David Bowie - Quicksand (demo)

[@flashtheoriginal]

My favourite version by a mile. He really SINGS this, it's poetic I often play it in the car and our sons love it Sad news today 😱

[@changodesurfer]

this is the best version of the song

[@nazzare79]

My favourite version of this song. My favourite D.Bowie song. I will remember him for some of his songs and for playing with the immense and overlooked Trevor Bolder.

[@NightMedicine]

This is THE best version. Wish it was on streaming services

[@maximilianoi.suarez4646]

It is.

[@vizmetro]

Haven’t heard this in 20 years. It’s making me cry it’s so fucking beautiful

[@swaddinator]

goodbye bowie. you were always there for me through the highs and lows of life. a constant reassurance that you can be creative, thoughtful and different and not be ashamed to be who you are. truly a solitary light in an ever darkening world x

[@carlquattro756]

Always loved this song and this was my favourite version. I adore the acoustic guitar in this track.

[@diesekaltewelt807]

The album is a Masterpiece

[@xx..tiasan]

from 1969 to 1981 all Bowie's albums are masterpieces... (except Fame)

[@LONEEAGLE_space_rock]

@@xx..tiasan im in new zealand

[@nathanielscott914]

With out any doubt the best version!

[@mezzy777]

David Bowie, if you can read this comment somehow, I think you were one of the most important people in the history of music

[@chetcskes329]

I like the thought that David is looking down on us, a marvellous talent, just a look at my record collection, and there he is through the decades. RIP

[@UdonRERealEstateUdonThani]

absolutely

[@chetcskes329]

Goodbye David, a showman to the last, on Friday, your birthday and 25th album. On Monday you leave us. RIP

[@bryandavid25]

DEMO Bowie - at his VERY best, guitar,words/vocals,

[@realityczechplease]

bryan david

[@JWSportsNetwork]

I’ve been looking for this version for a while, glad I found it 🙏

[@Guns41]

"Knowledge comes with death's release"

[@terryperring104]

Bowies voice changes fascinate me. The voice up to Ziggy either changed or-his voice box changed or something. After that-his voice stayed the same from 1975 to 2016. Station to Station does not sound like the same singer as from Ziggy just four years earlier

[@murielsartre]

I find it fascinating, also. I wonder if it was all the smoking. I heard Bowie smoked up to 4 packs a day at the worst of it. I'll bet it was a huge shock for fans used to hearing his youthful tenor on something like, say, "Drive-in Saturday" to hear the almost-bass on "Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)"on _Diamond Dogs_! And then the climb from that bass to falsetto within a minute in the same song! I know it was a shock for me to hear he lost his deepest baritone by _Reality_ and he was getting that reedy timbre again, like the one he'd had on the 2nd _David Bowie_ album.

[@Louisthefur]

Cocain, cigarettes and wine.. That's what happened.

[@bigcheese2128]

That would be the cocaine and cigarettes

[@alexisfogg9814]

This would definitely work in the 90's or now even - hell he was soo far ahead of his time! and still is - god I wish he would tour again or do a new album - please, let the powers that be let his new fans hear and see him live!

[@juniorscully5242]

I can't fight the tears. You are so lush

[@stewarth1571]

Its like David Bowie singing totally unpretentious and natural so beautiful

[@jekylwhispy]

Yes! And yet the song is packed with references most will probably not know. No I think he's being honest. I think he tended to be a human being after all

[@patricioleiva8641]

I knew this song by the cover by J Mascis. He's not Neil Young, but a great disciple of him. He also knows quite well the David Bowie's discography from this period, so thanks to J for letting me know how great Bowie is!...

[@jerryjanski551]

Sometimes, you just can't improve the demo. This is so much more haunting. One of the saddest songs ever. It's just devastating.

[@isaacness2647]

Sad, yet hopeful, to expect peace from death it's a very comforting feeling

[@troughsnout9817]

'Knowledge comes with death's release'. So many people are frightened of dying they don't realise that when we die we are advancing, just 'stepping into another room' and we take all of our accumulated knowledge with us. Death should be a pleasurable experience because we have all died so many times before. I, for one look forward to it. NBS

[@chetcskes329]

How prophetic your words were back in November. RIP

[@miou-miou-]

reading your comment in todays state of the whole world.. is it still beautiful?

