"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" is a classic rock album in every sense of the word, and is best enjoyed in it's entirety. Also, there is a statement on the back of the vinyl album cover that this album is "To be played at Maximum Volume." It was the standard by which I judged many rock albums over the years.
Speaking of David Bowie as an artist: When Bowie passed, pretty much no one outside of his inner circle even knew he was sick. He spent 18 of his last months on the planet making music and, within days of his passing, released one final music video as a sort of self-summary and a goodbye to his fans. Talk about an artist! He went out doing the thing he loved and made one final bit of art. The song is called "Lazarus" and is really special. Now that you know and love Bowie the artist, the chameleon, etc, I'd love to see y'all react to it. It's beautiful, haunting, has moments of humor, and makes me cry every time.
@@firstbornunicorn1545 Ikr? But there's also hope in it, especially after the mid-song turn. "I'll be free, just like that bluebird." And the way he can drop a poignant lyric like "Dropped my cellphone down below" which in its own way is positive, like he's leaving the hustle-bustle nonsense behind. Anyway, that song is just gorgeous, sad, hopeful... And the fact that, instead of just retreating into his private life to grieve his situation privately with friends and family - a totally valid choice that 99% of celebrities and artists make - Bowie chose to look at his death with an artist's eye and make one final piece of art... I mean, that really shows that the man lived and breathed art. Also, it's a four minute song that always feels to me like it's only a minute and a half. Just like Bowie, just like life, it's over way too soon.
I think Blackstar is the most beautiful but heartbreaking album. Lazarus and I can’t give everything away make me cry every time. From Ziggy to his final breath David was nothing short of a genius 💜
They should react to the full album version though. For the video version they edited out more than 2 minutes of the song. A lyric video would be fine.
Ziggy is the leader of the band the spiders from Mars he’s a great guitar player but everything went to his head the Kids/fans loved him . they wanted to possess him and then he started to love himself .the lyrics are trippy but they’re describing Ziggy‘s dissent into his own ego until the band became secondary . The fans the kids love and worship for him as a sexy guitar playing performer destroyed the band because he loved his own legend
yep. In the not so distant past, the band wasn't really acknowledged. How many old videos have a singer or singers and a mic? No band. So when fans started wanting to know who played that cord and how, it started this whole cascading rush to stardom for band members. No more studio musicians just filling in for a song or 2. Ziggy was the sad stoery of how a band can implode.
Ziggy Stardust was a somewhat androgynous stage persona created by David Bowie in the early 1970s, during a "glam rock" period in British music, and introduced through the album "The rise & fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
"Ziggy Stardust" was one of his stage personas. And his band really was called "The Spiders from Mars". I always felt like this was him introducing us to Ziggy and kind of giving a back-story. This song grows on you the more times you hear it. You should check out "Rebel, Rebel", a straight up rock heater. :)
Not getting famous enough he used personal characters because he was less shy acting as a character than himself. And combining androgeny, this persona, and the space theme of the sixties, he found a combination of angles that launched his real success. Really clever (desparste) marketing and PR approach, that worked. Song is about his persona as Ziggy, trajectory of band spiders from mars, and how fame, the media and the intense fans made him opt to kill the character because it was taking a toll on him. And allowed him to evolve into his next personal... the thin white duke.
Me too. Saw him live at The Milton Keynes Bowl {Serious moonlight tour} back in the early 80's That was a long day & night that day. But well worth the wait when he finaly appeared on stage. What a show we were all treated to that night.
I saw the Sound & Vision tour in 1990, to this day no one has ever come close to David. J and Amber please check out some of David’s live recordings, they are insane
Ziggy is a concept album that must be listened to in order to really know the story of ziggy stardust... ziggy is an alien who was supposed to save the world but instead became a rock star with his band “the spiders from Mars “ ... “5 years “ is also a great song ...
Rise and Fall was the first Bowie album I ever owned. Five Years hooked me into that entire album. GREAT song. It pulled me into all of it and I never looked back.
"This is definitely different". That is the unique talent that he had from his beginnings all the way to his final album when he was dying. Never ever repeated the same style...just the opposite of what most musicians do. Most find something that the public likes & tries to repeat that 'formula'...Bowie ALWAYS was trying something different right up to the end.
I loved how he changed his style on each album, there are certain Bowie markers such as the sax and insane piano pieces but every album is a masterpiece.
I think this song is about a lead man for the band that got too big for his britches :) The band members (Spiders) became jealous and it eventually destroyed the band and Ziggy himself. As a sidenote, I remember distinctly in the 70's that it was well-known trope among radio DJs that Bowie's songs usually did not catch on with the public immediately. It took a certain amount of radio play saturation before the songs caught on enough to be hits. BTW, I love this song lol.
Pretty much how I’ve always taken it except the jealousy part. I always thought it implied his Ego and psych issues became so huge that he destroyed himself, which took the band with him.
Good enough for me...I love this song because it is the epitome of artistic expression...kind of like "Picasso" but with music...hell yeah! Bowie is genius!
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that the tensions reached a point where the band members were thinking of killing him- which I'd never thought of before. But then, it says the kids had killed the man, which I guess is why I never thought of it before..
Further back in the '60's was DONOVAN. He had a large number of the hits including Mellow Yellow, Atlantis, Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man.
David Bowie is, and always will be, my favorite artist. I've loved him since I was 13, and I miss him madly. My favorite song of his is Time, but Young Americans would be a great reaction. Oh that sax! 🙂
Love David Bowie. Each tour had a different character. Ziggy The thin white duke etc. Please do Putting out the Fire with Gasoline. It is from the sound track to Cat People 1982 movie. Use the video from the movie it's beautiful visual and the song is monster.
That's right. Do the soundtrack version only not the remake from the "Let's Dance" album. The movie version is sexy and sensual and where I started my love affair with Bowie.
