We all saw this one coming.

Of course, the mother of all Bowie ballads "Life On Mars? takes the cake.

This perfect slice of alienation, conflict and hope would set the template for years of classic work the man would create.

And he rarely nailed this subject matter with as much grace and insight as he did here as a mere 24 year old.

The beautiful, simple piano, the soaring string section, the quietly building verses and belted out choruses, the INSANE video - they all add up to one of the greatest songs ever written. Even with his older, lower register he gives this song his all and it never disappoints in concert.

The questions he would pose with this song would be answered on his next album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". Yes indeed, there is life on Mars and it's coming to save you, fuck you and change you forever. So get ready...




The final results of this album survivor are:

1. Life On Mars?
2. Changes
3. Queen Bitch
4. Oh! You Pretty Things
5. Quicksand
6. Andy Warhol
7. Kooks
8. The Bewlay Brothers
10. Song For Bob Dylan (tie)
10. Eight Line Poem (tie)
11. Fill Your Heart


Although the voting went pretty much how I expected, it was still a lot of fun to play each round and to see the discussion. It can only get better.

A Ziggy thread will follow soon.


Past threads -

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/215223
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/214734
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/214555
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/214333
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/214150
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/213996
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/213858
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/213707
http://www.prince.org/msg/8/213581

And I must say, as classic and wonderful as "Changes" is, this was the biggest landslide of a vote yet with "Life On Mars?" winning 4 votes to 20.

great job on these threads Gangsta!


And I think we pretty much expected "Life on Mars?" to triumph this round. It's one of Bowie's very finest songs. It always shows up on lists of his best tracks, deservedly so.
[Edited 1/25/07 18:13pm]

NorthernLad said:

Thanks for the kudos and thanks for playing!

Now, you were mentioning on the last thread that you were wanting to lavish some praise on this song. Unload!

I am very impressed with this thread!

Untouchable said:

What aspect of it?

GangstaFam said:

Just that I made it this far impresses me.

GangstaFam said:

Seriously stellar work. Bravo, take a bow and all that good stuff.

So when do we get to work on Ziggy?

I can't stop mangling the english language tonight edit
[Edited 1/25/07 19:41pm]

damosuzuki said:

Ziggy Round 1 will commence either later tonight or early tomorrow.

GangstaFam said:

I love everything about "Life on Mars?". The lyrics are sharp as hell, the melody just soars, and there's... a certain feeling about this song that doesn't exist in any other song. It's timeless, like it couldn't possibly be altered or touched. It's one of those songs that even only the greatest artists have only a handful - among their very best. And when you're talking about among the very best of an artist like Bowie... well then that's getting pretty high up there

Outstanding thread. I will play on Ziggy ~ practicing my listening now.
I just keep getting distracted by the album and forget to order the songs by favourites. Is that even possible on an epic like Ziggy? But, I will try.

MoonSongs said:

Ziggy will be tough... but for me the killer will be Aladdin Sane, LOL.

Although I know my favorite on it... But it probably won't last long.

Awesome! No other song could represent Hunky Dory as winner.

Unfortunately, it will probably be the only album where my favorite will win.

I voted for Life on Mars, too, but I wonder how it would have gone if Changes wasn't the superultramegahit that it is.

You all chose the most mainstream, easy-listening, schmalzy song from the record. I'm so proud of you orgers!

novabrkr said:

Gee, thanx!