Drummer reacts to "Oh! You Pretty Things" & "Life On Mars?" by David Bowie

[@DjAtomize]

Saw Bowie 1978 in New Zealand. Station to Station tour. In the mosh. Huge impact as a 15yr old.

[@DjAtomize]

Mick Ronson string arrangements. He was massive to Bowie's early success. Hugely understated.

[@rabbitfishtv]

I didn’t know that, thanks!

[@bigneon_glitter]

_"Life On Mars?"_ is among the great songs of the 20th century. Masterpiece.

[@daniellastuart3145]

yes i 1,000 % agree with you on this

[@janewells5970]

When I took my 9 yo daughter to see David, he reached down and picked her up! Sat her on his lap and say Life on Mars! Thrill of a lifetime!

[@L33Reacts]

that's amazing, jane. I would NEVER ever forget that lol

[@MAZE4]

That's great!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Wow

[@CBGB_1977]

Woah! That’s awesome! ⚡️

[@PeterWalsh-k7n]

Mick Ronson arranged the strings for Life on Mars, so although his guitar presence was limited, he was there doing important stuff in the background that gave us that majestic classic.

[@shelleys9603]

Rick Wakeman loooves to talk about Life on Mars. There's a lot of fun clips on KZbin. One thing he says is he did the session and went home and told his wife hed just played on the greatest song he ever heard.❤

[@CapAnson12345]

Fun fact the same piano is used on Hey Jude (Paul McCartney), Life on Mars? (Rick Wakeman), Levon (Elton John) and Bohemian Rhapsody (Freddie Mercury).

[@scotstevens5263]

You gotta admit the 60’s and 70’s were just the best time for music. The Who, Pink Floyd, Tull, Yes, Bowie, Beatles, Zepplin I could go on and on eh? Oh, and a band called Camel.

[@cornellrosiu8818]

Ur so right, yes🐪

[@Plastermanandy]

Quicksand and Bewlay Brothers are gems

[@amnril]

My favourite songs on the album, along with kooks

[@StephenIsaacs-g3p]

Agreed. Bewlay Brothers is probably my favourite Bowie song of all and Hunky Dory was his best album up until Berlin imo.

[@davidcopson5800]

True.

[@allsorts9909]

Bewley is otherworldly.

[@laurencaulton103]

This is prime Bowie. It gives you a hint at what he meant to the world, as a musician, singer, and performer.

[@HT-io1eg]

Peak Bowie. Exceptional art

[@maryelizabethreynoldsprice2135]

Oh my gosh I could not wait until Life on Mars came on I could not wait to see your face when that song was playing. I know you were going to flip out. What a great reaction. I don't have anybody in particular that I make sure that I come back to on a particular day but listen you'r Bowie Wednesdays I wouldn't miss. Thank you Lee.

[@Oron-n5l]

"Life on Mars?" is one of the best British TV shows of the 21st century. A police detective in northern England, 2006, gets hit by a car, while his Apple iPod is playing the title song. When he awakes, his car is an early 70s beater and the same song is playing on an 8-Track tape, in his car. He goes to work and knows nobody, but his new crew is a bunch of violent, sexist, racist cops who play with people's rights. The squad's leader is the worst of all, a big brute who constantly drinks and forces confessions from innocent citizens. Our hero keeps hearing voices he knows on the radio, on the telly, the phone. He hears his mother and girlfriend telling him to come back to them, hears hospital sounds. It appears to him that one of three things has happened to him: either he has traveled back in time to 1973; or he is dreaming 1973 while in a coma in 2006; or he has gone completely mad. While working, he tries to force his squad to follow procedures as he knows them, which causes conflicts between him and most of his squad. This series ran for two fascinating, mysterious seasons. It is followed by a Police psychologist who is shot in the head. One of the cases she must solve, in her past, involves the criminal who shot her. This series is called "Ashes to Ashes", after the early-80s Bowie hit song. And the third season resolves itself even more brilliantly than the first series did, in its second season. Both seasons are chock full of the great hit songs of their eras. One of the U.S. networks tried to remake "Life on Mars?" with the great Harvey Keitel as the 1973 squad leader, but the U.S. version got everything wrong. What a shame.

[@cornellrosiu8818]

British series u descibe sounds fascinating/ entertaining. Maybe there are clips of it on YT😊

[@WheatenGreeting]

One of my favorite shows!

[@gphill3954]

Life on Mars..truly one of the best.

[@SnoopySnoops1]

Life on Mars is my favourite Bowie song. Chills every time.

[@L33Reacts]

i feel like it means a lot right now. it explains our current situation so well that it's kind of scary. or, we just always end up like this no matter what... maybe that's the pen talking. the movies are even bad, so the escapism isn't there. you can't escape unless you listen or watch something old.

[@cosybully]

@@L33Reacts I think you would enjoy an old movie from 1937 that I watch when I want to escape the madness. "Lost Horizon," starring Ronald Coleman. It gave us the world of Shangri - La.

[@SnoopySnoops1]

@@L33Reacts It brings up a longing for something past

[@heartoftherose]

​@@L33Reacts David would be censored for this today.

[@LisaThomas-xz3ki]

Same! Favorite Bowie track for over 40 years. Damn I’m old.

[@annewoodard6803]

“Moonage Daydream” is a Bowie must.

[@TerenceShortman]

In early 1968, David Bowie's publisher David Platz was sharing a London office with another music publisher named Geoffrey Heath. One day, Heath arrived with an acetate disc of the 1967 French song "Comme d'habitude", which was composed by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, and sung by François. Heath, who had a limited option for the song's British rights, asked Platz for a songwriter to write English lyrics for "Comme d'habitude". Platz suggested Bowie, who had translated other songs for him. Bowie's manager Kenneth Pitt believed Bowie was a more-competent lyricist than a composer, and that if Bowie wrote "to a strong melody composed by someone else", it would guarantee him a hit. Bowie's translation, which was titled "Even a Fool Learns to Love", was influenced by his recent work as a mime artist and included a reference to his 1967 track "When I Live My Dream". Bowie said that he "wrote some really terrible lyrics [to it]". After Bowie recorded an unreleased demo of "Comme d'habitude" in February 1968, the song's French publishers rejected him, primarily due to his obscurity. Soon after, songwriter Paul Anka bought the rights to "Comme d'habitude" and rewrote it as "My Way", which was recorded and made famous by American singer Frank Sinatra in 1969. The success of "My Way" prompted Bowie to write "Life on Mars?" as a parody of Sinatra's recording. "That really made me angry for so long-for about a year ... eventually I thought, 'I can write something as big as that, and I'll write one that sounds a bit like it'."Bowie acknowledged "My Way"'s influence in the liner notes for Hunky Dory, which state "Life on Mars?" was "inspired by Frankie".

[@chrisdryden-oo5kn]

the live version of this at Glastonbury will blow your socks off

[@philchurch1115]

David Bowie was a big part of high school 1973 to 1976 and when this great man passed there was a hole in my heart..saw him in Seattle Wa..🙂

[@MAZE4]

Life on mars is the song that I want to be played at my funeral.

[@NZLatic]

“Oh! You Pretty Things” has always been a favourite of mine and, of course, “Life On Mars” is a modern day classic. The key and time changes in both songs are classic Bowie. What an innovator!

[@stewartlowe7008]

Mick ronson was a classically trained musician and wrote all the string arrangements for this album hos string arrangement for life on mars is so beautiful. He also wrote the strings for loud reeds perfect day

[@L33Reacts]

ahhhh so he wrote all the strings I was praising? well, now i feel silly for saying he didn't have much to do. off my first listen to life of mars? i totally forgot about his awesome little guitar part in the middle. I was just gobsmacked by how good that song was. thank you for filling me in.

[@davidfisher8821]

Every Bowie album from the 70s is worthy of full attention. His later albums such as Outside, Earthling, Heathen, Reality, Next Day and Lazarus are great as well. Each have songs that equal anything from his earlier work

[@hwinker]

Amen!

