David Bowie - Life On Mars? (REACTION)

[@marynelson288]

Such a classic. David could ALWAYS saaang: check out his version of "Wild Is the Wind"!! Epic.

[@dongiovanni6796]

"Wild is the Wind" is a rich tour de force, but listen also to the range in "Young Americans"... something like 3+ octaves.

[@blanewilliams5960]

David Bowie was a chameleon, always changing and innovating and yes he can sing. He was my first concert experience at 13 and it was fantastic. He has a huge catalog of great music that is very diverse.

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

So totally awesome! Rick Wakeman on piano & the BRILLIANT Mick Ronson on Guitar & arrangement. He was the true genius of the Bowie sound..

[@vicprovost2561]

Mick Ronson was dope, I hated when he broke up the Spiders From Mars but David never stayed in the same place for very long.

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

@@vicprovost2561 Boy you said it! I heard Bowie say he changed because The Spiders was kind of a flop, if you can believe that!?? He said he never really "made it" until the Let's dance stuff...I was amazed to hear this!

[@vicprovost2561]

@@mr.snicker-doodles7081 Ziggy Stardust tour concert video is one of the best live gigs ever, Bowie in peak mode and Mick Ronson is a beast! Moonage Daydream and Width of a Circle are epic! 🎸

[@Lwize]

Rick Wakeman was a pretty good piano player. What ever happened to him?

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

@@Lwize Hmm, I think he was maybe in another band but I can't think of their name..:P

[@mangasky7]

Bowie was a genre unto himself. Greatest art-pop-cabaret song ever.

[@John-et9yl]

Possibly Bowie's greatest vocal performance

[@todwest]

Every song on Hunky Dory is a gem. This is his last album as a long-haired folk rocker, the last album before the personas became his signature. The song "Changes" from this record, one of his biggest early hits, presages all that was to follow.

[@jjvladimir6070]

More than any other song, the one I hope you do most is the title track from "Station to Station." It is absolutely epic. So musically adventurous & filled with great lyrics.

[@Sims_E]

Love Station to Station. Especially with the live video from the film Christiane F.

[@tubefreeeasy]

Yes (before Yes) keyboardist Rick Wakeman was the pianist on this masterpiece.

[@jaquestraw1]

One of my absolute fav Bowie tracks. Pure genius

[@jimmyjameson8705]

Arguably the greatest artist of all time. PERIOD.. YOU ARE SORELY MISSED.MR.JONES. A fearless rebel and pioneer ...Musically and culturally.

[@maryelizabethreynoldsprice2135]

YES!

[@WelshJane]

💯❤️

[@susanmurray7654]

His duet with Bing Crosby...he CAN SING

[@buddystewart2020]

One of my favorite, if not my favorite, tracks from Bowie. From songfacts: The lyricism is very abstract, though the basis of this song is about a girl who goes to watch a movie after an argument with her parents. The film ends with the line "Is there life on Mars?" Bowie has labeled the song "a sensitive young girl's reaction to the media" and added, "I think she finds herself disappointed with reality... that although she's living in the doldrums of reality, she's being told that there's a far greater life somewhere, and she's bitterly disappointed that she doesn't have access to it." The lyrics also contain imagery suggesting the futility of man's existence, a topic Bowie used frequently on his early albums. >> Bowie came up with this after he was asked to put English lyrics to a French song called "Comme d'habitude." Paul Anka ultimately bought the rights to the original French song and rewrote it in English as "My Way," later made famous by Frank Sinatra. "Life On Mars?" uses practically the same chords as "My Way" and the Hunky Dory linear notes state that the song is "inspired by Frankie." In 2008, Bowie recalled writing this song to the Mail on Sunday: "This song was so easy. Being young was easy. A really beautiful day in the park, sitting on the steps of the bandstand. 'Sailors bap-bap-bap-bap-baaa-bap.' An anomic (not a 'gnomic') heroine. Middle-class ecstasy. I took a walk to Beckenham High Street to catch a bus to Lewisham to buy shoes and shirts but couldn't get the riff out of my head. Jumped off two stops into the ride and more or less loped back to the house up on Southend Road. Workspace was a big empty room with a chaise lounge; a bargain-price art nouveau screen ('William Morris,' so I told anyone who asked); a huge overflowing freestanding ashtray and a grand piano. Little else. I started working it out on the piano and had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon. Nice. Rick Wakeman [of prog band, Yes] came over a couple of weeks later and embellished the piano part and guitarist Mick Ronson created one of his first and best string parts for this song which now has become something of a fixture in my live shows."

