I forget who said it on the day that David Bowie died: "If you're sad today, remember the world is over 5 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie"
Simon Pegg “If you're sad today, just remember the world is over 4 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.” ― Simon Pegg
Rick Wakeman, of Yes, played the piano on this song. When he got home afterwards, he told his wife that he'd just played on the best song ever written. Not sure I agree, but it's certainly a brilliant piece.
Another interesting note is that the piano used is probably the most recorded in rock history. The "Trident piano" named for the studios in which it resided had a heavy action, giving it an unusually bright tone, making it much in demand. It was used by everyone from The Beatles (it's in the Hey Jude video) to The Bee Gees through Bowie and Elton John. It went missing when the studio closed in the 80s - allegedly it was destroyed in transit, but rumour has it that it subsequently turned up at auction.
Bowie had played the song to Wakeman on a battered 12 string guitar and then basically let him do his own thing. Wakeman was in demand as a session player because he usually nailed his part on the first take. The same is true of Space Oddity; apparently he turned up at the last minute and just gave a perfect performance. There is huge amount of Wakeman on the rest of the Hunky Dory album.
What prevents this from being an S-tier song is the way in which Bowie sings: "Hey maaan, look at those cavemen go... it's the freakiest sho-o-ow...." A good song, but in that jarring moment, it enters into the realm of silliness. It's hard to hear him sing that and not cringe.
@@carlmarks8170 Say what? Whatever, man... The whole meaning of this song in that chorus, and how is sang is absolutely deliberate... This is not some Billy Joel ballad
@@agnomenamedgrimblegromble3735 But you also think a genius wrote "I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like, it's got a basket, a bell that rings and things to make it look good. I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it."
There is a great BBC series called "Life on Mars" that uses this song in the pilot episode in the scene where the main character finds that he has been transported into the past (1972 I am guessing), with the camera spinning around showing how the familiar places have all changed, giving that dizzy, ground-shifting under your feet feeling and the song's swirling strings and pleading cry from Bowie really work to amplify the disorientation/epiphany feeling.
@@taredaremeyer2316 They really do work together brilliantly. I am assuming that was the kernel they built the story around, so it's key to the whole tone of the show. :)
Not only is this a good song, it's important in Bowie's evolution. In addition, it shows off guitarist Mick Ronson's talent for seeing Bowie's vision and arranging the music to rise to the level of the lyrics!
Yup, Mick Ronson's input into this era of Bowie cannot be overstated, the guy brought so much to the table, his rock and classical expertise pushed Bowie to a whole other level. Don't get me wrong, I have loved Bowie's music throughout his career, but it has to be said in his ambitiousness he used folks quite badly. It was such a disgrace the way Ronson was dumped by Bowie once he'd served his usefulness. Bowie rarely gave his collaborators much credit, and Ronson was just one of the first in a long line of talent that got left behind as Bowie's ego and ambition moved on and they were no longer part of his new circle.
@@MrDiddyDee that is true for Bowie in the 60s and to mid 70s. His Berlin years seemed to have humbled him a lot and starting in the 80s he started crediting others as well, and since the 90s especially in his live shows he was super-adamant each member of his band was given a moment to shine, and he even included them on the banter he engaged with the audience.
@@MrDiddyDee Whilst l agree with what you say to state 'Mick Ronson's input into this era of Bowie cannot be overstated' is absurd, as is that phrase when applied to virtually anything. How about this for an overstatement - Mick Ronson's input made David Bowie six inches taller?
@@MrDiddyDee Stevie Ray Vaughn quit the band during rehearsals when he found out he was going to get paid 10 times less a concert than he was getting in small clubs Stevie found out the Pay , took of his guitar , took the guitar strap off and put his guitar in his guitar case and went home Rick Wakeman on Piano with Mick Ronson on String Arraignments Meshed Perfectly along with Ronson’s Melodic Guitar Runs
I saw Bowie twice, and while it wasn't the greatest live show I have seen, it is way up there (over 150 concerts). I will say that he is the single most charismatic performer I have ever seen live. I never got to see Freddie Mercury with Queen, but I imagine he would be the only one who could top that.
I got to see him at the old Foxboro Stadium (now Gillette Stadium) in the 80’s . Watched his helicopter fly in over the stadium, then when his set began he descended to the stage from a giant spider. For the life of me, I can’t remember who the opening act was, it was all about Bowie.
@@JKTritt I am pretty sure they didn't have an opening act, although Peter Frampton was with Bowie on this tour. They open with a very off beat version of Up The Hill Backwards, before Bowie starts descending from the belly of the spider. He starts with the spoke word portion of the song Glass Spider, while "singing" into an old style telephone. It was otherworldly.
Featuring Rick Wakeman of Yes on piano & strings arranged by guitarist Mick Ronson. Often recognized as one of the great compositions of the 20th century, "Life On Mars?" was famously written by Bowie in under 30 minutes. And the lyrics - a takedown of corporate greed, political corruption, police brutality, & media artifice - may be more relevant today than they were in 1972. Keep going with Bowie, you haven't even scratched the surface of his genius. Next, check out: 👉 "Width Of A Circle" (the 1971 _Man Who Sold The World_ album would 💯 be your thing)
Everything is correct. But during the release of Hunky Dory in 1971, Bowie defined the song's theme as "a sensitive girl's reaction to the media". In 1997, he added: "I think she is disappointed with reality, but despite this, she is told that somewhere there is a more beautiful life, and she is bitterly disappointed that the door to this life is closed to her"
"Queen Bitch" is another absolute banger from this album. Hope you hit the album but also can't wait for you to get to the "Station to Station" album and the Berlin Trilogy albums.
Queen Bitch was written about Lou Reed, and The Velvet Underground. He also wrote A Song for Bob Dylan, on this album and finally a tribute to Andy Warhol, as well. Great album!
I have seen Bowie 3 times, starting in the 70’s. His concerts are sheer artistry… even at the beginning of his career, his genius was already well developed. A true poet who also mastered the texture of sound is only one facet of the Late, Great Bowie.
