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Top 200 Bowie Recordings - #1 - Heroes (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Anarchy99
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
#24 - David Bowie - Starman (The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars - 1972), (BBC - 1972), (Live - 1972), (Another Live - 1972), (Live - 1990), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Midge Ure, Phish, Cybernauts, Culture Club, Duran Duran, 10,000 Maniacs, Garbage, Chip Shop Boys, John C. Reilly, Nenhum De Nós, Mates Of State, Classic Rock String Quartet, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Matthew Gibb, Golden Smog, Olivia Rose Michaels, Ataurus Minor, Star Anna, Marian Gold, Ivan, Lizzie Tupman, Seu Jorge, I Profeti, Dawn Vinci, Andrea Chimenti, Jimmy P. Brown II, Owl King, Mimes Of Wine, Core N Shell, Diffused World, Midnite String Quartet, Overmist, Mates Of State, Birth Marc, Slackdaddy, Royal Movie Band, Leningrad Cowboys, Rachel Loshak, Nosferatu, Boy Eats Drum Machine, David Fonseca & Aurea, Jen Chapin & Rosetta Trio, Rubén Pozo, Bud Rogers, Beth Wimmer, Envoys, Octopus, Dar Williams, Sally Shapiro, messFX, Joe Dolan, The The's Brothers, May Hart Band, Robert Velvet, Kizia & Filip, Joe Silva, Tornados, Jessica Manning, Hummingbird Syndicate, Joshua Lee Turner, Matt Johnson, Fourgoodmen, Mary Soto, Camera Obscura, Phillip Boa, Dan, Osmo's Cosmos, Cæcilie Norby, Mates Of State, Deer Tracks, Jeff Duff, Richie Ranno, Shawn Mars, Shawn O'Donnell, Jen Chapin, Starburkes & The Tea Leaf, Baked A La Ska, Killian Mansfield, London Symphony Orchestra, Erin Orchestra, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Meridian String Quartet, Milky Edwards, Rural Alberta Advantage, Yalta Club, Capsula, Sweet Wine, Folly Tree, Lea DeLaria, Space Lady, Black Maggot, Oliver Darley, Moon Loungers, John Dolmayan & Serj Tankian, Spencer Showalter, Zackery, Boy Aintwright, Accordi Disaccordi, Parapluie, Arcadia Academy Of Music, Reynolds Bryant, Wiseguise, Milky, Awkward Bodies, Charles Webservice, Jupiter In Velvet, Dorian Wood, Tighe Bodalla,
When in doubt, just go back to the ZS album. Let all the children boogie. In hindsight, this feels a little low, but like any ranking of things, it depends on the day. It was the final song written and record for the ZS. The album was DONE. In the hopper. Completed and waiting to be released. But the label felt there were no potential singles on the album so they made Bowie take another stab at writing a hit. Mind you, I have already listed A TON of songs that DIDN'T make the album. The band had to reconvene to record this track a month after they thought they were done. Amazingly, Starman was the only song released as a single from the ZS album. The band wasn't really that in love with the song. They felt it was forced and too poppy. The single snuck into the Top 10 in the UK but only reached #65 in the U.S. Maybe the marketing strategy was to sell albums over singles, as the album eventually sold 7.5 million copies. But given they were constantly on Bowie to be focused on writing, recording, and releasing singles,
Perhaps even more surprising was the fact that Starman was not performed regularly on any Bowie tour. It was played 66 times in total in 72, 73, 90, 00, 02, 03, and 04. That goes against the typical song performance model, which was usually to play a song over the entirety of a tour, letting it sit in mothballs for a decade, playing it on another tour, and then pulling it out on rare occasion. This one just got the every once in a while treatment.
The Beatles had their big breakout attributed to their first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Bowie had a similar experience (on a smaller scale) when he first unveiled the Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars Band on the Top Of The Pops show. It was the first time anyone had seen the make up and costuming, and people were SHOCKED. Many future performers cited that performance as a point in their lives that sparked them to want to get into performing.
Covers: Midge Ure, Phish, Cybernauts, Culture Club, Duran Duran, 10,000 Maniacs, Garbage, Chip Shop Boys, John C. Reilly, Nenhum De Nós, Mates Of State, Classic Rock String Quartet, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Matthew Gibb, Golden Smog, Olivia Rose Michaels, Ataurus Minor, Star Anna, Marian Gold, Ivan, Lizzie Tupman, Seu Jorge, I Profeti, Dawn Vinci, Andrea Chimenti, Jimmy P. Brown II, Owl King, Mimes Of Wine, Core N Shell, Diffused World, Midnite String Quartet, Overmist, Mates Of State, Birth Marc, Slackdaddy, Royal Movie Band, Leningrad Cowboys, Rachel Loshak, Nosferatu, Boy Eats Drum Machine, David Fonseca & Aurea, Jen Chapin & Rosetta Trio, Rubén Pozo, Bud Rogers, Beth Wimmer, Envoys, Octopus, Dar Williams, Sally Shapiro, messFX, Joe Dolan, The The's Brothers, May Hart Band, Robert Velvet, Kizia & Filip, Joe Silva, Tornados, Jessica Manning, Hummingbird Syndicate, Joshua Lee Turner, Matt Johnson, Fourgoodmen, Mary Soto, Camera Obscura, Phillip Boa, Dan, Osmo's Cosmos, Cæcilie Norby, Mates Of State, Deer Tracks, Jeff Duff, Richie Ranno, Shawn Mars, Shawn O'Donnell, Jen Chapin, Starburkes & The Tea Leaf, Baked A La Ska, Killian Mansfield, London Symphony Orchestra, Erin Orchestra, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Meridian String Quartet, Milky Edwards, Rural Alberta Advantage, Yalta Club, Capsula, Sweet Wine, Folly Tree, Lea DeLaria, Space Lady, Black Maggot, Oliver Darley, Moon Loungers, John Dolmayan & Serj Tankian, Spencer Showalter, Zackery, Boy Aintwright, Accordi Disaccordi, Parapluie, Arcadia Academy Of Music, Reynolds Bryant, Wiseguise, Milky, Awkward Bodies, Charles Webservice, Jupiter In Velvet, Dorian Wood, Tighe Bodalla,
When in doubt, just go back to the ZS album. Let all the children boogie. In hindsight, this feels a little low, but like any ranking of things, it depends on the day. It was the final song written and record for the ZS. The album was DONE. In the hopper. Completed and waiting to be released. But the label felt there were no potential singles on the album so they made Bowie take another stab at writing a hit. Mind you, I have already listed A TON of songs that DIDN'T make the album. The band had to reconvene to record this track a month after they thought they were done. Amazingly, Starman was the only song released as a single from the ZS album. The band wasn't really that in love with the song. They felt it was forced and too poppy. The single snuck into the Top 10 in the UK but only reached #65 in the U.S. Maybe the marketing strategy was to sell albums over singles, as the album eventually sold 7.5 million copies. But given they were constantly on Bowie to be focused on writing, recording, and releasing singles,
Perhaps even more surprising was the fact that Starman was not performed regularly on any Bowie tour. It was played 66 times in total in 72, 73, 90, 00, 02, 03, and 04. That goes against the typical song performance model, which was usually to play a song over the entirety of a tour, letting it sit in mothballs for a decade, playing it on another tour, and then pulling it out on rare occasion. This one just got the every once in a while treatment.
The Beatles had their big breakout attributed to their first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Bowie had a similar experience (on a smaller scale) when he first unveiled the Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars Band on the Top Of The Pops show. It was the first time anyone had seen the make up and costuming, and people were SHOCKED. Many future performers cited that performance as a point in their lives that sparked them to want to get into performing.