I love that y'all got to this track. Fun bit obscure (?) trivia re: this song. The band Bauhaus (1979-1983 but back together and on tour this year) had many of their tracks produced by David Bowie who was friends with them and loved their music. Bauhaus did a cover of Ziggy Stardust that was produced (in part) by Bowie himself. It's almost indistinguishable from the original but that's the point it's a love letter to David and the mutual admiration the artists had for each other. It was a true (almost unknown ) Rock and Roll bro-mance. I highly recommend you and any other music lovers here to check out Bauhaus doing Ziggy Stardust. Also... you can tell that Peter Murphy and David Bowie are VERY similar in their artistic sensibilities. It's no wonder he was a fan of them.
That album is a concept album, a complete story in sequence; taking this song out of context loses something about the character of Ziggy and what he was up to.
Thank you for saying what needed to be said. When it comes to what this song is "about," the answer is more fully fleshed out over a whole album. Albums used to be like that - a whole statement - and I don't think that that aesthetic is much cared for these days.
Sadly even back in the day, because of record labels and radio airplay, many great concept albums were pieced and parted out. That's why most people only know Pinball Wizard & See Me Feel Me from Tommy, or Love Reign O'er Me, 5:15, or The Real Me from Quadrophenia, Another Brick in the Wall, Pt 2, or Comfortably Numb from the Wall, etc. But they have no idea what an incredible story they are missing.
This is your eighth Bowie outing (including "Under Pressure" with Queen). I had to review the list of songs you've done so I can recommend some other Bowie bangers that you haven't. Next up, I hope you do "Heroes" (followed by the cover done by the Wallflowers). You've also yet to do "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fashion", "Let's Dance", "China Girl", and "Blue Jean".
"...Ziggy played guitar" Bowie was absolutely incredible, his contributions to modern music can never be overstated; if you're not feeling it, understandable, it is an entire album, so as a single it's just a snapshot of a story without full context
for me - this album was/is absolute perfection - of course there is a story to this album and the easiest way to understand it is to listen to the whole album from start to finish (i know you're probably sick of hearing that but that's the 70s for you) if you don't want to listen to the whole album - at least take the time to play Moonage Daydream - Mick Ronson's guitar is sublime. I was 12 when this album was released and it truly blew my mind - don't think i ever recovered😁
This song is from the perspective of the Spiders from Mars, Ziggy’s band. It shows the animosity that arises between Ziggy and the group, as Ziggy grows more and more popular, pushing them to the shadows as he gets the spotlight.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a concept album. It’s about a rock band from outer space, and all of the songs are performed accordingly. I saw the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973, and it blew my 19 year old mind, too. The entire show was like a rock play that gripped you and pulled you into another world. It WAS trippy, and sometimes I forget that it’s going to be trippy for new listeners. I even had the album, so I was familiar with it, but the show was something else. I loved it then, and I still do.
Ziggy Stardust, is a concept album. The full title of the album is “the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars“ from beginning to end it tells one story. Listening to one song off the album even if it’s the best song off the album is only a part of the story, and it’s OK to be lost Within the confines of the one song
If you want to hear a song that (I think) gets close to the "real" David Bowie, react to Rock & Roll Suicide, which closes this same album. The lyrics and music are amazing, and, despite the song's title, it is a generous and hopeful song.
Guys, this makes sense in the context of the whole album. Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created - a man from space who came to earth to save us from pending total destruction. But he got distracted and played in a band. I think I have that right. But please, listen to the whole album.
This is another one from that handful of albums that really should be experienced as a omplete work. "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" is an incredibly influential album that reached far beyond it's original audience. Bowie always put on a great show and had amazing musicians behind him. For instance, if you've not done "Let's Dance" you should becacuse the guitarist on that record was an unknown (at the time) Texas Bluesman by the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yep, SRV got his big break playing on David Bowie's Let's Dance album. He got his own record deal in large measure from his connection to Bowie. Of course once the world heard SRV he was off and running on his own merit. "Ashes to Ashes" from the Scary Monsters LP is another one that you might find "interesting" (which is the word I use when I'm not too crazy about a new taste sensation. "Um.....it's....interesting." Tioraidh an-drasta☮️😎
After about three decades of hearing this song it started growing on me like others have stated. I actually love this song at this point of my life, but this was not always the case for me.
I had about 5 albums of Bowie. His lyrics were always twisted, but I just went with the flow. From Space Oddity to Young Americans,China Girl. This man was one of a kind. I'm 62 and still listening to him since 72. 😎✌🏽
This was an iconic album to me . It was the only album I owned of his, The rest just got too commercial for me, Loved how Ziggy Stardust went straight into Suffragette City !
I met Bowie in the early 90's , working at Giant's Stadium. We were recording artist spots for the "I Want My MTV" commercial campaign, before his performance that night. It was his Very Last Performance of "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". Bowie had a Love / Hate relationship with the "Ziggy" personae. It was creature of the times, everything taken to Excess Sex, Drugs, Fame, Androgeny, Ego, these were Wild Times! A never ending party that went on for 10 years and David was in the Heart of it!
RIP David Bowie Such a great artist! Taken from us way tooooo soon! Such a diverse and talented guy👍. Being a big 60s, 70s,80s and 90s fan got another one that you might want to give a ago. Transvision Vamp 1989 - I don't care. They were a punk, Rock punk music group😏. Wendy James was unbelievable and still is😏.
One time I was waiting behind the theater, and darned if Bowie didn't walk right by me. He seemed so thin and kind and friendly and low key. He had a warm smile. I simply looked at him in amazement. I could have reached out and touched him but I didn't do it. The thing that struck me was how thin and pale his left arm was as he walked by. He seemed surreal, other worldly. Truly the man who fell to Earth. We are lucky we lived in his time. He was just lent to us. I hope we valued him. He was one of a kind. In every way.
Ziggy was Bowie's persona during this part of his career. His band was The Spiders From Mars, this song was a revelation stemming from a rapid growth in the fan base and the disproportionate fame of Ziggy. The fan base were not the mainstream music fans of the time. "Ziggy" performed Space Oddity on the Midnight Special in the early Seventies, incased in a psychedelic bowling pin type of costume. He was wheeled out and sang with only his head sticking out of the top. This was the type of "shock value" performances Bowie performed as Ziggy.