Saw him twice. Once as Ziggy & The Thin White Duke. He was so good at changing up his music, look & his music. So ahead of his time. Miss him so. RIP DAVID 🙏✌🌻🌻
I love the Diamond Dogs album. It was the first album I ever bought with babysitting money when I was in 7th grade when it came out. The song "Sweet Thing" from DD is a masterpiece in my opinion.
@@longago-igo My brother turned in Future Legend for his 9th grade English class when they were to turn in poems they wrote. Plagarism for sure, but he got an A.
"Hunky Dory" is straight through a brilliant album, one of Bowie's best. As others may have mentioned, this 1973 song was used in the great BBC-TV series, two seasons long, called "Life On Mars?" A 21st century English police detective is listening to an MP3, in his car, of the title song. He steps out of his car for a moment and is hit by another car. When he awakes by the side of the road, his clothes and car are out of 1973, and instead of an MP3, his car radio has the 8-Track tape of the same song as before. He makes it to his office building, only to feel lost. His office is full of dirty, corrupt cops, and he finds that he reports to the most violent,drunken Chief Inspector on the force. Everybody is racist, sexist, plants evidence, most of them take bribes and they beat confessions out of suspects. Our hero doesn't know why he is displaced thus. He hears voices through radios, TVs and telephones, voices of his surgeon and his mother, of his girlfriend breaking up with him after months in a coma. They discuss "pulling the plug" and letting him die. The cases he must solve are somehow related to his situation, and he knows the history of many of them. He is constantly fighting with his new boss, trying to teach his fellow-cops more modern policing and detective methods. The big mystery is that the hero doesn't know if he has traveled back in time, or if he is in a coma in the 21st century, or if he has died and gone to hell. It is gripping and exciting, full of great characters of many different types, among both the cops and criminals.
The British original was fantastic (the US version an abomination). Such a great showcase for 70s British rock, and it might be good for context if A&A watched the two series. They might realize how very different life was in the 70s was, and how music has changed our world.
I highly recommend Life On Mars to everyone. It is my absolute favourite show. Then you have to watch the follow up Ashes To Ashes where you're told the "whole story". Please only watch the UK original not the US abomination. I actually cried to the US version for all the wrong reasons "What have they done to my show?" P.S I believe Life On Mars UK version won the best ending to any TV show ever.
I just can't imagine never having heard this before! Rick Wakeman's piano on this is beyond words. I was lucky enough to see Bowie live on his last set of performances in the UK. Magic. Hunky Dory is astonishingly good.
Wakeman played the piano part again live on air as a tribute to Bowie when he died. See "Rick Wakeman's Tribute To David Bowie - Life On Mars" here on YT.
Ronson had the advantage of writing the orchestral arrangement, and then writing his guitar parts to sit perfectly in the mix. Not a lot of tunes inspire TV shows, but this one inspired a really great one.
@@patches1589 Ronno was really something. His scoring work on Transformer is incredible, and I love his collaborations with Ian Hunter as well. I can’t choose a favourite Bowie era, I love most of them. He’s that rare artist whose later work is the equal of his early work for me - I listen to Heathen as often as I do Hunky Dory or Scary Monsters.
First single I ever bought. The b side - The Man Who Sold The World is world class too. Now watch the TV show named after it (the UK one ). It's a fantastic concept.
Took me a minute, but I finally understood that you meant to recommend the TV show, "Life On Mars", not The Man Who Sold The World. lol I second the recommendation, it's brilliant! Cheers!
RCA black label 45? Man, I played both sides until it was the unplayable, deeply scratched shadow of its former glory that I never managed to force myself to throw away. Most of my 45 collection didn't survive past the 90s because I played them obsessively. SOME songs sound wrong to me on CD because the ubiquitous needle scratch isn't there. That was one of them.
@@lindalines135 Brave statement! As a Bowie fan, I'd like to assure you that you are within your rights to prefer Nirvana's version. That being said, I myself have the right to think you have zero taste in music. lol Cheers! ;-]
So happy that y’all hit this! I was surprised at the ratings because I thought Andy was digging it as much as Alex. Would love for y’all to do “The Man Who Sold the World”. I saw Bowie twice in the ‘80’s.
“He turns every song into a gateway drug”. Fucking AWESOME quote! So...yeah. Whole album...BRILLIANT! Again...I’d recommend whole Bowie albums in chronological order...this way you can see the twists and turns and stylistic changes that he became known for. Last thing...mick Ronson...not only one of the best guitarists ever at playing for the song (his solos often tell a story), but a fabulous arranger. Legend has it that after ‘the man who sold the world’ album tanked (commercially) he went back home to hull, thought himself to score for strings, came back...did string arrangements for this one and ‘quicksand’. First attempts at string arrangements. Not too shabby! There is an ongoing argument among Ronson fans that the world would not have heard Bowie if Ronson didn’t show up when he did, my take...the world would certainly have heard Bowie....but in a very different way. I sure glad things turned out as they did. Great reaction guys! Peace
After listening to Bowie my whole life (I’m 56) I can honestly say this has been my fav song of his for a few decades now. Thnx for hitting it! 🔥 👨🏼🎤 ❤️
I've personally written close to 1400 songs in my life, and to me Life On Mars is the pinnacle of what a perfect song should be. To me it's a double-S tier song, but that's just me. Rick Wakeman was interviewed about playing on this song, and he did the track during the day, then met friends at the pub in the evening. He told them "I believe I've played on the greatest song ever written" or something to that effect. The chord changes are other-worldly, as is the melody line. (From Mars? LOL) Of course the lyrics are worth a long discussion as well. Maybe you need to hear it multiple times to appreciate it on other levels.
This, to my mind, is Bowie's best album. It would be a great Patreon listen. Such dynamic range in this tune. I highly recommend "The Bewlay Brothers" from the same album. THANK YOU
The song certainly makes you fall in love with "the girl with the mousy hair", the way she sees through things. Highly recommend you move on to the entire album. So many extraordinary songs. One of the best albums there is!
One of my favorites. Danced to this for the first dance at my wedding in 1984. At the very end of the song, it's Bowie saying "I'd like a glass of water."
