“Yassassin” (Bowie’s pronunciation; also known as “Yassassin (Turkish for: Long Live)”, and released in Turkey as “Yassassin (Yaşasın)”) is a song written by David Bowie for the 1979 album Lodger. “Yassassin” is an incongruous reggae song with a Turkish flavour, and the third single to be released from Lodger, but only in the Netherlands and Turkey.
The song’s title is derived from the Turkish verb used to wish someone a long life, spelled yaşasın (pronounced), from the verbal root yaşa- ‘live’ with the third-person imperative ending; therefore yaşasın literally means ‘May he/she live’.
Track listing
RCA PB-9417 (Netherlands)
“Yassassin” (David Bowie) – 3:06
“Repetition” (Bowie) – 2:58
RCA 79.014 (Turkey)
“Yassassin” (Bowie)
“Red Money” (Bowie, Carlos Alomar)
Production credits[edit]
Producers
Tony Visconti
David Bowie
Musicians
David Bowie – vocals, background vocals, organ
Dennis Davis – drums, background vocals
George Murray – bass, background vocals
Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar, background vocals
Tony Visconti – lead guitar, background vocals
Simon House – violin, background vocals