Bowie was a multi dimensional super bad ass! Iggy knew it, helped Bowie develop and proclaimed Bowie would be a super star of unrecognized proportions! As Bowie in the music aspect lives on, even the songs I didn't especially seek out, were really talent loaded! RIP David!
To me it was about a guy that became a rock god. Then crashed and burned because of his hubris. This song was from the album, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
When this bushy-tailed, button down, crew-cutted all-American boy first saw Bowie on TV back in the '70s, I was confused, troubled, challenged and drawn to the theatricality, the makeup and wardrobe, the androgyny, the weirdness. But the music ...was SO. DAMNED. G O O D ! ! I've been a Bowie fan ever since.
I agree with some of the other posters that the more you hear Bowie, the more you appreciate his talent, skill for reinvention, and the music! He was truly one of a kind and there will never be another like him. Bowie was an amazing artist that the world didn't deserve. He will be missed!
I heard him do a stunning version of "Absolute Beginners" when I saw him during his Glass Spider Tour in 1987. Initially it throws you for its simplicity - at least for Bowie. But it's beautiful.
This is from an album titled The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. It's a rather disjointed story about the first rock star from space, the end of the world etc. Bowie was a science fiction writer really. He wrote songs instead of short stories and novels.
If you didn't like this, maybe try Absolute Beginners. Bowie's music is an acquired taste. Or anything from the album 'Hours'. There's at least a 100 Bowie songs that are more catchy and easier to get than his Ziggy era stuff.
It is amazing how much he could pack into these FM ready 3:00 and change. Another few more great Bowie songs are (in no particular order) 1) TVC15 2) Stay 3) Moonage Daydream 4) Fashion. "We are the goon squad and we're coming to town, beep, beep"
This song is responsible for the 80's New Wave, for late 70 s punk , for 80 s, 90s and 00's goth and emo style. And all these in 1972. Bowie was not progressive but the progress himself.
Definitely in my Top 5 Bowie songs, Ziggy Stardust was one of his personas thru out his career. Don't worry about what it all means, enjoy the show. IT'S BOWIE!
Jimi Hendrix wowed everyone in his day. Ziggy Stardust is a tribute to him. He played left hand. One of his big hits was Voodoo Child. Ziggy played guitar.
Ok, so he was singing about the alien character that he portrayed, Ziggy Stardust, who was an alien who came to Earth to play music, but the fame became too much, and he became overwhelmed when he became really famous. Also, David felt like Ziggy had taken over his real personality. He was Ziggy on and off stage. The line “When the kids had killed the man, I had to break up the band” literally meant he had to stop being Ziggy. He was only performing as Ziggy for like a year and a half, 1972-1973. That’s the basic story.
David Bowie used to use the cut up technique to right lyrics so would take sentences from news paper articles, books, poems he'd written and jumble them up to become lyrics. He was a producer as well as Mick Robson who was the lead guitarist in the spiders from Mars ( Ziggy's Band). Listen to Lou Reeds "Perfect Day" which David Bowie and Mick Robson produced . I don't want to give anymore away but you'll love it.
"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" is the name of the album, and it's a concept album. It probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to take one song off of the album and listen to it. You would really have to listen to the whole album to get the full picture.
David Bowie was so his own person! Sooo ahead of his time!! Love his different stuff! So different yet so classic, everyone knew his music in the 60’s and 70’s! Great!
Bowie is not dead he's on Mars. Ziggy was his character and he was talking about him and in one interview he said he was changing his characters every 10 years. When he came back with the song Heroes he was living in Berlin.
It's always best to watch the videos of Bowie's live performances especially his early years when he was in his "Ziggy" persona/character. In short, this song is about Ziggy who was a rock star that let his success get the best of him and even his band (called the Spiders from Mars) members, didn't want to be with him anymore. And most of his music videos from the 1980s were always pretty interesting and told a story.
Early in my High School years (67-69) I had some friends who went to a large concert at the ballpark. They would have multiple acts play for the day. When they came to school on Monday they were telling me that there was one act that they were not sure exactly what it was, But went by Ziggy Stardust. The Red Hair, costume and makeup was not what was usually seen back then. It was close to 5 years before I heard of David Bowie after that.
in my opinion, this song is Ziggy, (bowie's persona) a rock star who fell to earth basically giving himself a backstory before it happened, about how his own failings and his success made the band break up. all the descriptive parts about his abilities and his appearance, you have to remember that this is him describing himself- when he complements himself, bowie is expanding on ziggy's egotism- as well as the band describing him, but even then it's ziggy voicing his band.
Changes Let's Dance China Girl Golden Years David Bowie had a variety of songs over the years ranging from jazzy, pop, to down right spacey🚀🚀🚀. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan in the beginning but over the years I have been drawn in. Hang in there Jordan. Keep listening. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️❤️ 🇨🇦🇨🇦
This song is a sort of introduction to the character, Ziggy Stardust. It was on the album called Ziggy Stardust and you are right, the whole album was a concept with spacey themed songs like Starman. The band had out of this world costumes and hairdos and played an entire concert tour with the Ziggy personna. Remember the world was obsessed with space because we had recently landed a man on the moon. This song is an essential part of a concept album and it is kinda unfair to judge standing on its own. If you have the means, it is worth it to listen to whole album for the flow and story.
"the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" Generally considered 1 of the greatest rock albums of all time. It came put in 1972, which is perhaps the greatest year for albums in rock history.
Yes, as another viewer pointed out, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is one of many classic albums from the seventies that is meant to be heard in its intirety. The Beatles started it in sixty seven with Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band, then artists like Bowie and Pink Floyd took it to knew heights in the seventies.
You really need to see this. Bowie was an artist, strongly influenced by mime and kabuki theatre. The songs are only half of it. The whole album is a story, sometimes told by himself, sometimes by members of the band. You'll get it better if you listen to the whole album, and see the perfomance. Love that you've heard this, at last!