Hunky Dory is still my favourite Bowie. It's also a much more cohesive album than Ziggy Stardust (which, excellent though it is, does pull in several different directions). HD has a terrific acoustic production before building to the last few rockers like Queen Bitch. Well worth a full listen.
S-Tier all the friggin' way! The first time I heard this track, this made the hairs on my arm stand up. This song is so unabashedly dramatic -- in its songwriting, production, and in Bowie's delivery -- one of his best.
Hunky Dory is Bowie finding his voice -- the album before the one that would make him a superstar. "Changes" and "Queen Bitch" are the other radio staple songs on this album -- easily among his best stuff. A lot of Bowie fans say this is their favorite album -- which is probably his first great album.
This is the song that made me love Bowie at 13 years old. Look up the Frank Sinatra Connection. Similar Ending to this is "Whizz Kid" by Mott the Hoople.
I believe it was producer Eddie Kramer who recorded all the british greats, who said in an interview that Bowie, out of allof them was the easiest day in the studio. He knew exactly what he wanted, and did minimal takes compared to the other acts. Which i found super surprising
In an interview with Woody Woodmansey he said about Bowie just expected everything to be right 1st take & it got very strained in the studio if they needed more than 2 takes to nail it perfectly - that artistic temprament showing through !
I saw Bowie during his Diamond Dogs tour and remember thinking “I would have gladly paid more” the Diamond Dogs-1974 album is one you should definitely put on your list, along with Aladdin Sane-1973.
Thank you for renewing my will to live after learning that college students still listen to Bowie, Dylan, et al. Am an elderly 46 y.o. who grew up on metal/grunge/Jurassic-rawk & later indie-rock/punk/trip-hop…
I couldn't help buy listen extra closely to Bowie's vocals after recently watching a documentary on Netflix where the producer talked about how he was the best singer he ever heard and that almost all of Bowie's studio tracks are first takes. It was the "This is Pop" documentary. The second or third episode where they talk about autotune.
I was born in 1960 so I was 11 years old when this album came out. I had a sister who was four years older than me so she was into all of the rock ‘n’ roll of the day and exposed me to all of the great bands that time. I was 12 years old in 1973 and she and her friends took me along with them to see Pink Floyd at Tampa Stadium, needless to say it was my first time smoking weed. Such a great era to grow up. Can you imagine what it was like to be listening to these bands for the first time when you were either just a pre-teen or a young teenager? Smoke a few bowls then go into your room, turn off the lights, turn on the black light and just listen to all of the amazing music of the time wearing headphones… it was truly amazing!
I saw him live 3 times. I never loved an artist's music more than his. I started painting in the 70s as a teen because of the inspiration he brought into my life. He been my muse for 50 years
Bowie sounds so young here. I heard Midge Ure sing Vienna live just a few years ago, and his older voice changed the whole song. Makes me want to search CZcams for older Bowie singing this live.
The ‘Old Joanna’ (piano, if you’re not from London Town) on this track was played by Rick Wakeman of Yes fame. He likes to remind everyone of this whenever he’s interviewed.
East End of London City actually and its only non East enders who still use Cockney rhythming slang, like the cast of Eastenders . . and defiantly not Mancunians ..Rick Wakeman is a genius, why shouldn't he mention his enormous contribution,... and it is always tongue in cheek he has a wicked sense of humour with good English sarcasm chucked in .
I would suggest "Diamond Dogs" as a good concept album. Dark and futuristic. And from that album "Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" might be something you'd find interesting. "Chant..." is cool on its own. But "Big Brother" is a necessary lead into it to get the full message.
Was fortunate enough to have seen David Bowie live in 1987 on his Glass Spider tour. He did this song. When he hit those notes, live on stage, it literally blew me away. HIs voice is uniquely incredible. Siouxsie and the Banshees opened for Bowie that evening. Amazing spring So Cal night.
I feel so blessed to have been along with Bowie on his journey… through his many phases from nearly the beginning. He has always touched me and always amazed me. I sure do miss him, but I’m so grateful for the beauty he left behind.
6:04 I was actually rolling my eyes and thinking this as you were saying it "Of course you idiots" Keep the reactions coming, it's so much fun reliving hearing these songs for the first time through you two. And I don't mind the initial or delayed ratings. Do what you feel after the song is over as Andy said.
My favourite song. The vivid lyrics, music arrangement and production when I first heard it in 1972 started me on a life long David Bowie music journey. The Hunky Dory album is brilliant.
I thought for sure you would give it an S it's that good. It's so cinematic I picture scenes through his lyrics. Try listening to Space Oddity album, it's different he hadn't developed his style fully. I love the song God knows I'm Good. Memory from a free festival ;so goood.
For another whole Bowie album, try this albums ( Hunky Dory ) predecessor, " The Man Who Sold the World"....It is dark, metallic, mysterious....& brilliant!
This is my fav David Bowie Album ..as a young kid I thought he was singing them to me so cool. First heard it when I was 7 in 1977...even though I love them all
Thank you guys, one of my favorite Bowie songs. Love his vocals, the guitar solo & the strings are awesome, S-tir for me. Up next, from the same album, Changes. Or Rebel Rebel, Cat People with Stevie Ray Vaughan from the Let's Dance album. Cracked Actor or Queen Bitch, also from Hunky Dury.
Good example of the Rick Beato philosophy that big interval changes between consecutive notes leads to appealing and attention capturing melodies. Big interval change between the notes corresponding to the words "on" and "Mars" in the chorus.
Bowie's guitarist, Mick Ronson, also did the arrangement which is why his guitar fits in so well among those strings. Hunky Dory was the album where Bowie really hit a new plateau as a songwriter. Every song on there is distinctive and amazing. So you should check it the whole album.
Back in the day I bought every Bowie record as they were released. I wanted more of what the previous album had, but mostly he went another direction. Bowie dragged me kicking and screaming from one style to the next. After a few listens I would love where he went musically and appreciated him more for it.
