You’ve heard Nile Rodgers’ guitar thousands of times, maybe without knowing his name. That clean, chopping rhythm drove Chic’s disco hits, then showed up on some of the biggest new wave records of the ’80s.
Chic and the groove
In 1976 Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards formed Chic: “Le Freak”, “Good Times”, “Everybody Dance”, “I Want Your Love” and “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)”. “Le Freak” became one of the biggest-selling singles in Atlantic Records history, and the bass line of “Good Times” helped lay the foundation for hip-hop.
Let’s Dance, Like a Virgin, Notorious
As disco faded, Rodgers became one of the most wanted producers in the world. He produced David Bowie’s Let’s Dance (1983), with “Let’s Dance”, “Modern Love” and “China Girl”, and Madonna’s Like a Virgin (1984). He remixed Duran Duran’s “The Reflex” into a number one and produced their Notorious (1986), bringing funk into the band’s sound. He produced INXS’s “Original Sin” (1984) too. Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Diana Ross, the B-52’s and Bryan Ferry all worked with him, and decades later “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk (2013) put his guitar back at the top of the charts.
What makes the sound
Crisp rhythm playing, funk grooves, clean chord voicings and arrangements with room to breathe. Once you know it, you’ll hear it all over new wave, synth-pop and dance-rock.
Is Nile Rodgers new wave?
Nile Rodgers isn’t a new wave artist himself. He’s a disco and funk musician who became one of new wave’s most important producers, bringing dance grooves to records by Bowie, Duran Duran and INXS.
Nile Rodgers today
Rodgers still tours with Chic and works as a producer. He’s a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Award for Musical Excellence in 2017.
The essential Chic songs
“Le Freak” · “Good Times” · “I Want Your Love” · “Everybody Dance” · “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” · “My Forbidden Lover” · “Soup for One” · “Chic Cheer”
The new wave records Nile Rodgers shaped
- David Bowie – Let’s Dance (1983)
- Duran Duran – “The Reflex” (remix, 1984)
- INXS – “Original Sin” (1984)
- Madonna – Like a Virgin (1984)
- Duran Duran – Notorious (1986)
- Daft Punk – “Get Lucky” (2013)
New to Nile Rodgers? Start here
Play “Good Times”, then “Let’s Dance”, then “Notorious”. Same guitar, three different worlds.
Like Nile Rodgers? Try these next
- David Bowie: Let’s Dance, one of his defining productions
- Duran Duran: Notorious and “The Reflex”
- INXS: funk-rock with Rodgers on “Original Sin”
- Bryan Ferry: elegant art-pop with a groove
- Talking Heads: funk, world music and art rock
- ABC: polished, soulful British pop
Hear Nile Rodgers’ work on New Wave Radio
Request “Let’s Dance” and listen for the guitar.
Official links: nilerodgers.com · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube
