Hunky Dory was an album I listened to over and over. I love every song, although the Bewlay Brothers may be my favorite. Something about the lyrics and the way he sings it. Literary menace.
Thanks John, for this post and the playlists. One of my favorites and one of the great artists of our time.
Thanks, David. You’re the second person in the last couple of days who mentioned “The Bewlay Brothers” as a favorite—and it really struck me to when I re-listened this time. That’s an interesting aspect of Bowie’s body of work: there are so many strange and interesting moments that strike us in different ways at different phases in life, which is why I think we keep going back to him.
Love this - takes me right back. In my case, to 1990s suburban Atlanta where Space Oddity provided respite from strip-mall and restaurant-chain culture. Later in that decade, having escaped the suburbs and working at Hatchards bookstore in London, David Bowie came into the store, walked up to my bookseller friend at the front desk and said, "Amber, darling, tell me what I should be reading." She created a four-foot hight pile of books while David Bowie kept a cab waiting, then waltzed out with his finds. Hatchards in the 90s is another whole story 😊
Thanks for this wonderful analysis of the classic with the pop - as always!
Serendipity. In my hotel room in London, there are books, including The Man Who Sold the World , which is all about Bowie and includes concise and interesting analyses of every Bowie song from the 1970s. I'm ordering it for home.
On 'Let's Dance's, are the red shoes in song and video an allusion to Hans Christian Anderson's dark fairytale 'The Red Shoes' and/or the 1948 Powell & Pressburger film of the same name and similar subject? Watching these music videos shows Bowie's own work is now used as a cultural allusion. I knew of course, that the popular TV 'Life on Mars' drew inspiration from Bowie, but I didn't realize its TV sequel, 'Ashes to Ashes' also was Bowie inspired, including the disturbing clown figure, until I saw Bowie's music video.
Wait a minute, CD players were a thing in 1985?? Not surprised you were ahead of the curve with musical selections. I imagine Bowie would have spoken to me deeply as a teen! As it stands, I love his work and his whole persona especially after seeing the special on his life and creativity in Brooklyn a couple years back. I’ve hit the download button just as I’m about to board a flight. 🙌 Thanks for this meaningful and fun work, John!
What a wonderful curation, John. Looking forward to delving. Interestingly, I had never seen the official video for "Let's Dance" (or I forgot?). Lots to think about there. I just read the Wikipedia entry on it, which says the (highly political) video has little connection to the song except for the red shoes -- but what a connection!
And then, to start that groundbreaking song for you: "Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth."
Thanks, Jay. Yes, lots going on in that video. I recall one of the times when I saw him perform, he held up a red shoe reverently and sang to it. And yes, what a lyric. “You walk past the café, but you don’t eat, / When you’ve lived too long.”
Thanks John. I am definitely in the casual fan category. I appreciate him and his talent but was never a die hard fan. My wife on the other hand loves him. She learned English by listening to music so she has quite a bit more knowledge and familiarity than I do. I won't debate anything but I will take some time to listen to the playlists.
John, I am a Bowie super fan, and I love your playlists, especially "cocaine side effects." I would've included more from "Aladdin Sane," which is my favorite album of them all, such as "Drive-in Saturday" and "Panic in Detroit" (not to mention "Occasional Dream" from the "Space Oddity" album), but hey, that's the thing about Bowie. I agree with you that he had an extraordinary artistic career, full of work that still sounds fresh and sui generis. Some duds, too, but he was a working artist until the end.
I also think the best of these albums should be listened to all the way through, like "Hunky Dory" (quite amazingly weird, and it dropped like a comet into my young teenage life), "Ziggy Stardust," "Aladdin Sane," "Station to Station," "Low," and "Next Day." I'll be interested to read your dive into "Young Americans," too.
Way back in 2011, I reviewed a bio about David Bowie for Talking Writing, using it as a jump-off point to explore my own fandom. I wrote that piece before his death and the museum show, "David Bowie Is...," which circulated around the world. (That show was fabulous; I first saw it in London at the V&A.) Here's my piece, in case it's off interest:
Thanks, Martha. Yes, there was a lot that I left off that I would have included if I didn’t have length in mind. I agree that many of his albums work a unified “suites” of songs and are best heard complete. Hopefully, listeners will be intrigued by some parts of the playlist and will move on to the albums.
Thanks for the link to your piece! Will read forthwith…
Hunky Dory was an album I listened to over and over. I love every song, although the Bewlay Brothers may be my favorite. Something about the lyrics and the way he sings it. Literary menace.
Thanks John, for this post and the playlists. One of my favorites and one of the great artists of our time.
Thanks, David. You’re the second person in the last couple of days who mentioned “The Bewlay Brothers” as a favorite—and it really struck me to when I re-listened this time. That’s an interesting aspect of Bowie’s body of work: there are so many strange and interesting moments that strike us in different ways at different phases in life, which is why I think we keep going back to him.
"Literary menace" — great phrase!
Love this - takes me right back. In my case, to 1990s suburban Atlanta where Space Oddity provided respite from strip-mall and restaurant-chain culture. Later in that decade, having escaped the suburbs and working at Hatchards bookstore in London, David Bowie came into the store, walked up to my bookseller friend at the front desk and said, "Amber, darling, tell me what I should be reading." She created a four-foot hight pile of books while David Bowie kept a cab waiting, then waltzed out with his finds. Hatchards in the 90s is another whole story 😊
Thanks for this wonderful analysis of the classic with the pop - as always!