[@stevenmurano7863]

Well said

[@bobwoolerOriGinal]

*Blackstar

[@rotagorretni]

"hours ..." from 1999 db himself related to Hunky Dory, pre-release, in interview, as I recall. I assume in relation to some of the personable-ness of the lyrics, the type of imagery, and of course it has its own song about "pretty things". It has some Outside and Lodger qualities as well

[@davidcopson5800]

@@bobwoolerOriGinal He meant that, but he can't give everything away.

[@ddthor]

Life on Mars is one of the favorites in his catalog. My favorite Bowie song. Wakeman was impressive on it.

[@L33Reacts]

yeah, it's a new favorite of mine now. that was stellar.

[@jr13227]

His Live at Santa Monica 1972 album with this supporting band is unbelievable. Highly recommend Width of a Circle on it, or Space Oddity

[@corawheeler9355]

Life on Mars is so good ... a Bowie favorite

[@lauraallen55]

I was so hoping Hunky Dory Would be next for Bowie. 🤩 What can I say life on Mars right? I love every song on this album. Thanks Lee. 😊

[@L33Reacts]

hope you enjoyed!! i loved this so much.

[@lauraallen55]

@@L33Reacts Loved it! Thanks

[@ChromeDestiny]

Rick Wakeman posted a video of him doing his piano part for Life On Mars as a solo piece as a David Bowie tribute shortly after his death.

[@planktonrecords]

Rick released it as a single in the U.K. I’ve got the CD. Great playing if a classic song

[@olias056]

I have been pushing for Diamond Dogs for a long time, but I won't complain about going through Honky Dury.

[@Driecnk]

Idiot

[@perrymalcolm3802]

HD is my favorite Bowie album. Some argue his best. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I think so. So much to love here. KEEP GOING!!!

[@rickmiller726]

There was a British TV show called "Life On Mars" that used Bowie's song as the intro theme. The initial episode (2006) has a police detective, DI Sam Tyler, in a near-fatal car accident. When he comes to, he finds he's in 1976.

[@Oron-n5l]

Great series, but he finds himself in 1973, if you please.

[@uma.n2680]

There's another one, that's a spinoff of this, it's called Ashes to Ashes from 2008 i think.

[@opiumdennis7249]

My favourite Bowie. A masterpiece.

[@gavinmallett9331]

What a few months in music this time was: John Lennon - Imagine album released on 9 September 1971, Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson album released on November 11, 1971 & David Bowie - Hunky Dory released in the United Kingdom on 17 December 1971. 4 months gave us 3 of the GREATEST albums.

[@damonwiggins4035]

Great album. Gets better with each listen. Life on Mars is my favorite Bowie song. I love how you reacted to it. I felt the same.

[@L33Reacts]

i'm glad you agree on how good it was. that was one of his best works yet (that i've heard so far) and I can't wait to hear the reset.

[@richardfairlamb9728]

Definitely. One of the greatest songs of all time for me.

[@stevedotwood]

Rick Wakeman on piano (Life On Mars?) You should see the video of "Life On Mars?" It's amazing

[@L33Reacts]

i'll check it out! i tried to upload that video but it got blocked so i just went with the studio track to get the video out. rick is amazing... we just did an album of his and it was spectacular

[@stevedotwood]

@@L33Reacts I know, I've seen it. It was one of the first albums I ever owned

[@thereunionparty]

My favourite Bowie album. "Oh You Pretty Things" is a great pop song. And "Life On Mars" is possibly Bowie's "A Day In The Life". "8 Line Poem" is, like you say, an interlude. Rick Wakeman, as well as being a brilliant pianist, is also an excellent raconteur. Considering he's classically trained and all that you might expect him to be "up himself" but he's really down to earth.

[@CharingCross712]

I saw Bowie sing Life On Mars live...cried through the entire thing 😭

[@simonround2439]

I was 10 when I first heard Life On Mars on the radio in the early 70s and every time I hear it, I return to that moment. It is an utter masterpiece.

[@richardfairlamb9728]

Life on Mars is a work of genius. Easily in my top 5 songs of all time.