@@michaelmclaughlin6376 by the 1990s there were only a few songs per album I liked. Up till then I liked them front to back mostly. The album that had Baby Grace on it was trippy and reminded me of his experimental Diamond Dogs lp. I liked Glass Spider too.
@@vincentschmitt7597 You mean you liked Tonight and Never Let me Down too? I do need to revisit Diamond Dogs to the Lodger for sure. I wasn't able to appreciate them then, but I probably can now.
@@michaelmclaughlin6376 yes I did. Like previous Bowie albums they took a while to grow on me. There's a track on Never Let Me Down that Bowie said was the worst he had ever recorded. He said the album was subpar, but I mostly liked it.
Bowie always keeps people there with his songs. There always so unique. This is one of his best songs always loved it. He has no bad records from space oddity to his 80s stuff.
He is the greatest of all time. Please do all of his albums. You'll never hear the same thing twice. He's a genius. Never a dull moment. No one will ever be cooler than David.Bowie.
The chord progressions in this are insane. This one you definitely have to listen to a few times to appreciate it. At least it did me..then again, I was quite young!
I think Andy will get to the A+ level if he gets more into the lyrics after a few more listens. This song inspired 2 of my favorite, offbeat tv shows in recent times, also called Life on Mars? (One by the BBC, the other by ABC). Next would come the song that inspired the BBC sequel, Ashes to Ashes!!
First time in ages that I’ve got a different rating from you guys. I think this is not only S tier it’s also one of Bowie’s greatest songs. I think you need to listen to it several times in order to fully appreciate the complexity of the arrangement. Also you are spot on about imagining the song passages in black and white with colour interspersed. I always think this plays out as a movie in my mind!
Bowie is so different with each album that I never know what to expect other than something amazing. His voice is so unique also. Lyrically this song was very interesting and compelling. If you have never had the opportunity to do so, you should listen to Bowie playing Saxaphone.
So glad you got this one, it's wildly underappreciated by younger folks. This song is definitely a grower. It'll be an S in a year - a lot of critics and musicians consider it not just Bowie's best but one of the best songs ever.
I forget who said it on the day that David Bowie died: "If you're sad today, remember the world is over 5 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie"
Simon Pegg
“If you're sad today, just remember the world is over 4 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.” ― Simon Pegg
My faith has been restored
Rick Wakeman, of Yes, played the piano on this song. When he got home afterwards, he told his wife that he'd just played on the best song ever written. Not sure I agree, but it's certainly a brilliant piece.
Another interesting note is that the piano used is probably the most recorded in rock history. The "Trident piano" named for the studios in which it resided had a heavy action, giving it an unusually bright tone, making it much in demand. It was used by everyone from The Beatles (it's in the Hey Jude video) to The Bee Gees through Bowie and Elton John. It went missing when the studio closed in the 80s - allegedly it was destroyed in transit, but rumour has it that it subsequently turned up at auction.
I heard that Rick recorded this in one take. He asked David if was good enough and David said it was perfect.
Bowie had played the song to Wakeman on a battered 12 string guitar and then basically let him do his own thing. Wakeman was in demand as a session player because he usually nailed his part on the first take. The same is true of Space Oddity; apparently he turned up at the last minute and just gave a perfect performance. There is huge amount of Wakeman on the rest of the Hunky Dory album.
Never knew that! Thank you!
Wakeman still raves about this song, demonstrating the unique chord changes...
This is an S tier song every day of the week. It’s an absolute masterpiece.
What prevents this from being an S-tier song is the way in which Bowie sings:
"Hey maaan, look at those cavemen go... it's the freakiest sho-o-ow...."
A good song, but in that jarring moment, it enters into the realm of silliness. It's hard to hear him sing that and not cringe.
@@carlmarks8170 Hmm. I think you're wrong
@@carlmarks8170 Say what? Whatever, man... The whole meaning of this song in that chorus, and how is sang is absolutely deliberate... This is not some Billy Joel ballad
@@carlmarks8170 It's the best thing about it, silly
@@agnomenamedgrimblegromble3735 But you also think a genius wrote "I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like, it's got a basket, a bell that rings and things to make it look good. I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it."
There is a great BBC series called "Life on Mars" that uses this song in the pilot episode in the scene where the main character finds that he has been transported into the past (1972 I am guessing), with the camera spinning around showing how the familiar places have all changed, giving that dizzy, ground-shifting under your feet feeling and the song's swirling strings and pleading cry from Bowie really work to amplify the disorientation/epiphany feeling.
Being transported to 1972 is my dream :)
This is when I truly appreciated this song...through that show.
@@taredaremeyer2316 They really do work together brilliantly. I am assuming that was the kernel they built the story around, so it's key to the whole tone of the show. :)
@@taredaremeyer2316 me too!
This song is so iconic for that show that I am transported to 1972 from the first vocal.
Imagine being 14 in 1973 and hearing this. There had been nothing like it. It's great to see your own reactions 49 years later.
I was.
I was 10 in 1973 this song was coming out of my brother’s room along with old man from Neil Young
I was 17 and it was even Cooler. LOL
I was 16 then
Not only is this a good song, it's important in Bowie's evolution. In addition, it shows off guitarist Mick Ronson's talent for seeing Bowie's vision and arranging the music to rise to the level of the lyrics!
Yup, Mick Ronson's input into this era of Bowie cannot be overstated, the guy brought so much to the table, his rock and classical expertise pushed Bowie to a whole other level. Don't get me wrong, I have loved Bowie's music throughout his career, but it has to be said in his ambitiousness he used folks quite badly. It was such a disgrace the way Ronson was dumped by Bowie once he'd served his usefulness. Bowie rarely gave his collaborators much credit, and Ronson was just one of the first in a long line of talent that got left behind as Bowie's ego and ambition moved on and they were no longer part of his new circle.
@@MrDiddyDee that is true for Bowie in the 60s and to mid 70s. His Berlin years seemed to have humbled him a lot and starting in the 80s he started crediting others as well, and since the 90s especially in his live shows he was super-adamant each member of his band was given a moment to shine, and he even included them on the banter he engaged with the audience.
