David Bowie album “ the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust’s” is considered to be on of the best albums of the 70’s. A masterpiece of well arranged songs.
First album I ever bought, lol after hearing him on a small tinny radio on radio Luxembourg ...saved up months to get it ...played it down YMCA in Aberaman disco (so called) still play the CD 51 years later ....wonderful.
Not many people remember David's alter ego for about a year was Ziggy Stardust. The first time I ever heard him and his band was as Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. I have to admit I prefer David Bowie to Ziggy. But he had to get it out and it made for a great album. The man was a genius. He was a mix of sexy and smart with a great singing voice. As he got older, he just got better. Miss you Sir. There is a hole in music that yet another legend has left and cannot be filled.
People believe this song is about a drug trip, because “ashes to ashes” mentions major Tom being a junkie. But “ashes to ashes” released 11 years later and was in part a response to the popular opinion that the public’s interpretation of “Space Oddity” is that it was a song about a drug trip. The truth is Bowie was fascinated by the true beauty and horror of space travel and what an astronaut had to endure. The idea that in order to experience the most beautiful sights one can imagine, one had to endure the immediate underlying horror of death, separation (from all of humanity) and loneliness that was omnipresent.
It is interesting what different people will project onto a popular song. In the 60s space travel had begun to be a popular concept, afterward that slipped away as culture shifted to value other things. It's ironic that those who disparage others with higher goals as individualists are actually all about the navel gazing, consumption, and dissipation themselves. We went from a culture of engineers and scientists to one of shoppers and wasters in a decade.
Or "The Man Who Sold the World". An amazing song that was also covered by Nirvana. Nirvana's version is great, but I still think the Bowie version is better.
"The Laughing Gnome" - I remember about 4 years old in 1970, one of Bowie's first ever songs was a favourite! "Ha ha haa, Hee hee heeee, I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch meee"
Vincent, I get chills, and a few years earlier saw 2001 a space odyssey where the astronaut dies and floats into the void . I connected the two images and almost lost it.
'Rebel Rebel' was released the same year as 'Killer Queen'......sort of the height of the whole Glam thing. David sang the song 'Under Pressure' with Freddie Mercury......about 7 years later.
Ashes to ashes is the sequel of the song and after that yes later a guy from Germany make a song base on the the story of Major Tom ( and D Bowie her the Song and says : he Love the way he end the Story of Mayor tom .) Peter Schiling.
What I love is that I was able to pass down my love of ‘70’s music to my youngest son. This song gives me chills every time. We often sing a certain lyric from a song we both love or find funny. It’s a good thing to be able to share such a love of music w your kids.
The rest of Queen participated too. John Deacon came up with the bass riff that started the song. I believe there are drums and guitar and some Queen production in there as well.
Which is why we find out what happened to Major Tom in "Black Star". Bowie took his life full circle. Funny, he was always so reticent to give any deep meaning to his music. Wisely, I would say. Not only did he allow others to find their own meaning in it, but it allowed him to be open in ways he didn't have to explain. Ashes to Ashes is from 1980, and is about the struggle with his becoming sober, and admitting he is/was a junkie. I saw him in 1983, at the US Festival, he was over an hour late taking the stage, not certain why. I think he was still partying but at that time of his life replacing some things with other things.
@@stanleyteriaca2184 In Ashes to Ashes it is Tom reconnecting, but it's not necessarily about Bowie's sobriety. Bowie has blatantly said that it his epitaph for the 1970's and even childhood since some of they lyrics are like nursery rhymes.
My wife introduced me to your channel tonight, and I've really been enjoying your real sense of warmth and humanity as well as your love and willingness to go on these journeys that have already meant to much to us. I can only hope that with you leading the way and by your example many more people will learn to love these classic songs as well as the modern stuff that has come since. I always want people to understand what has come before while still appreciating the new, and thanks so much for what you are doing.
When I was six years old, I walked into my mother's room and this was on the television. The next day I drew my first recognizable portrait - of David Bowie. I'm a professional artist now. :D His music reaches people of all ages and walks of life, for sure.
Second a thousand percent. I think you may have already reacted to Queen's live version, but there is something truly spectacular about Mercury and Bowie in a duet.
Lolol. They sure did and we loved it and him 😄. I remember seeing him for the first time when I was about 10-11on Don Kirschners Rock Concert show so 72’ or 73’. I was immediately drawn in and have never looked back. Still can’t believe he’s gone. RIP 🙏🏻🙂. And deep and abiding thanks 😌❤️
Kaye Whye thank you for mentioning that. Two masters, two different generations and two different styles but they performed a classic version of that song.
I had forgotten about that, but now that you mention it I do recall the performance clearly. It didn’t seem that odd to me at the time, but looking back through the 2020 lens, this duet seems surreal or almost impossible. At the time Bing was an old act and from a completely different genre and Bowie was still pretty young. Now they’re both gone. Kind of trippy and a stark reminder that Father Time is undefeated. Thanks
I had read the back story was that Bing wanted to perform Drummer Boy, but Bowie being younger thought it was old fashioned and didn't like the song. So, the different writers on the show got together , and wrote "Peace on Earth" as Bowie's counterpoint to Bing, literally, on the fly. Bing never got to see the special because he passed away 5 weeks after recording it with Bowie.