[@AndrewMoore58]

David Bowie was my first real rock hero and Mick Ronson was the first guitar player that I heard that made me want to play guitar. There was all this other music I was exposed to in the seventies, courtesy of my sister’s record collection and Yes and Steve Howe became my obsessions later but David and Mick were it for me. David’s lyrics and music I identified with and entering this musical idiom felt like it was something that could be mine. My favourites from this album are Quicksand and The Bewlay Brothers but over time all the songs are stand outs. Kooks got into my consciousness later in life. I even wrote and essay at school about Life on Mars. I thought it was saying who cares about life on Mars when there are bigger problems down on Earth like the lawyer beating up the wrong guy.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

I can live my life in the usual way I can acknowledge the emptiness in each day I must, when I hear David Bowie sing, and play Say, 'ye gods' - as an atheist (!!) - We lost him... We lost him... How can that be... My life is now in disarray... And my heart is full of 'lost Bowie' dismay. 🎵😢💔🥺💔🎵🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿♥️🇬🇧🎵🖖

[@jamespopeko9557]

Bowie once said that “Life on Mars” was his personal favorite song that he’d written.

[@RayEvans-j1q]

My favourite David Bowie period! Great album!

[@L33Reacts]

can't wait to hear more from it... So far he is 3/4 this album. 3 iconic tracks and one good one (in my opinion, but maybe more listens to eight line will make it better) that is an amazing start lol. can't wait to hear the rest.

[@bartholomewswarmkrunsh3859]

So glad you’re doing Hunky Dory, it was the first Bowie album I heard, and I was hooked, so it means a lot to me. Kooks and Song For Bob Dylan are great, but the other real stand out tracks are Quicksand, Queen Bitch and The Bewlay Brothers. (Can’t wait for Diamond Dogs, too).

[@arizrich]

Oh, You Pretty Things is such a good song. That's my favorite out of this group of songs.

[@John_Locke_108]

This whole record is just one amazing song after another.

[@shemanic1]

Essential Bowie listening, three superb tracks from a superb album, though "Eight Line Poem" has a special place in my heart. .

[@glebivanov6323]

My first conscious listening to Bowie was Hunky Dory. I listened to it song by song with increasing interest and when I reached "Life on Mars?" I was totally sold.

[@Boggedy]

Life On Mars is one of my favorite Bowie tracks as well. Probably why I rank Hunky Dory so high in his discography.

[@grahamheffer6535]

Remember Bowie playing Life on Mars at Glastonbury in 2000 was a special moment you can watch it on KZbin ⚡️

[@saorsa5]

Absolutely phenomenal album

[@Joshualuv13]

All these ones are absolutely classics. Life on Mars was his Mount Everest.Its his i did it my way,song Wow, the Eight mile poem has a real rolling stones vibe.

[@simonweedy4683]

Life on Mars is perfection in every way.

[@gillwaugh7212]

Aaaw… it’s like hearing for the first time, watching your reaction Lee. Such, such a fabulous piece of music…. ❤

[@L33Reacts]

It really is! I loved this so much. It was fantastic. Easy favorite of his for me… life on mars? Doesn’t get much better than that..

[@Richard2003]

In 1973 I traded an Allman Brothers album for this. Rick Wakeman plays on this.

[@MrPistolpete1234]

Miss David Bowie. Such an icon growing up in England in the 70s and 80s. And then all of a sudden he was gone. Never expected it. Felt like he would always be there. How great was he though, what an artist, rip David, one of the greats

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Deeper Bowie❤️

[@SxTxHx]

wish i could listen to life on mars for the first time ................again

[@L33Reacts]

It was a beautiful thing for me! My favorite song of the day for sure…

[@robertcartier5088]

When I first heard "Life on Mars?", it took me a little while to get the lyrics... It was the movie references that eventually clicked in my head, like a light coming on to make everything clear. But I had to dig deep into our collective, cultural memory to find them. Indeed, one of the references dated back as far as the 40's ("Sailors fighting in the dance hall", a scene from 1942's "Dumbo"), while another is as recent as a couple years before the song came out ("Oh, man, look at those cavemen go", a scene from 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey"). When Bowie decides to parody something, he ain't messin' around! ;-]

[@jeffjohnson9911]

Look at that cave man go was a line from the early 60's novelty song "Alley oop." by the hollywood argyles.