@@MrDiddyDee Whilst l agree with what you say to state 'Mick Ronson's input into this era of Bowie cannot be overstated' is absurd, as is that phrase when applied to virtually anything. How about this for an overstatement - Mick Ronson's input made David Bowie six inches taller?
Yes, yes Mick Ronson!
@@MrDiddyDee Stevie Ray Vaughn quit the band during rehearsals when he found out he was going to get paid 10 times less a concert than he was getting in small clubs Stevie found out the Pay , took of his guitar , took the guitar strap off and put his guitar in his guitar case and went home
Rick Wakeman on Piano with Mick Ronson on String Arraignments Meshed Perfectly along with Ronson’s Melodic Guitar Runs
My dad still claims seeing Bowie live in the Seventies was the greatest live show he ever saw.
I saw Bowie twice, and while it wasn't the greatest live show I have seen, it is way up there (over 150 concerts). I will say that he is the single most charismatic performer I have ever seen live. I never got to see Freddie Mercury with Queen, but I imagine he would be the only one who could top that.
I saw him as a kid twice in 72-73 and they were the best gigs I ever saw that weren't by Kate Bush or Pink Floyd.
I got to see him at the old Foxboro Stadium (now Gillette Stadium) in the 80’s . Watched his helicopter fly in over the stadium, then when his set began he descended to the stage from a giant spider. For the life of me, I can’t remember who the opening act was, it was all about Bowie.
@@JKTritt I am pretty sure they didn't have an opening act, although Peter Frampton was with Bowie on this tour. They open with a very off beat version of Up The Hill Backwards, before Bowie starts descending from the belly of the spider. He starts with the spoke word portion of the song Glass Spider, while "singing" into an old style telephone. It was otherworldly.
@@silgen Pink Floyd still gets my top spot for best ever live concert!
Featuring Rick Wakeman of Yes on piano & strings arranged by guitarist Mick Ronson. Often recognized as one of the great compositions of the 20th century, "Life On Mars?" was famously written by Bowie in under 30 minutes. And the lyrics - a takedown of corporate greed, political corruption, police brutality, & media artifice - may be more relevant today than they were in 1972.
Keep going with Bowie, you haven't even scratched the surface of his genius. Next, check out:
👉 "Width Of A Circle" (the 1971 _Man Who Sold The World_ album would 💯 be your thing)
Great suggestion! Total banger from Bowie’s so-called metal album
Everything is correct. But during the release of Hunky Dory in 1971, Bowie defined the song's theme as "a sensitive girl's reaction to the media". In 1997, he added: "I think she is disappointed with reality, but despite this, she is told that somewhere there is a more beautiful life, and she is bitterly disappointed that the door to this life is closed to her"
Did not know the Wakeman link. Cool.
Not 100% certain, but i'm sure Wakeman was between The Strawbs & YES, when he sat in the sessions for Hunky Dory!
But Bowie didn't get Dudley Moore to play piano.
Bowie was unparalleled, he was a genre unto himself.
I think it’s Bowie’s greatest lyric. One of his best melodies too. Thanks so much for this, guys.
This one and Absolute Beginners always make me cry, great, great, great lyrics, greetings from Buenos Aires 🙋♂.
I saw him in concert in 1990. It was epic. FUCKING. epic.
"Queen Bitch" is another absolute banger from this album. Hope you hit the album but also can't wait for you to get to the "Station to Station" album and the Berlin Trilogy albums.
"Queen Bitch" is like he's just discovering the Ziggy sound
Queen Bitch was written about Lou Reed, and The Velvet Underground. He also wrote A Song for Bob Dylan, on this album and finally a tribute to Andy Warhol, as well. Great album!
Queen Bitch and the Station to Station album... excellent picks. Stay is one of my favorites off Station to Station
Yep, love Quicksand too
Oh that's a great song people completely forget about.
"Every Bowie song is a gateway drug"! Best quote ever!
Y’all need to do lyric dives again. This would’ve been the song to look into. It’s a beautifully complex story.
Goosebumps: That's Bowie. Maybe try "Golden Years." It has a cool guitar riff and shows his vocal prowess.
I think they might S tier that one!
@@johndef5075 a great funky tune that I have played & surprised Funk D.J's with
Stay is perfect too
I have seen Bowie 3 times, starting in the 70’s. His concerts are sheer artistry… even at the beginning of his career, his genius was already well developed. A true poet who also mastered the texture of sound is only one facet of the Late, Great Bowie.
Saw him twice. Once as Ziggy & The Thin White Duke. He was so good at changing up his music, look & his music. So ahead of his time. Miss him so. RIP DAVID 🙏✌🌻🌻
I saw him on the Low tour.. It was amazing
I saw him 11 times. I live in Baltimore so I always saw him in DC and Philly.
The greatest song composition of his entire career... Mick Ronson's Wagnerian string arrangements & Wakeman's piano is sublime
The whole "Hunky Dory" album is great. And has anyone else brought up the "Diamond Dogs" album? Easily my 3rd favorite and great start to finish.
I love the Diamond Dogs album. It was the first album I ever bought with babysitting money when I was in 7th grade when it came out. The song "Sweet Thing" from DD is a masterpiece in my opinion.
When they were talking about doing albums, my first thought was ‘how would they react’ to the opening to Diamond Dogs.
I loved Diamond Dogs, actually the first Bowie album I bought with babysitting $
@@longago-igo My brother turned in Future Legend for his 9th grade English class when they were to turn in poems they wrote. Plagarism for sure, but he got an A.
I think Diamond Dogs is the peak of Ziggy's sound...We are the dead....awesome.
"Hunky Dory" is straight through a brilliant album, one of Bowie's best.
As others may have mentioned, this 1973 song was used in the great BBC-TV series, two seasons long, called "Life On Mars?"
A 21st century English police detective is listening to an MP3, in his car, of the title song. He steps out of his car for a moment and is hit by another car. When he awakes by the side of the road, his clothes and car are out of 1973, and instead of an MP3, his car radio has the 8-Track tape of the same song as before.
