The story of Life on Mars is weirder than you thought

[@edwardmeradith2419]

‘Life on Mars’ is so much more than ’My Way’ the similar part- the first 8 bars of the verse- are a jumping off point- Life on Mars is musically and lyrically sophisticated, and beautifully arranged and performed.

[@cobeyc.b5946]

Comme D’habitude is great too, more emotional than either of its offspring. No where near as sophisticated and thought provoking as Life On Mars and the way I see it, Life On Mars is a post modern Warholian work in that it takes the relatively mundane My Way and uses it the create a cerebral, nostalgic masterpiece that makes every day life and the then-new phenomenon of consumerism seem like Monet’s gardens- at least what we’d been saddled with as the romance of the 18th century had completely faded. I mean, the lyric of “Is there life on Mars?” begs the question: is this all there is now?

[@paulricketts10]

Back in spring 1971 David Bowie got on the number 54 bus at the start of Southend Road, Beckenham. Apparently he ran through the Comme d' Habitude (My Way) opening melody in his head as he sat on the top deck. But this time the chords followed for the "But the film is a saddening bore" section and by the time the bus reached Bromley Road, Catford, Bowie had the full Life on Mars' chords and melody complete in his head. So, he jumped off the bus and crossed the road to catch another 54 bus back to Beckenham to record a version asap.

[@davidcopson5800]

On the buses.

[@blackrosecomb]

I believe he was on his way to Lewisham, possibly, to buy some shirts. The Tailor’s loss is our gain, and I say that as someone who grew up in Beckenham at the time and whose great Grandad was a tailor in Penge, on the bus route. I remember singing this song, loudly, with classmates waiting to go into a maths lesson - we got properly told off! Finally, let’s celebrate Mick Robson, Hull’s greatest export, including all the fish…

[@davidcopson5800]

@@blackrosecomb "You can walk around in New York while you sleep in Penge."

[@paulricketts10]

@@davidcopson5800 David Bowie's "Did You Ever Have A Dream" Pengetastic! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJCoi3yKeqemhs0

[@mathewsydney8929]

Bowie was a genius. I think Life on Mars is a big improvement over My Way: prettier melody, more touching... I'm so glad we have this masterpiece... one of my fave Bowie compositions

[@revwpitt2347]

Still miss Bowie. One of the all time greats in music.

[@pbobak73]

The world has gone to shit since he left us.

[@stuarthouse-w6o]

yeah..... and jim Morrison.... can't help but wonder the stuff they'd be knocking out if they'd have lived a full life good job they both managed to write and produce songs CONSIDERABLY ahead of their time.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

@@pbobak73Prince near the same time, ugh.

[@pedromiramon]

No lies detected

[@makwilson2050]

Great video! Hunky Dory was the first pop album I ever owned and I love it to this day. Who’d have thought that 12 years later I would end up working with Bowie on Labyrinth and he’d borrow a book from me I never got back. Still, made for a great story.

[@TexacoRodeoClown]

Incredible. What was the book?

[@anthonymitchell956]

@@TexacoRodeoClownYe pickpockets of o'l London town.

[@Chris-NZ]

Thanks for being a real person and not a robot voice which is becoming all too common on KZbin. Very interesting btw.

[@thomasfrick5413]

The computers are getting better and better at mimicking real humans, so this may be a computer as well.

[@graham9881]

As a Bowie devotee from the 70’s Thank you for putting the story out there. Thank you for mentioning Mick Ronson’s string arrangement. A very underrated musician. Rick Wakeman worked with Bowie from Space Oddity to Ziggy Stardust when he left to join Yes and then had a successful solo career. Mick Ronson worked with Bowie from Hunky Dory to Pinups after which Bowie disbanded the spiders from Mars.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

Explosive years! Was anything explosive after 2000? For those who had no idea what the first pop revolution was (the 1960s), probably. The Britney Spears Wave has gone vintage now, but my ears keep staring at her, in disgust. Autotune, be damned!

