moments of "(No. 1)" – featuring Fripp's manic guitar interrupted by Bowie's cry of "Shut up!" – were recreated for the opening moments of his 1987 Glass Spider Tour. The full song was later performed in the 2015 musical Lazarus. O'Leary writes that for the musical, Bowie turned "It's No Game" into an "absurdist set piece": stuck in his apartment, the character of Thomas Jerome Newton, after witnessing a violent death montage, "hallucinates being hurled around the room by a female samurai". Mojo magazine listed "It's No Game (No. 1)" as Bowie's 73rd best track in 2015. Three years later, NME staff-writer Emily Barker voted "(No. 1)" his 40th best song, praising Bowie's ability to "make immensely likable and at the same time dystopian music". Personnel According to biographer Chris O'Leary: David Bowie – lead and backing vocal, piano, producer Robert Fripp – lead guitar "(No. 1)" Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar George Murray – bass Dennis Davis – drums, ratchet "(No. 1)" Michi Hirota – lead vocal "(No. 1)" Tony Visconti – backing vocal, producer Cover versions Born to Worry – A version called "It's No Game Part 3" on the album Loving the Alien: Athens Georgia Salutes David Bowie. Nine Inch Nails – Guitar samples from the Bowie song, slowed and in reverse, on "Pinion" from the EP Broken; the sample is more clearly heard in the intro tape played prior to most Nine Inch Nails concerts. References Sources David Bowie songs 1980 songs Songs written by David Bowie Macaronic songs Song recordings produced by David Bowie Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti