David Bowie is one of the most influential musicians of all time. Everything he did was pure art, if you wanna check out some more space themed Bowie tunes, Starman is a must listen. It is from his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars which is widely considered the greatest glam rock album in history.
"Greatest glam rock album in history..." I'm not going to dispute that. But perhaps more importantly, wasn't it also the first? (Released summer 1972) The album invented glam rock as we came to know it. I know the New York Dolls were getting started about the same time, but they didn't release their first album until a year later than ZS. I think T. Rex gets to be mentioned in this conversation as well, as a very early influence, but I'm not sure he got all the way to "glam." I've always felt there's no doubt that Ziggy was the glam rock shot heard 'round the world.
A Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sang this song with his acoustic guitar from the international space station and did a very good job of it. Bowie liked it.
He's somewhere better now, and he will have a ton of new music for you to explore when you get there. Don't rush though, there's still stuff for you to do here first.
so did ion and off all day , what was amazing that day was the messages i got from friends . kinda pproved to me they knew how much bowie meant to me ( i didnt know )
I knew he'd been ill for about three years but it still came as a shock,more to those I broke the news to who hadn't seen how unwell he'd looked in one or two of his last videos. The first quarter/third and end of that year 2016 was crazy for the musicians and entertainers we lost suddenly,one after another.
Nobody has mentioned the fact that Major Tom (Sheppard) in the song never makes it back to earth, something went wrong and he comes to accept the fact he ain't coming back, hence the line about his wife.
"Let's Dance" "Ashes to Ashes" "Starman" "Life on Mars" "Absolute Beginners". Any one of these will blow you away. Bowie = legend. Much love from England 🏴
The whole Ziggy Stardust era was such an incredible creative departure from the status quo. Another indication of the gigantic explosion of musical creativity of the 60's and 70's. We might never see another time like it.
I think I was in the 8th grade when this came out. I imagined that I was in space when it came on the am radio station. The teenagers today would go insane if all they had to listen to, was am stations .LOL
@@greg2976 Great memories of when the new and decadent, underground 'FM' radio started. They could get away with so much more that AM. I remember that AM couldn't even play Chuck Berry's "My Ding-a-ling".
@@kurtschulten5369 Hey Kurt, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I DO remember that song being played on am stations. I didn't turn into a fm rocker till I was around 14 or so, which would be in 1974ish. It's amazing how am has turned into a talk radio, radio station!
One reason I would support this comment is that David Bowie didn't "stay in his lane." He branched out to movie acting and record producing and other pursuits. He was always on the forefront of fashion and taste, always leading and never following. His early videos, which means ANY early video, always pushed the envelope. It's easy to forget now, but once upon a time we expected musical artists to release records. Maybe an Elvis Presley would release a bad film per year. But nowadays we expect musical artists to be photogenic, to have a good personality on talk shows, to be able to act and dance, to release a book or two, or perhaps reveal a hidden talent for painting or sculpture-in short, to be the complete package. David Bowie was one of the first to come along and know that, and fully realize its potential.
David Bowie truly was "The Man Who Fell to Earth". His music and his presence were like a gift from another world. I love your reaction and take on this.
Now you need to do "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Shilling. This song leaves the fate of Major Tom in the air.... Peter wrote his song to answer what happened to him. The original David Bowie song is from 1969. Peter wrote his song in 1983.
@@chriso6719 As often as you beat me... I'm sure it was just a fluke... 😜 I'm dying to try and tie them listening to Major Tom into listening to "Coming Home" by Coheed and Cambria but I'm sure that would just be confusing since that takes place their comic book world... 😁 and not David Bowie's Space Oddity world.
Perceived by some to be a cash-in novelty song, Space Oddity laid out David Bowie's longstanding themes of isolation, alienation and fame. As David Bowie's first bona fide hit, Space Oddity took him into the charts and launched him into the stratosphere.
In 2011, US astronaut Mark Kelly quoted Bowie from the ISS after his wife, congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot and almost killed in Arizona, saying "Tell my wife I love her very much.", to which mission control responded "She knows." That is an even more poignant tribute to the song than col. Chris Hadfield posting his cover of Space Oddity from the ISS. This amazing song DID impact an entire generation!
"Heroes" would be my #1 recommendation to listen to next from Bowie. But make sure it's the longer album version, not the single version. Another song would be "Right" because you'll liked Philly Soul.
David Bowie’s death to this day is still a shock to me even after 6 years. We lost such a creative mind when he passed. I love seeing how Amber is being transported to another plain with the music, like she gets with the great Pink Floyd. There are so many great songs to discover as you travel through Bowie’s music catalog. I can’t wait to see more!
I'm still in shock over his death because I certainly didn't see that one coming at all. And while I was mourning his death, I was hit by a sledgehammer a week later with the death of Glenn Frey. That was a really really bad week!
Same. He didn't tell people outside a select few and so it really did seem to just come out of nowhere. I watched the video for "Lazarus" so many times that day. It's always so incredible to me - as it was when Warren Zevon passed - that a person facing the impending end of their life and all the pain, sadness, and uncertainty that comes with that - will choose to make one final bit of art before they go, especially when that art is both a meditation on what they're facing and a final goodbye to their fans. Talk about a true artist! I really would love for J&A to react to "Lazarus" because I think it was such a special song and moment that only reinforces everything they already think about him and more, but I know they have some personal situation in their (recent?) past that really affects them when it comes to videos dealing with dying and/or that type of loss, so I don't want to bum them out that much either. It really was such a great swan song for Bowie though and proof positive that he lived and breathed creativity while he was here.
I remember seeing one of the last interviews he had with him and his wife. It was one of the sweetest things when they were talking about each other. He was describing things about her that he loves and how they relate to each other. She was also doing the same talking about how she was the more dramatic person and he was the one who pretty much leveled her out. She was saying in a way it's maddening because he had such an English personality being so calm and relaxed during our times of stress. She said the most beautiful thing about that marriage is that even after all these years she says I STILL RATHER FANCY HIM. Which to me was just the cutest expression in their English way of speaking. She got this look on her face, and I'll never forget it she looked almost like a schoolgirl talking about a crush she had on someone. She lowered her eyes and didn't really look at the camera for a second and then when she looked up she had tears in her eyes because she knew she was losing him. But for that split second she looked so shy as if she was like 15 years old again and had found her first love. That was right before she said I still rather fancy him and you can tell there's such a level of deep love with her and that they shared such a beautiful marriage after all those years. Turn his part of the interview he also kind of looked a bit emotional and like a kid when he spoke about her. It was like almost watching them go back in their minds when they were teenagers even though they met when they were adults. You can see like the almost breathless excitement when they reminiscing to the journalist reporter about how they met... And how they knew that each other WAS the one for them. Out of all the interviews that I've ever seen of either one of them with them together that is absolutely my most favorite. I feel that it's most intimate one they've ever given and it shows them at the most vulnerable and then most loving together. I don't know if I'm explaining this the right way so people can understand, but it was really beautiful thing to witness with how they were talking about each other and the excitement they had in their voices when they talked about when they first met. 😉❤️😎
David Bowie 's creative genius is legendary. Try listening to "Heroes" sometime. It's probably the most played Bowie song played by other artists in tribute after his passing away.
