3 IN 1!! | Station To Station - David Bowie (Reaction)

[@BKrieg8]

My favorite Bowie song. The build up and release with the jam at the end is fantastic.

[@decal2756]

At the time of the writing & recording of this song Bowie was really into cocaine & Aleister Crowley, the famous British occultist. The Thin White Duke was Bowie's persona at the time...just as Ziggy Stardust had been an earlier persona. In the first section there are references to the magical rituals of Kabbalistic ceremonial magic. " Here are we, one magical moment, such is the stuff from where dreams are woven,Bending sound, dredging the ocean, lost in my circle.." is a reference to the ritual magician's magical circle of protection. " Here are we, one magical movement from Kether to Malkhuth.There are you, you drive like a demon from station to station.." Kether & Malkuth are two of the stations of the Kabbalistic Tree Of Life...the 1st & 10th stations. Kabbalah or Qabalah is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. Then, the first section ends with this, " The return of the Thin White Duke, making sure white stains...". White Stains is a poetic work, its title based on male masturbation, written by English author and occultist Aleister Crowley. The overall gist of the song is that Bowie was looking for hints to the meaning of existence & trying to find his way spiritually but it was deeply marred by his cocaine use but still a kind of valid self-revelation...of sorts! Something like that...

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

This whole album is one of my favorites by Bowie. Your change in expression when he mentioned Cocaine - Bowie said later that he barely remembers the recording, as he was doped up. He is in fine voice, has some great songs. He recorded in Los Angelas in 1976 -to escape drugs, he returned to Europe, and lived in Germany for a while (West Berlin) and traveled. He was in the process of divorce, too. His band at the time was awesome, live recordings from this tour - all on top form!

[@bookbabe001]

There is one problem with this album- it's not ling enough!

[@Ben.the.potter]

So glad to see your reaction to this song! Besides being the title track of a blindingly good album, its often treated like a B side deepcut (it is a bit weird at the start for much radio time though, i get that)... i always get a bit of a laugh at the line "its not the side effects of the cocaine", because at the time of this album, bowies diet consisted almost entirely of cigarettes, bell peppers, milk, and cocaine. And in several interviews, he said that he didnt even remember recording station to station, the whole album... but "station to station" is a reference to the occult practices he was involved in at the time, climbing the stations of kabalistic tree (.kether to malkuth, as he references in the lyrics).. he was certainly an interesting dude, and what a legendary talent

[@rona.7023]

Nicely done. It's refreshing to watch a reactor actually listen to the song without stopping it to make some inane comment. Most reaction videos I'm tempted to throw my shoe at the monitor as they stop the music in the middle of a guitar solo or critical verse. Thank you for helping me keep my shoes on my feet. Having said that, probably my favorite Bowie album. Played the shit out of it back in the day.

[@hijikaelemenope3127]

This is one of the most cryptic Bowie songs, and arguably one of its most enjoyable and addictive (easily making its way into my personal top 5 Bowie song from the moment I listened to it). Robertroehrman's comment is absolutely on point : it was a difficult time for Bowie personally (a divorce, a cocaine addiction to live with, fueling paranoia bursts and a somewhat toxic esoteric interest...) and also artistically (after the success of his "plastic soul" album "Young americans" just a few months before, everybody was waiting for him to do quite the same and capitalize on this success. Only one problem about that : he was David Bowie; he did not repeat himself; ever.). Bowie famously reported that he had no recollection of its making, as some people said in the comments ("What a nerve to sing 'It's not the side effects of the cocaine' when actually the whole album was !"), but, due to his completely messed up way of living at the time, sessions were recorded at night, musicians sleeping during the day. The whole album took a few weeks to be recorded, the record company wasn't even expecting a new Bowie album this early! As usual, the meaning of the song is unclear and open to interpretations. The "European cannon" could refer to the persona he created for this album, The Thin White Duke, some kind of amoral, icy, decadent aristrocrat, able to sing with affected passion and fire ("Stay", "Wild is the wind"), but feeling nothing at all (some king of "icy crooner"). One of his most scary, disturbed, disturbing and, in the end, interesting character! I could go on & on with this song and this album, but chances are, I already lost most readers :D ! Suffice it to say you should listen to the remaining 4 tracks of this album : they more than deserve it !

[@royaltracy1598]

I love how the beginning forces you to slow down and enjoy the ride on the train!

[@wpollock1]

I caught this show in Detroit in 1976 and it blew me away. My brother smuggled in a 35MM camera and a telephoto...he got some great photos! Earl Slick on guitar and Roy Bittan (from Springsteen's E Street Band on piano). The bass and drums are fantastic on this, also.

[@hanshendriksen72]

The very great Dennis Davis on drums, yes. He was such an inspiration.

[@AliasMark69]

This song is like changing the radio from Station to Station hearing a different song each time.

[@chaosandcreation4118]

Every song deserves a reaction from this album.