[@13terapyn]

Thank you for that!

[@clubmogambo3214]

Fascinating analysis!! As a diehard, lifelong Bowie fan, I thank you!!!

[@maggiedub]

My favorite Bowie song. I’m so glad you guys liked it too. ❤

[@Joshualuv13]

Listen to Wild is the wind ..then you know he can truly sing !

[@rockandrollpaddy]

This is from Hunky Dory '71-'72, the album before Ziggy (his break through album). Same backing band. It has a folk - rock feel in parts (lots of 12 string guitar) and influenced by Dylan. It is a block buster and regularly comes out on top of polling of fans. Personally, it competes with Station to Station as his best album, though ziggy is in the mix. P.S. Bowie is a wonderful vocalist!

[@ednicholson7839]

If you want to hear some more Bowie with amazing vocals I recommend "Word on a Wing" or "Lady Grinning Soul". If you want to get back to some funky Bowie then I recommend "Station to Station" or "Fashion". If you want to get back to some hard rock Bowie I recommend listening to "The Jean Jeanie" or "Cracked Actor". But really you should react to the entire Ziggy Stardust album if you haven't done it yet. That's really the album that is one of the greatest ever made, represents his essence and the one that made him a star.

[@bobdelp2023]

YOU GUYS SHOULD DO THE ( BING CROSBY / DAVID BOWIE ) CHRISTMAS VIDEO CLIP 😊 BUT YEAH, BOWIE WAS AWESOME AND LIKE I'VE SAID HIM AND ELTON WERE ON TOPPPPP OF THE ROCK WORLD IN THAT ( 71-75 ) BLOCK👍, CONCERTS, CHARACTERS, COSTUMES, ETC ETC, ESPECIALLYYYY ELTON OF COURSE!😊 AND DAVID HAD HIS OWN CHARACTERS THAT HE PLAYED IN CONCERT, R.I.P. ☹ TO A MUSICAL GENIUS AND A GREAT ROCK LEGEND! 💯

[@stevenmurano7863]

Yes bowie can SING. and yes he changed often…but he didn’t (usually) just do what was happening at the time. He often dictated what was happening at the time. His voice definitely changed…noticeably around Diamond Dogs it started getting deeper. Anyway, you want to hear some masterful bowie vocals….Lady Grinning Soul, Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet thing, Wild is the Wind, Fantastic Voyage. I always tell those new to bowie that they should start at the beginning and listen chronologically so you get the full effect of how he constantly changed and moved…

[@lindaulloa4786]

He has so many great songs it's hard to pick a few! I like Panic in Detroit, anything from Ziggy Stardust, Ashes to Ashes, Wild is the Wind, China Girl. I can go on and on.

[@clubmogambo3214]

And on and on and on and on. Trust me, I feel the same.

[@maxbrazil3712]

You guys should watch the concert video of Bowie's "Serious Moonlight" tour. It's the best live concert I've ever seen.

[@marynelson288]

Except for "Stop Making Sense!"

[@heats13crazyness]

@@marynelson288 and "Live at Pompeii"

[@paulbewlay4527]

Yes, this is very early, but the band, for the most part, is the Spiders From Mars, with notable piano work by Rick Wakeman of Yes. His vocal style changes with each album, I think much of his best work was on Hunky Dory and Space Oddity. Keep listening, Bowie was a true master, and he attracted other great musicians to his stuio recording sessions. This song, by itself, the basic theme and lyrics, was great. Rick Wakeman found a way to make the great even greater!

[@jeffmiller4832]

If I may suggest; “Sweet Thing, Candidate, Sweet Thing (reprise). Best version, imo, is on David Live at the Tower Theatre, Philadelphia. Instead of dueling guitar leads; how about guitar and saxophone? I think it came out in 1974. When he became the Thin White Duke. 🖖🍻

[@gregcable3250]

Bowie does have an Elton sound here, but that Elton sound came from John Lennon.

[@mattiefee]

This song is deep on so many levels. David Bowie was a trendsetting legend for over 5 decades.

[@koenjules]

Bowie's style changed pretty much every album, so you gotta listen to more of him to fully comprehend his genius. If you want another showcase of his singing skills, listen to the Sweet Thing suite!