He makes it to his office building, only to feel lost. His office is full of dirty, corrupt cops, and he finds that he reports to the most violent,drunken Chief Inspector on the force. Everybody is racist, sexist, plants evidence, most of them take bribes and they beat confessions out of suspects. Our hero doesn't know why he is displaced thus.
He hears voices through radios, TVs and telephones, voices of his surgeon and his mother, of his girlfriend breaking up with him after months in a coma. They discuss "pulling the plug" and letting him die. The cases he must solve are somehow related to his situation, and he knows the history of many of them. He is constantly fighting with his new boss, trying to teach his fellow-cops more modern policing and detective methods.
The big mystery is that the hero doesn't know if he has traveled back in time, or if he is in a coma in the 21st century, or if he has died and gone to hell. It is gripping and exciting, full of great characters of many different types, among both the cops and criminals.
Yup, great show. I've only seen the British original, and highly recommend it.
The British original was fantastic (the US version an abomination). Such a great showcase for 70s British rock, and it might be good for context if A&A watched the two series. They might realize how very different life was in the 70s was, and how music has changed our world.
I highly recommend Life On Mars to everyone. It is my absolute favourite show. Then you have to watch the follow up Ashes To Ashes where you're told the "whole story".
Please only watch the UK original not the US abomination. I actually cried to the US version for all the wrong reasons "What have they done to my show?"
P.S I believe Life On Mars UK version won the best ending to any TV show ever.
Great synopsis! Makes me wanna watch it again.
It’ s a 1971 song. But nobody noriced it in 1971. The Hunky Dory album flopped. Re-released as a single in 1973 and was a hige hit.
I LOVE "Oh! You Pretty Things" from Hunky Dory. Bowie is incredible and one of a kind in my opinion. I hope everyone is having a great Monday. -Amber
OMG, it's Life on Mars??? 🙀 Such an excellent song. 😻
I just can't imagine never having heard this before! Rick Wakeman's piano on this is beyond words.
I was lucky enough to see Bowie live on his last set of performances in the UK. Magic.
Hunky Dory is astonishingly good.
Wakeman played the piano part again live on air as a tribute to Bowie when he died. See "Rick Wakeman's Tribute To David Bowie - Life On Mars" here on YT.
The harmony Bowie builds with these changes is iconic. With the lyrics it's an easy S.
They just need to hear it again.Easy S,an epic song.
If you listen to the full album and the song a few more times, it will certainly be S. It is one of Bowie’s masterpieces.
David Bowie 💙🎸🥁 CHANGES is one of my favorite Bowie songs
You love shrek don't you 😂
Man, I would LOVE if you guys did a full album reaction to this album.
Ronson had the advantage of writing the orchestral arrangement, and then writing his guitar parts to sit perfectly in the mix. Not a lot of tunes inspire TV shows, but this one inspired a really great one.
Mick Ronson will always be my number one when it comes to the greatest Bowie years. Ronson/Bowie = Dream Team.
@@patches1589 Ronno was really something. His scoring work on Transformer is incredible, and I love his collaborations with Ian Hunter as well. I can’t choose a favourite Bowie era, I love most of them. He’s that rare artist whose later work is the equal of his early work for me - I listen to Heathen as often as I do Hunky Dory or Scary Monsters.
This was my introduction to Bowie and to rock it changed my life literally.
First single I ever bought. The b side - The Man Who Sold The World is world class too.
Now watch the TV show named after it (the UK one ). It's a fantastic concept.
Took me a minute, but I finally understood that you meant to recommend the TV show, "Life On Mars", not The Man Who Sold The World. lol
I second the recommendation, it's brilliant! Cheers!
RCA black label 45? Man, I played both sides until it was the unplayable, deeply scratched shadow of its former glory that I never managed to force myself to throw away. Most of my 45 collection didn't survive past the 90s because I played them obsessively. SOME songs sound wrong to me on CD because the ubiquitous needle scratch isn't there. That was one of them.
I know this will be heresy to Bowie fans but I prefer the Nirvana unplugged version of TMWSTW.
@@lindalines135 Brave statement! As a Bowie fan, I'd like to assure you that you are within your rights to prefer Nirvana's version. That being said, I myself have the right to think you have zero taste in music. lol
Cheers! ;-]
@@lindalines135 Btw, that was just a joke, to be honest, I've never heard the Nirvana version! lol
My fav Bowie song. S-tier for me.
Bowie was such a chameleon and a freaking genius. Going through his music is a fantastic journey.
Absolutel classic. Bowie's masterpiece. The piano used on this song is the same one used for the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
So happy that y’all hit this! I was surprised at the ratings because I thought Andy was digging it as much as Alex. Would love for y’all to do “The Man Who Sold the World”. I saw Bowie twice in the ‘80’s.
“He turns every song into a gateway drug”. Fucking AWESOME quote! So...yeah. Whole album...BRILLIANT! Again...I’d recommend whole Bowie albums in chronological order...this way you can see the twists and turns and stylistic changes that he became known for. Last thing...mick Ronson...not only one of the best guitarists ever at playing for the song (his solos often tell a story), but a fabulous arranger. Legend has it that after ‘the man who sold the world’ album tanked (commercially) he went back home to hull, thought himself to score for strings, came back...did string arrangements for this one and ‘quicksand’. First attempts at string arrangements. Not too shabby! There is an ongoing argument among Ronson fans that the world would not have heard Bowie if Ronson didn’t show up when he did, my take...the world would certainly have heard Bowie....but in a very different way. I sure glad things turned out as they did. Great reaction guys! Peace
After listening to Bowie my whole life (I’m 56) I can honestly say this has been my fav song of his for a few decades now. Thnx for hitting it! 🔥 👨🏼🎤 ❤️
I've personally written close to 1400 songs in my life, and to me Life On Mars is the pinnacle of what a perfect song should be. To me it's a double-S tier song, but that's just me. Rick Wakeman was interviewed about playing on this song, and he did the track during the day, then met friends at the pub in the evening. He told them "I believe I've played on the greatest song ever written" or something to that effect. The chord changes are other-worldly, as is the melody line. (From Mars? LOL) Of course the lyrics are worth a long discussion as well. Maybe you need to hear it multiple times to appreciate it on other levels.
