Private Dancer (Tina Turner song)

"Private Dancer" is a song first released and made famous by Tina Turner in 1984. The song was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, but never fully recorded or released by his band. Turner's recording was produced by John Carter for her fifth solo album of the same name and released as the album's fifth single. The track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US R&B chart. The song had moderate international success, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background
The song was initially intended for Dire Straits' 1982 album Love over Gold. The instruments were recorded, but Mark Knopfler considered the lyrics unsuitable for a male singer, so the track was dropped from the project. Legal restrictions prevented the original recording being used by Tina Turner, so two years later it was remade by members of Dire Straits (minus Knopfler). Terry Williams replaced the original drummer, Pick Withers. Lead guitar was performed by Jeff Beck. Turner told DJ Roger Scott:

"Roger [Turner's manager] knows Knopfler's manager Ed Bicknell, and Bicknell said, 'I think Mark has a song that could fit Tina, that he never used because he thought it was a song for a girl.' Mark produced the song and sang it, and after he did it he felt that it was not a song for a man, so it was just sitting on the shelf… He gave me the track and I copied it with Dire Straits people – most of them. At first I was going to try to just put my voice on Mark's tapes, but there was a record company problem, so we got Mark's musicians, Dire Straits, and went into the studio... Someone said, 'Why did you select "Private Dancer"? It's a song about a hooker. Is it because you've been a hooker?' And I was shocked... I didn't see her as a hooker... I can be naive about some of these things. But actually the answer is no. I took it because it was an unusual song. I'd never sung a song like it. And I wish you could hear Mark's version of it. He's got a very English-sounding voice... and it was really quite beautiful.... A very arty song... so I put the old soulful touch on it."

Knopfler once said the song was ruined due to "them drafting in Jeff Beck to play the world's second-ugliest guitar solo".

The song shares the same tune as the song "Love Over Gold" which had been recorded by Dire Straits 2 years previously and later released as a live single.

Critical reception
The Daily Vault's Mark Millan wrote, "It's a sexy, dark track that gives the album an edge and also a chance for Turner's powerful sexuality to sparkle."

Music video
The accompanying music video for "Private Dancer", featuring dance choreography by Arlene Phillips, was directed by Brian Grant and filmed at the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park in London. It features Turner as a disillusioned taxi dancer, although the song has also been interpreted as being sung from the perspective of a prostitute. The video was later published on Turner's official YouTube channel in March 2009. It has amassed more than 40 million views as of June 2023.

Personnel

 * Tina Turner – vocals
 * Jeff Beck – guitar solo
 * John Illsley – bass guitar
 * Alan Clark – keyboards
 * Hal Lindes – guitar
 * Terry Williams – drums
 * Mel Collins – tenor saxophone
 * Julian Diggle and Carter – percussion
 * Norman Seeff – cover photography (US)
 * Peter Ashworth – cover photography (UK)

Versions and mixes

 * 7-inch edit – 3:54
 * Album version – 7:11
 * The album version was remastered in 2015. The song remained the same length and is titled "Private Dancer – 2015 Remaster."

Cover versions
American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello recorded a cover version of the song for her album Ventriloquism, released on March 16, 2018.

In 2015, Canadian electronic musician and performance artist Peaches performed a piano version of the song on The Strombo Show at the home of George Stroumboulopoulos. Peaches had previously played the song live at different concerts.