I sympathize with you both. This was a concept album. Ziggy is conglomeration of people. The name was inspired by The Stardust Cowboy and the story was inspired by people who David met, knew and admired but who also confused him in the world of pop music, people like Vince Taylor and Syd Barrett. Both were good-looking, charismatic enigmas, who people erroneously assumed were from another world. The look of the character Ziggy Stardust was inspired by his then-wife Angie, by NFL football uniforms, by the amazing clothing created by his friend and fashion designer Freddie Burretti as well as fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto. The hairstyle was created by David’s mother’s hair stylist, Suzi Ronson (then Suzanne Fussey).
It is the first of his several alternate personas. Bowie was as much a performer, even an actor as he was a singer and musician. This one takes time to grow on you typically. Then it becomes a favorite, even a classic.
When my daughter was 8 years old, soon after Bowie had died, I was definitely devastated by his loss and she asked me who he was. I showed her the cover of Aladdin Sane, IMO the greatest album cover ever, and she said, "Wow! He looks cool!" I smiled and said, "A lot of people think the same thing." A few days later she walked into my office and handed me a drawing. It was a drawing of the Aladdin Sane cover. I asked her why she drew it and she said, "I know you're sad 'cause he died and you miss him." Took everything I had not to break down crying. I hugged her and thanked her. She's 13 now and kind of has a thing for Bowie. Mission accomplished.
In the 70s David would play the Tower Theater outside Phila. There would be 3 shows. Friday night Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.He famously once said "Philadelphia is the only place I do matinees!" I want to say 5 shows with 2 on Sunday as well but I don't remember exactly and I made sure to get tickets for every single show! Hey what do you want? It was the seventies! I'm lucky to remember what I do! One thing I do remember is that if you want trippy Bowie you owe it to your self to give "The Bewlay Brothers" a spin. I'm talking to you,Amber!
Ziggy Stardust was Bowies alter ego in his early 70's days and the a spiders from Mars were the band. I've always thought this was an autobiographical look at him outgrowing the band and going solo, which happened pretty much soon after the album, The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust.
The album was released 50 years ago this month. A girl I knew in Junior High turned me on to David Bowie's live album, a performance in Philadelphia. That's when I first heard his music.
Bowie is and was considered a composer. He would write for a year or so, then hire a famous band but there would be no mention of the band name on the record sleeve. Sting is also considered a composer and would do the same.
You should find a video of Bowie from Ziggy days. A whole different look and sound before he changed to wearing suits and shorter hair. I remember how shocking it was to see the new Bowie . Btw, a lot of songs back then mentioned outer space. It was new back then , humans had just started going there. It was a great unknown.
Yes, that's what I've been saying too! I think it's best to watch his live performances and even some of his music video from the 1980s. My favorite live performance from his Ziggy days is the "Moonage Daydream" from 1972 or 73. I love that one!
His appearance got him called him a chameleon, but his music changed constantly. I heard an interview with him once where he was asked why every album was stylistically so different and he said if he’d already done it, he could do it again so where was the challenge?
"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" is a classic rock album in every sense of the word, and is best enjoyed in it's entirety. Also, there is a statement on the back of the vinyl album cover that this album is "To be played at Maximum Volume." It was the standard by which I judged many rock albums over the years.
My favourite album of all time.
Spot on ...
After I read this I cranked it up on the headphones; made a huge difference 😀
The ziggy stardust album is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year
Back in the day of the "Concept Album" a great time for music!
Speaking of David Bowie as an artist: When Bowie passed, pretty much no one outside of his inner circle even knew he was sick. He spent 18 of his last months on the planet making music and, within days of his passing, released one final music video as a sort of self-summary and a goodbye to his fans. Talk about an artist! He went out doing the thing he loved and made one final bit of art. The song is called "Lazarus" and is really special. Now that you know and love Bowie the artist, the chameleon, etc, I'd love to see y'all react to it. It's beautiful, haunting, has moments of humor, and makes me cry every time.
"Lazarus" is a beautifully haunting song. You can hear it in his voice that his end is near. 😥
@@firstbornunicorn1545 Ikr? But there's also hope in it, especially after the mid-song turn. "I'll be free, just like that bluebird." And the way he can drop a poignant lyric like "Dropped my cellphone down below" which in its own way is positive, like he's leaving the hustle-bustle nonsense behind. Anyway, that song is just gorgeous, sad, hopeful... And the fact that, instead of just retreating into his private life to grieve his situation privately with friends and family - a totally valid choice that 99% of celebrities and artists make - Bowie chose to look at his death with an artist's eye and make one final piece of art... I mean, that really shows that the man lived and breathed art.
Also, it's a four minute song that always feels to me like it's only a minute and a half. Just like Bowie, just like life, it's over way too soon.
@@firstbornunicorn1545 It was his googbye to his fans. He knew he was dying, and it was his gift to us.
I think Blackstar is the most beautiful but heartbreaking album. Lazarus and I can’t give everything away make me cry every time. From Ziggy to his final breath David was nothing short of a genius 💜
They should react to the full album version though. For the video version they edited out more than 2 minutes of the song. A lyric video would be fine.
Ziggy is the leader of the band the spiders from Mars he’s a great guitar player but everything went to his head the Kids/fans loved him . they wanted to possess him and then he started to love himself .the lyrics are trippy but they’re describing Ziggy‘s dissent into his own ego until the band became secondary . The fans the kids love and worship for him as a sexy guitar playing performer destroyed the band because he loved his own legend
yep. In the not so distant past, the band wasn't really acknowledged. How many old videos have a singer or singers and a mic? No band. So when fans started wanting to know who played that cord and how, it started this whole cascading rush to stardom for band members. No more studio musicians just filling in for a song or 2. Ziggy was the sad stoery of how a band can implode.
at the end of the song he brings it back to what got him the adoration of his fans..."Ziggy Played Guitar!"
'How would I know? I'm just one of the out of focus guys?'