[@stevedotwood]

Best Bowie song ever. Sends shivers down my spine - even after this many years. Lyrics, vocals, arrangements and music. He did it his way

[@DavidB5501]

Great video, and I'm delighted to hear the censored comments from Ronno at the end! One slight quibble: it might give some people an exaggerated idea of the similarity between the two songs. Bowie did indeed follow the opening chord progression of Comme d'Habitude, which is nice enough but not unusual, but once he gets beyond the opening the progression diverges radically from the French song. I remember that Imogen Heap was doing a radio concert years ago and someone asked her to do a cover of Life on Mars. She downloaded a copy and started trying to play it through by ear, but gave up because it would take far too long to learn it in the time available, saying 'it's got every chord progression in the known universe'.

[@SandraBonney]

Im 63, my daughter's boyfriend recently bought me a Bowie T-Shirt for my birthday❤. I love it and I get a lot of comments when I wear it. Bowie is such a well loved artist. I've loved him since one of my brother's friends brought up his Aladin Sane album to listen to. That was the beginning of my love affair with DB. There are no dud albums, they are all excellent. Thanks for this lovely insight into a lovely song.

[@j.dmetalhead7517]

I grew up listening to David's songs, at one point I had the majority of his albums (now they're cd's). He was genuinely ONE OF A KIND, R.I.P Mr Jones

[@vojislavduric5040]

I loved this song 50 years ago and I still love it. One of the most beautiful songs I ve heard.

[@xShamanx]

Wonderful content! I love these deep dives and behind the scenes details! Bowie forever!

[@douglasjohnson2959]

This was a great documentary. I loved David Bowie (still do). In particular this song. My high school days, in the 70's, where filled with all his music. And just to show how great music is timeless, my kids in their 30's love this album and all his work. I think my introduction had something to do with it LOL. I had tears when I heard about his death. RIP David, you impacted my life. Thank you for producing this great video.

[@stuartwray6175]

I had tears, for a week. They'd return at times.

[@richardbeal2451]

I agree - this was a brilliant documentary.

[@X-boomer]

I have always loved that song❤ It cries of sadness and loss.

[@markkumanninen6524]

In my teens (mid 70s) Bowie saved my mind with The Man Who.. and Hunky Dory, still my faves. Life in Mars I listened to death. Nowadays I listen to Ronno's guitar first and foremost. They really were a hugely creative duet.

[@douglasjohnson2959]

Mic was amazing, Pin Ups is an often overlooked Bowie album of covers. Ronson really makes that album great.

[@stuartwray6175]

Duo

[@bassaniobrokenhart5045]

As a life long fan of Bowie's and rock and roll music in general (I'm on my 60's now) I must say I learn a big deal from your videos, and appreciate your work.

[@taketwo_duo]

David Bowie was my era. I was an early teenager as he was starting to become popular, at school when Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane were all coming out. He was like a lightening bolt after the Beatles and Stones. He literarily dressed like a space man and pointed to us all during his TV performance of Starman. I was hooked like millions of others. My point is, he came across as such a weird person that performed weird songs. You never got to see him on TV apart from a documentary Cracked actor 1975. That film confirmed his weirdness. He was this weird star you would never get to meet. But when he was interviewed (as himself) he seemed perfectly normal, it was all an act and he was the indeed the Cracked actor. He was however, very clever and very determined.

[@rottensquid]

In in the early 80s, when he achieved mainstream popularity, he was still the musician for weirdos. That's the great thing about mainstream success. The casual fans never bother looking deeper, so they had no idea who he really was. And the weird obsessives get to discover a wealth of back-catalog, and realize that he's putting on the persona of a mainstream pop star the same way he put on the persona of an alien. Of course, he's articulate, erudite, and personable in interviews, but at his core, I think he was definitely a full-blown weirdo. Not because he really was Ziggy, or the Thin White Duke, or the Cracked Actor. But because he was always wearing a persona. And, of course, while he pretended to the end of his career that those personas weren't him, there was always more of him in them than he was willing to admit, even to himself. After all, by his own admission, he really did take it all too far. But boy, could he play guitar.