[@benorr-bl9xv]

When you look at the scope of Bowie's music over this lifetime, there just aren't any equivalent artists. Many musicians have been around for decades, but few progressed past their initial sound. Because he took on different personas throughout his life (in this case, "The Thin White Duke"), it inspired him to create unique music to match each persona.

[@dcg4mn]

Bowie put out a GREAT live version of this with Warszawa (and many others) on his live double album “Stage” from ‘78.

[@John-et9yl]

There is even a better version from the far superior live album Welcome to the Blackout from the same Isolar ll tour of 1978. This particular album is from the two Earls Court, London concerts of that tour.

[@bobcorbin3294]

That's because he had the fantastic Adrian Belew on guitar.

[@かえる王子-x8t]

Guy, thank you so much for reacting to this song. This is still one of my best favorite songs ever, since I was a high-school boy. I still sing this song while I'm bathing. (age 57 Japanese)

[@ryanv3015]

Absolutely incredible song, it gets better the more you listen to it.

[@jimmymcintyre7944]

One of my favorite albums by Bowie. TVC15 is my favorite off the album. And it's Bow E.

[@G-Q67]

My favorite Bowie track. I played this LP on loop for three straight months after he died.

[@fredkelly4365]

In a class of its own, this song. Still mourning Bowie. He was truly unique.

[@thefreewaykiller405]

One of my favorite Bowie albums!

[@garysimmonds9636]

My fav lines " Here am I, Flashing no colour, Tall in this room, Overlooking the ocean.

[@angelagraves865]

This is a GREAT album!! 🤘🏽💜

[@mikeb36240]

David Bowie - "Panic In Detroit"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@savitrisdisciple]

Got to see the Station to Station tour in '78, the train intro was about 6 minutes long ! then the epic bass and drum section, the pizzicato violin of Simon House, the rhythm guitar of Carlos , Adrian Belew's mad lead. This live still rates as one of the best things I ever saw and heard. Listening to this now and I am transported back to a time in my life where the world was just magic.

[@peteriuliano5846]

This was the 1st album I came into in my love of BOWIE (1975.) Amazing opening track from an amazing album.

[@annjohnson994]

My absolute favorite Bowie album. Love his voice!

[@JD-qv2br]

"Here are we. One magical moment such is the stuff from where dreams are woven. Bending sound, dredging the ocean lost in my circle." The man is the definition of Wordsmith.

[@anthonymckeever6626]

Bowie famously said years later that he doesn't have any recollection of recording this fantastic album as he was at the height of his cocane addiction. He moved from LA to Berlin straight after in order to kick the drug.

[@jollymw.l]

if you know bowie you know The Thin White Duke was the villain, this song does an amazing job introducing him.

[@vincentvancraig]

Ur enthusiam is awesome....this song hit me weird the first time i heard it, but, it was a weird day...but, eventually this six song bowie album became my fave bowie album....anyway, hell yeah, cool reaction as always:)

[@joshuadeshaies7266]

Bro you gotta check out this great song when he did it live in 1983 I believe it was in Atlanta. You will be blown away plus you get to see David perform. Rock on 💪 RIP DAVID BOWIE

[@pilesovinyl]

I saw him do it live also in Chicago shortly after its release in 76. Had seats in about the 7th row and it was otherworldly. Just incredible, feel so lucky to have witnessed it.

[@AliasMark69]

Your first John Lennon.... "Working Class Hero". Great reaction, as usual. I smile again.

[@BobRollins-z4m]

"God Knows I'm Good" is an excellent Bowie song, quite different. Keep up the good work!

[@NebulizerChi]

Wait'll you get "Word on a Wing" from the same record ---I won't go so far as to say that it saved my life, but it was a huge part of the cure for what was ailing me...

[@robertknuist9754]

My favorite Bowie song... Thanks!

[@kkzooi]

this song always reminds me of the movie '' Christiane F. wir kinder kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo'' true story based on a young teenage girl getting addicted to heroin in Germany back in the day. David Bowie also plays a part in that movie. This song was also the themesong for that movie if i remember correctly

[@rachel112263]

YES!! One of my favorite movies. I first saw it in college in 1982 with subtitles. Years later, I found a dubbed version on VHS that's proudly displayed in my house. "Heroes" was also predominant in the film, played while they were running through "Zoo Station."

[@fredwhitmanii2879]

Those breakdowns though, eh? 😳🤯 #ThinWhiteDuke = Bowie #BlueEyedSoul

[@gergsar]

check out "Golden Years" on this same album, you'll love it!

[@paz_y_amor_cabrones4233]

This song, even if heard for first time nowadays, directly gives a feeling of nostalgia, as if it was a good old radio song of our youth. Incredible powerful eternal David Bowie.... What about the crazy piano line ? I want a Music Video version played by Phil Connors/Bill Murray in Groundhog Day...