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Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Same here. In fact, it might be number 2 or 3 for me if I had to rank my favorite Bowie songs.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#23 - David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World (The Man Who Sold The World - 1970), (SNL - 1979), (Live - 1995), (Live Stripped Down - 1996), (Live - 1996), (Live - 1997), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Nirvana Unplugged, Nirvana Rock Version Live, Beck & Nirvana, Michael Stipe, Simple Minds, John Cougar, Lulu, Midge Ure, Cybernauts, Fantasy Shift, Claire Martin, Conor O'Brien, Carlos Black, David Fonseca & Ana Moura, Hayley Richman, Sarah Jane, Rockabye Baby!, Petebox, Emel Mathlouthi, Section Quartet, Retros, Charlie Pollock, Mad Blade Beats, Eklipse, Ohasi Trio, Barry Koot, Modest Midas, Pachora, Jeff Herr, Cocosuma, Possible(s) Quartet, Uriel Herman, Fear Cult, 8-Bit Arcade, Øllebirde, J.R. Richards, JYNX & DINO, The Red & The Black, Eye In The Sky Proyecto, Boys Of A New Age, Simone Graziano Trio, Elekrticni Orgazam, Jordis Unga, Richard Barone, Vitami String Quartet, Wally Brothers, Ed Keupper, Ed Morneau & Kiera Flynn-Carson, No Man, Maxwell Plumm, Kristen De Beauvoir, Bug Funny Music Foundation, Allegra, Marcus Van Heller, Bubbles, Ramonda Hammer, Leana Sealy, Amanda Jo Williams, Voice In FashionLeaf Rapids, Bikini Thrill, Smells Like Grunge (way more versions out there . . . got tired of linking them all)
The only Bowie song more famous as done by someone else (take your pick . . . either Lulu or Nirvana). The Bowie version back in the day was not released as a single (although it appeared as a B-Side a few times), The Lulu version hit #3 in the U.K., while the Nirvana version hit #6 on the Top Alternative Rock Tracks chart (and #39 on the Billboard singles chart). A lot of critics have this one in their Top 10 or Top 20 Bowie songs. Bowie and Ronson played on the Lulu version (and Bowie also produced it).
Strangely enough, The Man Who Sold The World was predominantly an afterthought in the Bowie repertoire until Nirvana covered it for their MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. Kurt Cobain died in April of 1994, but their version was released as a single almost a year after he died. I am still amazed that even today there are tons of people who are unaware that the song was originally a Bowie song and think of it as a Nirvana song. In their regular shows, Nirvana played a much more rocking version than the way they played it on MTV Unplugged (linked above). They performed the song 30+ times in 93 / 94.
Up until the point where Nirvana got involved, Bowie had only performed The Man Who Sold The World live 5 times . . . twice in promo appearances and twice in concerts in 1972, and once in a bizarre appearance on SNL in 1979 (linked above).
After Nirvana's version started racing up the charts and getting tons of airplay, Bowie opted to bring the song back for his 1995 tour . . . almost as a new age / adult contemporary song without much guitar. He would eventually get around to performing it in a more traditional fashion (and very similar to the Nirvana version). It was in heavy rotation in his live shows ever since the Nirvana release (he performed it in many of his shows in 95 / 97 / 00 / 03 / 04).
Covers: Nirvana Unplugged, Nirvana Rock Version Live, Beck & Nirvana, Michael Stipe, Simple Minds, John Cougar, Lulu, Midge Ure, Cybernauts, Fantasy Shift, Claire Martin, Conor O'Brien, Carlos Black, David Fonseca & Ana Moura, Hayley Richman, Sarah Jane, Rockabye Baby!, Petebox, Emel Mathlouthi, Section Quartet, Retros, Charlie Pollock, Mad Blade Beats, Eklipse, Ohasi Trio, Barry Koot, Modest Midas, Pachora, Jeff Herr, Cocosuma, Possible(s) Quartet, Uriel Herman, Fear Cult, 8-Bit Arcade, Øllebirde, J.R. Richards, JYNX & DINO, The Red & The Black, Eye In The Sky Proyecto, Boys Of A New Age, Simone Graziano Trio, Elekrticni Orgazam, Jordis Unga, Richard Barone, Vitami String Quartet, Wally Brothers, Ed Keupper, Ed Morneau & Kiera Flynn-Carson, No Man, Maxwell Plumm, Kristen De Beauvoir, Bug Funny Music Foundation, Allegra, Marcus Van Heller, Bubbles, Ramonda Hammer, Leana Sealy, Amanda Jo Williams, Voice In FashionLeaf Rapids, Bikini Thrill, Smells Like Grunge (way more versions out there . . . got tired of linking them all)
The only Bowie song more famous as done by someone else (take your pick . . . either Lulu or Nirvana). The Bowie version back in the day was not released as a single (although it appeared as a B-Side a few times), The Lulu version hit #3 in the U.K., while the Nirvana version hit #6 on the Top Alternative Rock Tracks chart (and #39 on the Billboard singles chart). A lot of critics have this one in their Top 10 or Top 20 Bowie songs. Bowie and Ronson played on the Lulu version (and Bowie also produced it).
Strangely enough, The Man Who Sold The World was predominantly an afterthought in the Bowie repertoire until Nirvana covered it for their MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. Kurt Cobain died in April of 1994, but their version was released as a single almost a year after he died. I am still amazed that even today there are tons of people who are unaware that the song was originally a Bowie song and think of it as a Nirvana song. In their regular shows, Nirvana played a much more rocking version than the way they played it on MTV Unplugged (linked above). They performed the song 30+ times in 93 / 94.
Up until the point where Nirvana got involved, Bowie had only performed The Man Who Sold The World live 5 times . . . twice in promo appearances and twice in concerts in 1972, and once in a bizarre appearance on SNL in 1979 (linked above).
After Nirvana's version started racing up the charts and getting tons of airplay, Bowie opted to bring the song back for his 1995 tour . . . almost as a new age / adult contemporary song without much guitar. He would eventually get around to performing it in a more traditional fashion (and very similar to the Nirvana version). It was in heavy rotation in his live shows ever since the Nirvana release (he performed it in many of his shows in 95 / 97 / 00 / 03 / 04).
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
#22 - David Bowie - China Girl (Let's Dance - 1983), (Video - 1983), (Rehearsal W/SRV - 1983), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1987), (Live - 1990), (Stripped Down Live - 1996), (Rosie Girl - 1997), (Live - 1999), (VH1 Storytellers - 1999), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Iggy Pop Versions: The Idiot - 1977, Live - 2016
Covers: Xu Xu Fang, James, John Frusciante, Manson Collective, Trance To The Sun, Voltaire, Korin Noviz, Anna Ternheim, Rhonda Harris, David Muldoon, ST*RMAN, Fausto Fawcett, Ground Control, Deise Mikhail, DMU, Pete Yorn, Falset Band, Piggy Stardust, Moogue, Robbie Nichols, Silver, Johny Day, Dan McGowan, Eddy McManus, Fusion Faktor, Jeff Duff, Mugshots, Contorsione, Rockridge Synthesizer Orchestra, Mighty Surf Lords, André Frateschi, Lukasz Boldyn, Thin White Ziggy, London Symphony Orchestra, Sweet Little Band, Bei Bei Ensemble, Acoustic Moon, I Am Lono, Moonage Daydream, Tripwires, John Crook, Dj Tokozui,
Bowie wrote the music and played keyboards on the version Iggy Pop first released in 1977 (which sounds a lot less poppy than the Bowie version). It is said the song was inspired not by a Chinese woman, but a Vietnamese one (who Iggy had a thing for). Ironically, the Bowie video also featured a Vietnamese woman in it. The woman in the video, Geeling Ng, claims she and Bowie started dating after filming the video. Even though the original video was banned in many countries, it went on to win an MTV VMA for Best Male Video Performance.
Another interpretation of the song is that it is about drugs and addiction, with "China White" representing heroin and "girl" symbolizing cocaine. If that were the case, it certainly would put a different slant on what otherwise is a very poppy Bowie version from Let's Dance. Bowie would later say the song was intended to be a protest against racism (but ultimately there were groups who labeled the song racist).
The song was rehearsed and on Bowie's set list for Live Aid, but was dropped due to time constraints. It appeared as a regular part of the set list on all his tours since it was released except for 1995 (83 / 87 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 99 / 00 / 02 / 03 / 04).
This song was hard to rank for a number of reasons. Where I live, it is one of the few Bowie songs that still gets some consistent airplay. I thought it was overplayed back in its hey day as well. So I have soured over it slightly from oversaturation . . . until I haven't heard it for awhile and then crank it up and enjoy SRV's guitar licks. My ranking may be considered too high from the full spectrum Bowie fans and probably too low for the more casual fans.
The song hit #2 in the U.K. and #10 in the U.S.. It cracked the Top 20 again on the U.S. Hot Rock Songs chart 33 years after its initial release when Bowie died. For better or for worse, Let's Dance was compared to the work at the time of Phil Collins and Wham! I am guessing it is one of a limited number of songs to include the word "swastikas" in the lyrics to ever hit the Top 10.