It is so hard to believe that there are folks who have never heard this song.. it is iconic and is one of my favorites. Glad that you covered it and that you are enjoying it. David Bowie, RIP.
Remember when the Queen movie came out and suddenly there were a thousand reaction videos of people hearing Bohemian Rhapsody for the "first time"? Or course they weren't hearing it for the first time, but "Hearing for the 704th time" doesn't get views.
This song more than any other takes me back in my mind to being a young boy in Liverpool, the radio was always on in our house and this song was always one that really struck a chord with me. The melancholy is of the scale... but I still love it
This was recorded and released just before the actual moon launch. That makes this an even more amazing song because at that point we still didn't know if it could be done. And there were some problems that made it almost not happen. And Bowie managed to capture that uncertainty perfectly. Now you have to do the answer to this one Major Tom by Peter Shilling.
David Bowie's long-time producer, Tony Visconti, turned down the opportunity to work on this song because he though the association with the moon launch was a bit corny. He regretted it!
We 70s children feel so strongly about our musical heroes. You have to realize it was usually us in the wee hours with turntable, wired headphones in the pitch black. No cellphones, tv did not broadcast that late. It was pretty lonely but it was a trip and I'll always cherish just me and Elton, me and David, me and Boston or Motown or Bette. It shaped me for sure.
I think, also, having instant access to infinite music stops me and many others of the 'internet generation' to really stopping and listening to an album and hearing every note of each song. You had to grow to appreciate artists slowly back then, whereas I never had that same relationship with any singers when I was a kid, I could just pick whatever song I wanted off iTunes or RUclips. I still have my musical heroes, but the connection was way more genuine when you had to go and buy an album and play it and that being your hobby. Music I love is now just in the soundtrack to my everyday life, I don't appreciate it the same way.
David Bowie was an English singer-songwriter & actor. He constantly reinvented himself to stay current over nearly 5 decades. His first big hit was "Space Oddity" in 1969. He has had a lot of great songs including "Starman", "Ziggy Stardust", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Changes", "Fame", "Golden Years", "Ashes To Ashes", Let's Dance", "Modern Love", "China Girl", "Heroes" etc.
Let’s not forget Little Drummer Boy with Bing Crosby. I listen to that every Christmas season to get me into the spirit of the season! Stay safe, stay sane, be well
My favorite Bowie song! Still get chills when I hear, "Tell my wife I love her very much..." Wish you would have backed up a couple of lines after that last pause, thouigh, since something had gone wrong and Ground Control had lost contact...that always gave me chills, too, and I imagine Major Tom just floating eternally in space.
When they paused, that’s exactly what I was thinking, “please back up, please back up”. Listen intently, nope, ok, maybe they’ll catch on anyway… … Bugger!
Right? My biggest pet peeve with this channel is how they never pay attention to what's actually going on in the music. They miss obvious stuff, every time. If most other reactors did, too, I'd be less annoyed, but nope, it's definitely a characteristic of these specific reactors.
Yeah, I'm glad that bothered someone else, too. They went on blissfully raving about the music and sound effects in the song but missed the tragic turn that the story took. Yeah, they should have backed up after the pause. Their loss. OK, I'm moving on.
I'm sure they'll pick it up on subsequent listens and to be fair, who knows how many times I'd heard the song before I picked up on the full story. It was 40 odd years ago and I guarantee there's many a song I've sung along to and at some point gone "oooohhhh, that's what it's about".
The keyboard parts are mainly the first take. Rick Wakeman turned up for the session, was handed the charts and did the melllotron part straight off. Bowie also used a kid's toy, the xylophone, to get the eerie sounds.
You have to review Chris Hadfield’s version. He actually did it on the international space station. Bowie gave it a thumbs up!!! Great version! with great natural scenery of space. Stay safe, stay sane, be well
Was just going to suggest this! Commander Hadfield did a bunch of great videos from space, but this one was the coolest. You can find it here on RUclips.
I might add, that when this video was released on RUclips, RUclips blocked it due to copyright infringement. David Bowie, liked this video so much, that he fought his own record company to let the video be on RUclips. RIP David. You will always be part of my teenage memories! Stay safe, stay sane, be well
Now do the "sequel" to this, "Ashes To Ashes" that has a lot of the sounds and feel that you guys love. There's also the German tribute "Major Tom" by Peter Schilling as well.
Thank you!!! “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” is truly epic!!! Heck, his entire collection of albums are chalked full of bangers!!!
Judging by the way you guys are reacting to this song and music on your channel in general. I don't understand how you have never heard all these truly timeless songs. I mean I know classic songs that were out before my time. Where have you been? If you can appreciate music it's always been there for you. Your amazement is like the discovery of fire.
The next two David Bowie songs that you should react to are "Life on Mars" and "Heroes". The former is arguably his greatest song and the video for it was a real shock to the conservative norms of the early 70's. Bowie was unapologetically leading the way for alternative lifestyles. "Heroes" was way ahead of the times sonically and has a special connection to Berlin during the Cold War when the wall divided the city. It's hard to believe that "Heroes" was recorded using analog equipment, it sounds like a product of the digital era.
Bowie is one of those very selected artists, who are able to make complex and intellectual themes fit pretty well in popular music without losing its originality nor sophistication. It goes for each album released throughout his whole career
Everyone thought David Bowie was from another dimension, but everyone loved him! I was 12 when this song was released in 1969. It was my first exposure to him. Loved this reaction! Thank you!
It’s amazing how this song was released in 1969 and when I listen to space oddity I feel like I am floating around in the air it’s just so cool David was just an amazing guy
The song "Ziggy Stardust" is part of a story about a fictional dude, but it's a _brilliant_ portrayal of the psychological implosion of a star brought on by fame...so catchy and memorable!