Ziggy Stardust was a somewhat androgynous stage persona created by David Bowie in the early 1970s, during a "glam rock" period in British music, and introduced through the album "The rise & fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
This!
Nailed it!
I would even go a little further and say that Bowie inspired glam rock.
@@windsorSJ real
@@windsorSJ Yeah, Bowie is Glam Rock
"Ziggy Stardust" was one of his stage personas. And his band really was called "The Spiders from Mars".
I always felt like this was him introducing us to Ziggy and kind of giving a back-story.
This song grows on you the more times you hear it.
You should check out "Rebel, Rebel", a straight up rock heater. :)
You're so right. The more you hear this the more you like it, at least it is with me. And I loved it the first time I heard it in 1972.
Yes to Rebel, Rebel! Another banger is Suffragette City.
I love how David referred to the character as “The Ziggy”.
Not getting famous enough he used personal characters because he was less shy acting as a character than himself. And combining androgeny, this persona, and the space theme of the sixties, he found a combination of angles that launched his real success. Really clever (desparste) marketing and PR approach, that worked. Song is about his persona as Ziggy, trajectory of band spiders from mars, and how fame, the media and the intense fans made him opt to kill the character because it was taking a toll on him. And allowed him to evolve into his next personal... the thin white duke.
Puzzled because of jumping in to chapter nine of the story. As stated above a concept album and one of my first live concerts attended
This is one of Bowie’s best. I saw him in the 80’s.
David Bowie puts on a shows, not just a concert. It was so, so good. He was amazing live!
Me too. Saw him live at The Milton Keynes Bowl {Serious moonlight tour} back in the early 80's That was a long day & night that day. But well worth the wait when he finaly appeared on stage. What a show we were all treated to that night.
Saw Diamond Dogs Tour! Unforgettable!!!!
I saw the Sound & Vision tour in 1990, to this day no one has ever come close to David. J and Amber please check out some of David’s live recordings, they are insane
@@libertydogs7380 yes, especially the live version of Moonage Daydream
@@meee4217 oh that is such an epic song, especially live 💜
Ziggy is a concept album that must be listened to in order to really know the story of ziggy stardust... ziggy is an alien who was supposed to save the world but instead became a rock star with his band “the spiders from Mars “ ... “5 years “ is also a great song ...
Rise and Fall was the first Bowie album I ever owned. Five Years hooked me into that entire album. GREAT song. It pulled me into all of it and I never looked back.
That was from arguably his best album. My favorite. I followed his musical journeys from the beginning until around the early 2000s.
"This is definitely different". That is the unique talent that he had from his beginnings all the way to his final album when he was dying. Never ever repeated the same style...just the opposite of what most musicians do. Most find something that the public likes & tries to repeat that 'formula'...Bowie ALWAYS was trying something different right up to the end.
I loved how he changed his style on each album, there are certain Bowie markers such as the sax and insane piano pieces but every album is a masterpiece.
I think this song is about a lead man for the band that got too big for his britches :) The band members (Spiders) became jealous and it eventually destroyed the band and Ziggy himself. As a sidenote, I remember distinctly in the 70's that it was well-known trope among radio DJs that Bowie's songs usually did not catch on with the public immediately. It took a certain amount of radio play saturation before the songs caught on enough to be hits. BTW, I love this song lol.
Pretty much how I’ve always taken it except the jealousy part. I always thought it implied his Ego and psych issues became so huge that he destroyed himself, which took the band with him.
Good enough for me...I love this song because it is the epitome of artistic expression...kind of like "Picasso" but with music...hell yeah! Bowie is genius!
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that the tensions reached a point where the band members were thinking of killing him- which I'd never thought of before. But then, it says the kids had killed the man, which I guess is why I never thought of it before..
That by the way is the story of the band itself.
One of my favourites.
Further back in the '60's was DONOVAN. He had a large number of the hits including Mellow Yellow, Atlantis, Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man.
David Bowie is, and always will be, my favorite artist. I've loved him since I was 13, and I miss him madly. My favorite song of his is Time, but Young Americans would be a great reaction. Oh that sax! 🙂
Great lyrics...ruclips.net/video/qBoxfPytR4s/видео.html
Love David Bowie. Each tour had a different character. Ziggy The thin white duke etc. Please do Putting out the Fire with Gasoline. It is from the sound track to Cat People 1982 movie. Use the video from the movie it's beautiful visual and the song is monster.
That's right. Do the soundtrack version only not the remake from the "Let's Dance" album. The movie version is sexy and sensual and where I started my love affair with Bowie.
I love that y'all got to this track. Fun bit obscure (?) trivia re: this song. The band Bauhaus (1979-1983 but back together and on tour this year) had many of their tracks produced by David Bowie who was friends with them and loved their music. Bauhaus did a cover of Ziggy Stardust that was produced (in part) by Bowie himself. It's almost indistinguishable from the original but that's the point it's a love letter to David and the mutual admiration the artists had for each other. It was a true (almost unknown ) Rock and Roll bro-mance. I highly recommend you and any other music lovers here to check out Bauhaus doing Ziggy Stardust. Also... you can tell that Peter Murphy and David Bowie are VERY similar in their artistic sensibilities. It's no wonder he was a fan of them.
That album is a concept album, a complete story in sequence; taking this song out of context loses something about the character of Ziggy and what he was up to.
Totally agree.
Thank you for saying what needed to be said. When it comes to what this song is "about," the answer is more fully fleshed out over a whole album. Albums used to be like that - a whole statement - and I don't think that that aesthetic is much cared for these days.
Listening to one song from this album is like listening to one song from The Wall.
Correct, the album definitely has to be listened to as a whole.
Sadly even back in the day, because of record labels and radio airplay, many great concept albums were pieced and parted out. That's why most people only know Pinball Wizard & See Me Feel Me from Tommy, or Love Reign O'er Me, 5:15, or The Real Me from Quadrophenia, Another Brick in the Wall, Pt 2, or Comfortably Numb from the Wall, etc. But they have no idea what an incredible story they are missing.