[@josephiron7057]

Should I kiss the vipers fang Or herald loud The death of man I'm sinking in the quicksand Of my thought And I ain't got the power anymore

[@heroxhelix8978]

Love Love Love HIM

[@holesmanreloaded]

I heard this version first (by hazard), so this one stays closer to my heart. Amazing poetical prowess.

[@giorgioziller5208]

La più bella canzone di bowie e la più bella versione dimostra tutto il suo talento interpretativo ed esecutivo

[@snotasd1]

best version ever

[@MickeyFlipper]

Not sure why but I prefer this version compared to the version chosen to be on the album

[@Davian67]

Mickey Flipper By a long shot! The album version gets weighted down, like......quicksand! This version is aerie fairy gold dust magick!

[@dodgedforgottenn]

Totally agree

[@hellradiolives]

That airy, fairy comment rather perturbed me. I have always loved this version of this song because in it Bowie's voice is raw and plaintive, like he is pleading with the listener to understand as he stands on the precipice. The song is knowledge laid bare not pretense or artifice. It shows just how vast and unique Bowie's thought processes and range as an artist were.

[@SheperdsLittleHelper]

The studio version is definitely superior, but there's something about the rawness of Bowie's voice here - particularly given the song's context now after his death - that lends it a really special emotional power.

[@michaelgove9349]

Totally. The song's spiritual cri-de-coeur comes thru much more powerfully in this original version. The bass & strings (Mellotron?), Wakeman's well-intentioned piano flourishes - and especially the drums - serve to dilute the intensity of the album version. Reminds me of some of the tracks on Nick Drake's Bryter Later - the original demos preserve much more of soul of the songs.

[@balticbushcraft]

Requiescat in pace.

[@LeahBobalova]

"And I ain't got the power, anymore..."

[@terryperring104]

Vulnerable-thats the word!

[@fruitypeebils]

i downloaded this album a long time ago and for some reason the demo version of this song replaced the original song. i still prefer this version honestly

[@angelikameyer3899]

I'm closer to the Golden Dawn Immersed in Crowley's uniform Of imagery I'm living in a silent film Portraying Himmler's sacred realm Of dream reality I'm frightened by the total goal Drawing to the ragged hole And I ain't got the power anymore No I ain't got the power anymore ... mkultra victims around the world, and you adore this poor people, not looking through

[@robochase6000]

this was the first version Quicksand I'd heard and the only one I'd known for years. i'm glad to have found it again! is there an album that has this version on it?

[@christophersull]

+Chase de Languillette It looks like it was included as a bonus track on the pre-remastered, 1990 Hunky Dory CD.

[@johnarundell7951]

Rykodisc remaster 1990 has 4 bonus tracks including this, The Supermen (alternate version), The Bewlay Brothers (alternate mix) and Bombers (previously unreleased) which you can find second hand online :)

[@tannakaobi1]

If anyone is interested in the chords for this version then with a capo on the third fret they are as follows: (The Eb is played as a D chord shape on the 3rd fret (Capo) with only the G B E strings played, then take that shape down two frets and do the same for the F the rest are all open chords.) You can play it without the capo and it will sound good but 3rd fret if you want this key. Enjoy! G C I'm closer to the Golden Dawn G Immersed in Crowley's uniform of imagery C I'm living in a silent film G Portraying Himmler's sacred realm of dream reality Eb F I'm frightened by the total goal, drawing to the ragged hole G Em C And I ain't got the power anymore C G No I ain't got the power anymore C I'm the twisted name on Garbo's eyes G I'm living proof of Churchill's lies, I'm destiny C I'm torn between the light and dark G Where others see their targets, divine symmetry Eb Should I kiss the viper's fang F Or herald loud the death of Man G Em C I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought C G And I ain't got the power anymore [BRIDGE] G D Em Don't believe in yourself A7 D Don't deceive with belief B7 Am Knowledge comes with death's release A7 G Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaah Em D Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaaha C I'm not a prophet or a stoneage man G Just a mortal with potential of a superman, I'm living on C I'm tethered to the logic of Homo Sapien G Can't take my eyes from the great salvation of bullshit faith Eb If I don't explain what you ought to know F You can tell me all about it on the next Bardo G Em C I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought C G And I ain't got the power anymore [BRIDGE] X2

[@IrvingM]

oh-god-yes

[@ladycatbowie2967]