Space Oddity is one of those songs I've kinda taken for granted for all these years. Hearing it a-new through someone else's ears brought a new level of appreciation. Thanks guys!
There are too many David Bowie songs to list that y'all should listen to. Two of my personal favorites are "Life On Mars" and "Ashes To Ashes". You should give them a listen.
Can’t go wrong w Bowie. I recommend “Changes” if you haven’t heard that one. It was a big part of the “1971” documentary on Apple+ TV. You guys would really love that 8 part doc.
This song gives me chills- each and every time. He is gift and a legend - his music brings back so many amazing memories of my teenage years. His music is timeless ❤ thanks for sharing/ reacting- y’all are my favorite reaction couple ❤
No one can deny the huge and unique talent that was Bowie. And the impossible to calculate influence he had over music. And may I say? When he agreed to do Gervais' Extras, he also gave us one of the all time great comedy moments. I had no idea the man had such a wonderful sense of humour as well as his other talents.
David Bowie is my favourite solo artist of all time. Creative and brave. Never stood still. Always looking for new musical avenues to explore. A true original.
I’m absolutely transformed when I listen to David Bowie, love every phase in his life, and always followed his music! The day he died, I cried, knowing that the last album came out as his last, like preparing us for this awful loss we were about to share!! His song Lazarus was haunting & it still is hard to watch! There is, and never will be, anyone in our life that will be even close to matching his songwriting, his voice, his personas. He is that one of a kind musician that you have been blessed by just hearing him! I love you David, always have, always will! 😢 ♥️The sad old white woman
Great song. Suggestion: When you resume after a pause, you should back up a little. You missed the drama of him being lost. Also, Peter Schillig did a reprise of this song called Major Tom that is fantastic!
David Bowie was a great actor, too. He didn't act often, but when he did it was brilliant. His turn as *Pontius Pilate* in Scorsese's, "The Last Temptation of Christ", is riveting.
He also played an FBI agent in cinema movie "Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me", also an English POW officer in "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" , monster in "Labyrinth" and vampire , partner of Catherine Denevue and Susan Sarandon in "The Hunger", also great song in "Absolute Beginners". Plus more. Cheers
He also played in The Elephant Man on Broadway or London on stage, I forget. I've read that his performance as Joseph Merrick (the Elephant Man), wearing zero makeup or prostheses, was heartrending.
Bowie started his career in 1964 as a young teenager and it took a long time before he would have a hit.. In the meantime he sung with other bands & even wrote a hit for Peter Noon...Until he had an idea for this tune... He had been following the Apollo space program & wrote this song to coincide with the July 1969 Luna landing...This was not only an epic song that really captured the magnificence of the landing , but was also a stroke of marketing genius that would blast off his musical journey into space....
One thing about Bowie is the lushness of his music. It's like piles of thick velvet: you fall back into it and almost float; immersed in the texture. I get the same feeling from The Moody Blues. Like I'm rolling in a cloud. Definitely headphones required!
If you really want to hear the range and control in Bowie's voice, please react to Wild is the WInd - one of my favourites. It was originally written for Johnny Mathis, and Nine Simone did two different arrangements of it, but Bowie's is the best version. It will pretty much blow you away.
Such an amazing shape-shifting genius! I absolutely adore Let's Dance, The Man Who Sold the World (famously covered by Nirvana in their Unplugged show, but Bowie is the original,) Changes, Suffragette City, Modern Love, Rebel Rebel, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Heroes, Fashion, This is Not America, Absolute Beginners, Dancing in the Street (w Mick Jagger,) and one of my faves, Blue Jean (you gotta check out this video-- there's a 20 minute mini-movie version of it, but this is the song part of it)
This song is about a friend of Bowies who died of a Heroin overdose. He confirmed this in an interview. When you listen to the lyrics you can really see that, when he floats away he’s dying.
Positively Love this song by Bowie! My eyes fill with tears, every time I hear it. Theirs So Much emotion...hear the words...and have a tissue near by. Love, Love. ❤️
A true legend, and great Gentleman, RIP Mr. Bowie. A few suggestions, from endless great choices, "Changes", "Suffragette City", and "Let's Dance". Vastly different sound for each one.
A real classic! You have to bear in mind the timeframe this was released: 1969. The Apollo space program was just getting ready to land on the moon in July 1969 and just the year before, a very influential sci-fi movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey" was released. So, space mania was in full bloom! Also, 1969 was probably the peak of the hippy/psychedelic era including in music, so you had a lot of trippy songs around that time. This song sort of ties all those things together.
I'm glad you mention that. I was terrified, as a kid, that something like this could happen to the astronauts in the first Apollo missionsl. Even going up to orbit the earth before the moon missions was scary. Knowing that Gagarin was 'up there's during his orbit seemed so crazy, just the sort of silly idea a boy would have.
You can hear Bowie's cockney accent coming through, born and bred in Brixton near the prison... till his family went upmarket and moved to Beckenham, Kent
@@jillybrooke29 I went to Sacred Heart school in Camberwell Green.. as did my 3 older brothers, I also went to Brixton college which I believe is no longer there
I never "got" this song as a first grader when this song was released in 1969 (surprise!), but I remember seeing Bowie on tv years later and was in awe of his very unique persona. Bowie lived his life in performance art, and however the level of influence drugs played in his creative process, his talent continues to inspire.
Bowie was such a talent. Check out: "China Girl", "Let's Dance", "Changes", Jean Jeannie", "Dancing in the Streets (With Mick Jagger)", "Suffraggette City", "Modern Love", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fame", These are his more popular tunes but is work throughout is impossible to define.
I love the fact Boy George is watching over your shoulder as you deep dive into David Bowie music George is a huge Bowie fan and always credits Ziggy with the Reason he started to sing write and perform this is superb 😀😀
I’ve never listened to this song through headphones, though I’ve been listening to David Bowie since I bought Hunky Dory ages ago. Today is the first time I heard the separation of Bowie’s voice in “Tell my wife I love her very much,” and his other voice answering, “She knows,” in my other ear. It’s such a profound foreshadowing of what is about to happen to Major Thom, or what he is possibly choosing. I knew the ending, but wow. Thank you both. I saw the Ziggy Stardust tour, but I still heard something different today.