Iggy Pop Versions: The Idiot - 1977, Live - 2016
Covers: Xu Xu Fang, James, John Frusciante, Manson Collective, Trance To The Sun, Voltaire, Korin Noviz, Anna Ternheim, Rhonda Harris, David Muldoon, ST*RMAN, Fausto Fawcett, Ground Control, Deise Mikhail, DMU, Pete Yorn, Falset Band, Piggy Stardust, Moogue, Robbie Nichols, Silver, Johny Day, Dan McGowan, Eddy McManus, Fusion Faktor, Jeff Duff, Mugshots, Contorsione, Rockridge Synthesizer Orchestra, Mighty Surf Lords, André Frateschi, Lukasz Boldyn, Thin White Ziggy, London Symphony Orchestra, Sweet Little Band, Bei Bei Ensemble, Acoustic Moon, I Am Lono, Moonage Daydream, Tripwires, John Crook, Dj Tokozui,
Bowie wrote the music and played keyboards on the version Iggy Pop first released in 1977 (which sounds a lot less poppy than the Bowie version). It is said the song was inspired not by a Chinese woman, but a Vietnamese one (who Iggy had a thing for). Ironically, the Bowie video also featured a Vietnamese woman in it. The woman in the video, Geeling Ng, claims she and Bowie started dating after filming the video. Even though the original video was banned in many countries, it went on to win an MTV VMA for Best Male Video Performance.
Another interpretation of the song is that it is about drugs and addiction, with "China White" representing heroin and "girl" symbolizing cocaine. If that were the case, it certainly would put a different slant on what otherwise is a very poppy Bowie version from Let's Dance. Bowie would later say the song was intended to be a protest against racism (but ultimately there were groups who labeled the song racist).
The song was rehearsed and on Bowie's set list for Live Aid, but was dropped due to time constraints. It appeared as a regular part of the set list on all his tours since it was released except for 1995 (83 / 87 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 99 / 00 / 02 / 03 / 04).
This song was hard to rank for a number of reasons. Where I live, it is one of the few Bowie songs that still gets some consistent airplay. I thought it was overplayed back in its hey day as well. So I have soured over it slightly from oversaturation . . . until I haven't heard it for awhile and then crank it up and enjoy SRV's guitar licks. My ranking may be considered too high from the full spectrum Bowie fans and probably too low for the more casual fans.
The song hit #2 in the U.K. and #10 in the U.S.. It cracked the Top 20 again on the U.S. Hot Rock Songs chart 33 years after its initial release when Bowie died. For better or for worse, Let's Dance was compared to the work at the time of Phil Collins and Wham! I am guessing it is one of a limited number of songs to include the word "swastikas" in the lyrics to ever hit the Top 10.
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Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I don't think my favorite Bowie song was ranked yet (maybe I missed it but a topic search showed no hits).
It's not one of his "classics" so I'm wondering if it will be ranked at all. Still possible though.
It's not one of his "classics" so I'm wondering if it will be ranked at all. Still possible though.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I’m starting to lose a little steam. I may have to limit listing some of the covers. That takes up a lot of time. Maybe I will add them later. As far as your Bowie fave goes, I didn’t leave any classic songs off. So it will be there eventually. There will probably still be a couple of surprises too.Dr. Octopus said:I don't think my favorite Bowie song was ranked yet (maybe I missed it but a topic search showed no hits).
It's not one of his "classics" so I'm wondering if it will be ranked at all. Still possible though.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
It's not considered one of his classics - it's from one of his bigger albums though. We'll see.
No one is clicking on all the covers anyway (I do on some) so feel free to leave them off if it makes life easier.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I am still going to side with “your song is on the list.” Unless it is way obscure, I can’t see how I could have missed it. I can only think of one song that it could be that isn’t on the list, but that would not fall in the popular song category. Although I am curious what song it is.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
It's not obscure (it's on what many consider his second best album) - just wasn't a radio staple or "greatest hit". I'll let you know once it comes up.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#21 - David Bowie - Rebel Rebel (Diamond Dogs - 1974), (U.S. Single Version - 1974), (Re-Recording - 2003), (Top Of The Pops - 1974), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1978), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1985), (Live - 1987), (Live - 1990), (Live - 1999), (VH1 Stoytellers - 1999), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Rickie Lee Jones, Dead Or Alive, Shaun Cassidy, Duran Duran, Living Colour, Bay City Rollers, Alice Cooper, Jane's Addiction, Bryan Adams
Hot tramp, I love you so! There are three pretty different recordings of this one: the album version (which is the one that gets played on the radio all the time), the shorter single version (which probably hasn't been played on the radio since the mid-70's, and a re-recorded version from 2003 (which I don't think has been played on the radio or if it has it was only a few times). I am somewhat partial to the newer version (but that could be biased as that one is newer and hasn't been played to death). Bowie plays lead guitar on this one (at least the 1974 versions). The song was initially developed to be part of the Ziggy Stardust musical project (which never really got off the ground). It features a classic, highly recognizable 3 chord riff.
Like many Bowie singles, it fared much better in Britain than in the States. The song reached #5 in the U.K. but stalled at #64 in America. Bowie rock historians rank Rebel Rebel anywhere from Top 10 to Top 30 in his arsenal of songs, calling it a glitter / glam anthem. It is speculated that this song is the most covered Bowie track (I will probably add other covers at a later date).
The lyric, "We like dancing and we look divine," is a reference to the famous drag queen known as Divine, who starred in many John Waters films, including Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. IIRC, the Top Of The Pops appearance was the last anyone ever saw of the Ziggy Stardust character. Bowie had an eye infection at the time of the shoot and opted to wear an eye patch over that eye. That appearance gave Ziggy fans hope that his well documented farewell announcement was just a ruse and in reality intended to keep up playing the role of Ziggy. However, that was not to be . . . and he moved on to his Halloween Jack persona right after his Top Of The Pops appearance.
Rebel Rebel was the third most performed song by Bowie. It was always in the mix (74 / 76 / 78 / 83 / 85 / 87 / 90 / 99 /00 /02 /03 / 04). The VH1 Storytellers version starts with a really funny story.
Covers: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Rickie Lee Jones, Dead Or Alive, Shaun Cassidy, Duran Duran, Living Colour, Bay City Rollers, Alice Cooper, Jane's Addiction, Bryan Adams
Hot tramp, I love you so! There are three pretty different recordings of this one: the album version (which is the one that gets played on the radio all the time), the shorter single version (which probably hasn't been played on the radio since the mid-70's, and a re-recorded version from 2003 (which I don't think has been played on the radio or if it has it was only a few times). I am somewhat partial to the newer version (but that could be biased as that one is newer and hasn't been played to death). Bowie plays lead guitar on this one (at least the 1974 versions). The song was initially developed to be part of the Ziggy Stardust musical project (which never really got off the ground). It features a classic, highly recognizable 3 chord riff.
Like many Bowie singles, it fared much better in Britain than in the States. The song reached #5 in the U.K. but stalled at #64 in America. Bowie rock historians rank Rebel Rebel anywhere from Top 10 to Top 30 in his arsenal of songs, calling it a glitter / glam anthem. It is speculated that this song is the most covered Bowie track (I will probably add other covers at a later date).
The lyric, "We like dancing and we look divine," is a reference to the famous drag queen known as Divine, who starred in many John Waters films, including Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. IIRC, the Top Of The Pops appearance was the last anyone ever saw of the Ziggy Stardust character. Bowie had an eye infection at the time of the shoot and opted to wear an eye patch over that eye. That appearance gave Ziggy fans hope that his well documented farewell announcement was just a ruse and in reality intended to keep up playing the role of Ziggy. However, that was not to be . . . and he moved on to his Halloween Jack persona right after his Top Of The Pops appearance.
Rebel Rebel was the third most performed song by Bowie. It was always in the mix (74 / 76 / 78 / 83 / 85 / 87 / 90 / 99 /00 /02 /03 / 04). The VH1 Storytellers version starts with a really funny story.
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
#20 - David Bowie - Suffragette City (The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars - 1972), (Live - 1972), (BBC - 1972), (Live - 1973), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1978), (Live - 1990), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Jones, Warrant, Andy Taylor, Big Audio Dynamite, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, L.A. Guns, Mr. Big, Culture Club, Hazel O'Connor & Simon Le Bon, Phish, Cybernauts, Vixen, Poison, Green Day, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Alice Cooper, John McEnroe
Finally into the Top 20. Ohhh, wham bam thank you ma'am! A rollicking little ditty with the giddy up provided by Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums. Ronson also provided the pounding of keys on the piano (which of all things stands out to me the most). The Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am line was taken from a jazz song of the same name by Charles Mingus from 1961. As mentioned earlier, DB offered the song to Mott The Hoople, who declined. The song was recorded towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust recording sessions . . . sessions which also produced Rock 'N' Roll Suicide and Starman. Not bad for a day's work.