[@KokkiePiet]

I love how the TV Series "Life on Mars" used this song, it was perfect for it, including the ringing telephone.

[@stovepop]

Just as Sam Tyler walked into the station. it's 1973 I'm avin hoops

[@northeything8568]

Oh yes, I loved this series !

[@mcgrewpunk]

Just rewatched Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes, both completely amazing, some of the best television ever produced in my mind.

[@northeything8568]

@@mcgrewpunk 'Ashes To Ashes' my next watch ?

[@mcgrewpunk]

@@northeything8568 more of the same Gene Hunt goodness, but based in the 80s. I much prefer the 80s aesthetic and music so it's naturally an improvement for me but Life On Mars is still great too. The end of Ashes To Ashes ties everything up too and makes everything make sense.

[@LoandtheMagneticsOfficial]

Love it... Huge Bowie fan! Little known fact: before Paul Anka, the song Comme d'habitude was offered to Montreal singer Tom Swift who was busy in studio recording his album, so turned down the opportunity!

[@cdeweijer12]

Delving into this makes me understand why listening to this beautiful song has so much impact. Captivating, magical, I just cannot define it✨

[@sk95-21]

these are some of the best videos on youtube, just fantastic work my man. your doing a lot of important work for music history and i think a lot of people will appreciate that in time. thank you.

[@apollomemories7399]

It's actually general-Bowie-knowledge that's been told on Bowie sites for years. All of this is very old news.

[@bengerson7064]

@@apollomemories7399 Not to me and many others.

[@andrewfield]

One of my favorite Bowie songs and albums. Thanks for the explanation of how the song was made.

[@robertpepper5256]

Thanks DH. Excellent storytelling. Bowie was a major influence on my life and your story just enhanced that.

[@michaellavery4899]

Bowie never stopped evolving. A true artiste.

[@precogpeter]

Great video David! I love Bowie. I write music and play guitar and sing. Bowie along with Nina Simone, Elizabeth Fraser, and Jeff Buckley are my greatest voice influences. Such fun to see the back story on this song. Cheers!

[@jamesphipps1121]

you’re one of the best and most consistent music content creators on this platform, never skip a video ❤

[@davidhartley94]

Thanks for watching!

[@philipB31]

Only recently did I mention to my father that Hunky Dory is quite possibly my favourite album of all time, this reminded me that I’m right. Thank you for sharing.

[@lovelyweeburd]

It was my first Bowie album, and the one I always go back to. I put it on a couple of days ago, there's truly not a single bad/filler song on it, all of them are special gems, in their own little worlds.

[@leonsearle7288]

I'm a Bowie fan, another excellent video 🤩

[@neiljohns245]

Great video! I've been listening to this song for 50-odd years. and it's great to learn some of the details behind it. Thank you.

[@reeb9016]

Hunky Dory, my first and favorite Bowie album.

[@DavidShields-h1q]

I discovered Hunky Dory in about 1980, and it remains one of my all-time favourite albums.

[@flamencoprof]

Well done! I have been thinking about early Bowie the last few days, and this was good to hear.

[@anthonyintexas]

I have been watching your videos for about a year now, & I realize I haven't subscribed until now. Your well-informed and sublime commentary is much appreciated. Keep up the good work,mate!! Bowie Lives!

[@willemvandeursen3105]

The first Bowie record I heard was Space Oddity, it was one of those "here pop music stops, it can't possibly evolve any further! moments.I loved his first album, which was a sort of fairy tail-ish Syd Barrett collection of songs, but I heard him progress to greater things. Bowie wrote history for sure.

[@DailyDoseOfFootballYT]

this is my favourite channel on youtube right now, just wish there were hundreds more videos like this.

