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David Bowie - his most underrated and overrated songs?


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Old 11-01-2016, 09:28
the chauffeur
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what do you think ..
overrated = Starman
underrated = Cat People
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Old 11-01-2016, 09:35
Soupietwist
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It's not really about overrated/underrated - it's just opinions and personal taste isn't it.

For what it's worth I not a huge fan of 'Young American's'.
On the other end of the scale I think 'Slow Burn' is probably in somewhere in my Top Ten Bowie songs and his cover of 'Wild is the Wind' is also amazing.
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Old 11-01-2016, 10:09
barbeler
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This particular performance of this song made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He was suffering from a terrible cold at the time, yet still couldn't perform without a fag.
Something in the air live on Jools Holland.
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Old 11-01-2016, 10:23
Nevada_Usopian
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It's funny but I never quite got Dancing in the street. Even though I like both Bowie and Jagger. It must have been the music video.

Love God Know's I'm good (that guitar rift).
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Old 11-01-2016, 10:50
Inspiration
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I always liked "Hallo Spaceboy" that he did with the Pet Shop Boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjYHTCR0qBk
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Old 11-01-2016, 15:34
HughOS
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I always thought Dancing In The Street was just a massive in joke with Bowie and Geldof tbh.
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Old 11-01-2016, 15:59
moonlily
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It's funny but I never quite got Dancing in the street. Even though I like both Bowie and Jagger. It must have been the music video.

Love God Know's I'm good (that guitar rift).
'Surely god won't look the other way today'

As my brother texted me and said, Bowie was my idol, on Sunday mornings when we were growing up there'd be David Bowie blasting out of my bedroom and Olivia Newton John out of his- happy days.

I love 'The Prettiest Star' and 'Everyone says Hi' but I can't choose an outright favourite as he had so much great music.

Think it would be better if this was just a favourites thread instead of trying to have one with a negative aspect.
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Old 11-01-2016, 16:09
the chauffeur
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I always liked "Hallo Spaceboy" that he did with the Pet Shop Boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjYHTCR0qBk
One of favs - as I love the PSB anyway, so them + Bowie = winner.
shame it never made the top ten. The remix is great.
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Old 11-01-2016, 16:19
Thom001
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One of favs - as I love the PSB anyway, so them + Bowie = winner.
shame it never made the top ten. The remix is great.
My youngest brother absolutely despises the "Halo Spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys Remix).

For me personally:

Over-rated: "Dancing in the Street" (with Mick Jagger). The music video was very much put together at the last minute and it was all filmed on one night.

Under-rated: "Halo Spaceboy"; "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" (from "The Next Day") and "Blackstar"
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Old 11-01-2016, 17:51
Mr Perks
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Too many songs to decide about but I do think his album, Lodger, is overlooked more than some. It's always been one of my favourites.
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Old 11-01-2016, 18:51
Missli
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Some of his collaborations with other artists aren't so well known. I just posted Nature Boy which he did with M A on another thread.
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Old 11-01-2016, 18:56
NoseyLouie
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I would have to do it by decade..but even then I am not sure I could pick an overrated song?
I will just choose ones I am thinking of at the moment that are among the ones I think are underrated
Dodo
Velvet Goldmine
Holy Holy
Up the hill backwards pt 2
Speed of Life
We are the dead
Sons of the silent age..

I could go on now. .I will stop though

Sad day.
Candidate (alternate version)
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Old 11-01-2016, 19:03
Richard1960
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I always thought Dancing In The Street was just a massive in joke with Bowie and Geldof tbh.
Iain Dale on LBC had an interview with London Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan(As Bowie hailed from London originally) he asked him about Bowies music he said he loved "Dancing in the Street" and Lets Dance" it was obvious from his answers he did not know a lot about Bowie, even though he said he was a fan.

Rent a quote is alive and well.

I would have asked him what he made of "Earthling"
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Old 11-01-2016, 19:14
R_Knee
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Iain Dale on LBC had an interview with London Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan(As Bowie hailed from London originally) he asked him about Bowies music he said he loved "Dancing in the Street" and Lets Dance" it was obvious from his answers he did not know a lot about Bowie, even though he said he was a fan.

Rent a quote is alive and well.