Proving once again that a chimpanzee could do a better job managing a record company, the label opted not to release the song as a single at the time. It wound up being a B-Side on a couple of different songs before being released as a single to support the ChangesOneBowie greatest hit album 4 years later. Due to the tardy release date, the song did not chart anywhere. In 2018, NME magazine listed it as Bowie's 14th greatest song.
Bowie gained both acclaim, notoriety, and free advertising after he got on his knees in front of Ronson during his live Ziggy shows and began simulating an act that is not very board friendly. Bowie actually wanted pictures of the act taken and used to advertise his concerts. Suffragette City was Bowie's fifth most played song live, with over 500 performances. The first was on the BBC in 1972 (linked above). It got played regularly in 73 / 74 / 76 / 78 / 90 and 03/04. Some of the earlier performance ramp up the speed and the adrenaline, and the band zooms and pounds along at a frenetic pace. I linked a cover version of former tennis great John McEnroe, who does an admirable job on guitar and vocals.
Up next, one magical moment from the 70's . . .
Covers: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Jones, Warrant, Andy Taylor, Big Audio Dynamite, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, L.A. Guns, Mr. Big, Culture Club, Hazel O'Connor & Simon Le Bon, Phish, Cybernauts, Vixen, Poison, Green Day, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Alice Cooper, John McEnroe
Finally into the Top 20. Ohhh, wham bam thank you ma'am! A rollicking little ditty with the giddy up provided by Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums. Ronson also provided the pounding of keys on the piano (which of all things stands out to me the most). The Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am line was taken from a jazz song of the same name by Charles Mingus from 1961. As mentioned earlier, DB offered the song to Mott The Hoople, who declined. The song was recorded towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust recording sessions . . . sessions which also produced Rock 'N' Roll Suicide and Starman. Not bad for a day's work.
Proving once again that a chimpanzee could do a better job managing a record company, the label opted not to release the song as a single at the time. It wound up being a B-Side on a couple of different songs before being released as a single to support the ChangesOneBowie greatest hit album 4 years later. Due to the tardy release date, the song did not chart anywhere. In 2018, NME magazine listed it as Bowie's 14th greatest song.
Bowie gained both acclaim, notoriety, and free advertising after he got on his knees in front of Ronson during his live Ziggy shows and began simulating an act that is not very board friendly. Bowie actually wanted pictures of the act taken and used to advertise his concerts. Suffragette City was Bowie's fifth most played song live, with over 500 performances. The first was on the BBC in 1972 (linked above). It got played regularly in 73 / 74 / 76 / 78 / 90 and 03/04. Some of the earlier performance ramp up the speed and the adrenaline, and the band zooms and pounds along at a frenetic pace. I linked a cover version of former tennis great John McEnroe, who does an admirable job on guitar and vocals.
Up next, one magical moment from the 70's . . .
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#19 - David Bowie - Station To Station (Station To Station - 1976), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1978), (Christiane F. Version - 1980), (Rehearsal W/SRV - 1983), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1990), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Melvins, Merry Thoughts, Max Lorentz, BlackStarWhiteDuke, Alex Franklin, Lo Straniero, Mikey James, Ariel Levine, Bernard Fowler, Panic In Detroit, BROO'S Of The Rove, The Straniero, Andy & The White Dukes, Candy Volcano
The return of the Thin White Duke, throwing darts in lovers' eyes. I still get tingly over the guitar. The intro is SOOOOOO insanely good. The simulated train effects. The slow back and forth of the keyboards. The picking guitar parts. Actually, this song is most definitely the side-effects of the cocaine. A masterclass on how to put together a layered, textured, extended song that builds up along the way. This one is a tribute to all of Bowie's guitarists. Earl Slick. Stacy Heydon. Adrian Belew. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Kudos to all of them. Take a bow. They earned it.
This one was a centerpiece of the 76 / 78 / 83 / 90 / 00 / 04 tours. It was often the opening number on the 1976 tour. I remember on the Serious Moonlight tour, this one kicked off the second set after intermission, and it seemed like they increased the volume in the arena. The guitar at the beginning was deafening. I also was fortunate enough to see it performed on the 1990 tour, with Adrian Belew providing the noise.
I wanted to rank it higher . . . but there are just so many songs and so few places to rank them all.
Covers: Melvins, Merry Thoughts, Max Lorentz, BlackStarWhiteDuke, Alex Franklin, Lo Straniero, Mikey James, Ariel Levine, Bernard Fowler, Panic In Detroit, BROO'S Of The Rove, The Straniero, Andy & The White Dukes, Candy Volcano
The return of the Thin White Duke, throwing darts in lovers' eyes. I still get tingly over the guitar. The intro is SOOOOOO insanely good. The simulated train effects. The slow back and forth of the keyboards. The picking guitar parts. Actually, this song is most definitely the side-effects of the cocaine. A masterclass on how to put together a layered, textured, extended song that builds up along the way. This one is a tribute to all of Bowie's guitarists. Earl Slick. Stacy Heydon. Adrian Belew. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Kudos to all of them. Take a bow. They earned it.
This one was a centerpiece of the 76 / 78 / 83 / 90 / 00 / 04 tours. It was often the opening number on the 1976 tour. I remember on the Serious Moonlight tour, this one kicked off the second set after intermission, and it seemed like they increased the volume in the arena. The guitar at the beginning was deafening. I also was fortunate enough to see it performed on the 1990 tour, with Adrian Belew providing the noise.
I wanted to rank it higher . . . but there are just so many songs and so few places to rank them all.
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Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I like Rebel Rebel, but have never quite understood why it was so loved.
China Girl is a great tune, easily one of my favorites. A bit part is nostalgai, as the 9-year old me loved it thanks to MTV playing it a lot, but it has held up as a great song.
Suffragette City is another great Ziggy tune. I always reach for the volume knob when this one pops up.
I like Station to Station quite a bit, but wouldn't quite call it a favorite. I like the first half of the song, but love the latter half way more.
China Girl is a great tune, easily one of my favorites. A bit part is nostalgai, as the 9-year old me loved it thanks to MTV playing it a lot, but it has held up as a great song.
Suffragette City is another great Ziggy tune. I always reach for the volume knob when this one pops up.
I like Station to Station quite a bit, but wouldn't quite call it a favorite. I like the first half of the song, but love the latter half way more.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#18 - David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)(Cat People Soundtrack - 1982), (Rehearsal W/SRV - 1983), (Live - 1983), (Extended Version - 1982), (Let's Dance - 1983)
Covers: Marcus Nimbler, Tina Turner, Marilyn Manson, Danzig, Great Gig, Bella Wagner, Baby Snakes, Electric Six, Gothzilla, Audiorotic, Brothers In Plugs, Walter Farina, C. Scott Davis, Gosling, Mark Lanegan & Dave Gahan, Breakaways, Hardline, Sharleen Spiteri, Big Electric Cat, Dea Li, Cruciform, Terry Edwards & The Scapegoats, Death SS
Another song that is really hard to rank. Originally, I had the movie version and the Let's Dance version each ranked as separate songs, as they are so stylistically different. But I later reconsidered and only listed the song once. I like the longer movie version better. It's much more moody and ethereal. It fits well with the movie it came from as well. I forget where I ranked the Let's Dance version . . . probably somewhere in the 50 or 60 range.
When Bowie was approached to get involved with the film, the music was already composed and recorded. They came to Bowie for lyrics and vocals. The soundtrack version was fairly popular, hitting #1 in 3 countries, #26 in the UK, and #9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. Bowie intended to have the movie version on the Let's Dance album, but the original recording was on the MCA label and Bowie was on EMI. MCA refused to license the song and Bowie had to re-record it.
The Let's Dance version takes the song from dark and mysterious to a more traditional rock song with SRV providing a lot more guitar than the original had. Bowie earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the re-recorded version of Cat People (losing out to Michael Jackson's Beat It). The Let's Dance album also earned a Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year (again losing out to Michael Jackson's Thriller).
Cat People the film was played a ton on cable back in the day, so I watched quite a bit. The song also was used in Inglourious Basterds and Atomic Blonde. Given that I have always had a thing for Nastassja Kinski, Diane Kruger, and Charlize Theron, that only ups my enjoyment of the song.
The song was performed on 102 dates on the Serious Moonlight tour but was never played again.
The Marcus Nimbler video gets an A+++++++ (and that may not be high enough).