[@davidcopson5800]

Sometimes a video about how a song came into being can be a godawful small affair. However, this is grand, not a Mickey Mouse thing, but something special; even American women in Norfolk can appreciate this well turned out video. The maker doesn't ask us to focus on anything in particular (except that f*cking telephone), and in the wake of Rick's sparking endorsement we can imagine that Lennon is sailing again. And while Frankie was stuck in Hollywood, David was free as a cloud, no touring shroud to cloak his dreams. Is there life on Mars? Maybe NASA's tortured brow will find out?

[@dzadza7775]

Revived my interest in Bowie which for some reason vanished after Hunky Dory..but then life changed for me and I left school, friends and parties for European explorations! Such neat interviews. Excellent and restrained. Thanks for the musicxx

[@barrievee]

Nice to hear the back story on genuinely great songs ~ Good job ~ Subscribed!

[@donaldanderson6604]

Bowie had a real gift for choosing the right musicians and then leaving them to do their thing. Hunky Dory is full of great piano playing from Rick.

[@AodhagánX]

Excellent video, man. I couldn't help but get a little emotional watching it, this is one of my favourite Bowie songs but I never knew the story behind it. Instant sub, thanks for your work.

[@ivanjulian2532]

You didn't mention the piano used by Rick Wakeman to record the song. It was the same piano used on Hey Jude, You're So Vain and Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

The Bluthner at Abbey Road?

[@ivanjulian2532]

@@ingridfong-daley5899 Wakeman played the same 1898 Bechstein piano that was used by the Beatles for "Hey Jude", and later by Queen for "Bohemian Rhapsody". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Mars_(song)#:~:text=Wakeman%20played%20the%20same%201898,Queen%20for%20%22Bohemian%20Rhapsody%22.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

@@ivanjulian2532 I'm thinking of Let It Be or Long and Winding Road... you're right, my bad.

[@ivanjulian2532]

@@ingridfong-daley5899 My understanding is the piano was ultimately sold to a private collector in New York. What a fantastic dinner party conversation piece that would be!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

@@ivanjulian2532 OMG i'd either cry or wee a little in excitement, yes! 😆

[@OldMod67]

That's some nifty playing Rick. Nice!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

I had no idea how much i didn't know about my favourite Bowie song. This track always breaks me down. But in the good way. What a Star, Man.❤

[@anthonyclarke5579]

Two sides of the same coin, Hunky Dory and Station to Station...priceless. Great video.

[@KevinBlythe-x3f]

Agreed ! My two favourite albums too though also some more excellent tracks on other albums. Prefer his earlier work though.

[@Judith_Remkes]

Bowie didn't just use instruments to make his music, he also used the talented musicians he surrounded himself with. Their creativity made songs fantasticly real and special. He knew that whatever they would do, it'd be great. It must've been a wonderful feeling to work with him ❤

[@coenbouman7911]

So happy I just saw this video, excellence inn all respects, thanks!

[@stevenr2463]

This needs to be spreaded! As a Bowie fan I was fully aware of that.

[@verity-dx7es]

"Time" is another great song. 🎹🎸🎆

[@clarewillison9379]

Five Years is looking horribly prophetic.

[@AndrewFloydWebber]

Always one of my favorite Bowie songs. When I bought Anjjun’s album Snow On the Sahara for the title track (1994?) the beautiful bonus was her cover of Life On Mars.

[@blues4ray]

love your videos, always fascinating. And I imagine you know how many Ronno fans (of which I am one) feel his role in Bowie's music is still not recognised enough. Actually Life on Mars which of course is just a work of genius, (and I love hearing Rick Wakeman's take on it), but really you have to say Ronno's arrangements and soaring guitar are absolutely a key part of this song - not to take away in any way how great Bowie is, but just to recognise Mick Ronson's part in this story. Perhaps you should do something about Ronno, a very interesting musician.

[@CatFiain]

Without question, one of the very best channels on KZbin. Informative, well scripted, highly engaging content superbly presented. I wish you every success!

