David Bowie’s Biggest Hit: Nile Rodgers Breaks Down ‘Let’s Dance’

What motivates an artist? Is it selling millions of albums or creating music with a message? Nile Rodgers knows it’s both.

In this exclusive interview, the multiple-award-winning musician, producer, songwriter and Chic co-founder, Nile Rodgers dives into the creative process behind David Bowie’s chart-topping single “Let’s Dance” (1983).

Rodgers reveals how he transformed Bowie’s original folk-inspired guitar piece into a global 80s dance rock anthem, featuring funk-infused arrangements and a legendary guitar solo by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Nile explores his creative process as a collaborator and producer, telling us exactly when he knew it was a hit and how he pulled the iconic arrangement together.

Rodgers also reflects on producing Bowie’s 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, revealing the different artistic ambitions that shaped their collaborations across decades.

00:00 Nile Rodgers - on competing with your past success
00:19 David Bowie plays the earliest version of Let’s Dance to Nile Rodgers
00:59 Why’d David Bowie call it Let’s Dance
01:30 How Nile Rodgers arranged Let’s Dance
02:57 David Bowie on Nile Rodgers’ skill as a producer
03:43 Nile Rodgers on his 'complicated' relationship with David Bowie
04:38 Nile Rodgers on what makes an artist
05:41 Nile Rodgers on David Bowie’s Black Tie White Noise
06:08 Nile Rodgers handwritten note to David Bowie on the production of You’ve Been Around for the Black Tie White Noise album in 1993
08:04 Nile Rodgers’ approach to producing when working with Madonna and David Bowie

Want to know more about the David Bowie & Nile Rodgers partnership? Read our article: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/lets-d...

See Nile Rodgers’ handwritten letter to David Bowie in person at the David Bowie Centre, open September 2025 at V&A East Storehouse: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/dav...

Explore our exclusive range of David Bowie merchandise in the V&A shop: https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/david-bowi...