Covers: Marcus Nimbler, Tina Turner, Marilyn Manson, Danzig, Great Gig, Bella Wagner, Baby Snakes, Electric Six, Gothzilla, Audiorotic, Brothers In Plugs, Walter Farina, C. Scott Davis, Gosling, Mark Lanegan & Dave Gahan, Breakaways, Hardline, Sharleen Spiteri, Big Electric Cat, Dea Li, Cruciform, Terry Edwards & The Scapegoats, Death SS
Another song that is really hard to rank. Originally, I had the movie version and the Let's Dance version each ranked as separate songs, as they are so stylistically different. But I later reconsidered and only listed the song once. I like the longer movie version better. It's much more moody and ethereal. It fits well with the movie it came from as well. I forget where I ranked the Let's Dance version . . . probably somewhere in the 50 or 60 range.
When Bowie was approached to get involved with the film, the music was already composed and recorded. They came to Bowie for lyrics and vocals. The soundtrack version was fairly popular, hitting #1 in 3 countries, #26 in the UK, and #9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. Bowie intended to have the movie version on the Let's Dance album, but the original recording was on the MCA label and Bowie was on EMI. MCA refused to license the song and Bowie had to re-record it.
The Let's Dance version takes the song from dark and mysterious to a more traditional rock song with SRV providing a lot more guitar than the original had. Bowie earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the re-recorded version of Cat People (losing out to Michael Jackson's Beat It). The Let's Dance album also earned a Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year (again losing out to Michael Jackson's Thriller).
Cat People the film was played a ton on cable back in the day, so I watched quite a bit. The song also was used in Inglourious Basterds and Atomic Blonde. Given that I have always had a thing for Nastassja Kinski, Diane Kruger, and Charlize Theron, that only ups my enjoyment of the song.
The song was performed on 102 dates on the Serious Moonlight tour but was never played again.
The Marcus Nimbler video gets an A+++++++ (and that may not be high enough).
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Not a big fan of this one. Not a bad song just not worthy of being among the top 20 (strictly in my opinion of course).
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#17 - David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Video / Single Version - 1980), (Tonight Show - 1980), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1990), (Live - 1999), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Tears For Fears, Michael Stipe, A Perfect Circle, Mike Garson, Scott Weiland, Sting
The long awaited return of Major Tom. The sequel to Space Oddity. My mama said, to get things done, you better not mess with Major Tom. The song has Major Tom regaining communication with ground control. It is rumored to be about Bowie's long bout with substance abuse and his reemergence a decade after Space Oddity came out. Bowie at one point said the song was heavily influenced by Inchworm by Danny Kaye from 1952.
The music video is flat out bizarre. At the time, it was the most expensive video ever made, and it was put together a year before MTV came around. Not sure what the logic was there, as there really was no place to promote and play the video at the time it was made. However, given that it was completed and available, it did later get a lot of airplay on MTV until other artists all rushed out to produce videos to tap into the MTV craze.
The video was directed by David Mallet, who became an iconic video director. Over the years, he worked with Blondie, Queen, the Stones, Peter Gabriel, Joan Jett, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Rush, Scorpions, Kiss, AC/DC, INXS, Scorpions, Rod Stewart, Asia, Madonna, Tina Turner, U2, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins, Elton John, Genesis, and many others.
A short time after Ashes To Ashes came out, Peter Schilling extended the story and legend of Major Tom even further with Major Tom (Coming Home).
Ashes To Ashes was Bowie's second single to hit #1 in the U.K.(Space Oddity was the first). But it failed to crack the Hot 100 in the States. It was ranked as the 5th best single of 1980 by NME magazine. Carlos Alomar gets a crack at lead guitar on this one.
The song made it's live debut on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was an every nighter on the Serious Moonlight tour 3 years later. It also was performed on the 90 / 99 / 00 / 02 / 03 / 04 tours.
Covers: Tears For Fears, Michael Stipe, A Perfect Circle, Mike Garson, Scott Weiland, Sting
The long awaited return of Major Tom. The sequel to Space Oddity. My mama said, to get things done, you better not mess with Major Tom. The song has Major Tom regaining communication with ground control. It is rumored to be about Bowie's long bout with substance abuse and his reemergence a decade after Space Oddity came out. Bowie at one point said the song was heavily influenced by Inchworm by Danny Kaye from 1952.
The music video is flat out bizarre. At the time, it was the most expensive video ever made, and it was put together a year before MTV came around. Not sure what the logic was there, as there really was no place to promote and play the video at the time it was made. However, given that it was completed and available, it did later get a lot of airplay on MTV until other artists all rushed out to produce videos to tap into the MTV craze.
The video was directed by David Mallet, who became an iconic video director. Over the years, he worked with Blondie, Queen, the Stones, Peter Gabriel, Joan Jett, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Rush, Scorpions, Kiss, AC/DC, INXS, Scorpions, Rod Stewart, Asia, Madonna, Tina Turner, U2, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins, Elton John, Genesis, and many others.
A short time after Ashes To Ashes came out, Peter Schilling extended the story and legend of Major Tom even further with Major Tom (Coming Home).
Ashes To Ashes was Bowie's second single to hit #1 in the U.K.(Space Oddity was the first). But it failed to crack the Hot 100 in the States. It was ranked as the 5th best single of 1980 by NME magazine. Carlos Alomar gets a crack at lead guitar on this one.
The song made it's live debut on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was an every nighter on the Serious Moonlight tour 3 years later. It also was performed on the 90 / 99 / 00 / 02 / 03 / 04 tours.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
This comes to the surprise of no one. I did not expect this one would be high on your list.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Not a big fan of either of today's featured songs. I don't dislike either, but I never go out of my way to hear either.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
zamboni
Footballguy
Gr00vus
Footballguy
I love this version of the song, and am happily surprised to see it ranked at all, let alone this high up.
ComfortablyNumb
Footballguy
You've taken a little heat for this one, but I like it. Who can forget the outstanding use of this song in Inglorious Basterds? Also the (only?) great scene in Cat People. Those two movies really elevated my appreciation of this song.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#16 - David Bowie - The Jean Genie (Aladdin Sane - 1973), (Live - 1972), (Live - 1973), (Live - 1973), (Live W/Jeff Beck - 1973), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1978), (Rehearsal - 1983), (Live W/Ronson - 1983), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1987), (Live - 1990), (Acoustic - 1997), (Live - 1997), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2003)
Covers: Van Halen, Iggy Pop, OMD, Modern English, Greta Van Fleet, Enuff Z'Nuff, Boy George, Scott Weiland, Cybernauts, Reverend Shawn Amos, Paul Young, Sweet Wine, Peter Murphy
Apparently I need to redeem myself since the masses debunked my last few songs and have started voting thumbs with regularity. Hopefully this one will be more liked by the peanut gallery. Mick Ronson does Mick Ronson things and again delivers a highly recognizable guitar riff. The song is rumored to have been about Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's first wife, actress Cyrinda Foxe, who was a model in commercials for Jean Genie brand jeans.
Bowie would pronounce in a concert performance that it was about a New York lady and a guy who lives in New York called The Jean Genie (referring to the rebellious French writer Jean Genet). It was one of the first songs Bowie wrote when he came to NYC. In his 2005 book Moonage Daydream, Bowie wrote that "It started out as a lightweight riff thing I had written one evening in NY for Cyrinda's enjoyment. I developed the lyric to the otherwise wordless pumper and it ultimately turned into a bit of a smorgasbord of imagined Americana... based on an Iggy-type persona. The title, of course, was a clumsy pun upon Jean Genet."
Some controversy arose when the British band Sweet liberally helped themselves to the opening guitar riff and drum beat of Jean Genie in their song Blockbuster!, which hit #1 in the U.K. shortly after Bowie's song had been released. The Sweet swear it was a total coincidence.
The song was first performed live starting in 1972 . . . before it was released on Aladdin Sane. It became the second most performed song by Bowie (after Fame). I included the version with Jeff Beck, which was left off the Ziggy Stardust The Motion picture movie and album (along with Beck's performance on Round & Round). Beck has mentioned several times that he never felt like he fit with the band and was not a huge fan of his performance, so his songs have been left off ever since.
Jean Genie was always a highlight for me throughout the entirety of Bowies tours. He would change how it was performed from year to year, altering the arrangement, adding in snippets of other songs, and otherwise keeping it fresh. It was the closing number on a leg of the 1990 tour, which included Gloria by Them at the end (linked above).
It made appearances in 72 / 73 / 74 / 76 / 77 / 78 / 83 / 87 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 00 / 03 but was surprisingly dropped off the setlist after a few shows on the Reality tour. It was added partway into the Glass Spider tour, and the version on that tour featured guitar licks traded back and forth between Carlos Alomar and Peter Frampton. The 97 version with Reeves Gabrels blends bluesy guitar riffs with almost industrial guitar shredding all in one.
The album Aladdin Sane was ranked at #277 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time." As always, the Brits proved to have more sense and taste than the Americans did, as The Jean Genie hit #2 in Britain but only eked up to #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America.