This is your eighth Bowie outing (including "Under Pressure" with Queen). I had to review the list of songs you've done so I can recommend some other Bowie bangers that you haven't. Next up, I hope you do "Heroes" (followed by the cover done by the Wallflowers). You've also yet to do "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fashion", "Let's Dance", "China Girl", and "Blue Jean".
Stellar recommendations, 100% agree with that line-up of next songs. Heroes (by Bowie) melts my heart.
"...Ziggy played guitar" Bowie was absolutely incredible, his contributions to modern music can never be overstated; if you're not feeling it, understandable, it is an entire album, so as a single it's just a snapshot of a story without full context
for me - this album was/is absolute perfection - of course there is a story to this album and the easiest way to understand it is to listen to the whole album from start to finish (i know you're probably sick of hearing that but that's the 70s for you) if you don't want to listen to the whole album - at least take the time to play Moonage Daydream - Mick Ronson's guitar is sublime. I was 12 when this album was released and it truly blew my mind - don't think i ever recovered😁
This song is from the perspective of the Spiders from Mars, Ziggy’s band. It shows the animosity that arises between Ziggy and the group, as Ziggy grows more and more popular, pushing them to the shadows as he gets the spotlight.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a concept album. It’s about a rock band from outer space, and all of the songs are performed accordingly. I saw the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973, and it blew my 19 year old mind, too. The entire show was like a rock play that gripped you and pulled you into another world. It WAS trippy, and sometimes I forget that it’s going to be trippy for new listeners. I even had the album, so I was familiar with it, but the show was something else. I loved it then, and I still do.
Ziggy Stardust, is a concept album. The full title of the album is “the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars“ from beginning to end it tells one story. Listening to one song off the album even if it’s the best song off the album is only a part of the story, and it’s OK to be lost Within the confines of the one song
If you want to hear a song that (I think) gets close to the "real" David Bowie, react to Rock & Roll Suicide, which closes this same album. The lyrics and music are amazing, and, despite the song's title, it is a generous and hopeful song.
Guys, this makes sense in the context of the whole album. Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created - a man from space who came to earth to save us from pending total destruction. But he got distracted and played in a band. I think I have that right. But please, listen to the whole album.
A genius, no question. Ziggy and Hunky Dory are absolutely iconic. Mick Ronson's guitar really made these two albums.
"Is There Life on Mars?", " China Girl", "Young American," "Five Years" is an anthem...he has so many sounds.....he produced many songs!!
This is another one from that handful of albums that really should be experienced as a omplete work. "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" is an incredibly influential album that reached far beyond it's original audience.
Bowie always put on a great show and had amazing musicians behind him. For instance, if you've not done "Let's Dance" you should becacuse the guitarist on that record was an unknown (at the time) Texas Bluesman by the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yep, SRV got his big break playing on David Bowie's Let's Dance album. He got his own record deal in large measure from his connection to Bowie. Of course once the world heard SRV he was off and running on his own merit.
"Ashes to Ashes" from the Scary Monsters LP is another one that you might find "interesting" (which is the word I use when I'm not too crazy about a new taste sensation. "Um.....it's....interesting."
Tioraidh an-drasta☮️😎
You guys have to do David Bowie's Let's Dance next! A very awesome funky number that you both will adore! And the video will blow your mind!!
Oh, but do the live version of this that was a duet with Tina Turner!!!?
Yes .Black star is ultimate of all recording's .It's a stunning piece of work .
You should check out labyrinth the movie. You guy's will love it.....
"Changes" and "Young Americans" are two more great songs to do by Bowie. Both very different from this and from each other.
After about three decades of hearing this song it started growing on me like others have stated. I actually love this song at this point of my life, but this was not always the case for me.
I had about 5 albums of Bowie. His lyrics were always twisted, but I just went with the flow. From Space Oddity to Young Americans,China Girl. This man was one of a kind. I'm 62 and still listening to him since 72. 😎✌🏽
This was an iconic album to me . It was the only album I owned of his, The rest just got too commercial for me, Loved how Ziggy Stardust went straight into Suffragette City !
I met Bowie in the early 90's , working at Giant's Stadium. We were recording artist spots for the "I Want My MTV" commercial campaign, before his performance that night. It was his Very Last Performance of "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". Bowie had a Love / Hate relationship with the "Ziggy" personae. It was creature of the times, everything taken to Excess Sex, Drugs, Fame, Androgeny, Ego, these were Wild Times! A never ending party that went on for 10 years and David was in the Heart of it!
RIP David Bowie
Such a great artist! Taken from us way tooooo soon! Such a diverse and talented guy👍.
Being a big 60s, 70s,80s and 90s fan got another one that you might want to give a ago.
Transvision Vamp 1989 - I don't care.
They were a punk, Rock punk music group😏.
Wendy James was unbelievable and still is😏.
One time I was waiting behind the theater, and darned if Bowie didn't walk right by me. He seemed so thin and kind and friendly and low key. He had a warm smile. I simply looked at him in amazement. I could have reached out and touched him but I didn't do it. The thing that struck me was how thin and pale his left arm was as he walked by. He seemed surreal, other worldly. Truly the man who fell to Earth. We are lucky we lived in his time. He was just lent to us. I hope we valued him. He was one of a kind. In every way.
There is a whole Bowie World for you guys to discover.....hope you go for that Journey, guys!!!
Fashion and Golden Years... China Girl... I cannot wait. There's SOOOOOOO much great music.
Ziggy was Bowie's persona during this part of his career. His band was The Spiders From Mars, this song was a revelation stemming from a rapid growth in the fan base and the disproportionate fame of Ziggy. The fan base were not the mainstream music fans of the time. "Ziggy" performed Space Oddity on the Midnight Special in the early Seventies, incased in a psychedelic bowling pin type of costume. He was wheeled out and sang with only his head sticking out of the top. This was the type of "shock value" performances Bowie performed as Ziggy.
