Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the hypnotic "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" by David Bowie from his 1983 album Let's Dance, and Zoo Freaks, this track has a wild history. Originally recorded in 1981 for the erotic horror film Cat People, the song was a collaboration with disco legend Giorgio Moroder, who composed the score. Director Paul Schrader tapped Bowie for the theme, wanting someone who embodied the film's "weirdness." Moroder sent Bowie the track, and in a whirlwind session at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, Bowie wrote the lyrics and nailed the vocals in just two takes, a process Moroder called one of his "easiest, fastest, and greatest recordings ever." The original version, with its brooding atmosphere and slow buildup, hit #1 in New Zealand and Sweden and was later used by Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds for a tense arson scene, as Tarantino felt the song deserved a proper cinematic moment after being relegated to the Cat People end credits.

For Let's Dance, Bowie re-recorded "Cat People" with producer Nile Rodgers and a then-unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar, giving it a punchier, more aggressive edge. Fans are split—some, like posters on r/DavidBowie, call the original a "10/10" for its eerie intensity, while others love the album version’s raw power and Vaughan’s fiery solos. Critics, however, often prefer the 1981 cut, with biographer Paul Trynka saying the remake "desecrates" a classic, and AllMusic’s Dave Thompson calling it "declawed and neutered." The song’s legacy endures, with covers by artists like Glenn Danzig and Sharleen Spiteri, and its use in 2017’s Atomic Blonde. Fun fact: Marilyn Manson once sang it to warm up before shows, a story shared by Shooter Jennings in a Songfacts interview about their 2016 cover.

David Bowie, born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in London, kicked off his career as a musical chameleon with an insatiable appetite for reinvention. As a kid, he was obsessed with music, art, and design, picking up the saxophone at 13 and forming his first band, The Konrads, by 15. His early years were a hustle—jumping from mod and folk to mime (he studied under mime master Lindsay Kemp)—until his 1969 single "Space Oddity," timed with the Apollo 11 moon landing, became his first hit. That track, born from his love of sci-fi and existential themes, marked him as a visionary. Through the 1970s, Bowie morphed into personas like Ziggy Stardust, blending glam rock with theatrical flair, and became a cultural icon for his bold style and genre-defying sound, as detailed in his bio on Last.fm.

Zoo Freaks can keep up with Bowie’s legacy through his official channels and fan communities. His official website is a treasure trove of news and archives. On Facebook, his page shares updates and throwbacks, while Instagram offers visual glimpses into his iconic career. On X, posts celebrate his music and influence. Fans gather on r/DavidBowie for lively discussions, and groups like David Bowie Fans on Facebook connect devotees sharing memories and rare finds. Websites like The Bowie Bible dive deep into his discography, making it a go-to for trivia-hungry Freaks.