[@thepagecollective]

Used to sing this song to warm up for gigs because it has such a range. One day a flatmate popped out of her room while I was belting it. She was sleeping off a long night. She was furious I woke her up playing a Bowie record so loud. I said, "Sorry, that was me, I have a gig." Her face lit up with a big smile. She was quite understanding after that. (Apparently, I have to edit: If this post makes you angry, you need to examine your life. I am not responsible for your sad state.)

[@SpaceCattttt]

Shameless self-promotion.

[@thepagecollective]

@@SpaceCattttt Promoting what? It's just a story from a Bowie fan?

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@thepagecollective Yourself. In this one comment you wrote, you managed to mention both how difficult "Life on Mars?" is to sing, but that you can do it, AND that you're a gigging musician. PLUS that you're sooo good at singing that you make women smile and forgive you anything. It's all "me, me, me" with you...

[@thepagecollective]

@@SpaceCattttt I clearly stated "Used to sing." I'm stunned if I get a few hundred views on youtube these days.. "Life On Mars" IS difficult to sing. I just happen to know that. Maybe you should focus on what you can do to better your life instead of trying to knock me down for a memory. You seem so bitter. It's not a good look.

[@rpm4999]

Thats singers for you😂😂😂

[@NovaTheSinger]

I love this song a lot, as a child it was more of my favorite in the late 2000’s, and whoever called on a phone, thank god, thank you. I love hearing a telephone sometimes in a song :) and thank you for this video! :)

[@patrickpowell5430]

i also think Hunky Dory is Bowies’s greatest album, with some (as Wakeman says) great melodies. For me the puzzle is why didn’t Bowie carry on writing great melodies?

[@dashmagic6211]

Absolutely perfect song.

[@matthewmedley8532]

Brilliant analysis of a classic song. Genius.

[@pobnoonmunch2255]

This is cracking, informative, good angle, well made, and presented. Thanks.

[@davidg2122]

Very interesting, well done

[@alexbowman7582]

Leather clad rocker Vince Taylor (Brand New Cadillac) and his band were skint so Vince went to France to get paid off their manager and Vince spent all the money on LSD and subsequently went insane. David Jones (then) knew Vince and bumped into him outside a London train station where Vince pulled out a map and proceeded to show David where the spiders from Mars would land. Vince was the inspiration for Ziggy. Presumably Vince regained his sanity because he later worked in a Swiss airport.

[@robhodder1687]

Van Morrison references this when he sings about Vince in the song Goin Down Geneva

[@davidcopson5800]

"Alone on a train, aimless in wander; an outdated map, crumpled in my pocket" DCFC.

[@58biggles]

I never knew this until today. Life on Mars is one of favourite Bowie songs.

[@farquell5782]

My favorite Bowie song. That part with the recorders is really nice

[@jillc9500]

What a lovely video for one of my favourite songs. Thank you. I’ve just subscribed.

[@wyffio]

I would always love how your videos look high quality yet you have so few subs and views, I see a lot of good content from you

[@stuartwray6175]

Paul Anka heard the song Comme d'habitude on the radio in 1968, when visiting Paris. Anka was captivated by the melody and bought the rights to the song. Bowie's lyric on Even a Fool Learns to Love, echoes the elegaic style, nd melancholic sentiments of Anthony Newley. It's a style and sentiment in keeping with Lindsey Kemp's theatrical work.

[@stevew5290]

That's a nice video, slightly let down by the occasional poor choice of photos at the beginning (from later eras).

[@baldyslapnut.]

