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"What in the World" is a song by David Bowie released on his 1977 album Low, later making appearances as repertoire in the 1978 world tour as well as other major tours.
"What in the World" showcases some of Bowie's Berlin-era songwriting and production techniques. This song, like others on Low, shows Bowie's experiments with disjointed, non-linear lyrics with seemingly random sentences and free-associative phrases.
The song makes heavy use of synthesizer and recording studio techniques, heavily influenced by the work of Brian Eno, who collaborated with the album. A "blip"-like sound comparable to the sounds later made by Pac-Man and the Nintendo Entertainment System pulses throughout the song, which, coupled with extremely rhythmic guitar solos, creates a frantic pace. The song also makes use of the Harmonizer which Tony Visconti brought to the studio which was used to Dennis Davis' drumming. The song also features Iggy Pop on backing vocals. Pop's album The Idiot was recorded back-to-back with Low at the same facility, was produced by Bowie, and featured many of the same musicians.
A live performance recorded in the spring of 1978 was released on the album Stage. To make the song more accessible for the concert audience, it had been lengthened by some two minutes. This was achieved by first playing the entirety of the first and second verses at a much slower tempo, practically at dance speed, and then repeating the song once again at album speed with its ending reinstalled.
A live version recorded on 12 September 1983 was released on the concert film Serious Moonlight.
Producers:
Tony Visconti
Musicians:
David Bowie: Vocals
Carlos Alomar: Rhythm Guitar
George Murray: Bass
Dennis Davis: Drums
Ricky Gardiner: Guitars
Brian Eno: ARP Synthesizer, Rimmer E.M.I.
Iggy Pop: Vocals
Roy Young: Piano, Farfisa
The live version from Stage, was released as the B-side of the single "Star" in 1978.
The original album version was released as the B-side of the US release of the single "Boys Keep Swinging" in April 1979.
Cover versions
The Blue Guitars - Single
Gary Jones - Single
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live in Auckland (01.14.13 - Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand)
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