[@lisarainbow9703]

Great reaction, guys! Although, truth be told, I can't help but notice the Traffic album cover on the wall behind you, and I'm really really hoping to hear some reactions from Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory... "Tragic Magic" is an AMAZING funky song from that album. And "Roll Right Stones" is just about as epic as "Low Spark of High Heel Boys" is...... ( nudge nudge wink wink...)😁✌

[@bigdave1302]

Bowie based his singing on Anthony Newley, English actor singer, filmmaker

[@donnaabbato508]

He was a true GENIUS/LEGEND!!! I was a lucky lady to have seen in concert…late 70’s at MSG! Miss you David!🙏💖🙏

[@EessaTube]

Rick Wakeman, from the band, YES, did the keyboard/piano on this album. He said in an interview that when Bowie played him this song on an acoustic guitar, Wakeman said to him, that is the greatest song I've ever heard [i'm paraphrasing there].

[@DavidBaena]

the guy had 6 heart attacks during the ears during his last years. so probably affected a bit his voice

[@DanielHBuchmann]

I love that David mentions the Norfolk Broads, where I was born.

[@VIDSTORAGE]

The original video is worth a look ,I am not requesting a reaction ,just look at it and a reaction request '''Watch That Man'''

[@jimmymcintyre7944]

His last name is pronounced Bow E. U have been saying it wrong. Also, yall need to check into Diamond Dogs album by Bowie.

[@m.gideonhoyle409]

Bowie is the 20-sided dice of rock/pop/soul, etc. Just depends on the roll.

[@seanbeck2723]

Don't forget about his guitarist Mick Ronson, one of the most underrated guitar players ever. The guy ripped!

[@tomhaynor2779]

The Hunky Dory album is unique, just like the Alien he was personifying in those days. If you like this, you'll love Kooks off the same album

[@Anthony-mi7ob]

If I had to pick a favourite Bowie, this would be it. A pattern I've noticed with 70's musicians since KZbin came along so you can see their old stuff; incredible creativity with kinda weird lyrics in their few albums. The lyrics settle down as they go big time but the musical edge is lost. Can't have it all!

[@marzcapone9939]

Mick Ronson on electric guitar

[@melvinwomack3717]

I love his guitar playing on Ziggy stardust and the from mars

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

He is really the TRUE genius behind all of this! Does not get the credit he deserves..

[@BGRPiccu]

This is my favorite Bowie song. Love the arrangement & Bowie's voice. The man is an alien who we were lucky enough to bask in his presence for almost 70 years. This song is also the badus for an English cop show of the same name. This is early Bowie, but Bowie always changed it up about every 5 years. Don't pay attention to the haters, Bowie can sing, but he does have songs where he is more into the art than sounding like a brilliant singer.

[@rayryeridge3313]

1971 guys, from Hunky Dory album. Love your reaction! Every Bowie album is extremly different, he was a restless creative soul never staying in one spot for long, allways curious to explore new paths. There is no one like him, simply put

[@14gilbertst]

'The Man Who Sold The World' album is also a masterpiece.

[@dcmphotog8452]

You want to hear Bowie sing? Try "Word on a Wing" or "Wild is the Wind". Both on the album STATION TO STATION.

[@GaryRPeters]

If you want to hear incredible Bowie vocals, check out "Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)."

[@krisdoggett483]

I hope y'all hit his Big Brother/1984/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family medley fron his Diamond Dogs album 🫰

[@jeffflinn2053]

Five weeks after Bowie died, the BRIT Awards paid tribute to him. THIS is the song Lourdes sang, and knocked it out of the park. One show, one career, and one song -- and it was THIS one. The one the Brits picked.

[@raushaxleman]

From his BIG breakthrough album, Hunky Dory 1971.... Pleeeeease!!! do the whole album, pay particular attention to the lyrics. Incredible stuff !!!

[@songs481]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to Sweet Thing off of Diamond Dogs. I believe you will be blown away by his range

[@adk100m]

Fellas ... you keep finding gold. You previously found your way to "Stay," which is, to quote you, "one of the ones." Suggestion: Same album, a very deep cut ... "Wild Is The Wind" (it is a kind of standard). Bowie does his best Sinatra--he actually croons (in his style) this one. Carlos Alomar, great guitar work. You won't be disappointed.

[@TheoZoffrok]

You're absolutely right about his version of Wild Is The Wind - it's spectacular. I'd quibble with the notion that it's a "deep cut" though. It's a well loved song from a successful album, and did make the UK Top 40 when it was released as a single a few years later. For a real deep cut, I'd recommend the single version of The Prettiest Star (not the version on Aladdin Sane), from 1971; The London Boys (1966); or maybe The Secret Life Of Arabia, the last song on "Heroes" (1977), which basically invented Italian House nearly a decade before it was a thing.