[@Mike-rk8px]

In one of the documentaries about Bowie on KZbin, he talks about how bad things got for him with cocaine. He said that he and Iggy Pop went together to live in Berlin and work on new music, but really they wanted to quit drugs and just be left alone. They lived in the same house in Berlin and kept on an eye on each other and were able to quit cocaine (Bowie) and heroin (Iggy). What they were unaware of was that Berlin in the 70’s was absolutely flooded with heroin, so they had to avoid nightclubs and anyplace they might be tempted.

[@carlnilssonyoung8961]

Majestic song

[@JuanRyan-dx4er]

I love this song, did from the first time I ever heard it in 1976, when I was fourteen.

[@TheoZoffrok]

I think there are references to the Stations Of The Cross in the lyric, and possibly the Kabbalah, which he was interested in at that time. EDIT someone has added a much more informative comment about this above. Anyway, what about that rhythm section eh? 🔥

[@AliasMark69]

"I Don't Know What This Song Was About"..... Me either, does anyone?

[@SLB4523]

An incomparable masterpiece from go to whoa. The album, that is. But that can be said of virtually any Bowie album. It’s predecessors Low and YoungAmericans, even Diamond Dogs showed all of the same virtuosic avante gard genius that was displayed on Station to Station. As a matter of fact, it’s well worth revisiting Diamond Dogs to note how advanced Bowie’s vision was even at that early stage. The screwing about with tape speeds, the incredible harmonies, it really is a masterwork.

[@michaelminch5490]

"It's not the side-effects of the cocaine" Um, sir, I beg to differ...

[@BuffaloBob-og]

Bowie=musical f*cking genius and one of most layered artists of all time. I saw him 3 times, Modern Love,Heathen and with another genius Trent Reznor of NIN. As my mom (who turned us into Bowie fans) says on occasion "The world went to shit after Bowie died". Great song and great reaction.

[@georgem5589]

I go out of focus too when I hear Bowie's best song!

[@John-et9yl]

If you love the funk of Bowie check out Stay from the same album.

[@sims398]

Is it not a steam train …station to station ..oh I digress someone already commented on the steam train…

[@DS-wn4dx]

I love the fact that you react to the songs that arn't so obvious, like what a lot of the others react to. Try listening to Scary Monsters and Super Creeps, It's one of his bst albums

[@patrickdoake6022]

Great tune, stay live on cd fantastic!

[@MAZE4]

This was a fabulous album from Bowie, to be honest there weren't many stinkers.

[@vickithurston3696]

Yes this song is about his addiction to cocaine and when he says I can’t last a day without her he is referring to heroin. Thanks so much for your interest good job Vicki

[@nomisnestral6956]

NeXt stop: Stay.

[@AliasMark69]

HIGH JM, I was just watching your Live Chat from 7 months ago.... You called be "A Music Connoisseur".... "Encyclopedia of Classic Rock" I mentioned MOTOWN and others agreed and you said you would look into it.... I left this comment and you did it as suggested.... That's why you are Too Cool.... "OK... Your first has to be The Temptations- "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"

[@bigcheese2128]

I think a lot of people rightfully talk about bowies cocaine addiction when discussing this album, and it does play a large part in the creation and substance of it (no pun intended) but the album itself does have an actual narrative through line. To me it’s about a very lethargic, paranoid and alienated person seeking love and genuine connection and desperately seeking a way out of his emotional demons while living in a nightmarish life of hollow glamor and empty partying, the subject of the album is really cocaine incarnate. It’s a brilliant album and it’s honestly a miracle he made something this good while this deep in the throes of addiction and mental issues

[@peteriuliano5846]

STS make that 1976 FAME was 1975.

[@lauraulnye6857]

Check out Jean Genie❤❤❤

[@JM-xg5hf]

I think you choose amazing songs for your reactions!! If you liked "The Pretender" you might want to check out Browne's "rock Me On the Water". Gonna go take a closer look! With appreciation!!

[@peteriuliano5846]

Alister Crowley kaballah and david being david: living in LA and practically living on coke.

[@genzaza8241]

If you want to listen to one of the greatest guitar players you never may of heard of you should react to ROY CLARK play "MALAGUENA It will blow you away.

[@joancarlesclaros9217]

I always wonder what a non European person grasps the European canon

[@DJBilodeau]

Heavy drug use in this period he later admitted to. Is he "the European Cannon?". He did earn the nickname "The Thin White Duke" in this period. Another iconic track from this album. . ."TVC-15". The title along should pique your interest!

[@Majorroadworks]

This is the first time in a long time I’ve heard the studio version, boy is it bland in comparison with the many live offerings out there!. I bought this album on release day & played it to death, I saw the ‘76 tour, loved it for its monochromatic presentation but one of the standout songs from the tour was Station to Station itself. Once the Thin White Duke bootleg became available I hardly ever played this album again. Ironic that the bootleg is now an official pressing - definitely check out those songs live, they shine with a completely different light.

[@philgonzalez5953]

Try gorillaz , feel-good inc., dare

[@loisrogers9042]

One of my favorite albums. Not my favorite part of it though.