David Bowie, great start check out his song “Rebel Rebel” it a rocker thanks for this one🎙😎✌️
Bowie was a multi dimensional super bad ass! Iggy knew it, helped Bowie develop and proclaimed Bowie would be a super star of unrecognized proportions! As Bowie in the music aspect lives on, even the songs I didn't especially seek out, were really talent loaded! RIP David!
An extraordinary man. It is a comment on various aspects of society, as many songs were at that time. And about ego and downfall.
To me it was about a guy that became a rock god. Then crashed and burned because of his hubris. This song was from the album, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
Absolutely my favorite album, great from start to finish.
So true.
When this bushy-tailed, button down, crew-cutted all-American boy first saw Bowie on TV back in the '70s, I was confused, troubled, challenged and drawn to the theatricality, the makeup and wardrobe, the androgyny, the weirdness. But the music ...was SO. DAMNED. G O O D ! ! I've been a Bowie fan ever since.
Five Years is a must.
David Bowie "Let's dance" and "China girl" are my FAVORITE songs by him ❤️❤️
Bowie is amazing. Check out “Life On Mars”, “Young Americans”, “Sound and Vision” & “ Modern Love”
All excellent choices, but I choose "Life on Mars"
This is my favourite David Bowie track. I love the whole album.
One of Mick Ronson's best moments...
Indeed, always loved this song partly for that reason! Another one that well showcased Ronson was "Moonage daydream"
I agree with some of the other posters that the more you hear Bowie, the more you appreciate his talent, skill for reinvention, and the music! He was truly one of a kind and there will never be another like him. Bowie was an amazing artist that the world didn't deserve. He will be missed!
Have you done "Life on Mars" "Let's Dance" or "Absolute Beginners" Three of my favourites of his. Much love from England 🏴
I've never heard anyone ever mention Absolute Beginners which is a fun tune. Maybe it's just considered a movie tune and nothing more, but I like it.
I heard him do a stunning version of "Absolute Beginners" when I saw him during his Glass Spider Tour in 1987. Initially it throws you for its simplicity - at least for Bowie. But it's beautiful.
This is from an album titled The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. It's a rather disjointed story about the first rock star from space, the end of the world etc. Bowie was a science fiction writer really. He wrote songs instead of short stories and novels.
If you didn't like this, maybe try Absolute Beginners. Bowie's music is an acquired taste. Or anything from the album 'Hours'. There's at least a 100 Bowie songs that are more catchy and easier to get than his Ziggy era stuff.
It is amazing how much he could pack into these FM ready 3:00 and change. Another few more great Bowie songs are (in no particular order)
1) TVC15 2) Stay 3) Moonage Daydream 4) Fashion. "We are the goon squad and we're coming to town, beep, beep"
This song is responsible for the 80's New Wave, for late 70 s punk , for 80 s, 90s and 00's goth and emo style. And all these in 1972. Bowie was not progressive but the progress himself.
Great analysis! Bowie became, was and is music...great rock 'n roll.
There are SO many Eras and Phases to Bowie - It helps to know that this is early Bowie - it also adds SO much to see the performance.
Hahaha yes interesting to say the least .. these are some of the years he doesn’t remember. He was way out ..
RIP Julee Cruise "Rockin Back Inside My Heart" original video--Bowie acted in few episodes of Twin Peaks
Definitely in my Top 5 Bowie songs, Ziggy Stardust was one of his personas thru out his career. Don't worry about what it all means, enjoy the show. IT'S BOWIE!
Ziggy was one of his on stage characters, this is my favorite song by David Bowie ❤️❤️❤️❤️
One of the greatest rock and roll songs ever
"Let's Dance" should be your next David Bowie song!!
Its 80s and I think you guys will love it!
This is such an awesome song, and once you truly understand the reference it becomes even more so.
Ronno was vastly underrated, a top guitarist, producer, arranger also a multi- instrumentalist
Jimi Hendrix wowed everyone in his day. Ziggy Stardust is a tribute to him. He played left hand. One of his big hits was Voodoo Child. Ziggy played guitar.
Ok, so he was singing about the alien character that he portrayed, Ziggy Stardust, who was an alien who came to Earth to play music, but the fame became too much, and he became overwhelmed when he became really famous. Also, David felt like Ziggy had taken over his real personality. He was Ziggy on and off stage. The line “When the kids had killed the man, I had to break up the band” literally meant he had to stop being Ziggy. He was only performing as Ziggy for like a year and a half, 1972-1973. That’s the basic story.
One of the greatest Bowie albums... Love it! Ziggy Played GUITARRRRR!
In my mind (and the album), it always happens, short break then the band cuts into Suffragette City....just an incredible duo of songs.
My first concert David Bowie at the Majestic in Dallas Texas November 1972
Brilliant show 🎸✌Still one of my all-time favorites to this day
David Bowie used to use the cut up technique to right lyrics so would take sentences from news paper articles, books, poems he'd written and jumble them up to become lyrics. He was a producer as well as Mick Robson who was the lead guitarist in the spiders from Mars ( Ziggy's Band). Listen to Lou Reeds "Perfect Day" which David Bowie and Mick Robson produced . I don't want to give anymore away but you'll love it.
Ziggy Stardust is David's trademark song.
💔
I remember people couldn't figure out what Bowie was. Man woman alien. He was so different. His music was so ahead of his time. Always loved him.
Ziggy Stardust was an early persona, and many were perplexed at first. But soon we were fans and grew to love Ziggy Stardust.
"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" is the name of the album, and it's a concept album. It probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to take one song off of the album and listen to it. You would really have to listen to the whole album to get the full picture.
David Bowie was so his own person! Sooo ahead of his time!! Love his different stuff! So different yet so classic, everyone knew his music in the 60’s and 70’s! Great!
Bowie is not dead he's on Mars.
Ziggy was his character and he was talking about him and in one interview he said he was changing his characters every 10 years. When he came back with the song Heroes he was living in Berlin.
Bee Gees - Lonely Days (1970) [High Quality Stereo Sound, Subtitled] before disco, much better than all the others you have heard!