[@robertcartier5088]

@@jeffjohnson9911 Yes, That's right! Multiple influences apparently. Cool. But the subject of the song specifically matches the seemingly mindless conflict in the scene I mentioned. Bowie's use of the plural, "Cavemen", is a factor in my thinking, as well, I suspect. ;-]

[@ChasBeauregarde]

You need to see the promotional video for "Life On Mars" Mick Ronson did the string arrangements - Brilliant, so he's VERY much involved in this song!

[@SPKdesign1]

"Life On Mars" as a single is great but played as part of the Lp it is so much more.

[@amnril]

Such a fantastic Album, certainly in my top three Bowie Albums.

[@michelfroggy56]

you will eventually get to the Berlin Trilogy ( Low, Heroes and Lodger) with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti and Bowie will take you on another level as he did for me as I grew up with him being 67 years old. Scarry Monster is also a sublime album. You are on a journey you will enjoy a lot.

[@DavidRold-pt3ng]

Lee couldn't agree with you more. I love Life On Mars. One of my all time favorite Bowie songs & his best vocal performance imo. I went to see a tribute concert shortly after he past with the symphony orchestra, a band & singer. And I was looking for to hearing Life On Mars & 1984 because of all the strings. But nope, just the hits. I did get to see David once in late 80's, he was great of course. Can't wait for you to hear Queen Bitch Lee, it's a rocker.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Wakeman does piano for Life on Mars, parts of Oh You Pretty Things, and Bowie does piano for parts of Oh You Pretty Things, and for Eight- Line Poem.

[@donaldanderson6604]

Rick plays Life on Mars at all his solo piano shows. Bowie gave him total freedom to do his thing. He played the song to him on a battered old 12 string and then left him to it. Rick is on a lot of the HD album. If you want a truly great Bowie song, try This is Not America, with the Pat Metheny group.

[@Dr3amtime]

Such a fun album, all the way through!

[@chitownlee]

It's hard to pick one but I think Life On Mars is my favorite Bowie song.

[@L33Reacts]

i can't argue with you there... I wish it was 5 minutes longer!

[@mikkomfi8643]

Hunky Dory is David's best album to me. It never grows old to me, always feels fresh and young. Ironically, the song that struck you most, is nowadays my least favorite, although of course it is great. The reason for that is, that the song was a phenomenon in its time, iconic straight after publishing it, hit, bigger than world song, translated to all languages, so that nowadays I listen to Hunky Dory with the attitude, that "I am listening Hunky Dory AND that mountain size hit song. It became so big a hit, that one had to discover yhe rest of yhe album underneath it - but that discovery was brilliant and wonderful.

[@JimBliss23]

There are days... not every day... but there are days when Life on Mars? is the greatest song in the world.

[@rockwren]

In the solo tour that Rick Wakeman did just a year or two ago he told the story of working for Bowie and when he asked David how he wanted him to play a piece Bowie answered that Rick should play it the way he thinks he should. He added to always let musicians do what they do best rather than impose your ideas on them and you'll always get their best performance. (Paraphrased. Rick told it better.)

[@L33Reacts]

he's absolutely right. let them do their job. you do yours. magic happens. it's not that hard. but people can't let go of their ego (especially when writing stuff)

[@christinebainbridge2354]

The video for Life on Mars is also iconic!

[@Coquinagirl]

Life On Mars 👏🏻 My favorite still, Loving The Alien….⚡️!

[@GeoffTrowbridge]

Not gonna lie… This is probably my favorite Bowie album. It is sublime.

[@nealjones255]

Brilliant album was 12 when i purchased the album back in the early 70’s Still love it now Never ages

[@damonhines8187]

'Pretty Things' is a lovely song, the next a skip over for me, and Life on Mars' one of my favourite songs ever. ✌🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊

[@victorbortolussi2964]

Hunky Dorry is my favorite Bowie album. He asked Wakeman to be in The Spiders From Mars. But he knew he would have more imput creatively joining YES!

[@kevinbladh5923]

At the end of Life on Mars there is a phone ringing. It was literally somebody calling into the studio, strangely enough there was a phone somewhere in the recording environment. I mean this is of course way before mobiles, so it was an old-school fixed phone installation. In the end they though it was a funky addition to the track and they just let the phone be there.