I was privileged to see the Ziggy Stardust tour when it came to Hull City Hall in '71; the whole set was mesmerising especially Mick Ronson's guitar playing (a Hull lad). I met David Bowie a year earlier at the Brickhouse in Hull, a prog rock hang-out back then, he had peroxide hair and a white suit, he was the coolest of guys more than happy to mingle with the coffee crowd. Those where the days, long gone I'm sad to say.
So many great Bowie songs for you to react to…my recommendation is “Lazarus” from his last album, “Blackstar.” He released it right before he died. You HAVE to watch the video with it. It’s probably the most amazing final release by any musician ever. (I’m biased. I’m a huge fan.)
So on your first listen you've 'got' the first layer of the 'story'. Keep listening to it, you will discover more layers to the story and meaning each time. 'Ashes to Ashes' continues the 'story' of Major Tom.
Now, you need to check out the follow-up, Ashes to Ashes. Space Oddity was inspired by two things - the first Apollo moon landing, and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick.
He's the Goblin King, ya'll! Ooh, Bowie was a chameleon in style and music. Some of the sounds behind his vocals were done with a Synthophone. You can find them online for around 30-40 dollars. They're fun, I got my son one for Christmas. But seriously, Bowie, some great stuff you may like is the entirety of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, my personal favorite from that one is Moonage Daydream. Heroes, Changes, Life On Mars, Starman, Lady Grinning Soul, Let's Dance (SRV on guitar), Blue Jean, China Girl, you could listen to his catalog for years and not hear the same song twice. Lazarus from his last album Dark Star will make you cry.
David Bowie is one of the most influential musicians of all time. Everything he did was pure art, if you wanna check out some more space themed Bowie tunes, Starman is a must listen. It is from his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars which is widely considered the greatest glam rock album in history.
"Greatest glam rock album in history..." I'm not going to dispute that. But perhaps more importantly, wasn't it also the first? (Released summer 1972) The album invented glam rock as we came to know it. I know the New York Dolls were getting started about the same time, but they didn't release their first album until a year later than ZS. I think T. Rex gets to be mentioned in this conversation as well, as a very early influence, but I'm not sure he got all the way to "glam." I've always felt there's no doubt that Ziggy was the glam rock shot heard 'round the world.
Station to Station is one of my favorite Bowie albums-- Golden Years!! Wild is the Wind!! TVC15!
The whole "Ziggy Stardust" album was AMAZING! Especially since it was 1972!
Bowie, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Madonna?
@@RDRussell2 I believe Roxy Music released their debut album in 72.
A Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sang this song with his acoustic guitar from the international space station and did a very good job of it. Bowie liked it.
LOVE that video.
Wow...never new that!
@@dominacio - It's on You Tube. ruclips.net/video/KaOC9danxNo/видео.html
Hadfield's gotta be one of the coolest astronauts that ever was. And that's a very cool group.
first clip in space
I’m 52 and have decades of love for David Bowie. I cried when he left this plane of existence.
He's somewhere better now, and he will have a ton of new music for you to explore when you get there. Don't rush though, there's still stuff for you to do here first.
I get it, took the day off of work to mourn. ✌️
I haven’t stopped crying
so did ion and off all day , what was amazing that day was the messages i got from friends .
kinda pproved to me they knew how much bowie meant to me ( i didnt know )
I knew he'd been ill for about three years but it still came as a shock,more to those I broke the news to who hadn't seen how unwell he'd looked in one or two of his last videos. The first quarter/third and end of that year 2016 was crazy for the musicians and entertainers we lost suddenly,one after another.
Nobody has mentioned the fact that Major Tom (Sheppard) in the song never makes it back to earth, something went wrong and he comes to accept the fact he ain't coming back, hence the line about his wife.
Grew up on David Bowie. The first song I heard at 15 years old on a juke box in a cafe was “Jean Genie” and we were up dancing! The rest is history.
Yep.. me too
Bowie was a master at reinventing himself!! He REFUSED to be typecast!!
This was released the same year that Neil Armstrong landed on the moon! Keep going with Bowie, you've barely scratched the surface of the genius.
yes - and it was used as the official theme for the BBC coverage of the moon landing.
Yup, and the theme of the song reminds of the early days of the space race when humanity sent it's first people to space
"Let's Dance" "Ashes to Ashes" "Starman" "Life on Mars" "Absolute Beginners". Any one of these will blow you away. Bowie = legend.
Much love from England 🏴
And Stevie Ray plays on let's dance.
@The Sage Universe i was gonna suggest "Life on Mars" as well
"Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor from Ground Control..."
"Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom's a junkie".
SRV played on the entire album.
No one can touch David Bowie. Creative genius..
He wasn’t just a musician he was a performance artist. He was simply unique and incredibly talented and so different than anyone else.
We that were teens in the early 70's, this was our introduction to Bowie...and he blew our minds !
The whole Ziggy Stardust era was such an incredible creative departure from the status quo. Another indication of the gigantic explosion of musical creativity of the 60's and 70's. We might never see another time like it.
It so did indeed ! And started a life long love affair for me to this day ....
I think I was in the 8th grade when this came out. I imagined that I was in space when it came on the am radio station. The teenagers today would go insane if all they had to listen to, was am stations .LOL
@@greg2976 Great memories of when the new and decadent, underground 'FM' radio started. They could get away with so much more that AM. I remember that AM couldn't even play Chuck Berry's "My Ding-a-ling".
@@kurtschulten5369 Hey Kurt, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I DO remember that song being played on am stations. I didn't turn into a fm rocker till I was around 14 or so, which would be in 1974ish. It's amazing how am has turned into a talk radio, radio station!
Bowie is one of the greatest artists of all times!
Well, I wouldn't go that far, but definitely influential for his time.
Here here .I would !
I agree
One reason I would support this comment is that David Bowie didn't "stay in his lane." He branched out to movie acting and record producing and other pursuits. He was always on the forefront of fashion and taste, always leading and never following. His early videos, which means ANY early video, always pushed the envelope. It's easy to forget now, but once upon a time we expected musical artists to release records. Maybe an Elvis Presley would release a bad film per year. But nowadays we expect musical artists to be photogenic, to have a good personality on talk shows, to be able to act and dance, to release a book or two, or perhaps reveal a hidden talent for painting or sculpture-in short, to be the complete package. David Bowie was one of the first to come along and know that, and fully realize its potential.
@@RDRussell2 Yeah, I agree with most of that but, let's admit it, he sucked at acting.
I love how you “kids” are experiencing my generations music. Thats the gift of watching you two. Love it. Thank you.
