David Bowie R.I.P

Sorry. I finally listened to "Life on Mars?" today after holding off and got a little verklempt myself.

Question: why does "Rebel Rebel" seem to be the goto tribute cover song? Easier chords (never tried to learn)? Distinctive opening riff after which who cares what you play or sing until the first stop?

why do you think it is?

What do you mean by "why?"?

"Rebel Rebel" seems kind of like the definitive Glam song that's actually about GLAM--and yes, THAT RIFF. It's one of the 5 or 6 Bowie Classic Rock Radio Staples in the US that still get regular airings (The others being "Space Oddity", "Fame", "Golden Years", "Let's Dance", and "Young Americans", the last of which has really taken off in the last 5-10 years).

xp what events led you to believe that 'rebel rebel' is the goto tribute song? i myself have not seen that song referenced

Is there another classic rock song that sounds very similar to Rebel Rebel? I keep thinking there is but I am drawing a blank on what it might be.

Or that has a riff similar to that riff?

i don't know, "Substitute"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eswQl-hcvU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa6bI_95G9I

xp what events led you to believe that 'rebel rebel' is the goto tribute song? i myself have not seen that song referenced

You know come to think of it, "Rebel Rebel" is a glam song but at the same time it has a lot in common with a repetitive garage rock staple like "Gloria."

And it draws a line back through that to the fifties, if only through the title.

definitely one of the easier bowie songs to cover and I'm sure that helps -- easy chords, easy vocal melody, repetitive

4/4 Stomp Beat...similar to "Satisfaction" and a bunch of Motown songs.

Right, that too

Chord progression is kind of "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star."

I could just about imagine the Boss working up a Thunder Road/Life on Mars? medley, but some of the crowd might get restless and leave, missing the rest of the 3 hour and 45 minute show.

hey whoa no springsteen shade in here

tbh i think the rebel rebel lyrics are kinda anthemic in their way, individuality, flying yr freak flag, 'ludes etc

hey whoa no springsteen shade in here

Trying to predict how many more such performances of "Rebel Rebel" we should expect. Wouldn't mind a Patti Smith version.

Also Troggs - "I Can't Control Myself"

Second part of the verses

Has that drum beat

I need a Tom Petty version in my life

And the chords

i think he might be quoting "White Light/White Heat" meter-wise a bit

> that buxton show is terrific, is there some easy way to do an mp3 rip of it? hope they keep it up

Available at https://archive.org/details/AdamBuxtonOnDavidBowie31stMarch2013

Spotify search of that song seems to only be showing me Bowie plus the Seu Jorge cover from The Life Aquatic. Loved those versions within the movie but they left me kind of cold when the CD surfaced a little later.

Portuguese lyrics are quite freely translated. Lots of phrasebook greeting stuff that even I can understand.

Ah, no Mick Ronson or other flashy guitar player to duplicate on the original track as further evidence.

btw did Morrissey ever kiss and make up w/ him?

A few more things before I test pattern out of here:

There is a funny story out there about Bowie teaching "Rebel Rebel" to John McEnroe.

Wayne County claims that Bowie got the idea for the song from a Wayne County song, but I don't hear it.

"Rebel Rebel" sounding like "Satisfaction" has always been its main appeal to me

+ the lyrics

"Rebel Rebel" really gets to the heart of feeling, when you're a teenager, like your haircut or some clothes can really be an earth-shattering hostile act.

btw did Morrissey ever kiss and make up w/ him?

― Blecchstar Linus Must Comp (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, January 18, 2016 7:02 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Didn't Bowie object to being on the cover of a Morrissey single (along with Moz), due to not actually being on the record itself? I mean, fair enough, surely?

Yeah, just read about it.

Regarding Bowie and Ferry: My copy of Stranded long gone so can't check, feel like Greil Marcus was pretty positive about Roxy Music but not so much on Bowie. I feel like his. Bowie selections were sparse and contrary, like Pin-Ups and nothing else. Wonder why exactly, assuming my memory is correct.

That's about right!

http://i.onionstatic.com/onion/5245/5/original/960.jpg

Well, he's in heaven, Kelly, yeah?

I'm thinking Jesus would have had issues with equal temperament

lol

What's Bing doing in Heaven though?

I think that's part of the joke

There's a joke?

Wow, where's that from?

Oh, the Onion.

You never saw anything by that cartoonist before? It's meta.
(xp)

Wondering if Dylan has had anything to see. Almost picturing him making a grumpy sideswipe like he did with Merle Haggard recently. "When I need to Bang A Gong, I know who is my goto guy."

Oh it's meta, silly me.