In 1982, American director Paul Schroeder took on a remake of the horror film Cat People, which had been directed by Jacques Tourneur forty years earlier. Nastassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell played the leading roles in a fantastic film about people who can turn into leopards.
The soundtrack to the film was written by the famous Italian composer and producer Giorgio Moroder. The song Cat People (Putting Out Fire), sung by David Bowie, discussed below, became the theme song for Cat People.
History of Cat People song
When Paul Schroeder invited Bowie, the music was almost ready. David was required to compose the words and sing the main track. He gladly jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with Moroder, as he admired his work with Donna Summer.
In July 1981, David and Giorgio met at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. Moroder later recalled that he was wary of Bowie’s extravagant appearance, but David showed himself to be a real professional. He quickly finished the lyrics of the song Cat People (Putting Out Fire) and recorded the track in a couple of takes.
Cat People was published in full and shortened versions. She was included in the soundtrack album of the film “Cat People”. In March 1982, the song was released as a single on the MCA label.
Clip Cat People David Bowie
Let’s watch the online music video Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – David Bowie.
Bowie re-recorded it for the Let’s Dance album in December 1982.
The song topped the charts in New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. The song also charted on several Billboard and UK Singles Charts.
Covers and soundtracks
The song has been covered by many famous musicians including Big Electric Cat, Tina Turner, Cruciform, Danzig, The Perfect Kiss and Electric Six.
Gosling recorded the song Cat People for the Underworld: Evolution soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilvdJHlwgBw
Quentin Tarantino included Cat People on the Inglourious Basterds soundtrack. He later recounted:
I really have always loved this song. This is one of my favorite David Bowie songs from the 80s, but I never liked the way it was used in the movie. [«Люди-кошки»], because Paul Schroeder, in fact, did not use it at all in the picture. He just tossed her into the end credits. Remember me and the boys at Video Archives [прокат видеокассет, где работал Тарантино] were very disappointed. We were like, “Dude, if we had a song like that written for our film, we’d make a twenty-minute episode around it!” So I did.
Rolling stone
Watch the Cat People music video with scenes from Inglorious Basterds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM5mTEavepU
In 2016, Shooter Jennings performed a cover version of Cat People with Marilyn Manson for the Giorgio Moroder tribute album Countach (for Giorgio). He recalled how Marilyn became a member of the recording:
Manson and I were friends for several years, and I invited him to the club for a party. He met me there, and I’m like, “Hey, I’m doing a record about Giorgio, and he released a song called Cat People with Bowie. Do you like this song?” And then he started singing it right there and telling me that he has a list of songs that he always warms up with before the show, and this one is the main among them.
SongFacts.com
Next is the animated video clip of Cat People – Shooter Jennings feat. Marilyn Manson.
Interesting Facts
- On the Let’s Dance version of Cat People (Putting Out Fire), Stevie Ray Vaughan performed the guitar parts.
- Cat People also featured on the soundtrack of the thriller Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron.
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) David Bowie Lyrics
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
Well it’s been so long
And I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
See these eyes so red
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near
Pull the blinds and change their minds
It’s been so long
Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat
Just be still with me
But it wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through
You’ve been so long
Well it’s been so long
I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out the fire
With petrol
See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
Tears can never dry
A judgment made can never bend
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through
Well you’ve been so long
It’s been so long
And I’ve been putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out a fire with gasoline
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) Lyrics by David Bowie
I see those eyes – so green
I can peer into them for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
It’s been so long
And I put out the fire with gasoline
I see those eyes – so red
Red like a blazing jungle
People who feel that I’m around
Pull down the blinds and change your mind
It’s been so long
Still this pulsing night
The calamity I call a heartbeat
Just stay with me
You won’t believe what I’ve been through
You’ve been gone for so long
It’s been so long
And I put out the fire with gasoline,
carcass fire
gasoline
I see those eyes – so blue
Ageless heart that will never heal
Tears never dry
The sentence passed will never change
I see those eyes – so green
I can peer into them for a thousand years
Just stay with me
You won’t believe what I’ve been through
You’ve been gone for so long
It’s been so long
And I put out the fire with gasoline,
Putting out the fire with gasoline
