It’s the pants. Honestly, if we’re talking about David Bowie dance magic, we have to start with the costume. When Labyrinth hit theaters in 1986, parents were a little preoccupied with Jareth the Goblin King’s suspiciously tight leggings, but the kids? The kids were mesmerized by a rock star holding a crystal ball and singing a synth-pop earworm to a room full of puppets. It was strange. It was campy. It was pure, unadulterated Bowie.
But here’s the thing: "Magic Dance" (often called "Dance Magic" by fans) wasn't just a throwaway soundtrack song. It was a calculated piece of pop theater. Jim Henson needed a villain who could seduce a teenager into giving up her baby brother, and who better than the man who had already conquered the world as Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke? Bowie didn't just show up and sing. He took over.
Why David Bowie Dance Magic Still Sticks in Your Head
You know the part. "You remind me of the babe." "What babe?" "The babe with the power." That whole "Magic Dance" intro wasn't even original to the movie, technically. It’s a direct riff on a 1947 film called The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer starring Cary Grant. Bowie took a bit of Golden Age Hollywood dialogue and turned it into a rhythmic chant for a group of goblins. It’s brilliant.
The song itself is a weird mix of 80s gated reverb drums and nursery rhyme simplicity. It shouldn't work. On paper, a song about a baby turning into a goblin while a man in a wig jumps around a castle sounds like a disaster. Yet, it’s the most streamed track from the film.
The Secret of the Baby Gurgles
Did you know David Bowie did the baby noises himself? Seriously. During the recording sessions at Westside Studios in London, the actual baby (Toby Froud) wouldn't gurgle or coo on cue. Bowie, being a restless creative who didn't like waiting around, just stepped up to the microphone and did the "goo-goos" and "ga-gas" himself.
Imagine being one of the most respected musicians on the planet and spending your afternoon mimicking an infant. That’s the David Bowie dance magic effect. He had zero ego when it came to the art. If the song needed a baby, and the baby wasn't cooperating, Bowie became the baby.
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The Chaos of the Labyrinth Set
Filming the "Magic Dance" sequence was a logistical nightmare. You had David Bowie, about 48 puppet operators hidden under the floor, and a very confused toddler. Because the puppets were controlled from below, the floor was essentially a series of trapdoors and gaps. Bowie had to perform a choreographed dance routine while making sure he didn't accidentally step on a puppeteer’s hand or fall through the set.
He was a pro, though.
The choreography was handled by Gates McFadden. Yes, that Gates McFadden—Dr. Beverly Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation. She worked closely with Bowie to create movements that felt "goblin-like" but still retained his inherent coolness. They wanted it to feel like a party that was just slightly off the rails.
- The Puppets: There were dozens of them, all varying in size and complexity.
- The Baby: Toby Froud actually grew up to be a creature designer and puppeteer himself. Talk about a full-circle moment.
- The Vibe: It was meant to be the climax of Jareth's power—showing Sarah that his world was more fun than her boring "real" life.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jareth
There’s a common misconception that Jareth is a pure villain. If you look at the lyrics of the songs Bowie wrote for the film—"Within You," "As the World Falls Down," and "Magic Dance"—it’s more of a dark, twisted romance. Jareth is lonely. He’s built this entire world of David Bowie dance magic just to impress a girl who doesn't even want to be there.
Bowie understood this nuance. He didn't play Jareth as a monster. He played him as a bored aristocrat with too much power and a penchant for theatrics. When he sings "jump magic jump," he’s not just commanding his subjects; he’s trying to keep the party going so he doesn't have to face the silence.
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The Musical Legacy of the Goblin King
Technically, the Labyrinth soundtrack was a bit of a commercial flop when it first came out. People wanted "Let's Dance" Bowie, not "Singing with Puppets" Bowie. Critics were harsh. They thought it was beneath him.
But time is a funny thing.
The kids who grew up watching that VHS tape on repeat became the creators of today. You can hear the influence of that era in the work of artists like Lady Gaga or Janelle Monáe—people who understand that music is a visual and theatrical experience. The David Bowie dance magic isn't just about the notes on the page; it’s about the persona.
How to Capture a Bit of That Bowie Energy
If you're a creator, a performer, or just someone who loves the era, there's a lot to learn from how Bowie approached this project. He was a collaborator. He didn't come in and demand everything be about him. He worked with Jim Henson’s vision.
- Commit to the Bit. Whether you’re wearing a massive wig or singing to a puppet, do it with 100% conviction. The moment you wink at the camera and act like you're "too cool" for the material, the magic dies.
- Mix Your Influences. Bowie pulling a Cary Grant quote for a goblin song is a masterclass in "stealing like an artist." Look outside your bubble for inspiration.
- Don't Fear the "Childish." Some of the most enduring art is the stuff that taps into our childhood sense of wonder and weirdness.
The Visual Power of the Crystal Balls
We can't talk about the "Magic Dance" era without mentioning the contact juggling. Those crystal balls moving across Bowie’s hands? That wasn't him. It was a juggler named Michael Moschen.
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Moschen was literally crouching behind Bowie, blind, reaching his arms through Bowie’s armpits to perform the tricks. Bowie had to stand perfectly still and act like his own hands were doing the work. It’s a perfect metaphor for his career: a seamless blend of his own charisma and the hidden talents of the people he brought into his orbit.
The Lasting Impact of Dance Magic
The song has been covered, sampled, and played at every "80s Night" at every bar in the world for the last four decades. It represents a specific moment in pop culture where big-budget filmmaking and avant-garde rock music collided in a way that just doesn't happen anymore.
Bowie’s estate has kept the legacy alive, but the fans do the heavy lifting. There are "Labyrinth Masquerade Balls" held annually where people spend thousands of dollars recreating the costumes. They aren't just dressing up as a character; they’re trying to inhabit that specific brand of David Bowie dance magic that made them feel like anything was possible when they were ten years old.
Actionable Takeaways for Bowie Fans and Historians
If you want to dive deeper into this specific era of Bowie’s career, don't just stop at the movie.
- Listen to the Demos: There are early versions of the Labyrinth tracks that show a much more raw, synth-heavy approach before the final "pop" polish was added.
- Watch the Documentary: Inside the Labyrinth is a 1986 making-of doc that shows the sheer physical labor that went into the "Magic Dance" sequence. It’ll make you appreciate the film ten times more.
- Study the Lyrics: Look at how Bowie uses the concept of "falling in love" as a trap. It’s a recurring theme in his work, from "Space Oddity" to "Blackstar."
To truly understand the David Bowie dance magic, you have to accept the weirdness. You have to be okay with the tight pants, the puppets, and the baby noises. Bowie was a man who lived in the future, but for one brief moment in the mid-80s, he decided to build a castle in the past and invite us all to a dance.
Next Steps for Your Bowie Deep-Dive:
- Track down the original vinyl: The analog mix of "Magic Dance" has a warmth that the digital remasters sometimes lose, especially in the bassline.
- Analyze the "As the World Falls Down" music video: It’s the stylistic sibling to "Magic Dance" and features some of Bowie’s best understated acting.
- Explore the work of Trevor Jones: He was the composer who worked with Bowie on the film’s score, and his orchestral work is what gives the "Magic Dance" its cinematic weight.