The Hearts Filthy Lesson


"The Hearts Filthy Lesson" is a song by David Bowie, from his 1995 album Outside, and issued as a single ahead of the album. It showcased Bowie's new, industrial-influenced sound. Lyrically, the single connects with the rest of the album, with Bowie offering a lament to "tyrannical futurist" Ramona A. Stone, a theme continued in subsequent songs. The song is also meant to confront Bowie's own perceptions about the ritual creation and degradation of art.
Critical reception to the song was generally tepid, though it would be re-evaluated by many critics when heard in the context of the album soon afterwards. In spite of its defiantly noncommercial sound the song reached No. 35 in the UK and No. 41 in Canada.
The single also broke Bowie's US chart drought by briefly peaking there at No. 92.
The single contained an "Alt. Mix" remixed by Trent Reznor and Dave Ogilvie with Chris Vrenna.

Music video

The video featured a montage of art-style mutilations and gory objets d'art and was subsequently edited when shown on MTV. The clip was directed by Samuel Bayer, the man behind Nirvana's classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video. In interviews, Bowie commented on the "ritual art" aspects of Outside:

Versions

Bowie Mix is credited as a Tony Maserati & Robert Holmes mix on many releases, but is identical to the album version

Track listing

  1. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–3:32
  2. "I Am With Name"–4:06
  3. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:56
  4. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19

    US CD version

  5. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:57
  6. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:01
  7. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  8. "Nothing to Be Desired"–2:15

    US promo CD version

  9. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–3:32
  10. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:01
  11. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  12. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:57

    European Shaped CD version

  13. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  14. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:56

    UK 12" version

  15. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  16. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:56
  17. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–7:41
  18. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–6:38
  19. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:51

    UK 12" 1 track promo version

  20. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19

    UK 12" 3 track promo version

  21. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–7:41
  22. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–6:38
  23. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:51

    UK 12" picture disc version

  24. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  25. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:57
  26. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–7:41
  27. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–6:38
  28. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:51

    US 12" promo version

  29. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:01
  30. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:19
  31. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–4:57
  32. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–7:41
  33. "The Hearts Filthy Lesson "–5:51

    Production credits