@James Buckingham at what point was there any mention of 'validations'?
@James Buckingham Reading comprehension?? Im talking differences in generations. Race? Where did you read that, Mr scholar?
You need to get layed.
Im part Native American and Hispanic, genius.
@@boltoniangirl He's a troll.
@James Buckingham A prime example of why children should be seen and not heard!...lol
David Bowie truly was "The Man Who Fell to Earth". His music and his presence were like a gift from another world. I love your reaction and take on this.
Even for Bowie,it's hard to get much better than this track. What a far-out one with which to burst upon the scene.
We didn’t need videos with Bowie, he caused us to see pictures in our minds! True artist!☮️❤️
Now you need to do "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Shilling. This song leaves the fate of Major Tom in the air.... Peter wrote his song to answer what happened to him. The original David Bowie song is from 1969. Peter wrote his song in 1983.
ok, you beat me to it this time . 🤣
Agree! Amber would really like this 80’s song.
@@chriso6719 As often as you beat me... I'm sure it was just a fluke... 😜 I'm dying to try and tie them listening to Major Tom into listening to "Coming Home" by Coheed and Cambria but I'm sure that would just be confusing since that takes place their comic book world... 😁 and not David Bowie's Space Oddity world.
Exactly what I was thinking! GMTA! ✌🏻💀
Omg I completely forgot about that song! Thank you for reminding me. I’m going to go listen to it after I’m finished watching this.
Great reactions. Hard to believe this song was released in 1969, when after 53 years it still sounds so innovative and fresh.
Perceived by some to be a cash-in novelty song, Space Oddity laid out David Bowie's longstanding themes of isolation, alienation and fame. As David Bowie's first bona fide hit, Space Oddity took him into the charts and launched him into the stratosphere.
In 2011, US astronaut Mark Kelly quoted Bowie from the ISS after his wife, congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot and almost killed in Arizona, saying "Tell my wife I love her very much.", to which mission control responded "She knows." That is an even more poignant tribute to the song than col. Chris Hadfield posting his cover of Space Oddity from the ISS. This amazing song DID impact an entire generation!
This lyric touches me every single time!
The incomparable Rick Wakeman on keyboards. Those atmospheric keyboard sounds are the best.
So many great songs from David Bowie...."Heroes" might be one you guys should check out!!!
Listening to "Heroes" still gives me chills.
@@kellypedersen6590 yep...his best song in my opinion!
I agree - "Heroes" is such a cool song, and the lyrics are so important to listen to...
"Heroes" would be my #1 recommendation to listen to next from Bowie. But make sure it's the longer album version, not the single version. Another song would be "Right" because you'll liked Philly Soul.
EA sports used Heroes on their NHL99 video game. EA sports best ever intro for one of their hockey games.
"Rebel Rebel" "Changes" "Suffragette City"--any of these would be a great pick for your next Bowie song.
And Diamond Dogs!
The Laughing gnome. Written in 15 minutes in a cafe apparently.
Plus any of the other "spacey" songs such as "Ziggy Stardust", "Life on Mars", or "Starman".
David Bowie’s death to this day is still a shock to me even after 6 years. We lost such a creative mind when he passed. I love seeing how Amber is being transported to another plain with the music, like she gets with the great Pink Floyd. There are so many great songs to discover as you travel through Bowie’s music catalog. I can’t wait to see more!
I'm still in shock over his death because I certainly didn't see that one coming at all. And while I was mourning his death, I was hit by a sledgehammer a week later with the death of Glenn Frey. That was a really really bad week!
Same. He didn't tell people outside a select few and so it really did seem to just come out of nowhere. I watched the video for "Lazarus" so many times that day. It's always so incredible to me - as it was when Warren Zevon passed - that a person facing the impending end of their life and all the pain, sadness, and uncertainty that comes with that - will choose to make one final bit of art before they go, especially when that art is both a meditation on what they're facing and a final goodbye to their fans. Talk about a true artist!
I really would love for J&A to react to "Lazarus" because I think it was such a special song and moment that only reinforces everything they already think about him and more, but I know they have some personal situation in their (recent?) past that really affects them when it comes to videos dealing with dying and/or that type of loss, so I don't want to bum them out that much either. It really was such a great swan song for Bowie though and proof positive that he lived and breathed creativity while he was here.
Because he is not dead. You never felt it did you?
@@centuryrox It was a bad year.
I remember seeing one of the last interviews he had with him and his wife. It was one of the sweetest things when they were talking about each other. He was describing things about her that he loves and how they relate to each other. She was also doing the same talking about how she was the more dramatic person and he was the one who pretty much leveled her out. She was saying in a way it's maddening because he had such an English personality being so calm and relaxed during our times of stress. She said the most beautiful thing about that marriage is that even after all these years she says I STILL RATHER FANCY HIM. Which to me was just the cutest expression in their English way of speaking. She got this look on her face, and I'll never forget it she looked almost like a schoolgirl talking about a crush she had on someone. She lowered her eyes and didn't really look at the camera for a second and then when she looked up she had tears in her eyes because she knew she was losing him. But for that split second she looked so shy as if she was like 15 years old again and had found her first love. That was right before she said I still rather fancy him and you can tell there's such a level of deep love with her and that they shared such a beautiful marriage after all those years. Turn his part of the interview he also kind of looked a bit emotional and like a kid when he spoke about her. It was like almost watching them go back in their minds when they were teenagers even though they met when they were adults. You can see like the almost breathless excitement when they reminiscing to the journalist reporter about how they met... And how they knew that each other WAS the one for them. Out of all the interviews that I've ever seen of either one of them with them together that is absolutely my most favorite. I feel that it's most intimate one they've ever given and it shows them at the most vulnerable and then most loving together. I don't know if I'm explaining this the right way so people can understand, but it was really beautiful thing to witness with how they were talking about each other and the excitement they had in their voices when they talked about when they first met. 😉❤️😎
David Bowie 's creative genius is legendary. Try listening to "Heroes" sometime. It's probably the most played Bowie song played by other artists in tribute after his passing away.
Many years later, Bowie told the story of what happened to Major Tom, in his song "Ashes to Ashes". It would be a great followup to this reaction. :)
see also peter schilling's major tom (coming home)! it's haunting. ruclips.net/video/OMDbX1zksgI/видео.html
It is so hard to believe that there are folks who have never heard this song.. it is iconic and is one of my favorites. Glad that you covered it and that you are enjoying it. David Bowie, RIP.