Cristen Sieh not entirely sure about that. He has recorded it in stretches when he had a little bit of time on the ISS. They did however release the video eventually on the day he returned to Earth and landed in Russia.
Bowie loved that version. He helped him get the license for the song. According the wikipedia this song is only Bowie song he did not owned the rights.
Bowie’s music had a profound impact on me growing up. It makes you think, as well as, making you emotional. It also made you dance. He is sorely missed in this period of time, when the world needs people like him. The world needs healers and thinkers, and he did both with his artistry. But, the world does have Jamel. ✌️
I first heard this song on a walkman in the back of my parent's car when I was 8 on a road trip to Pittsburgh. I played it over and over because I had never heard anything like it. Years later I became a music producer and had number ones on iTunes and top five albums on Billboard. This song might have planted the seed.
I saw this somewhere else but here it goes: if you are feeling blue remember that our earth is roughly 4.5 billion years old and you lived at a time where you were able to listen to Bowie.
I was too young in my house to choose what music was played at this time. Praise that I had older siblings with amazing musical taste. I can't recall the "first time" hearing so much of this music - it was just *there*
If there's one reason why I'm glad I just squeaked in on the outer edge of the boomer years, it's the music. OMG, the f***ing music. Such an embarrassment of riches, so much so that there were bands we could afford to eyeroll at or downright despise. Now ALL OF IT sounds amazing compared to the autotuned, cookie-cutter stuff that's all over. (Except Journey. Those guys were earwormed into my brain by the radio so many times that I can't even look at one of their song titles without risking hours of frustration, LOL.)
i was crushed by his death, as were so many of us. he was one of those artists that fit every generation, he spoke to all of us. he was a both a great musician and actor, always a pleasure to hear his music or see him surprise us in a movie role. what a talent. what a loss
I love, love, love your reactions!!! You dig deep into the lyrics, and you GET IT!!! "Planet earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do..." You understood that lyric perfectly.
Glad you’re onto Bowie! You’re in for quite a trip. “Heroes” is definitely an iconic song, “Ziggy Stardust” though would be the best one to do after this, I think. David Bowie was the only “celebrity death” that has ever made me cry. I miss him still.
Oh Ziggy. I was asking myself where is all the Bowie? And assumed it was all blocked. Bowie fans are legendary. It is now about to hit. He was a genius. Life on Mars if I was forced to choose just one. Forever missed.
Well, thats the reason Major Tom broke the spaceship circuits, and give a message to his wife, he don't want to return to earth and he knew "the spaceship knows which way to go"... so, the Spaceship was ready to back to earth and Major Tom stop the return
Seriously, been listening to this song for over 50 years and never thought of it that way and Bam!! it is so obivious even in the way he delivers his vocals at that point. Thanks Jamal!
That phrase always intrigued me...I knew it had some special meaning...But on the surface, it didn't make much sense though...Never could figure it out..until now, and it does make perfect sense...David Bowie was always very conscious about the environment...To Major Tom seeing the planet in its majestic blue, but knowing the course it's been taking, and not being able to do anything about it, cannot be described more beautifully... The other part that likewise i always wanted to figure out was the line, "And the papers want to know whose shirt you wear,"...And for that, I found the explanation in an article on line...and it turned out exactly what I was thinking it was.... 🙂 I'm not British, but I'm as passionate as a British about this sport...Here's what I found: 'In the line, "And the papers want to know whose shirt you wear," 'whose shirt you wear' is English slang for 'what football team are you a fan of?'. The thinking here being that if you can make it into space then your opinions on football matter. (Note to Americans- in this case, by "football" we mean "soccer.")' (This takes me to another football reference in another rock classic: 'Fearless', by Pink Floyd..my personal favorite, I might add.. 😉 Guess whose shirt I wear.. 😎 Anyway, yeah I know..For some, not something very relevant, but if it was enough for David to include it in his lyrics, it is for me too..👍
David Bowie, to say the least, was an "outlier" to the human race (if you understand that word). I was always amused when he appeared in the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth where he played an alien. The amusing part is he already seemed quite alien. I also noticed you saying you hadn't seen the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. You really owe to yourself to see that particular movie, because there are many references to it in everyday life (even today), not to mention it was a totally ground-breaking movie at the time and even today. There are parts of it that are "very deep". Frankly, the last 15 minutes of the movie need to be researched to understand the meaning (maybe just after viewing the movie). The only place that I quickly found where the original movie can be viewed without doing some sort of "special" download (etc) is Netflix DVD. I actually just moved it closer to the top of my Netflix DVD list. I originally saw the movie in 1968 (in the theater) and elements of it are still active in my mind. It is worth the trouble to see it. Some of the scenes are soooooooo cool. Of course I must warn you this is coming from a former engineer, although 2001 was released before any of that schooling. :>) I hope you do work out a way to see the original 2001 movie. Good luck and as the saying goes "be good to each other", which I'm pretty sure you'll recognize.
