The dancing teenagers on that totp clip are the essence of 70s Britain
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:11 (twelve years ago) link
"Starman" was my #5. Had heard "Suffragette" and "Ziggy" on the radio for years, but after hearing "Starman" I finally ran out and bought the record. Glad I did.
― we can be gyros just for one day (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:12 (twelve years ago) link
When I saw Bowie at Glastonbury there was a guy in front of us dancing on his own and taking a blast of amyl nitrate at the beginning of each song. Starman was clearly his all-time favourite because he took blast after blast and then went pale and stumbled off halfway through the song to throw up. So that's why Starman will always make me smile.
― Suede - the fabric, not the band (DL), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:13 (twelve years ago) link
aw, I feel bad for that guy now
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:14 (twelve years ago) link
Looking at the Glastonbury setlist, I wish I remembered it more clearly:
1. Wild Is The Wind 2. China Girl 3. Changes 4. Stay 5. Life On Mars? 6. Absolute Beginners 7. Ashes To Ashes 8. Rebel Rebel 9. Little Wonder 10. Golden Years 11. Fame 12. All The Young Dudes 13. The Man Who Sold The World 14. Station To Station 15. Starman (Cut) 16. Hallo Spaceboy 17. Under Pressure 18. Ziggy Stardust 19. Heroes 20. Let's Dance 21. I'm Afraid Of Americans
― Suede - the fabric, not the band (DL), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:15 (twelve years ago) link
the bass player is a sasquatch!!!JonValurscoot 1 month ago 39
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:15 (twelve years ago) link
Trevor Bolder's sideburns are dyed, and the stuff of legend. Not really sideburns, more of a ZZ Top beard with his chin left free.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:21 (twelve years ago) link
Even more impressive:
While on tour with the Cybernauts he painted his face blue but then found out the paint was semi permanent and would not come off. Bolder had to sell his car to raise the money needed for a specialist skin peeling process at a Swiss clinic. To this day he still has traces of blue paint behind his left ear.[4]
― we can be gyros just for one day (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:24 (twelve years ago) link
17. "Space Oddity" (from Space Oddity) - 586 points/26 votes/1 first-place vote
Original 1969 "Love You Til Tuesday" version/video: http://youtu.be/D67kmFzSh_oAlbum version/video: http://youtu.be/uhSYbRiYwTY
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:25 (twelve years ago) link
wow, did not imagine that would come in so low, my #5
― meticulously showcased in a stunning fart presentation (contenderizer), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:28 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I had imagined that, despite it all, this would finish top 10. For some reason it still manages to be a pretty monumentally successful and enjoyable song after all these years, well orchestrated and arranged and conceived and all that.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:29 (twelve years ago) link
It's kind of embarrassing how late I got into the Bowie game, but I think Space Oddity was the first Bowie song I ever really heard (at age 20, to boot!) that I realized was by him, and it got me into him. It's still a beautiful song and it would have made my ballot at around 25-30, I think.
― this is my receipt for your receipt (Z S), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:30 (twelve years ago) link
Bummer -- ballots were capped at 20.
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:31 (twelve years ago) link
Can't imagine what compiling this list would have been like if people could submit 30 songs. I imagine that 20 is difficult enough.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
???!!!
isn't Space Oditty THE Bowie song? what is going on here??
― gospodin simmel, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link
Oh shit! Well, I might have squeaked it in at #20, then. Gotta have Space Oddity in there somewhere, after all.
― this is my receipt for your receipt (Z S), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
Oddity
― gospodin simmel, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, there should be a follow up poll for (1) songs you cut and/or (2) songs you didn't realize that you loved until the first poll!!
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
I have high hopes for my #1. I do.
I'm still figuring out my ass from my elbow when it comes to spreadsheets, but they make all the difference. xps
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
i wonder if anything coming up isn't on a greatest hits/singles comp
― sarahell, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
I think there's a huge fatigue factor out there for Space Oddity, probably for Changes too
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
xpost Space Oddity is the Bowie song like Sgt. Pepper is the Beatles album, right? As in once you get into the artist's catalog you realize that there's better material, on balance?
