Gonna break from the pack and say that I love Young Americans. Of the more recent stuff, The Stars Are Out Tonight and Valentine's Day are both great rock tracks that I play quite often.
David Bowie - his most underrated and overrated songs?
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Originally Posted by FMKK:
“Gonna break from the pack and say that I love Young Americans. Of the more recent stuff, The Stars Are Out Tonight and Valentine's Day are both great rock tracks that I play quite often.”
“Gonna break from the pack and say that I love Young Americans. Of the more recent stuff, The Stars Are Out Tonight and Valentine's Day are both great rock tracks that I play quite often.”
"Valentines Day" is a brilliant track and one i hope will not be overlooked in future retrospectives on Bowies work along with the very recent" Blackstar" track.
Originally Posted by R_Knee:
“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).”
“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).”
Typical politician. Also heard Corbyn attempting to hijack DB's death by claiming he 'celebrated cultural diversity' . These front bottom's just can't resist anything that might push their own agendas.
Originally Posted by R_Knee:
“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.”
“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.”
Especially the song 1984, which was an absolute cracker!
Think that Absolute Beginners is a very underrated song partly because it was closely tied to the average but interesting film.
Edit: I see it reached no. 2 on the charts at the time but it's not looked back upon fondly by many.
As for overrated, I cannot stand Jean Genie even if it is one of his signature tunes and Modern Love does not thrill me either.
Edit: I see it reached no. 2 on the charts at the time but it's not looked back upon fondly by many.
As for overrated, I cannot stand Jean Genie even if it is one of his signature tunes and Modern Love does not thrill me either.
does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan
Originally Posted by robo2:
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
Yes I like it, I think they're having a whale of a time and absolutely taking the piss out of the whole concept.
Underrated is easy for me, 'Be My Wife' my favourite Bowie song, followed by 'Cat People' I love his voice on that track.
overrated maybe Jean Jeanie.
overrated maybe Jean Jeanie.
Originally Posted by Mandark:
“Think that Absolute Beginners is a very underrated song partly because it was closely tied to the average but interesting film.
Edit: I see it reached no. 2 on the charts at the time but it's not looked back upon fondly by many.
As for overrated, I cannot stand Jean Genie even if it is one of his signature tunes and Modern Love does not thrill me either.”
“Think that Absolute Beginners is a very underrated song partly because it was closely tied to the average but interesting film.
Edit: I see it reached no. 2 on the charts at the time but it's not looked back upon fondly by many.
As for overrated, I cannot stand Jean Genie even if it is one of his signature tunes and Modern Love does not thrill me either.”
I bought Absolute Beginners at the time and still think it's a great underrated record. It was indeed No2 and only kept off the top spot by Diana Ross in March 1986. What a classy top two that was, and I recall thinking just that at the time too. Even Frank Sinatra was in that weeks top ten!
I agree on Modern Love. His previous two singles in 1983, Let's Dance (UK No1 for 3 weeks) and China Girl (UK No2) are top drawer fantastic but I never really liked Modern Love as much, another No2 of his.
Originally Posted by robo2:
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
Originally Posted by Cadiva:
“Yes I like it, I think they're having a whale of a time and absolutely taking the piss out of the whole concept.”
“Yes I like it, I think they're having a whale of a time and absolutely taking the piss out of the whole concept.”
I agree with you Cadiva. I love watching the video, and the chemistry they clearly have between them, and the fun.
One of my favourite Bowie tracks rarely heard is the early "Lady Grinning Soul".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fHoMw8tCzo
I also thought he did "Wild is the Wind" better than the original (I love the black-and-white video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbpMpRq6DV4
. And the whole Sweet Thing / Candidate thing is just amazing.
I love most of his albums (not so keen on the "Young Americans" soul stuff) including "The Next Day". He was my idol ever since "Starman" and has remained so
Originally Posted by robo2:
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
“does anyone actually rate dancing in the street, its an absolute ****ing abomination of a song and i say that as a massive bowie / stones fan”
Yes, actually. I mean it was very of its time, and it was for a good cause. In those days it was much more of an "event" getting two superstars together on one record (unlike today).
It was fun. I am not sure it was ever supposed to be taken seriously!
Originally Posted by the chauffeur:
“Yes, actually. I mean it was very of its time, and it was for a good cause. In those days it was much more of an "event" getting two superstars together on one record (unlike today).
It was fun. I am not sure it was ever supposed to be taken seriously!”
“Yes, actually. I mean it was very of its time, and it was for a good cause. In those days it was much more of an "event" getting two superstars together on one record (unlike today).
It was fun. I am not sure it was ever supposed to be taken seriously!”
Absolutely, it was joyful and you can see they're having tremendous fun. I loved it and still do. I really don't get why anyone would be so po-faced about it.