[@melvinwomack3717]

Like your cousin said Oh yall doing the good shit 😅

[@chrisguevara]

"Word on a Wing" is Bowie doing a gospel track. It's also a good vocal performance.

[@konradpinsonneault1475]

Check out TVC15 , one of my favorite Bowie songs

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Commenting at the middle pausing why are you are commenting about David Bowie's singing, and by the way it's Bow like a bow and arrow, and not, Boo-ie, like the floating thing out at the lake... Carry on!

[@allsorts9909]

Love watching you two. I only pop in once of month,but always look forward to your reactions

[@RobONeill-b5e]

He had soo many great songs but my favourite is Moonage Daydream - a great showcase for Mick Ronson's guitar too

[@vicprovost2561]

Awesome in studio and also from the Ziggy Stardust tour concert video. Mick Ronson is a beast! 🎸

[@andrewoconnor4205]

Yes! He can sing, mostly one takes in the studio and without 'autotune'. Seen him live twice.

[@lloydbraun6026]

I believe it’s Rick Wakeman on keyboards

[@79BlackRose]

This is 1971. He does whatever is going on - that's right. Mostly, he was doing it before it was going on. A trend SETTER!

[@johankaewberg8162]

I love this song! Every bar is a chromatic transfer. And the lyrics moves me. And the video has recorders!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

For an even pretty early example of his great singing, check out the Ultimate Classic huge hit, Changes. I would additionally point out that I heard a story on the news today that the original scribbled lyrics on something for one of my favorite songs of his, also a hit, suffragette city, was going to go on the market today, and by today's prices not all that crazy, but they thought maybe in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I wish you guys would react to suffragette City if you haven't already. I watch so many of your actions but I don't remember what you've done of David Bowie

[@jonfazzone5125]

Bowie is about to break out after 10 year’s of music. With Bowie’s Vocals & Eclectic Songwriting along with Mick Ronson on String Arraignments Recorder & Guitars along with Future Yes Pianist Rick Wakeman make this Song and the whole Album before the Ziggy Stardust breakout Album memorable

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Andy Warhol from this album is really cool

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Anything from the Berlin trilogy or Station to station.

[@sigil5772]

Any songwriter will tell you that Bowie is virtually unparalleled in his inventiveness with the pop-rock idiom: his harmonic and melodic genius is on a par with McCartney, easily. Anything Bowie between about 1968-1980 is solid, but 68-75 (before the coke nearly killed him) are the absolute peak years of his songwriting creativity.

[@carol-mariefleming8689]

There is a great version of this song sung by none other than Barbra Streisand on her 1974 album Butterfly. I highly recommend it.

[@mangasky7]

It's bloody awful. Get your ears syringed. Even Babs admitted later it was a terrible album. Bowie blows her off the stage.

[@mistersnitty7721]

Bowie's comment on Streisand's cover of Life On Mars - "Bloody awful. Sorry Barb, but it was atrocious".

[@carol-mariefleming8689]

@mistersnitty7721 but it wasn't atrocious....no way. I'd like to hear Bowie say that with my own ears. Don't believe what you read...they say he said that but you never hear him actually say it. It works, and if it wasn't for her cover, I never would have re-listened to Bowie's.

[@teresa2845]

I never liked her songs so I know I would not like it. Bowie was so much better than Barb

[@mangasky7]

@@carol-mariefleming8689 It's a bit late now to HEAR Bowie say it, but that quote comes from a Playboy interview with Cameron Crowe in 1976.

[@handsomestik]

RIP Shane Mcgowan

[@88pjtink]

RIP in space, David Bowie. Jimmy will be there someday.....

[@cityhonors1]

🤩 The StarMan! 🤗 Watching him perform was like watching Freddie. 😍 The command he had over an audience was unreal. 😵‍💫 We all became transfixed & mesmerized from the moment he waltzed on stage. 🤔 This is a hard song to sing because you are literally harmonizing, yet singing in the same key somewhat. But its 1 of my favorites. 🥰🐰

[@mattiefee]

You should check out the song Black Star from his album, also called Black Star, released just after he died. You'll see a ledgend still doing it after 50+ years.

[@FaceBat]

It's fairly early. It's from 1971. And that's Rick VVakeman on piano, before he joined Yes.