Hopefully this will get me back in people's good graces and out of the doghouse.
Covers: Van Halen, Iggy Pop, OMD, Modern English, Greta Van Fleet, Enuff Z'Nuff, Boy George, Scott Weiland, Cybernauts, Reverend Shawn Amos, Paul Young, Sweet Wine, Peter Murphy
Apparently I need to redeem myself since the masses debunked my last few songs and have started voting thumbs with regularity. Hopefully this one will be more liked by the peanut gallery. Mick Ronson does Mick Ronson things and again delivers a highly recognizable guitar riff. The song is rumored to have been about Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's first wife, actress Cyrinda Foxe, who was a model in commercials for Jean Genie brand jeans.
Bowie would pronounce in a concert performance that it was about a New York lady and a guy who lives in New York called The Jean Genie (referring to the rebellious French writer Jean Genet). It was one of the first songs Bowie wrote when he came to NYC. In his 2005 book Moonage Daydream, Bowie wrote that "It started out as a lightweight riff thing I had written one evening in NY for Cyrinda's enjoyment. I developed the lyric to the otherwise wordless pumper and it ultimately turned into a bit of a smorgasbord of imagined Americana... based on an Iggy-type persona. The title, of course, was a clumsy pun upon Jean Genet."
Some controversy arose when the British band Sweet liberally helped themselves to the opening guitar riff and drum beat of Jean Genie in their song Blockbuster!, which hit #1 in the U.K. shortly after Bowie's song had been released. The Sweet swear it was a total coincidence.
The song was first performed live starting in 1972 . . . before it was released on Aladdin Sane. It became the second most performed song by Bowie (after Fame). I included the version with Jeff Beck, which was left off the Ziggy Stardust The Motion picture movie and album (along with Beck's performance on Round & Round). Beck has mentioned several times that he never felt like he fit with the band and was not a huge fan of his performance, so his songs have been left off ever since.
Jean Genie was always a highlight for me throughout the entirety of Bowies tours. He would change how it was performed from year to year, altering the arrangement, adding in snippets of other songs, and otherwise keeping it fresh. It was the closing number on a leg of the 1990 tour, which included Gloria by Them at the end (linked above).
It made appearances in 72 / 73 / 74 / 76 / 77 / 78 / 83 / 87 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 00 / 03 but was surprisingly dropped off the setlist after a few shows on the Reality tour. It was added partway into the Glass Spider tour, and the version on that tour featured guitar licks traded back and forth between Carlos Alomar and Peter Frampton. The 97 version with Reeves Gabrels blends bluesy guitar riffs with almost industrial guitar shredding all in one.
The album Aladdin Sane was ranked at #277 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time." As always, the Brits proved to have more sense and taste than the Americans did, as The Jean Genie hit #2 in Britain but only eked up to #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America.
Hopefully this will get me back in people's good graces and out of the doghouse.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#15 - David Bowie - Fashion (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Video / Single Version - 1980), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1987), (Live - 1990), (Live - 1996), (Live - 1997), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Berlin, Corey Taylor, Riot In London, The Singularity, Subway Switch, Die Lady Di, Glamma Kid, Botox, Sunburst Band, Grum, Glee Cast, Bratz, One Ring Zero, Ground Control, Effcee, Brolle, Black Maggot, Wunmi, Klimperei, Blackstars
Back to the Scary Monsters album. Fashion was the last song recorded for the album and features Robert Fripp on guitar. I have always been a Fripp fan and loved me some Frippertronic sound, whether it be in King Crimson or his work with Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and Andy Summers. I actually saw him live. I thought dropping that nugget would gain me some popularity at parties over the years. I'm shocked that has not been the case.
Bowie has said the song is an expansion and continuation to the 1966 Kinks song Dedicated Follower Of Fashion. The song also links fashion and fascism (we are the goon squad and we're coming to town . . . turn to the left, turn to the right) . . . although over the years Bowie tried to downplay that angle. The bass line and melody took inspiration from Bowie's song from a few years earlier, Golden Years. Bowie first used the "beep beep" in his obscure song Rupert The Riley from 1971 that was never released (recorded with Sparky King). The line "people from bad homes" stemmed from an album he worked on with Eva Cherry & The Astronettes in 1973. People From Bad Homes was the actual name of the album, which was recorded but remained unreleased until 1995. Bowie certainly had his hand in fashion throughout his career, always bringing something new to the table year after year.
Fashion was ranked as the 8th best single of 1980 by the NME magazine. Per the norm, the song peaked at #5 on the British singles chart . . . and limped to a #70 spot on the Billboard singles chart.
Organizers of the 2012 Olympics had planned on using Fashion as part of the closing ceremonies of the summer games and asked Bowie to perform the song. Bowie had not performed live in 6 years and declined. They used the studio version of the song anyway with a cavalcade of supermodels.
Fashion ended up being the 8th most performed song by Bowie, even though it came out later in his career compared to many of his other classic and popular songs. It was performed live in 83 / 97 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 02 / 03 / 04. I have always found the live performances to be a little lacking. I much prefer the studio / original version. Robert Fripp made the song, and he never performed on any of the live renditions.
Covers: Berlin, Corey Taylor, Riot In London, The Singularity, Subway Switch, Die Lady Di, Glamma Kid, Botox, Sunburst Band, Grum, Glee Cast, Bratz, One Ring Zero, Ground Control, Effcee, Brolle, Black Maggot, Wunmi, Klimperei, Blackstars
Back to the Scary Monsters album. Fashion was the last song recorded for the album and features Robert Fripp on guitar. I have always been a Fripp fan and loved me some Frippertronic sound, whether it be in King Crimson or his work with Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and Andy Summers. I actually saw him live. I thought dropping that nugget would gain me some popularity at parties over the years. I'm shocked that has not been the case.
Bowie has said the song is an expansion and continuation to the 1966 Kinks song Dedicated Follower Of Fashion. The song also links fashion and fascism (we are the goon squad and we're coming to town . . . turn to the left, turn to the right) . . . although over the years Bowie tried to downplay that angle. The bass line and melody took inspiration from Bowie's song from a few years earlier, Golden Years. Bowie first used the "beep beep" in his obscure song Rupert The Riley from 1971 that was never released (recorded with Sparky King). The line "people from bad homes" stemmed from an album he worked on with Eva Cherry & The Astronettes in 1973. People From Bad Homes was the actual name of the album, which was recorded but remained unreleased until 1995. Bowie certainly had his hand in fashion throughout his career, always bringing something new to the table year after year.
Fashion was ranked as the 8th best single of 1980 by the NME magazine. Per the norm, the song peaked at #5 on the British singles chart . . . and limped to a #70 spot on the Billboard singles chart.
Organizers of the 2012 Olympics had planned on using Fashion as part of the closing ceremonies of the summer games and asked Bowie to perform the song. Bowie had not performed live in 6 years and declined. They used the studio version of the song anyway with a cavalcade of supermodels.
Fashion ended up being the 8th most performed song by Bowie, even though it came out later in his career compared to many of his other classic and popular songs. It was performed live in 83 / 97 / 90 / 96 / 97 / 02 / 03 / 04. I have always found the live performances to be a little lacking. I much prefer the studio / original version. Robert Fripp made the song, and he never performed on any of the live renditions.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Fashion made the top 15? It made the top 100? It made this list at all? Oof.
The Jean Genie is a damn good song, and while I am surprised to see if this high, I have no problem with it.
The Jean Genie is a damn good song, and while I am surprised to see if this high, I have no problem with it.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#14 - David Bowie - Quicksand (Hunky Dory - 1971), (Demo - 1971), (Live W/Robert Smith - 1997), (Semi-Acoustic - 1997), (Live - 2004), (ChangesNowBowie - 2020)
Covers: Seal, Temple Of The Dog, Dinosaur Jr., End Of Fashion, Warren McIntyre, Reem, Mako DC, Kuta, Jade Bird, Craig Hood, Aslan, Rainbow Arabia, Robyn Hitchcock, Folly Tree, Marc Stowe, Andrea Chimenti, Queen Elvis, Knox Bronson, Doleful Lions, Lurky Skunk, Pondertone, Building Rockets, Jørund Vålandsmyr, halfassedtracks, Stevie Riks
I am guessing some people (many) may not have heard this one before . . . that alone will probably raise some eyebrows as to how that merits a Top 15 ranking. It's pretty deep and reflective, delving into elements of Buddhism, occultism, existentialism, and Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the Superman. The song is all about questions without answers. Some people have gone so far as to speculate that Bowie is singing in the first person as Hitler. (I personally don't get that from the song, although there are plenty of references to figures from WWII.) There's a lot packed into an otherwise musically simple song. It has not been included on any of Bowie's greatest hits collections, compilations, or box sets.