Remember when the Queen movie came out and suddenly there were a thousand reaction videos of people hearing Bohemian Rhapsody for the "first time"? Or course they weren't hearing it for the first time, but "Hearing for the 704th time" doesn't get views.
This song more than any other takes me back in my mind to being a young boy in Liverpool, the radio was always on in our house and this song was always one that really struck a chord with me. The melancholy is of the scale... but I still love it
And I love it that one of the videos off Black Star shows where Major Tom ended up.
We listened to it as part of our primary school space project. Teaching done right.
This was recorded and released just before the actual moon launch. That makes this an even more amazing song because at that point we still didn't know if it could be done. And there were some problems that made it almost not happen. And Bowie managed to capture that uncertainty perfectly. Now you have to do the answer to this one Major Tom by Peter Shilling.
Apparently Nixon had two speeches prepared, one for a successful mission and one in case of catastrophic failure.
actual moon launch lol
@@heyjer8000 lol
The song was intended to be released when the launch/moon landing was happening. Record label pushed it back in case there was a disaster.
David Bowie's long-time producer, Tony Visconti, turned down the opportunity to work on this song because he though the association with the moon launch was a bit corny. He regretted it!
Bowie is a great artist; Moonage Daydream, Modern love, China Girl, Jean Genie....lots of great songs RIP David Bowie
We hear so much more in our music now with digital audio and quality headphones.
We 70s children feel so strongly about our musical heroes. You have to realize it was usually us in the wee hours with turntable, wired headphones in the pitch black. No cellphones, tv did not broadcast that late. It was pretty lonely but it was a trip and I'll always cherish just me and Elton, me and David, me and Boston or Motown or Bette. It shaped me for sure.
Hell yeah. I'm 60 and doin that right now. HERB!!!
I failed to appreciate him at the time. I was a late convert
I think, also, having instant access to infinite music stops me and many others of the 'internet generation' to really stopping and listening to an album and hearing every note of each song.
You had to grow to appreciate artists slowly back then, whereas I never had that same relationship with any singers when I was a kid, I could just pick whatever song I wanted off iTunes or RUclips. I still have my musical heroes, but the connection was way more genuine when you had to go and buy an album and play it and that being your hobby. Music I love is now just in the soundtrack to my everyday life, I don't appreciate it the same way.
Bowie really had no equals. Completely unique and ever changing genius artist.
There are people who are more technically mastered than Bowie but you can’t find me anyone more creative.
Prince is in that category too.💯
@@futurereflections4097 yes agreed. Songwriting is the most important skill though.
@@wrutledge1 absolutely!
Yall acting like led zeppelin, pink floyd and queen didn't exist in the 70s.
David Bowie was an English singer-songwriter & actor. He constantly reinvented himself to stay current over nearly 5 decades. His first big hit was "Space Oddity" in 1969. He has had a lot of great songs including "Starman", "Ziggy Stardust", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Changes", "Fame", "Golden Years", "Ashes To Ashes", Let's Dance", "Modern Love", "China Girl", "Heroes" etc.
Let’s not forget Little Drummer Boy with Bing Crosby. I listen to that every Christmas season to get me into the spirit of the season!
Stay safe, stay sane, be well
And" This is not America"🎶
Technically under pressure is a queen song he features on as the song rights after freddie died went to Bryan man not david
Yeh mate, we all know how to use google.
Ok thanks, literally everyone knows this
My favorite Bowie song! Still get chills when I hear, "Tell my wife I love her very much..." Wish you would have backed up a couple of lines after that last pause, thouigh, since something had gone wrong and Ground Control had lost contact...that always gave me chills, too, and I imagine Major Tom just floating eternally in space.
When they paused, that’s exactly what I was thinking, “please back up, please back up”.
Listen intently, nope, ok, maybe they’ll catch on anyway…
… Bugger!
Right? My biggest pet peeve with this channel is how they never pay attention to what's actually going on in the music. They miss obvious stuff, every time. If most other reactors did, too, I'd be less annoyed, but nope, it's definitely a characteristic of these specific reactors.
I just commented on this very thing. They used to back up after every pause, but they only do occasionally now.
Yeah, I'm glad that bothered someone else, too. They went on blissfully raving about the music and sound effects in the song but missed the tragic turn that the story took. Yeah, they should have backed up after the pause. Their loss. OK, I'm moving on.
I'm sure they'll pick it up on subsequent listens and to be fair, who knows how many times I'd heard the song before I picked up on the full story. It was 40 odd years ago and I guarantee there's many a song I've sung along to and at some point gone "oooohhhh, that's what it's about".
I turned my daughter onto this song when she was 5. She still loves it to this day. She is 32 now! Great music stretches through generations.
The keyboard parts are mainly the first take. Rick Wakeman turned up for the session, was handed the charts and did the melllotron part straight off. Bowie also used a kid's toy, the xylophone, to get the eerie sounds.
You have to review Chris Hadfield’s version. He actually did it on the international space station. Bowie gave it a thumbs up!!!
Great version! with great natural scenery of space.
Stay safe, stay sane, be well
Was just going to suggest this! Commander Hadfield did a bunch of great videos from space, but this one was the coolest. You can find it here on RUclips.
Yep he sang about floating in a most peculiar way whilst actually floating in a most peculiar way lol
Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/KaOC9danxNo/видео.html
I might add, that when this video was released on RUclips, RUclips blocked it due to copyright infringement. David Bowie, liked this video so much, that he fought his own record company to let the video be on RUclips.
RIP David. You will always be part of my teenage memories!
Stay safe, stay sane, be well
YES!! I was just going to suggest this.!
David Bowie was/is / always will be a Music & Fashion Icon and also a great actor
I have loved Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence since it was released. A great movie that took some time to be appreciated.
Now do the "sequel" to this, "Ashes To Ashes" that has a lot of the sounds and feel that you guys love. There's also the German tribute "Major Tom" by Peter Schilling as well.
They also need to see the avant-garde video for "Ashes to Ashes."
Thank you. I was about to suggest Peter Schilling.
K.I.A. also wrote a great song, Mrs. Major Tom, told from the wife's perspective. It has also been covered by Sheryl Crow.
@@delanolopez3950 I remember that song.
And after Ashes to ashes the third Part hello spaceboy.
This is the first Bowie most of us heard in the 70s, the staring point of it all.