[@christianmarler2253]

This is the epitome of art-rock.

[@jgsrhythm100]

One word " Superfly" ( title track ) 🔥 The best from the soundtrack

[@cazkain]

Dang over 2 weeks since my Black Sabbath sad face lol....

[@AirplayBeats]

I got them at the top of the list for the next time record. Forgot to put them in this batch.

[@davidwilkins5932]

Cranking on the great stuff. As others have mentioned, it was Wakeman (from Yes) on the piano. Mick Ronson (Bowie’s guitarist) arranged the strings. It was his first time for string arrangement, and he admitted to being nervous as hell, handing it to the professional players from the London classical world. Later on, one of Wakeman’s friends recalled meeting him at a pub when he finished the session, talking about his recording with some guy named David Bowie, and thinking the album would be pretty good.

[@LVVMCMLV]

Another great song/album (Hunky Dory) from 1971

[@AhronLong]

Y’all should do ‘Ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars’ in order in its entirety as it’s a story. And it’s great! And you both will be blown away by ‘Lazarus’ and ‘dark star’ of his last album.

[@seanbeck2723]

My favorite Bowie song by far!

[@garyd6421]

You guys got to do David Bowie live album his vocal range on that record is amazing, best of all Sweet Thing.

[@bobbowman9603]

If you want to hear a heavy metal style. David Bowie, listen to the song, cracked actor. Studio version

[@renemokum]

So many style changes during the long career of David Bowie, but all with the undeniable Bowie signature. Impossible to pick up any favorites (as it depends on my mood), but I just now had to think of a collaboration with Trent Reznor (from Nine Inch Nails) that shows a totally different side of Bowie. This is from his 1997 album 'Earthling' and the song is 'I'm Afraid of Americans.' And please watch this song's amazing (4K) video - of which this is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goWWlHiIi7eih9Esi=rIVwV0hllvqcsbWy

[@angelagraves865]

Bowie's voice in Wild is the Wind is like an orgasm.

[@eirikasbjrnberg8753]

Style change was Bowie . His first stuff as Davy Jones Theatric

[@raytrusty8618]

Yo.........you need to check out Aladdin Sane the album track..........prepare to be blown on your A**......

[@gerardodoherty9178]

Interesting fact about Bowie is that bar a few songs and unlike most singers, his vocals are all one take. Apparently, although he obviously would have done multiple takes, whichever one made the cut was a whole take not a composite of several attempts.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Moonage daydream

[@Joshualuv13]

Epic Materpiece!

[@josiepkat]

As others said.. Wild Is The Wind.. magnificent vocals.. truly

[@GrimrDirge]

I love your commentary guys, it's clear you are music lovers.

[@gavinschwier8242]

Ya, Che, your face was like “What is this junk?” I’m with La, I was very worried you weren’t into this. 😂 This is one of his that grows on you even more with time.

[@mrmiscast]

Somehow, I can't imgaine subscribers ripping you guys apart for reactions....

[@davethewave62]

Rick Wakeman(YES)on piano

[@axelpenn2131]

Older Bowie with lead guitar Mic Ronson the best checkout Moonage Daydream ✌🏻

[@kjfury]

stevey wonder-saturn great track

[@TheExigentex]

Hey my Adorable Gentile Guys❤ plz plz half of DAVID BOWIE! "" VISUALS "" LIVE!! PERFORMANCES ❤FRM THA 🇬🇧 XXX.

[@travisbickel06]

David Bowie a toujours été en avance sur son temps

[@mortyduke7677]

His vocals on Drive In Saturday off Aladin Sane definitely worth a listen. Hes always been a favorite for me

[@JoeSmith-ey2xp]

Try Rock and Roll Suicide at Hammersmith Odeon 1973 and Moonage Daydream at Hammersmith Odeon 1973 to really understand how Bowie became such a SuperStar.

[@loisrogers9042]

Please listen to David Bowie singing with Bing Crosby on Bing's Christmas special. Beautiful vocals.

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

I have loved Bowie since '73, one of my first LPs was Aladdin Sane, my favorite song is Time, I am lucky to have seen Bowie live on almost all of his tours

[@joancarlesclaros9217]

Still trying to understand the meaning of this theme.

[@danmayberry1185]

Never liked the "glam" label, because Bowie, Elton, Marc, et al .. there was substance behind the makeup.

[@marksimpson1991]

LOL. When your brother finally gets it and you have to give him a high-five. But in your head you're thinking, what took you so long?