I still have sad but vivid memories driving my car when it was announced that Bowie had passed away. The DJ said the station would be playing a bunch of Bowie as a tribute, and as long as people called in to request songs, he would keep playing Bowie. They got so many requests it turned into several hours of Bowie. Of all the Bowie possible songs to kick off a Bowie marathon . . . his new album, his hits, his popular songs . . . Quicksand was the one they started with. I had never heard it on the radio before. I can't figure out which was more stunning . . . that Bowie had died . . . or that Quicksand was being played on the radio. I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought. And I ain't got the power anymore. Don't believe in yourself, don't deceive with belief. Knowledge comes with death's release.
Quicksand has an odd live performance history. It was played once on the BBC and one other time in 1972. It was played as part of a medley on a dozen shows in 1973. That was it for 24 years before it became an almost every night affair on the 1997 tour. It reemerged again in 2004, when it was used to start many of the shows that year.
Covers: Seal, Temple Of The Dog, Dinosaur Jr., End Of Fashion, Warren McIntyre, Reem, Mako DC, Kuta, Jade Bird, Craig Hood, Aslan, Rainbow Arabia, Robyn Hitchcock, Folly Tree, Marc Stowe, Andrea Chimenti, Queen Elvis, Knox Bronson, Doleful Lions, Lurky Skunk, Pondertone, Building Rockets, Jørund Vålandsmyr, halfassedtracks, Stevie Riks
I am guessing some people (many) may not have heard this one before . . . that alone will probably raise some eyebrows as to how that merits a Top 15 ranking. It's pretty deep and reflective, delving into elements of Buddhism, occultism, existentialism, and Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the Superman. The song is all about questions without answers. Some people have gone so far as to speculate that Bowie is singing in the first person as Hitler. (I personally don't get that from the song, although there are plenty of references to figures from WWII.) There's a lot packed into an otherwise musically simple song. It has not been included on any of Bowie's greatest hits collections, compilations, or box sets.
I still have sad but vivid memories driving my car when it was announced that Bowie had passed away. The DJ said the station would be playing a bunch of Bowie as a tribute, and as long as people called in to request songs, he would keep playing Bowie. They got so many requests it turned into several hours of Bowie. Of all the Bowie possible songs to kick off a Bowie marathon . . . his new album, his hits, his popular songs . . . Quicksand was the one they started with. I had never heard it on the radio before. I can't figure out which was more stunning . . . that Bowie had died . . . or that Quicksand was being played on the radio. I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought. And I ain't got the power anymore. Don't believe in yourself, don't deceive with belief. Knowledge comes with death's release.
Quicksand has an odd live performance history. It was played once on the BBC and one other time in 1972. It was played as part of a medley on a dozen shows in 1973. That was it for 24 years before it became an almost every night affair on the 1997 tour. It reemerged again in 2004, when it was used to start many of the shows that year.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
This was the song I was referring to as my favorite by him. Obviously I would rank it higher but I think this is perfect as far as what could/should be expected. It's actually much higher than I could have expected.
The line "I'm not a prophet or a stone age man, just a mortal with potential of a Superman" always gets me.
The Dinosaur Jr. cover changes the lyrics in some parts. I saw J. Masacas at Maxwell's in Hoboken once with my buddy Jason. That club was small and the performers had to walk through the crowd to get to the downstairs "backstage" area. A lot of the artists stopped and talked to people and were very gracious. My friend Jason stopped J. when he was heading downstairs in between sets and asked if he'd be playing the David Bowie cover (Quicksand) and J. looked at him pissed and said "#### David Bowie" - no clue what that was to be about except for confirming what most say about Masacas, he's an ###.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Glad you liked that one, because I would guess that 3 out of the next 4 songs won't be very high on your individual list (at least based on some of your comments so far).
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I’m not against the selections from the 80s. I like all that stuff also. I’d have Modern Love in my top 25. I just think his 70s records were much stronger.
My blind spot with him is mid-90s up until The Next Day - I think his last three records were very good.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
As much as I like Bowie, Hunky Dory is one of those albums where more than half of it seems forgettable to me and I don't get the overall love for the record.
Quicksand is one of those forgettable songs, for me.
Bring on the next song.
Quicksand is one of those forgettable songs, for me.
Bring on the next song.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
It's an amazing album.As much as I like Bowie, Hunky Dory is one of those albums where more than half of it seems forgettable to me and I don't get the overall love for the record.
Quicksand is one of those forgettable songs, for me.
Bring on the next song.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I don't mind his 80s output - it's what I grew up with. I would have Modern Love in my top 25 and a few others would be top 40. I juts prefer his 70s output.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I deduced Quicksand was the song you liked based on the description you gave. Plus there aren't many other candidates out there as options. I still have a blend of mega hits and a few more obscure tracks left.
Mr. Mojo
Footballguy
I would rank it in the top 5.
One of the main reasons that this Movie Soundtrack is one of my all time favorites.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#13 - David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Freaks) (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Demo - 1980), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1987), (Live W/NIN - 1995), (Live - 1996), (Live Acoustic Country Version - 1997), (Live - 1997)
Covers: Joe Jackson, RRRRRRR, Superchunk, Calling All Astronauts, Kevin Max, Shearwater, Marianne Spellman, Gestalt, Ex-Voto, Earthgoat, Leæther Strip, De#####, The Members, Bowie Knives, Sepulcrum Mentis, Poltergat, Eli Lulai, Black Valentine, UFX, Daniel Johnston & Jack Medecine, Cosmic Noise, Gerald "GothiCello" Nicks, Danse Society, Whispers In The Shadow, Dingo Down, uumx, Nomad Stones, Klimperei, Brian Harris, Funeral Home
This should not be much of a surprise, given that Fashion was just on the list. That makes 3 Scary Monsters songs out of the last 5 selections. If we go with the tendency that I have put on full display, I tend to like louder, more upbeat songs with lots of guitar . . . this one certainly fits the profile. There have been lots of theories as to what the song means including a woman going crazy and turning into a serial killer . . . a woman going crazy after being in a bad relationship . . . a woman that's a prostitute getting tired of being abused by men . . . that it's Bowie singing autobiographically about slowly going crazy from drug abuse . . . a pimp lamenting one of his girls getting washed up and moving on.
It's got Fripp going crazy on guitar (and the countdown is far from down with him BTW). It was recorded in both London and NYC. The single hit the Top 20 in the U.K. and did not chart in the U.S. The album performed much better, topping the U.K. album charts and reaching #12 in the Billboard Top 200. It was one of 9 original albums to hit #1 in the U.K., and he also had two compilation albums hit #1 there. The album ended up having 5 singles come off of it, which IIRC tied Aladdin Sane for the most singles from one album.
Compared to other songs, this one didn't have a long shelf life on the live performance front. It got played a decent amount in 83 / 87 / 95 / 96 / 97 but did not get a rebirth like many other songs did in the 2000s. It's departure from the setlist seems tied to Reeves Gabrels leaving the band (although Earl Slick certainly could have carried the torch . . . he played it on the Serious Moonlight tour).
Covers: Joe Jackson, RRRRRRR, Superchunk, Calling All Astronauts, Kevin Max, Shearwater, Marianne Spellman, Gestalt, Ex-Voto, Earthgoat, Leæther Strip, De#####, The Members, Bowie Knives, Sepulcrum Mentis, Poltergat, Eli Lulai, Black Valentine, UFX, Daniel Johnston & Jack Medecine, Cosmic Noise, Gerald "GothiCello" Nicks, Danse Society, Whispers In The Shadow, Dingo Down, uumx, Nomad Stones, Klimperei, Brian Harris, Funeral Home
This should not be much of a surprise, given that Fashion was just on the list. That makes 3 Scary Monsters songs out of the last 5 selections. If we go with the tendency that I have put on full display, I tend to like louder, more upbeat songs with lots of guitar . . . this one certainly fits the profile. There have been lots of theories as to what the song means including a woman going crazy and turning into a serial killer . . . a woman going crazy after being in a bad relationship . . . a woman that's a prostitute getting tired of being abused by men . . . that it's Bowie singing autobiographically about slowly going crazy from drug abuse . . . a pimp lamenting one of his girls getting washed up and moving on.
It's got Fripp going crazy on guitar (and the countdown is far from down with him BTW). It was recorded in both London and NYC. The single hit the Top 20 in the U.K. and did not chart in the U.S. The album performed much better, topping the U.K. album charts and reaching #12 in the Billboard Top 200. It was one of 9 original albums to hit #1 in the U.K., and he also had two compilation albums hit #1 there. The album ended up having 5 singles come off of it, which IIRC tied Aladdin Sane for the most singles from one album.
