Ever get that feeling where a song just hits differently? Like, it’s not just music; it’s a specific mood you can almost touch. For a lot of us, that song is As the World Falls Down. It’s the dreamy, synth-heavy heart of the 1986 cult classic Labyrinth. David Bowie didn't just play Jareth the Goblin King; he basically built a sonic cathedral for us to get lost in.
Honestly, it’s kind of wild how this track wasn't a massive chart-topper when it first dropped. Most people think of "Magic Dance" when they think of Labyrinth. You know, the "babe with the power" bit. But it's this ballad that has quietly become the most enduring piece of the whole soundtrack.
The Song David Bowie Almost Hid From Us
It's a weird piece of trivia, but EMI actually planned to release this as a single in late 1986. They even filmed a full music video for it. But then? Nothing. The single got scrapped. Bowie’s biographer, Nicholas Pegg, suggests Bowie might have worried it was "too soft." He was about to release the harder-edged Never Let Me Down and didn't want a romantic lullaby confusing his brand.
He was protective. That's just Bowie.
What’s happening in that masquerade scene?
If you’ve seen the movie, you know the scene. Sarah, played by a very young Jennifer Connelly, eats a poisoned peach and hallucinates this massive, decadent masquerade ball. She’s wandering through a sea of masked faces. Suddenly, there he is. Jareth. No mask. Just those piercing eyes and that 80s hair.
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They dance. The world around them literally falls away.
The music is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. It’s structured like a 1950s ballad—think 1-6-4-5 chord progression—but dressed up in "New Romantic" glass synths. It feels nostalgic and futuristic at the same time. The bass line, played by the legendary Will Lee, has this rising motif that feels like you're physically floating upward.
Why As the World Falls Down Hits So Hard
It’s about the lyrics. "I’ll paint you mornings of gold. I’ll spin you Valentine evenings."
It’s pure escapism.
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Most people don't realize that the melody is actually teased at the very start of the film. It's the tune Sarah's music box plays. Jim Henson apparently wanted something "fairly old-fashioned," and Bowie delivered something that felt like a timeless lullaby.
Behind the Scenes Magic
There are some hilarious details about this era of Bowie's career. During the filming of the Labyrinth scenes, that famous "crystal ball" juggling wasn't actually Bowie. It was a professional juggler named Michael Moschen. Moschen had to crouch behind Bowie, blind, and reach his arms through Bowie's sleeves to perform those tricks.
Bowie was reportedly worried about the smell for the poor guy stuck behind him, so he shoved a sachet of potpourri down his tights. This accidentally created the... uh... "notable silhouette" that became a legend in its own right among fans.
The Lost Music Video
If you haven’t seen the official video for As the World Falls Down, you need to track it down. It’s directed by Steve Barron, the same guy who did "Take On Me" and "Billie Jean." It’s black and white. It features Bowie in an elegant room with Hoggle (the puppet).
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There’s this whole subplot with a French actress, Charlotte Valandrey, in an office building. It’s very 80s. It’s very weird. It finally saw the light of day on various DVD collections, but for years, it was basically a lost relic.
Why it still matters today
Since Bowie passed in 2016, this song has surged in popularity. It was one of his highest-selling tracks on iTunes in the UK. Why? Because it’s one of the few times he let his guard down and just sang a straight-up love song.
It wasn't a character. It wasn't Ziggy or the Thin White Duke. It was just David.
- The Vibe: Sparkling, subdued, and incredibly tender.
- The Theory: Some fans think the song is Sarah’s internal struggle with growing up—the "world falling down" is her childhood ending.
- The Legacy: It has been covered by everyone from Grace Potter to Vitamin String Quartet.
How to Appreciate It Properly
If you want to really hear what Bowie was doing, skip the YouTube rips and find a high-quality version of the soundtrack. Listen to the way his voice cracks slightly on the high notes. It’s vulnerable.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the 4K Restoration: If you only saw Labyrinth on a fuzzy VHS or a low-res stream, you’re missing the texture of the ballroom scene. The 4K version makes the "As the World Falls Down" sequence look like a Renaissance painting.
- Listen to "Within You": If you love the vibe of this track, listen to the other Labyrinth ballad, "Within You." It’s the dark, obsessive flip side to the coin.
- Check the Bass Line: If you're a musician, try to map out Will Lee's fretless bass work. It’s what gives the song its "liquid" feeling.
At the end of the day, As the World Falls Down is a reminder that even the most avant-garde artists sometimes just want to write a beautiful tune. It’s a sparkling, weird, perfect moment in pop history that somehow gets better the older we get.