rendition, under EMI America Records, on 14 April 1983. He released it as part of his well-received album Let’s Dance. It has since been featured on quite a number of David Bowie compilation albums.
Bowie also produced this track along with Nile Rodgers. Rodgers intentionally gave this rendition an “ultra pop” sound as he “figured China Girl was about doing drugs”.
Music Video
The music video for “China Girl”, which Bowie intended to be a statement against racism, won Best Male Video at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. Interestingly enough, that was actually the first edition of the VMAs ever held.
The video starred one Geeling Ng (who has since changed her surname to Ching), a New Zealander, as the titular “China Girl”. She acknowledged being featured in that piece as the moment that changed her life. Geeling was only 23 years old at the time she appeared in the video. Interestingly enough, she had no experience in acting when she was cast for the role. Bowie and Geeling eventually began a short-lived romantic affair shortly after the shooting of the video.
Chart Performance of “China Girl”
“China Girl” performed impressively around the globe. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the Hot 100 in the United States. It also broke the top 10 in the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Finland
- Germany
- Ireland
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Sweden
- Switzerland
One of the best songs I’ve ever heard
I thought ‘China Girl’ was a metaphor for heroin
“China white” was a metaphor for heroin in the past. Maybe people don’t get that anymore. This is a song about heroin addiction. “Wake up in the morning, where’s my little China girl”
The song was co writen with Iggy Pop whilst the two of them were getting clean from heroin addiction in Berlin. It was also the same time that Iggy was in a relationship with an asian woman (someone elses wife). The lyrics are a mish mash of that relationship and their mutual experiences with heroin – hence the reason most of the lyrics can be interpreted as both a love song and addiction experience .
As per Wikipedia; “Lyrically, the song is a tale of unrequited love for Iggy Pop’s Asian girlfriend (“Nguyen”), realizing by the end that his Western influences are corrupting her. The protagonist’s “Shhh …” was a direct quote from Nguyen after Pop confessed his feelings for her one night. He speaks of natural elements—falling stars and hearts beating “as loud as thunder”—before introducing modernization—Marlon Brando, “visions of swastikas”, television, and cosmetics—that will “ruin everything you are”. The author James E. Perone argues that the use of swastikas could reference both the symbol of Hinduism and the fascism of Nazi Germany, “intriguing images and questions” for listeners. According to author Chris O’Leary, the song’s title represents a double entendre, indicating “China” as “pure heroin” and “the girl’s fragility”. Bowie said the song was about “invasion and exploitation”.