It's always best to watch the videos of Bowie's live performances especially his early years when he was in his "Ziggy" persona/character. In short, this song is about Ziggy who was a rock star that let his success get the best of him and even his band (called the Spiders from Mars) members, didn't want to be with him anymore. And most of his music videos from the 1980s were always pretty interesting and told a story.
Early in my High School years (67-69) I had some friends who went to a large concert at the ballpark. They would have multiple acts play for the day. When they came to school on Monday they were telling me that there was one act that they were not sure exactly what it was, But went by Ziggy Stardust. The Red Hair, costume and makeup was not what was usually seen back then. It was close to 5 years before I heard of David Bowie after that.
in my opinion, this song is Ziggy, (bowie's persona) a rock star who fell to earth basically giving himself a backstory before it happened, about how his own failings and his success made the band break up. all the descriptive parts about his abilities and his appearance, you have to remember that this is him describing himself- when he complements himself, bowie is expanding on ziggy's egotism- as well as the band describing him, but even then it's ziggy voicing his band.
Changes
Let's Dance
China Girl
Golden Years
David Bowie had a variety of songs over the years ranging from jazzy, pop, to down right spacey🚀🚀🚀. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan in the beginning but over the years I have been drawn in.
Hang in there Jordan. Keep listening.
Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️❤️ 🇨🇦🇨🇦
This song is a sort of introduction to the character, Ziggy Stardust. It was on the album called Ziggy Stardust and you are right, the whole album was a concept with spacey themed songs like Starman. The band had out of this world costumes and hairdos and played an entire concert tour with the Ziggy personna. Remember the world was obsessed with space because we had recently landed a man on the moon. This song is an essential part of a concept album and it is kinda unfair to judge standing on its own. If you have the means, it is worth it to listen to whole album for the flow and story.
I love seeing young people listening to this! I’m 59, been a Bowie fan for 49 years. Hope this generation keeps him alive👍🥰💕
"the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" Generally considered 1 of the greatest rock albums of all time. It came put in 1972, which is perhaps the greatest year for albums in rock history.
This was my favorite song when l was 16......David Bowie has such a special place in my heart.
There was a Ziggy Stardust movie. It was Ziggy's final concert. Well worth watching.
He done this song on top of the pops in the UK in the early seventies and changed the landscape for millions of teenagers across the country .
Yes, as another viewer pointed out, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is one of many classic albums from the seventies that is meant to be heard in its intirety. The Beatles started it in sixty seven with Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band, then artists like Bowie and Pink Floyd took it to knew heights in the seventies.
You really need to see this. Bowie was an artist, strongly influenced by mime and kabuki theatre. The songs are only half of it. The whole album is a story, sometimes told by himself, sometimes by members of the band. You'll get it better if you listen to the whole album, and see the perfomance.
Love that you've heard this, at last!
I sympathize with you both. This was a concept album. Ziggy is conglomeration of people. The name was inspired by The Stardust Cowboy and the story was inspired by people who David met, knew and admired but who also confused him in the world of pop music, people like Vince Taylor and Syd Barrett. Both were good-looking, charismatic enigmas, who people erroneously assumed were from another world.
The look of the character Ziggy Stardust was inspired by his then-wife Angie, by NFL football uniforms, by the amazing clothing created by his friend and fashion designer Freddie Burretti as well as fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto.
The hairstyle was created by David’s mother’s hair stylist, Suzi Ronson (then Suzanne Fussey).
Now you have to watch the live stage version of this song.
It is the first of his several alternate personas. Bowie was as much a performer, even an actor as he was a singer and musician. This one takes time to grow on you typically. Then it becomes a favorite, even a classic.
When my daughter was 8 years old, soon after Bowie had died, I was definitely devastated by his loss and she asked me who he was. I showed her the cover of Aladdin Sane, IMO the greatest album cover ever, and she said, "Wow! He looks cool!" I smiled and said, "A lot of people think the same thing." A few days later she walked into my office and handed me a drawing. It was a drawing of the Aladdin Sane cover. I asked her why she drew it and she said, "I know you're sad 'cause he died and you miss him." Took everything I had not to break down crying. I hugged her and thanked her. She's 13 now and kind of has a thing for Bowie. Mission accomplished.
In the 70s David would play the Tower Theater outside Phila. There would be 3 shows. Friday night Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.He famously once said "Philadelphia is the only place I do matinees!" I want to say 5 shows with 2 on Sunday as well but I don't remember exactly and I made sure to get tickets for every single show! Hey what do you want? It was the seventies! I'm lucky to remember what I do!
One thing I do remember is that if you want trippy Bowie you owe it to your self to give "The Bewlay Brothers" a spin. I'm talking to you,Amber!
Ziggy Stardust was Bowies alter ego in his early 70's days and the a spiders from Mars were the band. I've always thought this was an autobiographical look at him outgrowing the band and going solo, which happened pretty much soon after the album, The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardfusr is the album - i needs to be listened to in its entirety to be appreciated. Thank you as always!
The album was released 50 years ago this month. A girl I knew in Junior High turned me on to David Bowie's live album, a performance in Philadelphia. That's when I first heard his music.
Bowie is and was considered a composer. He would write for a year or so, then hire a famous band but there would be no mention of the band name on the record sleeve. Sting is also considered a composer and would do the same.
You should find a video of Bowie from Ziggy days. A whole different look and sound before he changed to wearing suits and shorter hair. I remember how shocking it was to see the new Bowie . Btw, a lot of songs back then mentioned outer space. It was new back then , humans had just started going there. It was a great unknown.
Yes, that's what I've been saying too! I think it's best to watch his live performances and even some of his music video from the 1980s. My favorite live performance from his Ziggy days is the "Moonage Daydream" from 1972 or 73. I love that one!
His appearance got him called him a chameleon, but his music changed constantly. I heard an interview with him once where he was asked why every album was stylistically so different and he said if he’d already done it, he could do it again so where was the challenge?