[@GP-mw8ce]

The albums a masterpiece.listen in one go!

[@L33Reacts]

i wish i could, but youtube would block it for a month and I am impatient lol

[@RichardSchaefer-zx9ig]

"Changes" is first song on my album. Followed by these 3.

[@ziggsstar]

Bowie plays the piano on 'Oh you pretty Things' & 'Eight Line Poem'. Rick Wakeman plays on 'Life on Mars'.

[@Driecnk]

Truly Exquisite

[@williamthelast1]

His best LP by far !!! To my opinion !!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@jensvath254]

Agree❤❤

[@L33Reacts]

so far 3/4 of the track i've heard have been iconic, generation defining almost tracks so... he's off to a good start. LOL

[@johnvillanova9984]

Hunky Dory ...a flawless album! 🤔😎

[@Moz1011]

Pretty things has always been a favourite of mine.

[@spectorcollector]

"Why is he so good?'' you ask. Here's why: There is no "off" position on the Genius switch. When you do listen to "Life on Mars?" again, do so watching the amazing music video.

[@L33Reacts]

you're so right. i almost did the music video but i checked before hand and it got blocked so i just did the studio ones so i could get the video out.

[@spectorcollector]

@@L33Reacts Oh, I didn't mean for the channel; just for your own enjoyment.

[@audreyblackburn5759]

Got to see the video.

[@timpindar]

Stellar album! Great choice to work through it.

[@L33Reacts]

for sure! i've been going through every album I can. i think this will be the 4 or 5th full album we've worked thru on here

[@barrymuller5131]

So much good stuff on this album. Love Kooks too!

[@Tampahop]

Odd aside... there was a tv cop show both on the BBC and in America called "Life On Mars."The song was used in the intro to both shows and actually played a pivotal role later in the show. The show had a cop who was injured in an accident and ends up in 1973 with Life On Mars playing on an 8-track tape in his car stereo. Needless to say, it was not your typical cop show. 😁

[@WendyDarling1974]

This song is a great example of an early Bowie song with a very George Martin strings arrangement, like his work with the Beatles.

[@robrob7400]

Exquisite work- after man who it’s shows a more subtle side but absolute art. amazing stuff. Thank you for doing this record Look for some live performances of life on mars -

[@GiannaEmme]

Who has not shivers listening Life on Mars... is NOT alive!

[@jeanphilippebaye1713]

Du grand Bowie, comme toute sa carrière d'ailleurs.

[@hoppers13]

Played this to death when it first came out and had to buy a new copy. Rick Wakeman’s piano on Life On Mars is the work of a true god. I’ve tried in vain to find a correct transcription on line (so MANY crap versions) so if anyone knows where one is hidden, please let me know.

[@trevorward8496]

No seriously life is a masterpiece keep hunky going

[@mattleppard1970]

“All the madmen came today, and it looks as though they’re here to stay.” Still rings true. You’ve got Quicksand coming up then! Prepare for Crowley, Golden Dawn and more ❤

[@Wilss]

I really don't mind you re-listening to something if you really want to. 'Life on Mars' is an absolute classic.

[@daniellastuart3145]

theys some really nice covers of Live on Mars out there

[@Leafcommunications1]

I was talking with Ken Scott a few years ago. The telephone that you can hear at the end of Life on Mars wasn't intentional. The story goes that time was tight for the the recording of the strings, the last chance they had to get that performance right was interrupted by the phone call (there was a public telephone in the toilet at Trident Studios - don't ask me why!). They decided that it was too good not to use but Ken Scott had to pull out pretty quickly because you can hear Ronson say "Fooking bastard, ah for f*ck's sake!". Incidentally Woody was never happy with the drum sound on Hunky Dory, he claimed they sounded like cornflakes packets. So when they went back into Trident to record Ziggy, just a few months later, Ken set up a drum kit made out of cornflakes packets!

[@mana3735]

I always thought it was Rick on all piano too. I know Dave did the "less complicated piano parts". Life on Mars is more about the feel of the words rather than the meaning.