# Your Favourite Bowie Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904 "2016-01-12T04:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/21 "2016-01-12T13:04:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m surprised no one has mentioned my favorite yet: **Young Americans**. > > … A complex, well-crafted song that I never get tired of hearing. > > And I love the way he slyly slipped a Beatles shout out in there. > mmm … and from the same album: Across the Universe. A song written by one of the era’s greatest singer/songwriters, performed by one of the era’s greatest singer/songwriters. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/22 "2016-01-12T13:36:52Z")
1 Diamond Dogs 2 1984 3 Ziggy Stardust 4 Starman (it’s been going through my head constantly) 5 Moonage Daydream 6 China Girl (mostly because of Stevie Ray) 7 Cat People (Putting out Fire) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/23 "2016-01-12T13:40:53Z")
My feeling about Bowie was that he was consistently good, but rarely great. My favorite is definitely “Suffragette City,” though “Starman” and “Changes” are close. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/24 "2016-01-12T14:55:37Z")
Rebel Rebel is on my current rotation. Love that guitar line. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/25 "2016-01-12T15:06:45Z")
FAME ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/26 "2016-01-12T15:32:08Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > FAME Fame was the first song I stayed up past my bedtime to listen to. I remember having my little blue Panasonic transistor radio under the sheets with me, tuned to KFRC in the Bay Area. It was getting late - close to 10pm! - and I was just about to give up when it came on. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/27 "2016-01-12T15:54:27Z")
Aaah! I had planned to start a thread much like this this morning - It was gonna be "What are your favorite (Non-Single) Bowie songs? _shakes fist at being thread-ninja’d_ Anyway, my current absolute favorite Bowie songs, in no particular order: 1. Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise). Been my favorite for a couple years now, but it’s always been in my top 10. 2. Boys Keep Swinging 3. Sweet Head - this was an outtake from the Ziggy sessions, which wasn’t released until a few years ago. It’s magnificent. 4. Queen Bitch 5. The Width of a Circle 6. The Stars Are Out Tonight 7. Life On Mars? 8. Under Pressure 9. Wild Is the Wind 10. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/28 "2016-01-12T15:58:52Z")
**TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME** [All the Madmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb7Xdu7STx8) [Oh! You Pretty Things](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKt0LooLxKA) [Sweet Head](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XACXQU_6gQI) -“Until you had Rock you only had God.” [The Jean Genie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGQo6zpVzt8) [V-2 Schneider](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC20rI6mOiE) [Boys Keep Swinging](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fA2Sig7F3c) [Ashes to Ashes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMThz7eQ6K0) [China Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8IXx4tsus) [I’m Afraid of Americans](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyLftLzRFRI) (the super noisy live version with Sonic Youth is my favorite) ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/29 "2016-01-12T15:59:51Z")
I remember the first time I heard “Fame.” It was on an episode of _Doogie Howser, MD_ of all places. I was just a kid. But it was the funkiest groove I’d ever heard and remains one of my favorite Bowie songs. ---
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/30 "2016-01-12T16:09:13Z")
I’m partial to Panic in Detroit, since I’m from Michigan, plus that bass line makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/31 "2016-01-12T16:13:01Z")
Of his popular stuff: Let’s Dance Modern Love Fame Of his less popular stuff: Black Tie, White Noise - The whole album (especially You’ve Been Around) From the Earthling album- Little Wonder, Dead Man Walking ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/32 "2016-01-12T16:47:41Z")
Life on Mars Changes Under Pressure . . . . . . . . . . .various interchangeable forgettable glam/dance stuff. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/33 "2016-01-12T17:09:30Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m surprised no one has mentioned my favorite yet: **Young Americans**. > > Have you have been an un-American? > Just you and your idol singing falsetto 'bout > Leather, leather everywhere, and > Not a myth left from the ghetto > Well, well, well, would you carry a razor > In case, just in case of depression? > Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors > Blushing at all the afro-Sheeners > > A complex, well-crafted song that I never get tired of hearing. > > And I love the way he slyly slipped a Beatles shout out in there. > mmm I was sick of it when it was still a hit. It just sits there for me. Good lyric though, I never parsed that out too well. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/34 "2016-01-12T18:31:04Z")
Moonage Daydream China Girl Five Years ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/35 "2016-01-12T19:15:38Z")
Tin Machine seem to get fairly short shrift, but as well as rescuing Bowie from his dire last couple of late 80 albums {although Labyrinth has a couple of gems}, you can hear him and Reeves Gabrels blowing away the synthy over-produced 80s stodge with blasts of ferocious guitar rock. And [Heaven’s In Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WSP-lp8Xbo) is just terrifically loud and catchy; afew years later and it could easily be a White Stripes track. _Tin Machine_ was loudly sniffed at when it came out, but post the early 2000s garage-rock revival, what’s surprising is just how fresh it sounds. Give it a spin. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/36 "2016-01-12T19:35:01Z")
> [@stolatt](#): > > I’m partial to Panic in Detroit, since I’m from Michigan, plus that bass line makes me happy. How could I leave that off my list? Love that song. > [@Penfeather](#): > > Tin Machine seem to get fairly short shrift, but as well as rescuing Bowie from his dire last couple of late 80 albums {although Labyrinth has a couple of gems}, you can hear him and Reeves Gabrels blowing away the synthy over-produced 80s stodge with blasts of ferocious guitar rock. And [Heaven’s In Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WSP-lp8Xbo) is just terrifically loud and catchy; afew years later and it could easily be a White Stripes track. _Tin Machine_ was loudly sniffed at when it came out, but post the early 2000s garage-rock revival, what’s surprising is just how fresh it sounds. Give it a spin. I haven’t listened to it in a long time but I was very fond of it when it came out. It’s sort of a forgotten part of his career but it was quite good. Reeves does very good work on guitar and Soupy Sales’ kids are a solid rhythm section. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/37 "2016-01-12T20:17:44Z")
Yeah, that whole phase of his career seems to have been airbrushed out as a sort of aberration, and for the life of me I can’t work out why: maybe it was the whole “band” format rather than Bowie plus sidemen, but contrived humility project not, Tin Machine just made this great noise. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/38 "2016-01-12T22:05:16Z")
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust is my favorite album of his. I couldn’t stop listening to “Starman” and “Five Years” when I was little. I remember hearing the lyric _I think I saw you in an ice cream parlor/drinking milkshakes cold and long/smiling and waving and looking so fine/don’t think you knew you were in this song_ and thinking it was so amazing, to have this little happy scene of ice cream and smiles and people having fun in the middle of this panicked song. I’m still amazed at the concept behind it all - the pure appreciation of massive number of people on Earth, all talking and living and dying. In “Starman”, I always thought the “cat” DJ playing rock 'n roll was an actual cat - it was years before I realized it was old slang. Random song drop: [“Rock 'n Roll Suicide”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jg4ekLG9Zo) The perfect closer. It’s so weird to be thinking about him in the past tense . . . ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/39 "2016-01-12T22:13:43Z")
Octarine - I can’t go on YouTube at work, but go on there and search for Bowie Five Years Dinah Shore. It’s heartwrenching - he sounds like he’s about to break into tears for the whole song. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904/40 "2016-01-12T22:15:01Z")
Life on Mars? Within You (Labryinth) TVC15 Space Oddity Starman Ashes to Ashes Under Pressure Little Drummer Boy Station to Station This is not America Scary Monsters I’ll stop there. I could list whole albums. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-bowie-songs/742904.md?page=3)