Yeah, finally some Bowie!!!!!!! And on my birthday!! Perfect timing. :) Thank you!!!!! He was so totally unique. When I heard his music for the first time as a kid, I was hooked on his sound and songs and originality. He was a huge inspiration! So creative and always reinventing himself, from the Thin White Duke to Ziggy Stardust and then on from there. Thanks so much for playing this!
I remember hearing this on my brother's stereo system when I was a kid and as I moved around the room I kept thinking that there must be something wrong with the record it had been mixed in such a new way. The way he harmonises through each ear - astonishing sonic experience.
The thing with Bowie is that every album sounds different from another; his style changes between each one. You could (and should) go down this rabbit hole for a long time. ;) Try Diamond Dogs and Hang On To Yourself.
Such a great musician and lovely person. Sad to lose him. You may not know, Jamel_AKA_Jamal, that the personnel on this song are all musicians that played with Elton John: Terry Cox on Drums, Herbie Flowers on Bass, Rick Wakeman on Mellotron and the great, late Paul Buckmaster who provided the musical arrangements on many of Elton & David's albums. The producer, Gus Dudgeon is also a feature between these two musicians....some great connections in music!
My great Uncle Buford Jones is a world famous sound engineer who mixed Bowie's live sound for years. The day after Bowie passed away this was his post on FB. In or around 1973 upon returning from touring with Skynyrd and ZZ Top (my rock roots), Showco informed me I would be going out with David Bowie. I said "maybe"..... Showco said "oh yes you will!"......"OK!. A couple of weeks later, I found myself terrified being introduced to David in his dressing room. He welcomed me so kindly and sincere where I began work with the friendliest , most caring, abundantly and uniquely talented person I would ever meet! I thank you again David for the many tours, smiles and laughs that followed with you trusting your sound to me! A privilege and an honor that shaped my career forever. I thank you for the countless wonderful memories including jammimg on guitars one night! God Bless You David and your family and may you rest in blissful peace!
Now we're talking!!! Can never have enough Bowie in life, loved him and very, very fortunate to have seen him in person about a dozen times. Such an immense catalogue, but personal favourites are 'Heroes' with its Berlin Wall references and 'Life On Mars' which described how I felt about myself as a young woman. Thank you, Jamal ✌🏼
Finally listened to this highly heralded work of David Bowie. WOW. What a voice. What a production. Yep, tears here.I wish he had his guitar out there in space with him.
Watch Bowie in "The Man That Fell To Earth". He's an alien that is trying to save his own planet and comes here. It was made in 1976. There's things like OLED screens and other technologies that don't exist for decades.
cspringer333 when I was living in NM, I apprenticed to become a live sound engineer. The spot where he actually falls to earth is on the property of the guy I was apprenticing with.
There was a version of this song that was done by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The video is out there and Bowie liked it so much that he authorized it to be done without having to pay royalties for a certain period of time. It brings a different view when the Earth is actually in the back ground in the window. I want to say it was Chris Hatfield but I could be wrong.
Jamel--Bowie changed both his appearance and music several times over his career, as Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, etc. Some of my favorites were from the early 2000's, when he was finally David Bowie for a while. At Live from the BBC, my fave there is a live performance of my fave song of his, a love song, titled Absolute Beginners. Hope you ill look that one up. He was so good in that concert. That was his best band ever. Thanks!
So happy to see you doing Bowie! Strap in, you're in for a ride.... soo many great songs. The man probably had one of the greatest and most interesting careers in music.
Bowie was probably one of the most unique entertainers to ever live.....always unique, always changing, & always brilliant!!! Some other suggestions for Bowie, it Let's dance, & Fame, both are very funky & bring out his amazing vocals!!!
I have listened to this song for over 30 years and never picked up on the "planet earth is blue" as a sadness commentary until now. I love how watching reacts breathe new life into music I already know.
I want to thank you, a 56 yr old here, Grew up listening to most what you reacting to, but in the essence of growing up, just enjoyed the music for what it was, good music. Now, at 56, slowed down a bit, listen a lil more critical, lyrics, vocal performance, production, arrangements, overlays, etc.. You and other reactors have helped me enjoy this great music all over again. I THANK YOU
I grew up crying to this song, every fucking time I heard it. Even as a child, I could feel the hurt. To me at the time, it was about an astronaut stranded and dying in space. As an adult, I learned it was about the beauty/devastation of drug use. By the gods, it remained crushing. What a singular talent.
When David Bowie passed away, I was pretty much inconsolable for days. I had no words. All I could post on social media about it were those two lines: "Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do" and "And the stars look very different today" 💔💔💔
Jamal, you are my daily dose of positive, music and love/light. Thank you for sharing these tunes/videos and bringing us all together. You are a ROCKSTAR!!!!
Yes! Some David Bowie! Please consider reacting to more. Start with "Let's Dance", "Young Americans", "Fame", "Ziggy Stardust" "Life on Mars" and "Golden Years" would be my suggestions. He was such a beautiful soul with so much talent and a vast range to his musical style. Thank you for your videos as always.
