Few songs have a more chilling intro than David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out The Fire).” Amidst a tribal drum beat and swirl of synthesizers Bowie sings, “See these eyes so green/I can stare for a thousand years” in a voice is so dark it’s impossible not to believe him. The theme from director Paul Schrader’s 1982 horror film, “Cat People (Putting Out The Fire)” is set to a guitar-driven arrangement crafted by veteran film composer Giorgio Moroder of Flashdance and Midnight Express fame.
Bowie’s lyrics are from the point of view of Irena and her brother Paul, played in the film by Natassia Kinski and Malcolm McDowell. They’re descendants of humans who mated with leopards centuries earlier. This causes them to turn into panthers during sex and they can’t return to human form without killing somebody.
Bowie’s music often featured fascinating characters, so he was the perfect choice to convey Irena and Paul’s tortured emotions. “Still this pulsing night/A plague I call a heartbeat/Just be still with me/Ya wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through.” Cat People tapped into long-held superstitions regarding felines and their mysterious nature. Even today, it’s a good idea to make sure black house cats are kept indoors on Halloween to prevent deranged people from hurting them.
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