I would have asked him what he made of "Earthling"
Didn't Nick Clegg claim to be a Bowie fan - but turned out to be unable to name any Bowie albums! (other than Greatest Hits)

And back on topic, I think there's a lot of good stuff on the largely forgotten and in my view very underrated Diamond Dogs LP.
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Old 11-01-2016, 19:19
mal2pool
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well like many aged rock stars he's never done anything as good as in the 70s and early 80s.
`I couldnt stand young americans .
`Only songs i loved were
space oddity
life on mars
starman
heroes
ashes to ashes
lets dance
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Old 11-01-2016, 19:40
Rich Tea.
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Underrated David Bowie song - This Is Not America.

No14 in February 1985.
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Old 11-01-2016, 19:50
TexAveryWolf
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Think Aladdin Sane is underrated, in the wake of ZS.

The title track, with those inane keyboards and haunting lyrics.....
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Old 11-01-2016, 20:04
Cadiva
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Underrated David Bowie song - This Is Not America.

No14 in February 1985.
One of my absolute all time favourite Bowie songs. There's a few on his latest that I think are shaping up to be at the top of my list as well including the title track.

Nature Boy would be another favourite, Also loved Absolute Beginners (the song not the film!), Modern Love, Rebel Rebel and the title track from Diamond Dogs, Jene Genie, Golden Years, Amsterdam, his cover of See Emily Play, plus all the obvious contenders.

I can't say I think any of his songs are over rated, I think he just was that good.
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Old 11-01-2016, 20:24
PunksNotDead
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Modern love is my favorite
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Old 11-01-2016, 20:37
Richard1960
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Didn't Nick Clegg claim to be a Bowie fan - but turned out to be unable to name any Bowie albums! (other than Greatest Hits)
And back on topic, I think there's a lot of good stuff on the largely forgotten and in my view very underrated Diamond Dogs LP.
Yes i think he did.

But on topic i think "This is not america" is underrated as is "Ashes to Ashes" off scarey monsters which as a LP i think is very very underrated, and i quite liked "Earthling" .
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Old 11-01-2016, 20:51
0...0
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Underrated David Bowie song - This Is Not America.

No14 in February 1985.
Oh yes, that's lovely. RIP David.
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Old 11-01-2016, 20:59
Peter the Great
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Didn't Nick Clegg claim to be a Bowie fan - but turned out to be unable to name any Bowie albums! (other than Greatest Hits)

And back on topic, I think there's a lot of good stuff on the largely forgotten and in my view very underrated Diamond Dogs LP.
To be more precise I think he said Changes was his favourite David Bowie album which was a greatest hits album? A curious compilation that featured 3 extra tracks on the vinyl version and a remix of Fame.
For an underated Bowie song I would nominate I'm afraid of Americans. The Earthling album was pretty poor but it featured this one great track. A song that Bowie liked playing live. Certainly when I saw Bowie play the Isle of Wight in 2004 he played it and it was one of the highlights of the show.
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Old 11-01-2016, 21:00
welwynrose
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well like many aged rock stars he's never done anything as good as in the 70s and early 80s.
`I couldnt stand young americans .
`Only songs i loved were
space oddity
life on mars
starman
heroes
ashes to ashes
lets dance
You need to listen to his more recent stuff
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Old 11-01-2016, 21:34
barbeler
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Most over-rated for me was Diamond Dogs. I hated the American rock style and apart from Rebel Rebel, there isn't a single track on it that I ever play. I also gave up on him during the entire period when he wore the wide shouldered suits and silly blond coiffure.

Most under-rated album is Hours.
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Old 12-01-2016, 00:09
The_Bonobo
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I would have to do it by decade..but even then I am not sure I could pick an overrated song?
I will just choose ones I am thinking of at the moment that are among the ones I think are underrated
Dodo
Velvet Goldmine
Holy Holy
Up the hill backwards pt 2
Speed of Life
We are the dead
Sons of the silent age..

I could go on now. .I will stop though

Sad day.
Candidate (alternate version)
BIB the alternate version of Candidate is my favourite by him in some ways. There is something magical about it even though it is really a demo. Aside from more famous great ones it is probably that one along with Blackout and Conversation Piece. Also love many early ones including Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud, Maid of Bond Street, She's Got Medals, Join The Gang, Letter To Hermione, etc. (and on and on). So many amazing songs.
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