Released 4 November 1996 Label Parlophone | Format CD | |
Recorded Looking Glass Studio, New York City Genre Alternative rock
oldschool jungle
drum and bass Length 4:49 (album version)
5:07 (Feelgood mix version) |
"Telling Lies" is a single by David Bowie written in 1996 and in 1997 released for the album Earthling.
Contents
Three versions of "Telling Lies" were released on Bowie's official website beginning 11 September 1996 – one version was released for each of three weeks – constituting the first ever downloadable single by a major artist. According to issued press releases, over 300,000 people downloaded the original Internet-only release. Two months later, it was released as a single by BMG.
Bowie launched the single with an online chat session, where he and two other people pretending to be him answered questions from the audience (Bowie told the truth; the other two "told lies"). The chat audience was asked to vote on which chat personality was the "real" Bowie; the "real" Bowie came in third.
No music video was produced.
The single
- "Telling Lies (Feelgood mix by Mark Plati)" – 5:07
- "Telling Lies (Paradox mix by A Guy Called Gerald)" – 5:10
- "Telling Lies (Adam F mix)" – 3:58
A limited edition CD with a different cover was released with the same tracks. There is also a double 12" vinyl promo release which includes the three mixes of which the A Guy Called Gerald mix appears twice.