Synopsis

David Bowie performs his romantic theme from the 1986 film Absolute Beginners against a stylized 1950s London backdrop. The video combines Bowie's theatrical solo performance with scenes and visual motifs from the movie, moving between monochrome imagery, vivid color, dance sequences, and surreal studio settings. Its nostalgic atmosphere evokes the optimism and visual language of classic Hollywood musicals while presenting Bowie as both pop star and cinematic character.

Factoids & Trivia

• The song was written and recorded as the title theme for the 1986 film Absolute Beginners, in which Bowie also appears as the advertising executive Vendice Partners.

• The video borrows heavily from the movie's 1950s setting and incorporates footage from the film rather than functioning solely as a separate performance piece.

• Its visual style pays homage to an earlier British Strand cigarette commercial, including imagery associated with the slogan "You're never alone with a Strand."

• The video uses both black-and-white and color photography, reinforcing its blend of period nostalgia, advertising imagery, and pop-musical spectacle.

• Several scenes were filmed around London's Embankment beside the River Thames.

• The extended video runs for roughly eight minutes, giving the song a more cinematic presentation than a standard short-form promotional clip.

• The track became one of Bowie's most successful 1980s singles in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.