Compared to other songs, this one didn't have a long shelf life on the live performance front. It got played a decent amount in 83 / 87 / 95 / 96 / 97 but did not get a rebirth like many other songs did in the 2000s. It's departure from the setlist seems tied to Reeves Gabrels leaving the band (although Earl Slick certainly could have carried the torch . . . he played it on the Serious Moonlight tour).
Anarchy99
Footballguy
#12 - David Bowie - Changes (Hunky Dory - 1971), (Demo - 1971), (Live - 1971), (BBC - 1972), (Live - 1972), (Live - 1973), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1990), (Live - 1999), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2003), (Live - 2004), (Shrek Soundtrack (With Butterfly Boucher - 2004), (Live W/Alicia Keys - 2006)
Covers: Bananarama, Cybernauts, Shawn Mullins, Seu Jorge, Vitamin String Quartet, Rubbernekkerz, Mark Fossen, Hozier, Lazarus Cast, Roxy Bolzonello, Puppini Sisters, Punk Cover Moose, Robbie Williams, Groove For Thought, Jeff Duff, Joe K's Kid, The Greater Good, Nossa Alma Canta, The Muffs, Lounge Kittens, Oliver Darley
Back to Hunky Dory. Certainly a song in the no brainer category. It had to be near the top of the list, it was just a question of where. One of the Bowie classics . . . and unlike many other Bowie songs, it charted in the U.S. (at #66) but failed to crack the UK singles chart. For a song that sold so little, it became one of Bowie's most famous and iconic songs. It ranked #128 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. And it's included in the Rock Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It finally landed on the British singles chart 45 years after its initial release, hitting #49 the week after Bowie died. Many Bowie historians have Changes in their Top 5. Perhaps my ranking is a little too low by comparison.
Prior to writing the song, Bowie had been quoted as saying that his parent's generation had lost control, had given up, and were scared of the future. According to Mike Garson, who became Bowie's keyboard player in 1972, when he auditioned, he played the first 8 seconds of Changes and Bowie stopped him and gave him the gig. They performed together for both Bowie's first and last concerts in the United States and over 1,000 concerts in between.
Bowie plays the sax on the studio version. Some of the early performances picked up the tempo quite a bit. The Diamond Dogs tour version was borderline lounge act. The 1976 version is part lounge act blended with disco. Bowie's initial concept of the sox was closer to the nightclub version. The 2006 performance with Alicia Keys at the Annual KCA Black Ball for Save a Child fundraiser was the last live Bowie performance.
To take a sidebar, I remember going to one of the shows on the 1990 Sound + Vision tour . . . except where I lived, that leg of the tour had been rebranded as the Changes Bowie tour (to coincide with the release of the greatest hits package with the same name. Changes the song is one of my friend's favorite Bowie songs. He liked plenty of other of his songs, but that was his fave. Proving the axiom that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, my friend left the show steaming because Changes was not played that night. That's all I heard about the whole ride home . . . it was called the Changes Bowie tour, how the eff did they not play the song! Here was the set list that night . . . I am pretty sure we all got our money's worth:
Space Oddity
Fashion
Rebel Rebel
Ashes To Ashes
Life On Mars?
Pretty Pink Rose
Stay
Blue Jean
Let's Dance
Sound And Vision
Ziggy Stardust
China Girl
Station To Station
Young Americans
Suffragette City
Fame
Heroes
Panic In Detroit
White Light/White Heat
The Jean Genie
Gloria
I ran into this same friend just before we all lost our minds with the virus. Changes came on the radio, and he AGAIN mentioned "It was only the name of the mutha plucking tour!" 30 years after the fact.
Covers: Bananarama, Cybernauts, Shawn Mullins, Seu Jorge, Vitamin String Quartet, Rubbernekkerz, Mark Fossen, Hozier, Lazarus Cast, Roxy Bolzonello, Puppini Sisters, Punk Cover Moose, Robbie Williams, Groove For Thought, Jeff Duff, Joe K's Kid, The Greater Good, Nossa Alma Canta, The Muffs, Lounge Kittens, Oliver Darley
Back to Hunky Dory. Certainly a song in the no brainer category. It had to be near the top of the list, it was just a question of where. One of the Bowie classics . . . and unlike many other Bowie songs, it charted in the U.S. (at #66) but failed to crack the UK singles chart. For a song that sold so little, it became one of Bowie's most famous and iconic songs. It ranked #128 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. And it's included in the Rock Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It finally landed on the British singles chart 45 years after its initial release, hitting #49 the week after Bowie died. Many Bowie historians have Changes in their Top 5. Perhaps my ranking is a little too low by comparison.
Prior to writing the song, Bowie had been quoted as saying that his parent's generation had lost control, had given up, and were scared of the future. According to Mike Garson, who became Bowie's keyboard player in 1972, when he auditioned, he played the first 8 seconds of Changes and Bowie stopped him and gave him the gig. They performed together for both Bowie's first and last concerts in the United States and over 1,000 concerts in between.
Bowie plays the sax on the studio version. Some of the early performances picked up the tempo quite a bit. The Diamond Dogs tour version was borderline lounge act. The 1976 version is part lounge act blended with disco. Bowie's initial concept of the sox was closer to the nightclub version. The 2006 performance with Alicia Keys at the Annual KCA Black Ball for Save a Child fundraiser was the last live Bowie performance.
To take a sidebar, I remember going to one of the shows on the 1990 Sound + Vision tour . . . except where I lived, that leg of the tour had been rebranded as the Changes Bowie tour (to coincide with the release of the greatest hits package with the same name. Changes the song is one of my friend's favorite Bowie songs. He liked plenty of other of his songs, but that was his fave. Proving the axiom that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, my friend left the show steaming because Changes was not played that night. That's all I heard about the whole ride home . . . it was called the Changes Bowie tour, how the eff did they not play the song! Here was the set list that night . . . I am pretty sure we all got our money's worth:
Space Oddity
Fashion
Rebel Rebel
Ashes To Ashes
Life On Mars?
Pretty Pink Rose
Stay
Blue Jean
Let's Dance
Sound And Vision
Ziggy Stardust
China Girl
Station To Station
Young Americans
Suffragette City
Fame
Heroes
Panic In Detroit
White Light/White Heat
The Jean Genie
Gloria
I ran into this same friend just before we all lost our minds with the virus. Changes came on the radio, and he AGAIN mentioned "It was only the name of the mutha plucking tour!" 30 years after the fact.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I may have to run for cover here, cause I am not a fan of Changes. His voice is a bit too grating in this one for me. Just not a fan.
I do like Scary Monsters a lot, though. It wouldn't be in my top 20, but I still dig it.
I do like Scary Monsters a lot, though. It wouldn't be in my top 20, but I still dig it.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
You deserve some flaming for this one, as Changes falls in the pantheon of iconic rock songs. We all like what we like, so it’s no big deal. Given your previous comments about Hunky Dory, it is not surprising you would not be a fan of Changes. Would you like to get a preemptive thumbs down vote in for Life On Mars?
rockaction
Footballguy
J. Mascis looked at me in crowd at a Dinosaur Jr. club show once because I was looking at both he and Lou Barlow (they've notoriously butted heads in the past) and I think I smiled thinking of it, and he said something to me in the crowd that was nasty-sounding. I don't know what it was, but he was looking right at me, front and center, about ten rows back, with a drink in my hand. I've noticed performers tend to look at me because I rock to music, back and forth, swaying a little weirdly. I've always done it, and it's noticeable and sets me up for banter, so I'm generally not paranoid nor mistaken when I say they were addressing me. Plus, eye contact.Dr. Octopus said:
But it was...weird. I still have nothing but reverence for the guy. Sort of put me off during the show though.
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rockaction
Footballguy
Bowie: Flight of The Conchords
Isn't it cold out there, Bowie?
You can borrow my Jumper if you want Bowie?
Does the space cold do funny things to your nipples
Making them all pointy, Bowie?
And do you use your pointy nipples as telescopic antennae
Transmitting data back to Earth?
(Data back to Earth)
Bet you do, you freaky old *******, you.
Is it lonely out there in space, man?
Or is there life on Mars?
Wouldn't that be weird 'cause you wrote that song, "Is There Life on Mars"
You could write a follow up tune and call it 'And There Is'
Yes, there is, there is
Do you have one really freaky sequin space suit, man?
Or do you have several ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?
Mister CIA
Footballguy
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