This, to my mind, is Bowie's best album. It would be a great Patreon listen. Such dynamic range in this tune. I highly recommend "The Bewlay Brothers" from the same album. THANK YOU
me too
Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the genius and contribution to music of Mick Ronson
As one gets older one forgets about such brilliant songs that sound brand new once again. This is his best album.
The song certainly makes you fall in love with "the girl with the mousy hair", the way she sees through things.
Highly recommend you move on to the entire album. So many extraordinary songs. One of the best albums there is!
One of my favorites. Danced to this for the first dance at my wedding in 1984. At the very end of the song, it's Bowie saying "I'd like a glass of water."
Hunky Dory is still my favourite Bowie. It's also a much more cohesive album than Ziggy Stardust (which, excellent though it is, does pull in several different directions). HD has a terrific acoustic production before building to the last few rockers like Queen Bitch. Well worth a full listen.
‘Quicksand’ and ‘ the Bewley brothers’ are my 2 favorite Bowie songs of all time.
@@seandrew7837 The Bewley brothers is hauntingly beautiful
I honestly think Aladdin Sane is the next Bowie album to go to… so well performed
My favorite and so many great songs. As much as I like Diamond Dogs, Hunky Dory and Ziggy...I feel it's his best work.
Aladdin Sane avant-garde piano(Garson) on a rock album - left field goodness, trippy, bold, audacious.
Aladdin Sane - awesome awesome album, again in full.
S-Tier all the friggin' way! The first time I heard this track, this made the hairs on my arm stand up. This song is so unabashedly dramatic -- in its songwriting, production, and in Bowie's delivery -- one of his best.
This is one of the better reactions I’ve seen, excellent job Andy & Alex, peace and love to you both!!😃👍☮️❤️
Hunky Dory is Bowie finding his voice -- the album before the one that would make him a superstar. "Changes" and "Queen Bitch" are the other radio staple songs on this album -- easily among his best stuff. A lot of Bowie fans say this is their favorite album -- which is probably his first great album.
This is the song that made me love Bowie at 13 years old. Look up the Frank Sinatra Connection. Similar Ending to this is "Whizz Kid" by Mott the Hoople.
For a man who wrote so many absolutely brilliant songs, this was exceptional. a true great.
I believe it was producer Eddie Kramer who recorded all the british greats, who said in an interview that Bowie, out of allof them was the easiest day in the studio. He knew exactly what he wanted, and did minimal takes compared to the other acts. Which i found super surprising
There aren't a lot of pre-1990 Bowie albums that took more than 2 weeks to record.
In an interview with Woody Woodmansey he said about Bowie just expected everything to be right 1st take & it got very strained in the studio if they needed more than 2 takes to nail it perfectly - that artistic temprament showing through !
I saw Bowie during his Diamond Dogs tour and remember thinking “I would have gladly paid more” the Diamond Dogs-1974 album is one you should definitely put on your list, along with Aladdin Sane-1973.
My absolute favorite Bowie song. Love it SO MUCH.
Thank you for renewing my will to live after learning that college students still listen to Bowie, Dylan, et al. Am an elderly 46 y.o. who grew up on metal/grunge/Jurassic-rawk & later indie-rock/punk/trip-hop…
I couldn't help buy listen extra closely to Bowie's vocals after recently watching a documentary on Netflix where the producer talked about how he was the best singer he ever heard and that almost all of Bowie's studio tracks are first takes. It was the "This is Pop" documentary. The second or third episode where they talk about autotune.
I was born in 1960 so I was 11 years old when this album came out. I had a sister who was four years older than me so she was into all of the rock ‘n’ roll of the day and exposed me to all of the great bands that time. I was 12 years old in 1973 and she and her friends took me along with them to see Pink Floyd at Tampa Stadium, needless to say it was my first time smoking weed. Such a great era to grow up. Can you imagine what it was like to be listening to these bands for the first time when you were either just a pre-teen or a young teenager? Smoke a few bowls then go into your room, turn off the lights, turn on the black light and just listen to all of the amazing music of the time wearing headphones… it was truly amazing!
I saw him live 3 times. I never loved an artist's music more than his. I started painting in the 70s as a teen because of the inspiration he brought into my life. He been my muse for 50 years
Bowie sounds so young here. I heard Midge Ure sing Vienna live just a few years ago, and his older voice changed the whole song. Makes me want to search CZcams for older Bowie singing this live.
czcams.com/video/_sm6zHwYfAM/video.html
The ‘Old Joanna’ (piano, if you’re not from London Town) on this track was played by Rick Wakeman of Yes fame. He likes to remind everyone of this whenever he’s interviewed.
He includes Bowie covers in his live shows. I think he's played on several Bowie songs.
Thanks for the explanation of a line in a completely different song. (I Don't Feel Like Dancing).
East End of London City actually and its only non East enders who still use Cockney rhythming slang, like the cast of Eastenders . . and defiantly not Mancunians ..Rick
Wakeman is a genius, why shouldn't he mention his enormous contribution,... and it is always tongue in cheek he has a wicked sense of humour with good English sarcasm chucked in .
I saw Bowie live in 1985 he is a Total Rock God
Bowie is always a rewarding listen...
I had tears in my eyes watching you hearing this song for the first time - a real classic! I can’t say any more than that.
Hunky Dory is my favorite Bowie record. It brings me back to a great time of my life, plus great songs. Thanks, guys! Keep up the good work!
You should do "China Girl". One of my favorite vocal performances plus a tasty guitar solo by a young Stevie Ray Vaughan
My favourite Bowie album and favourite track on it. Whole album is brilliant and I haven't stopped playing it over the last 40yrs!
If you want a different side of Bowie check out rebel rebel. One of his finest songs. It also rocks hard.
I would suggest "Diamond Dogs" as a good concept album. Dark and futuristic. And from that album "Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" might be something you'd find interesting. "Chant..." is cool on its own. But "Big Brother" is a necessary lead into it to get the full message.