I've got a new found love for Young Americans. Top drawer, with a young Luther Vandross adding to the backing vocals.
I never understood the point of Dancing in the Street .. there's only one version worth listening to and that's the original 1964 release by Martha and the Vandellas, which was played over and over again on the radio by Alan 'Fluff' Freeman when it first came out!
Probably my favourite Bowie song is China Girl which appeared on his 1983 album Let's Dance.
Originally co-written by Bowie and Iggy Pop for the latter's first album The Idiot in 1977, Bowie's own cover reached No.2 in the British charts at the time that The Police were riding high with Every Breath You Take.
I particularly like China Girl because, as a bass player myself, I love Carmine Rojas' simple groove throughout. I've also always been a huge fan of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, and it was he who played guitar on this song and most of the other tracks on the Let's Dance album.
Probably my favourite Bowie song is China Girl which appeared on his 1983 album Let's Dance.
Originally co-written by Bowie and Iggy Pop for the latter's first album The Idiot in 1977, Bowie's own cover reached No.2 in the British charts at the time that The Police were riding high with Every Breath You Take.
I particularly like China Girl because, as a bass player myself, I love Carmine Rojas' simple groove throughout. I've also always been a huge fan of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, and it was he who played guitar on this song and most of the other tracks on the Let's Dance album.
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“Underrated David Bowie song - This Is Not America.
No14 in February 1985.”
“Underrated David Bowie song - This Is Not America.
No14 in February 1985.”
yes! A quick look at comparemyradio.com shows it's only been played a handful of times in the last week, not even in the top 40 most played Bowie tracks but I love it. I was living in Germany when it came out: it was a far bigger hit on the Continent than it was here. Such a classy single.
I think most of his instrumental compositions are under-rated, most of which are gathered on the rare All Saints collection.
As for over-rated, then for me it has to be the Diamond Dogs album, which to my ears is truly horrible. I was spurred to listen to 1984 again after comments elsewhere on this thread, but I dislike it intensely. I imagine those tracks might appeal to people who like that War Of The Worlds album, which is another that I never want to hear again, in fact I wish I'd never heard it the first time. I don't know whether it's the crass production, with those horribly naff orchestral intrusions, or something buried deep in my psyche, but Diamond Dogs is the only Bowie album that I actively dislike. I quite like Rebel Rebel within the context of a single though.
I can simply ignore Tonight, Let's Dance, Never Let Me Down and Black Tie, White Noise.
As for over-rated, then for me it has to be the Diamond Dogs album, which to my ears is truly horrible. I was spurred to listen to 1984 again after comments elsewhere on this thread, but I dislike it intensely. I imagine those tracks might appeal to people who like that War Of The Worlds album, which is another that I never want to hear again, in fact I wish I'd never heard it the first time. I don't know whether it's the crass production, with those horribly naff orchestral intrusions, or something buried deep in my psyche, but Diamond Dogs is the only Bowie album that I actively dislike. I quite like Rebel Rebel within the context of a single though.
I can simply ignore Tonight, Let's Dance, Never Let Me Down and Black Tie, White Noise.
Originally Posted by LaVieEnRose:
“Absolutely, it was joyful and you can see they're having tremendous fun. I loved it and still do. I really don't get why anyone would be so po-faced about it.”
“Absolutely, it was joyful and you can see they're having tremendous fun. I loved it and still do. I really don't get why anyone would be so po-faced about it.”
its not po - faced to say it sounds ****ing awful to me, as pointed out a couple of posts above it is a terrible cover version of a classic
Originally Posted by robo2:
“its not po - faced to say it sounds ****ing awful to me, as pointed out a couple of posts above it is a terrible cover version of a classic”
“its not po - faced to say it sounds ****ing awful to me, as pointed out a couple of posts above it is a terrible cover version of a classic”
I also think that track is a big mistake, but not as bad as that one with Freddie Mercury; what on earth was he thinking of?
Lots or very worthy material been discussed in this thread but, noticeable by the fact that nowhere have I seen it mentioned, is his homage to Anthony Newley, recorded in 1967 ... The Laughing Gnome.
In light of his subsequent success and near deification, this quirky little record remains his most under-rated recording!
In light of his subsequent success and near deification, this quirky little record remains his most under-rated recording!
Love;
China Girl
Modern Love
Starman
Let's Dance
Young Americans
Ch-Ch-Changes
Sound and Vision
SO many classics!
China Girl
Modern Love
Starman
Let's Dance
Young Americans
Ch-Ch-Changes
Sound and Vision
SO many classics!
Overrated - Let's Dance
Underrated - The Prettiest Star, Cat People
Nature Boy is a cover too (it's Nat King Coles song)
Underrated - The Prettiest Star, Cat People
Originally Posted by Cadiva:
“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.”
“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.”
Nature Boy is a cover too (it's Nat King Coles song)
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