First time I heard this song was on Mr. Deeds, I went and listened to this song and it's very good
You should watch the version of this sung by astronaut Chris Hadfield from the space station! It'll blow your mind.
on the Space Station version not the LATE NIGHT SHOW
Chris Hadfield is Canadian
Yes! Hadfield even impressed Bowie himself with his version on the ISS. :)
David Bowie roxxx ittt!! I love All of his music 🎼🎸🎧 Rebel Rebel, Suffragette City, Moonage Daydream n many more 😎 rest in Paradise 🙏🏻
Omg so good all of them
Thank you!!! “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” is truly epic!!! Heck, his entire collection of albums are chalked full of bangers!!!
you nailed it - he's not a character, he's David Bowie💜
Judging by the way you guys are reacting to this song and music on your channel in general. I don't understand how you have never heard all these truly timeless songs. I mean I know classic songs that were out before my time. Where have you been? If you can appreciate music it's always been there for you. Your amazement is like the discovery of fire.
The next two David Bowie songs that you should react to are "Life on Mars" and "Heroes". The former is arguably his greatest song and the video for it was a real shock to the conservative norms of the early 70's. Bowie was unapologetically leading the way for alternative lifestyles. "Heroes" was way ahead of the times sonically and has a special connection to Berlin during the Cold War when the wall divided the city. It's hard to believe that "Heroes" was recorded using analog equipment, it sounds like a product of the digital era.
Bowie is one of those very selected artists, who are able to make complex and intellectual themes fit pretty well in popular music without losing its originality nor sophistication. It goes for each album released throughout his whole career
Everyone thought David Bowie was from another dimension, but everyone loved him! I was 12 when this song was released in 1969. It was my first exposure to him. Loved this reaction! Thank you!
It was first released in 1969
This was released in 1969 and way beyond it’s time. Bowie was a genius
@@martindavis4632 - Yes, 1969.
Space Oddity has always been my favourite Bowie's song.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
It’s amazing how this song was released in 1969 and when I listen to space oddity I feel like I am floating around in the air it’s just so cool David was just an amazing guy
The song "Ziggy Stardust" is part of a story about a fictional dude, but it's a _brilliant_ portrayal of the psychological implosion of a star brought on by fame...so catchy and memorable!
Yes!! Love this one!
Space Oddity is one of those songs I've kinda taken for granted for all these years. Hearing it a-new through someone else's ears brought a new level of appreciation. Thanks guys!
I went to see him live in 73 , 74 and 76 . . fab
You two are an absolute win double you are just fantastic reactors .👍🇬🇧🤗🤗🤗🤗
There are too many David Bowie songs to list that y'all should listen to. Two of my personal favorites are "Life On Mars" and "Ashes To Ashes". You should give them a listen.
I love the piano in Life on Mars
ALWAYS watch the video when reacting to Bowie. ALWAYS.
Bowie videos are better than any lyrics video can ever be.
Not in this case.
This one might predate the concept of Music Videos
@@AndersonDawesWasRight Nope. ruclips.net/video/iYYRH4apXDo/видео.html
Can’t go wrong w Bowie. I recommend “Changes” if you haven’t heard that one. It was a big part of the “1971” documentary on Apple+ TV. You guys would really love that 8 part doc.
This song gives me chills- each and every time. He is gift and a legend - his music brings back so many amazing memories of my teenage years. His music is timeless ❤ thanks for sharing/ reacting- y’all are my favorite reaction couple ❤
Literal chills from this song! The man was such a creative genius
David Bowie was a musical genius! This is one of my favorites from him. The song came out in 1969 around the time of the first moon landing.
I remember when this song came out in 1969. It was played all the time on the Juke Boxes where ever we went. It is still one of my favourite songs.
You, never have to apologize about how you hear and understand music. We are on a journey!
No one can deny the huge and unique talent that was Bowie. And the impossible to calculate influence he had over music. And may I say? When he agreed to do Gervais' Extras, he also gave us one of the all time great comedy moments. I had no idea the man had such a wonderful sense of humour as well as his other talents.
This is my jam! Can I suggest some new artist. AMERICA “Ventura Highway” JAMES TAYLOR “Fire and Rain” TODD RUNDGREN “Hello It’s Me”
David Bowie's "Suffragette City" and "Rebel Rebel" are really good songs. I really enjoyed this, thanks!
David Bowie is my favourite solo artist of all time. Creative and brave. Never stood still. Always looking for new musical avenues to explore. A true original.
NICE FRIKKIN WALL!!!!😮😃😃😃❤️❤️
Bowie was ahead of his time. So many bands over the years will say that he was an inspiration.
Loving the Thin Lizzy t-shirt.
I’m absolutely transformed when I listen to David Bowie, love every phase in his life, and always followed his music! The day he died, I cried, knowing that the last album came out as his last, like preparing us for this awful loss we were about to share!! His song Lazarus was haunting & it still is hard to watch! There is, and never will be, anyone in our life that will be even close to matching his songwriting, his voice, his personas. He is that one of a kind musician that you have been blessed by just hearing him! I love you David, always have, always will! 😢
♥️The sad old white woman
Great song.
Suggestion: When you resume after a pause, you should back up a little. You missed the drama of him being lost.
Also, Peter Schillig did a reprise of this song called Major Tom that is fantastic!
5,4,3,2,1, earth below me....
I absolutely agree.
Exactly.
David Bowie was a great actor, too. He didn't act often, but when he did it was brilliant. His turn as *Pontius Pilate* in Scorsese's, "The Last Temptation of Christ", is riveting.
He also played an FBI agent in cinema movie "Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me", also an English POW officer in "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" , monster in "Labyrinth" and vampire , partner of Catherine Denevue and Susan Sarandon in "The Hunger", also great song in "Absolute Beginners". Plus more. Cheers
The Hunger, and his Tesla in the Prestige are amazing roles for him
The Man Who Fell To Earth. He played an alien who came to earth.
He also played in The Elephant Man on Broadway or London on stage, I forget. I've read that his performance as Joseph Merrick (the Elephant Man), wearing zero makeup or prostheses, was heartrending.
What an amazing cast that movie had, and Peter Gabriel's song tracks was amazing
Bowie started his career in 1964 as a young teenager and it took a long time before he would have a hit.. In the meantime he sung with other bands & even wrote a hit for Peter Noon...Until he had an idea for this tune... He had been following the Apollo space program & wrote this song to coincide with the July 1969 Luna landing...This was not only an epic song that really captured the magnificence of the landing , but was also a stroke of marketing genius that would blast off his musical journey into space....