Yeah, in my top 5. I always come back to DDs.
Ahhhh. Finally back to the 70s!
I❤❤❤❤David Bowie!
Ever since the first time my ears heard him and my eyes adored him.
RIH DB 😔
Was fortunate enough to have seen David Bowie live in 1987 on his Glass Spider tour. He did this song. When he hit those notes, live on stage, it literally blew me away. HIs voice is uniquely incredible.
Siouxsie and the Banshees opened for Bowie that evening. Amazing spring So Cal night.
I feel so blessed to have been along with Bowie on his journey… through his many phases from nearly the beginning. He has always touched me and always amazed me. I sure do miss him, but I’m so grateful for the beauty he left behind.
Song's been giving me chills since 1972
One of my favourite albums of all time, one of my favourite songs of all time.
All i can say is "Goosebumps" boyz! Every single time I hear this song! ❤️
This was the first record that I ever bought and my love and adoration for this man began. RIP Starman x
Hunky Dory is fantastic. It’s the Bowie album I listen to the most
6:04 I was actually rolling my eyes and thinking this as you were saying it "Of course you idiots" Keep the reactions coming, it's so much fun reliving hearing these songs for the first time through you two. And I don't mind the initial or delayed ratings. Do what you feel after the song is over as Andy said.
The 1999 live Paris version brings me to tears. His best live performance ever!!!
My favourite song. The vivid lyrics, music arrangement and production when I first heard it in 1972 started me on a life long David Bowie music journey. The Hunky Dory album is brilliant.
YESSSS! You MUST do the whole album immediately!!!
I thought for sure you would give it an S it's that good. It's so cinematic I picture scenes through his lyrics.
Try listening to Space Oddity album, it's different he hadn't developed his style fully. I love the song God knows I'm Good. Memory from a free festival ;so goood.
For another whole Bowie album, try this albums ( Hunky Dory ) predecessor, " The Man Who Sold the World"....It is dark, metallic, mysterious....& brilliant!
True - and that Marc Bolan sendup in Black Country Rock always makes me smile.
This is my fav David Bowie Album ..as a young kid I thought he was singing them to me so cool. First heard it when I was 7 in 1977...even though I love them all
Thank you guys, one of my favorite Bowie songs. Love his vocals, the guitar solo & the strings are awesome, S-tir for me. Up next, from the same album, Changes. Or Rebel Rebel, Cat People with Stevie Ray Vaughan from the Let's Dance album. Cracked Actor or Queen Bitch, also from Hunky Dury.
Good example of the Rick Beato philosophy that big interval changes between consecutive notes leads to appealing and attention capturing melodies. Big interval change between the notes corresponding to the words "on" and "Mars" in the chorus.
This is the BEST David Bowie song in a sea of great David Bowie songs.
Bowie's guitarist, Mick Ronson, also did the arrangement which is why his guitar fits in so well among those strings.
Hunky Dory was the album where Bowie really hit a new plateau as a songwriter. Every song on there is distinctive and amazing. So you should check it the whole album.
Back in the day I bought every Bowie record as they were released. I wanted more of what the previous album had, but mostly he went another direction. Bowie dragged me kicking and screaming from one style to the next. After a few listens I would love where he went musically and appreciated him more for it.
I always wanted to like his later work, but I never really got into much after Aladin Sane except Scary Monsters.
@@michaelmclaughlin6376 by the 1990s there were only a few songs per album I liked. Up till then I liked them front to back mostly. The album that had Baby Grace on it was trippy and reminded me of his experimental Diamond Dogs lp. I liked Glass Spider too.
@@vincentschmitt7597 You mean you liked Tonight and Never Let me Down too? I do need to revisit Diamond Dogs to the Lodger for sure. I wasn't able to appreciate them then, but I probably can now.
@@michaelmclaughlin6376 yes I did. Like previous Bowie albums they took a while to grow on me. There's a track on Never Let Me Down that Bowie said was the worst he had ever recorded. He said the album was subpar, but I mostly liked it.
Always gives me shivers. Anyone else get that?
Yep 😊
Easily one of My favorite Bowie Songs of all time, a total Anthem
Bowie always keeps people there with his songs. There always so unique. This is one of his best songs always loved it. He has no bad records from space oddity to his 80s stuff.
Hunky Dory is my favorite Bowie album
A&A, you'll love his "Modern Love" and "Changes"!!!
He is the greatest of all time. Please do all of his albums. You'll never hear the same thing twice. He's a genius. Never a dull moment. No one will ever be cooler than David.Bowie.
The chord progressions in this are insane. This one you definitely have to listen to a few times to appreciate it. At least it did me..then again, I was quite young!
I think Andy will get to the A+ level if he gets more into the lyrics after a few more listens. This song inspired 2 of my favorite, offbeat tv shows in recent times, also called Life on Mars? (One by the BBC, the other by ABC). Next would come the song that inspired the BBC sequel, Ashes to Ashes!!
Rick wakeman on keyboards.
I didn't know that. I saw YES when he rejoined the band in about 80.
First time in ages that I’ve got a different rating from you guys. I think this is not only S tier it’s also one of Bowie’s greatest songs. I think you need to listen to it several times in order to fully appreciate the complexity of the arrangement. Also you are spot on about imagining the song passages in black and white with colour interspersed. I always think this plays out as a movie in my mind!
Missed you guys--this is probably his best album all around. Intensely beautiful and lyrically he paints such vivid images. Gateway drug--for sure.
This absolutely needs to be a full album reaction my personal favourite Bowie album
I would love for you guys to cover the whole Honky Dory album; one of my favorites!! Great reaction!
Bowie is so different with each album that I never know what to expect other than something amazing. His voice is so unique also. Lyrically this song was very interesting and compelling. If you have never had the opportunity to do so, you should listen to Bowie playing Saxaphone.
So glad you got this one, it's wildly underappreciated by younger folks. This song is definitely a grower. It'll be an S in a year - a lot of critics and musicians consider it not just Bowie's best but one of the best songs ever.