― this is my receipt for your receipt (Z S), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
My #1 is coming up, I just know it, and I don't think it was on a greatest hits? I only have Changesbowie though.
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:37 (twelve years ago) link
"Space Oddity" is one of those canonical songs like "Yesterday" and "Your Song" that I never, ever want to listen to again.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:37 (twelve years ago) link
(as far as GH comps i mean)
Have we had Moonage Daydream yet?
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:38 (twelve years ago) link
Space Oddity is the Bowie song like Sgt. Pepper is the Beatles album, right? As in once you get into the artist's catalog you realize that there's better material, on balance?
pretty fair analogy imo; it was the first Bowie song I remember hearing
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:38 (twelve years ago) link
also, I'd never heard the "Love You Til Tuesday" version of it until a couple of hours ago
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:39 (twelve years ago) link
Ehhh, "Space Oddity" is very early in DB's career/discography. I would think that Ziggy Stardust or something is the Sgt. Pepper's. I think it's more like enjoying Mr. Soul by Neil Young or something (though it is of course way more ubiquitous).
― grandavis, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:40 (twelve years ago) link
Have we had Station To Station yet?
― Feebs K-Tel (NickB), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:40 (twelve years ago) link
yup, Station to Station bound to come.
― woof, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:41 (twelve years ago) link
Be My Wife has to place also - surely?
― kraudive, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:42 (twelve years ago) link
The song Station to Station BETTER be in the top five....(fist smack into palm)
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:42 (twelve years ago) link
I said it before, but: My brain hurts a lot.
― Laura Lucy Lynn (La Lechera), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:43 (twelve years ago) link
La Lechera otm, I think that should, really should turn up.
― woof, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:44 (twelve years ago) link
"Space Oddity" is dope, "Starman" doesn't belong top 20. As Ziggy Stardust's first big UK hit, I feel like full appreciation of the latter demands the historical context of the British pop circa 1972 - all by its lonesome it's kind of a thin song.
― wolf cola, everyone (thewufs), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:45 (twelve years ago) link
OK, last one for today. Get yer guesses in in the next 2 minutes.
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:45 (twelve years ago) link
I think you mean "better be top 3," Iago.
― wolf cola, everyone (thewufs), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:46 (twelve years ago) link
― this is my receipt for your receipt (Z S), Wednesday, March 7, 2012 1:36 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
"space oddity" is an astounding song, easily one of bowie's best. imo, the tendency to downplay its genius reflects not a great wealth of "better material", but simply the fact that career- and era-defining smash hits tend to get overplayed. and there's a strong tendency among the "real fans" of any artist to slag the trademark hit anyway...
― meticulously showcased in a stunning fart presentation (contenderizer), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:46 (twelve years ago) link
Andy Warhol
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:46 (twelve years ago) link
I think both of those will be there, especially S2S. Seems to have a big lobby here.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:47 (twelve years ago) link
and sgt. pepper's is similarly brilliant (xxp)
― meticulously showcased in a stunning fart presentation (contenderizer), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:47 (twelve years ago) link
Give us a clue!
― Feebs K-Tel (NickB), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:47 (twelve years ago) link
it is awesome
― this is my receipt for your receipt (Z S), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
Too late!
― Carlos Pollomar (WmC), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
Guessing at 'Oh! You Pretty Things'
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
I could see Station to Station winning this TBH. It would be a very ILX choice.
― Suede - the fabric, not the band (DL), Wednesday, 7 March 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
it sounds even better when you're wasted
16. "Five Years" (from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) - 596 points/24 votes/2 first-place votes
Album: http://youtu.be/Zq3EZhT3G7UOld Grey Whistle Test, 1972: http://youtu.be/louXPUW7tHUDinah Shore Show, 1975: http://youtu.be/nyFH4S76ErU