I'm closer to the Golden Dawn Immersed in Crowley's uniform Of imagery I'm living in a silent film Portraying Himmler's sacred realm Of dream reality I'm frightened by the total goal Drawing to the ragged hole And I ain't got the power anymore No, I ain't got the power anymore I'm the twisted name on Garbo's eyes Living proof of Churchill's lies, I'm destiny I'm torn between the light and dark Where others see their targets, divine symmetry Should I kiss the viper's fang? Or herald loud the death of Man I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought And I ain't got the power anymore Don't believe in yourself, don't deceive with belief Knowledge comes with death's release Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man Just a mortal with the potential of a superman I'm living on I'm tethered to the logic of Homo Sapien Can't take my eyes from the great salvation Of bullshit faith If I don't explain what you ought to know You can tell me all about it on the next Bardo I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought And I ain't got the power anymore Don't believe in yourself, don't deceive with belief Knowledge comes with death's release Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah Don't believe in yourself, don't deceive with belief Knowledge comes with death's release Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah

[@camyea69]

2:02 god DAm

[@julieinastraitjacket]

I went forever thinking this was the original version.. so much cleaner sounding than the first take.

[@HazeFace100]

Ughh THIS version is the one for me. If I could have ever written a song...I would want it to sound like this. Bowie4ever.

[@tabascocat5102]

What chord is on the word power? D6?

[@Rascaduanok]

“Don’t believe in yourself.”

[@njpre]

Better than the album track

[@agemoth]

Well I've just discovered this song thanks to Jeff C.. And I'm glad I did!

[@LuizHenrique-hr6ni]

Ficou melhor q a versão oficial

[@maunide3365]

The guitar he is playing is tuned a full step down.

[@tannakaobi1]

I don't tune my guitar down, but if you put a capo on the third fret the chords are: G C I'm closer to the Golden Dawn G Immersed in Crowley's uniform of imagery C I'm living in a silent film G Portraying Himmler's sacred realm of dream reality Eb F I'm frightened by the total goal, drawing to the ragged hole G Em C And I ain't got the power anymore C G No I ain't got the power anymore C I'm the twisted name on Garbo's eyes G I'm living proof of Churchill's lies, I'm destiny C I'm torn between the light and dark G Where others see their targets, divine symmetry Eb Should I kiss the viper's fang F Or herald loud the death of Man G Em C I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought C G And I ain't got the power anymore [BRIDGE] G D Em Don't believe in yourself A7 D Don't deceive with belief B7 Am Knowledge comes with death's release A7 G Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaah Em D Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaaha C I'm not a prophet or a stoneage man G Just a mortal with potential of a superman, I'm living on C I'm tethered to the logic of Homo Sapien G Can't take my eyes from the great salvation of bullshit faith Eb If I don't explain what you ought to know F You can tell me all about it on the next Bardo G Em C I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought C G And I ain't got the power anymore [BRIDGE] X2

[@ACMxxxx2]

Most people don’t realize how much the chords and melody Matters

[@bigcheese2128]

This could perfectly soundtrack both a carefree love affair and a tragic suicide

[@jensohlson9387]

I thin he sounds like Neil Young in this song.

[@moenterightious]

The song is actually a tribute to Neil! This album is full of tributes such as Neil Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol and that's why it's one of my favorites.

[@archibaldlothar1084]

J'adore cette version Beaucoup plus sensible

[@TheNeverposts]

RIP

[@alexpaxton1336]

Wow this sounds like Bowie trying to be Neil young. I wonder if Neil ever covered this.

[@UdonRERealEstateUdonThani]

Neil doesn't have the power

[@iamdamosuzuki_]

This is too spacey and abstract to be Neil Young if you ask me.

[@marcinsamoraj]

wale

[@wpollock1]

Nothing that Bowie does is bad, but I like the Hunky Dory version. Not sure he is in his best voice on this one - yes, its a great demo, but I like the studio version.

[@ladhope]

Much prefer this to the later album version.

[@michaelmclaughlin6376]

This is very cool to hear, but I don't get this "best version" thing. The album version is so intimate and beautiful

[@Mandrake591]

This demo is so perfect it renders the album version unnecessary. imo.

[@leylineguitars8426]

Fukin mint Mon,check out wood2goods on facebook for custom guitars by me inspired by genius like this

[@CaliforniaCertified]

Fukkk..................man.

[@johnpoop5237]

Guitar sounds like hey hey my my a little bit.