One thing about Bowie is the lushness of his music. It's like piles of thick velvet: you fall back into it and almost float; immersed in the texture. I get the same feeling from The Moody Blues. Like I'm rolling in a cloud. Definitely headphones required!
If you really want to hear the range and control in Bowie's voice, please react to Wild is the WInd - one of my favourites. It was originally written for Johnny Mathis, and Nine Simone did two different arrangements of it, but Bowie's is the best version. It will pretty much blow you away.
Yes! Wild is the Wind. Spectacular vocals! World class
Oh, yes. Chill inducing , impeccable performance.
I loved him in the movie Labyrinth! The soundtrack is great too! I never went back to his really early stuff. Love the song "Golden Years" though.
Such an amazing shape-shifting genius! I absolutely adore Let's Dance, The Man Who Sold the World (famously covered by Nirvana in their Unplugged show, but Bowie is the original,) Changes, Suffragette City, Modern Love, Rebel Rebel, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Heroes, Fashion, This is Not America, Absolute Beginners, Dancing in the Street (w Mick Jagger,) and one of my faves, Blue Jean (you gotta check out this video-- there's a 20 minute mini-movie version of it, but this is the song part of it)
This song is about a friend of Bowies who died of a Heroin overdose. He confirmed this in an interview. When you listen to the lyrics you can really see that, when he floats away he’s dying.
Positively Love this song by Bowie! My eyes fill with tears, every time I hear it. Theirs So Much emotion...hear the words...and have a tissue near by. Love, Love. ❤️
A true legend, and great Gentleman, RIP Mr. Bowie. A few suggestions, from endless great choices, "Changes", "Suffragette City", and "Let's Dance". Vastly different sound for each one.
A real classic! You have to bear in mind the timeframe this was released: 1969. The Apollo space program was just getting ready to land on the moon in July 1969 and just the year before, a very influential sci-fi movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey" was released. So, space mania was in full bloom! Also, 1969 was probably the peak of the hippy/psychedelic era including in music, so you had a lot of trippy songs around that time. This song sort of ties all those things together.
I'm glad you mention that. I was terrified, as a kid, that something like this could happen to the astronauts in the first Apollo missionsl. Even going up to orbit the earth before the moon missions was scary.
Knowing that Gagarin was 'up there's during his orbit seemed so crazy, just the sort of silly idea a boy would have.
You can hear Bowie's cockney accent coming through, born and bred in Brixton near the prison... till his family went upmarket and moved to Beckenham, Kent
Yep.. my town , I lived in a flat opposite the Prison in the 70’s
@@Trish-ql9kz I was born and lived on Brixton/Camberwell border
@@jillybrooke29 I went to Sacred Heart school in Camberwell Green.. as did my 3 older brothers, I also went to Brixton college which I believe is no longer there
@@Trish-ql9kz I lived behind Camberwell New Road
I never "got" this song as a first grader when this song was released in 1969 (surprise!), but I remember seeing Bowie on tv years later and was in awe of his very unique persona. Bowie lived his life in performance art, and however the level of influence drugs played in his creative process, his talent continues to inspire.
This song is such a strange combination of mellow and intense. I think you guys really get it ;) Thanks for another thoughtful reaction!
Bowie was such a talent. Check out: "China Girl", "Let's Dance", "Changes", Jean Jeannie", "Dancing in the Streets (With Mick Jagger)", "Suffraggette City", "Modern Love", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fame", These are his more popular tunes but is work throughout is impossible to define.
I’ve always loved this song - and always will. 😃
I love the fact Boy George is watching over your shoulder as you deep dive into David Bowie music George is a huge Bowie fan and always credits Ziggy with the Reason he started to sing write and perform this is superb 😀😀
Cost George thousands of pounds in make up though
My generation was “lucky “ in music. It’s great seeing you getting it. Love David Bowie.
We have been blessed in the UK, having had quality musicians for years.
Bowie was the tip of the spear.
Everyone talks about the Beatles, yet there were so many more. The Beatles are almost like England's export of McDonalds to the U.S.
The contribution of Mick Ronson to this incarnation of Bowie should be appreciated. His production and arrangements where immense.
Mick Ronson wasn't in Space Oddity.
Gus Dudgeon produced this. Was Elton John’s producer at start of his career. Genius producer.
I’ve never listened to this song through headphones, though I’ve been listening to David Bowie since I bought Hunky Dory ages ago. Today is the first time I heard the separation of Bowie’s voice in “Tell my wife I love her very much,” and his other voice answering, “She knows,” in my other ear. It’s such a profound foreshadowing of what is about to happen to Major Thom, or what he is possibly choosing. I knew the ending, but wow. Thank you both. I saw the Ziggy Stardust tour, but I still heard something different today.
david bowie saved my fucking life
I was privileged to see the Ziggy Stardust tour when it came to Hull City Hall in '71; the whole set was mesmerising especially Mick Ronson's guitar playing (a Hull lad).
I met David Bowie a year earlier at the Brickhouse in Hull, a prog rock hang-out back then, he had peroxide hair and a white suit, he was the coolest of guys more than happy to mingle with the coffee crowd. Those where the days, long gone I'm sad to say.
Yes! all us oldies shed a tear when the gods took him from us. RIP
So many great Bowie songs for you to react to…my recommendation is “Lazarus” from his last album, “Blackstar.” He released it right before he died. You HAVE to watch the video with it. It’s probably the most amazing final release by any musician ever. (I’m biased. I’m a huge fan.)
So on your first listen you've 'got' the first layer of the 'story'. Keep listening to it, you will discover more layers to the story and meaning each time. 'Ashes to Ashes' continues the 'story' of Major Tom.
I once saw a sign for a local landscaping company called Major Tom’s Ground Control. ❤
Now, you need to check out the follow-up, Ashes to Ashes. Space Oddity was inspired by two things - the first Apollo moon landing, and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Classic. This should be required listening for all music fans.
He's the Goblin King, ya'll! Ooh, Bowie was a chameleon in style and music. Some of the sounds behind his vocals were done with a Synthophone. You can find them online for around 30-40 dollars. They're fun, I got my son one for Christmas. But seriously, Bowie, some great stuff you may like is the entirety of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, my personal favorite from that one is Moonage Daydream. Heroes, Changes, Life On Mars, Starman, Lady Grinning Soul, Let's Dance (SRV on guitar), Blue Jean, China Girl, you could listen to his catalog for years and not hear the same song twice. Lazarus from his last album Dark Star will make you cry.