There's an awesome live version of Bowie and Garson performing Life on Mars on Parkinson around 2002. 👌

[@garysmith3173]

Beautiful video David,thank you.❤️❤️❤️

[@WinkLinkletter]

Finding the 'Hunky Dory' album in the basement of a second hand head shop I clerked in years ago started a remaining-life-long love of Bowie. I'd heard him some here and there, mostly later pop stuff, but that album made me wild to immerse. 'Quicksand' just blew me away, but the whole thing...not just great songs, a perfect 'album'. Was fortunate enough to get invited by a friend (thanks again, Sandra!) to a morning (9am) Bowie 'winners only' show (my friend won responding to tiny little single local newspaper notice) at Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta in 2016, just him on guitar and his drummer, with question and answer. Magical and charming. Also saw at International Ballroom in 1997 with a killer full band; they opened with 'Quicksand'!!

[@stuartwray6175]

Second hand heads?

[@WinkLinkletter]

@ Second hand outfits/vintage ephemera/head (weed/drug paraphernalia) shop. A freak boutique.

[@Shimmy8]

Whoa! A fellow Hartley! Not a super common name over here across the pond. Glad I found your channel. It’s excellent.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Didn’t know! Such a brilliant song. Thank you. 🤙🏻

[@Derek-x1x]

It always amazed me that a talent like David's took so long to get noticed.

[@constancecampbell4610]

Thanks for this. God, how I love this song. 👍

[@lingling8964]

I discovered Life On Mars when I was searching for musicals where Sophia Anne Caruso took part in. I came across the proshot of the musical and the stage, the cast, the unsettling and confusing yet amazingly artsy atmosphere... everything peaked my attention in the best way possible. I started searching about David Bowie and now I'm crying over really good music(the best and most consuming feeling tbh) and his death. I wish I had discovered him earlier and well before his death but I was six when he passed away so😔 Anyway, I'm gonna get deeper into this rabbithole I guess, rest in peace David🤍

[@Marchello21]

Congrats on 100K!

[@kellidinit3725]

One of my all time favorite songs.

[@adam7763]

Nice video man, thanks

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

Excellent video 👌🏽

[@Persephone-g7j]

I like the little bell in the background.

[@areamusicale]

The telephone was in the TOILET? What?

[@Michel-r6m]

Thanks for the upload. Rick Wakeman...I didn't know this 👍

[@rockfan3299]

I clicked on this expecting the TV series! A great song so i stayed!

[@balazstorok9265]

Nice work!

[@subtlegong2817]

The irony that My Way is a cover is actually beautiful

[@chrisnicholls6898]

Thank you - really interesting video. Very good work.

[@RobertMcDougall73]

The music for My Way, which included how to sing it without lyrics, was made by the French composer, Bowie gave his lyrics version, Ankar gave his lyrics version, the song was then sold to Ankar, who gave to Frank Sinatra. So no plagiarism, and everything fair!

[@PaulMurray-kw9tj]

Very interesting, well presented, great content. Am now subscribed

[@mobill49]

I've just purchased the Divine Symmetry boxset. Includes everything in the time leading up to and including Hunky Dory. Outstanding.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

the person who said Life on Mars was a beautiful song was absolutely right. Bowie was a true musical genius and his reputation has only grown since his passing.⚛️❤

[@leonbeale5431]

'Genius' is the first word that comes mind when I think of Bowie.

[@ightoaks]

love bowie man, what an inspiration

[@GeorgeCampbell-r8v]

this is great, keep up with this

[@Your_Name_Lol]

Wonderful video

[@ShoppingCart13comic]

Thanks for posting this.

[@caseyrevoir]

Giant Rooks cover of this song is magical.

[@klittlemore2164]

Great post. Thanks

[@andrewbravery5114]

Life on Mars is a powerful peice that will always take me somewhere.

[@petergleeson295]

I became a Bowie fan when i was 15 in 1973. Hunky Dory was brilliant

[@stuartwray6175]

I discovered his back catalogue in the mid-eighties - a treasure trove; a revelation.

[@davewoodward1155]

Life on Mars is the first single I ever bought. What a classic. Bowie Genius,

[@charleshultquist9233]

Wow...some very interesting storytelling.

[@klw140793]

Man was plain and simply a genious thank you 👌👌