You know that part in Fame where David Bowie sings the word hey repeatedly from high to low? How many of those notes did he actually sing without studio tweaking?
Also, what David Bowie albums do you like/dislike?
I had always assumed it was an early form of sampling.
IIRC, there are at least three voices in that segment, I believe one of them is John Lennon who co-wrote it. But I couldn’t find anything online to verify that, I’m still searching. John Lennon is listed as guitar/vocals, so he’s in there somewhere.
I’ll try to look for more info on it too.
I once asked my Bowie-obsessed high school english teacher (who got me into Bowie), but I don’t think he knew.
BTW, I had thought he was singing “fame” over and over at first, but last time I thought it was “hey”, but I think I was right the first time, it’s fame not hey.
about 20 minutes later
I can’t find anything. This seems to be the kind of question that the Straight Dope was made for.
Anyway, for albums, my favorite is probably Station to Station. The title song is just so great.
I really like his early stuff, Width of a Circle, Man who Sold the World, Ziggy and all that. A couple of years ago I picked up the box set Bowie at the Beeb, which was all early radio studio stuff, and I can listen to that forever. He really shows off his pipes on Amsterdam, and there’s just a lot of fun tracks there.
I think he’s pretty hit and miss after Ziggy died (mostly miss), but came back strong with I’m Afraid of Americans, which has to be one of his best all-time singles. Heathen was ok, I liked the Pixies cover he did.
Saw him in concert last year, and while he still puts on a good show, I never really ever want to hear China Girl again. When it first came out, I thought it was time to crush his sweet hands.
-lv
I personally don’t mind China Girl, but then again I haven’t heard it too much.
His most recent album, Reality, is really good. Probably his best since Scary Monsters.
Outside … Good stuff.
My favorite is Hunky Dory. But I like the early stuff till Low in 1977. There is some good stuff around that time and after, but it is different. This is a man who has reinvented himself many times and there is no shame in liking his earlier incarnations while not caring so much for the later ones. But Hunky Dory, Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, and Ziggy Stardust are all indisputably fantastic albums, amongst the best of the 1970s.
I don’t have anything but my ears to back up this statement, but I think the highest notes in the “fame” bridge are sped up. They sound like they were recorded with the tape running slower and then when played back at normal speed the pitch is higher.
The high to low Fame section is done with the help of electronics.
More interestingly, the ultra-famous guitar riff in Fame was not written by either Bowie or Lennon but by Carlos Alomar, a guitarist Bowie had been using in the studio and on the road for some time. But even Alomar borrowed heavily from the Flares’ song “Footstomping”, which Bowie had been covering on tour (and on occasional television appearances).
As for which albums I like, it’s kind of like asking a chocoholic what their favorite chocolate bar is- they may love an obscure, hard to get brand, but they will still never say “no” to a Hershey bar.
I’ll stick to my top ten (in no particular order):
Lodger
Ziggy Stardust
Hunky Dory
Outside (a bit too dense at times but has some transcendant moments)
Station to Station (Who can resist Wild is the Wind and the title track?)
The Man Who Sold the World (Width of a Circle is gloriously depraved)
Scary Monsters
Low (“I’ve left every place” what a line!)
Aladdin Sane
Reality
His later albums Hours and Heathen contain some great tracks but I don’t believe they stand up so well as albums. I never really like “Heroes” all that much despite the great opening trifecta.
Thanks for the answers!
After listening again, I think you’re right that it’s studio trickery. For me, it’s most conspicuous in the lower parts.
jfortun, I take it you’re a major Bowie fan?
I think I need to listen to some of these albums more. I don’t think I’ve heard Outside.
I haven’t heard much Hunky Dory, but it grows on me a lot.
Scary Monsters has a great four or five songs in the beginning, but I lose interest after that.
I’ve never heard the album, but I couldn’t help but be amused by the description rendered by Trouser Press Guide To '90s Rock:
“… Outside, which is subtitled The Art-Ritual Murder of Baby Grace Blue and described as ‘A non-linear Gothic Drama Hypercycle.’ So much for humor and humility. (‘A convoluted load of bollocks’ would be a more apt underline.’)”
I like Outside as well, totally off kilter but very intense and interesting.
Does anyone know who the artist-group in the “Strangers when we meet” and the “The Heart’s Filthy Lesson” videos are?
I just listened to the 90’s remix of this song. I’m sure the highest 11 fames/heys are electronically processed, the middle 6 are a natural unprocessed voice, and the lowest are also processed.