What an amazing story!
Serendipity. In my hotel room in London, there are books, including The Man Who Sold the World , which is all about Bowie and includes concise and interesting analyses of every Bowie song from the 1970s. I'm ordering it for home.
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Sold-World-David/dp/0062024655/ref=sr_1_4?crid=25IDABZPU81EH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EEEIGNgzMf5NkDZ6K3slVWrONYaBnQJqrRkvCF6GvtKPNVL9LSKw4SuOChAQIZqe--GvbRZeip_DpHM5u8Vzjlu2aKjtaR6kcoNEjqMsegHCCIPqxo6p4mVm5o5WZAYeVDfgvrVzTIujVpBscnzWsx7PRV5H7a-Uqd8ylMjW4CaLk_wH4LB2io7Ry_-f78O_0qGRvHtmeUyRqA6N4DtAKzQAgzHjIjgZ5rtYOizdu9w.HvXamBYutp6BX8YXorXHocCLvYvUJbJM7KBasSglgK0&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+man+who+sold+the+world+book&qid=1716366635&sprefix=the+man+who+sold+the+world%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-4
Thanks for sharing! Nicholas Pegg’s Complete Bowie is another excellent book.
On 'Let's Dance's, are the red shoes in song and video an allusion to Hans Christian Anderson's dark fairytale 'The Red Shoes' and/or the 1948 Powell & Pressburger film of the same name and similar subject? Watching these music videos shows Bowie's own work is now used as a cultural allusion. I knew of course, that the popular TV 'Life on Mars' drew inspiration from Bowie, but I didn't realize its TV sequel, 'Ashes to Ashes' also was Bowie inspired, including the disturbing clown figure, until I saw Bowie's music video.
Interesting, I don’t know if the red shoes are an allusion. I wouldn’t be surprised.
Thanks for the Bowie-ness!
The Rockonteurs podcast had an interview with Nile Rodgers way back in their first season & he had a bit to say about the making of "Let's Dance." https://shows.acast.com/rockonteurs-with-gary-kemp-and-guy-pratt/episodes/s1e13-nilerodgers
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Wait a minute, CD players were a thing in 1985?? Not surprised you were ahead of the curve with musical selections. I imagine Bowie would have spoken to me deeply as a teen! As it stands, I love his work and his whole persona especially after seeing the special on his life and creativity in Brooklyn a couple years back. I’ve hit the download button just as I’m about to board a flight. 🙌 Thanks for this meaningful and fun work, John!
Yes, I think that I was the first person in my school to get a CD player. Hope you enjoy the playlist!
Impressive! I was on tapes until probably 1992 haha.
What a wonderful curation, John. Looking forward to delving. Interestingly, I had never seen the official video for "Let's Dance" (or I forgot?). Lots to think about there. I just read the Wikipedia entry on it, which says the (highly political) video has little connection to the song except for the red shoes -- but what a connection!
And then, to start that groundbreaking song for you: "Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth."
That's a lyric.
Thanks, Jay. Yes, lots going on in that video. I recall one of the times when I saw him perform, he held up a red shoe reverently and sang to it. And yes, what a lyric. “You walk past the café, but you don’t eat, / When you’ve lived too long.”
Thanks John. I am definitely in the casual fan category. I appreciate him and his talent but was never a die hard fan. My wife on the other hand loves him. She learned English by listening to music so she has quite a bit more knowledge and familiarity than I do. I won't debate anything but I will take some time to listen to the playlists.
Thanks, Matthew. Your wife has excellent taste!
I've never quite gotten around to really delving into Bowie beyond the hits, appreciate these starting points!
Hope you enjoy it!
John, I am a Bowie super fan, and I love your playlists, especially "cocaine side effects." I would've included more from "Aladdin Sane," which is my favorite album of them all, such as "Drive-in Saturday" and "Panic in Detroit" (not to mention "Occasional Dream" from the "Space Oddity" album), but hey, that's the thing about Bowie. I agree with you that he had an extraordinary artistic career, full of work that still sounds fresh and sui generis. Some duds, too, but he was a working artist until the end.
I also think the best of these albums should be listened to all the way through, like "Hunky Dory" (quite amazingly weird, and it dropped like a comet into my young teenage life), "Ziggy Stardust," "Aladdin Sane," "Station to Station," "Low," and "Next Day." I'll be interested to read your dive into "Young Americans," too.
Way back in 2011, I reviewed a bio about David Bowie for Talking Writing, using it as a jump-off point to explore my own fandom. I wrote that piece before his death and the museum show, "David Bowie Is...," which circulated around the world. (That show was fabulous; I first saw it in London at the V&A.) Here's my piece, in case it's off interest:
https://talkingwriting.com/dont-take-away-my-david-bowie
And, yes, shout out to "Absolute Beginners," the whole soundtrack from that long-lost movie.
Thanks, Martha. Yes, there was a lot that I left off that I would have included if I didn’t have length in mind. I agree that many of his albums work a unified “suites” of songs and are best heard complete. Hopefully, listeners will be intrigued by some parts of the playlist and will move on to the albums.
Thanks for the link to your piece! Will read forthwith…