Song 95 - Ten iconic Bowie songs

I've realised that I am coming to the end of my Bowie Tribute week and I haven't got nearly enough of the hits into the Jukebox that I would like so I am going to start Saturday by giving you ten  iconic songs  and then on Sunday, I am going to add in some of the great artists who worked with him over the years. If I get to the end of the weekend and I haven't mentioned the hit that stands out for you don't worry, later in the year - I will be turning the blog over to its readers and allowing them to give suggestions on what songs should go in. It has already been pointed out to me that I missed a classic James Bond Theme back in November; so whatever you do, please don't be offended if I missed a hit.

SONGS 1 - 5.

1. Ziggy Stardust 
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Written and recorded in 1972 for the album The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars, Bowie would launch one of his most famous alter egos on the 10 February 1972 in Tolworth, in the UK. Ziggy Stardust was dreamt up whilst Bowie was promoting Hunky Dory in New York. Ziggy is a rock star who acts as a messenger for alien and became an instant hit with fans of Bowie. This period of his music is often credited as creating the cult of Bowie due his creative genius of being able to reinvent himself into different characters throughout the decades.

The character was known for his glam rock and the album explores themes like sexual exploration and social commentary. The album was met with controversy when it was first released and is now hailed as one of the most outstanding albums of all the time.

The album combined the hard rock elements of The man who sold the world with the lighter experimental rock and pop of Hunky Dory. The first single to be released from the album was Starman;  a single that would cement Bowie's breakthrough with UK audience, which was boosted by a groundbreaking performance of the single on Top of the Pops in July. The album would remain in the chart for nearly two years and sales of Hunky Dory increased with the popularity. The other songs which are my  3 & 4 in today's list also popular at this time was John, I'm only dancing & All the Young Dudes.

2. Starman
Starman - Ziggy Stardust comes to earth with a message of hope

3. The man who sold the world
The Man who sold the word

4. John, I'm only dancing
John, I'm only dancing

5. All the young dudes
All the young dudes

Songs 6 - 10

6. Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes

Although the American fans of Bowie had given him his first number 1 in the USA with Fame in 1975, it would it Britain five more years to secure a Bowie chart number 1 in the UK. Described as a nursery rhyme in the vein of Brother Grim, listeners are reunited with Major Tom who is no longer a starry eyed astronaut but a junkie strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low. some interpreted this as a play on Bowie's 1977 album Low, which charted his withdrawal inwards following his drug excesses.

The video for the song was one of the most iconic of the 1980s, costing  £250,000, which was the most any artist had invested into a pop-video at that time. It incorporated scenes both in solarised colour and black and White. Bowie was dressed in a Pierrot costume, which was a dominant visual representation of his Scary Monsters phase. Also appearing with Bowie were Steve Strange, Judith Frankland and Darla Jane Gilroy, who were part of the London Blitz scene and would go on to participate in the new romantic movement, which was heavily influenced by Bowie's music and image.

7. Rebel Rebel 
Rebel, Rebel by David Bowie

Rebel Rebel was Bowie's last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark and a swan song for Ziggy Stardust. Released in February 1975, it saw Bowie move away from working with Mick Ronson and took the chance to play guitar himself. The lyrics play with the idead of gender and has a very distinctive riff that will stick in your head. Whilst All the young dudes had been the male glam rock album, this was the female equivalent.

The single was taken from Bowie's 8th album Diamond Dogs which was a concept album built on a marriage of Glam Rock and the novel 1984 by George Orwell.  Two further singles would be released from the album Diamond Dogs and 1984. 
8.  Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dogs

9. 1984
1984

10. Let's Dance
Let's dance

Jumping forward to the year 1983 and this time both America and the UK would place Bowie's Let's Dance at the time of the single chart. Taken from an album of the same name, the video was film in Australia. This track would bring Bowie to the ears of a new generation of fans and made him, probably in the first time of his career, commercially mainstream, something later on Bowie would rebel against, in the early 1990, when he went into his Tin Man phase.






I feel that this week the grief that has been poured out throughout the world for David Bowie has been testament to his amazing contribution to music. Something I think I am only just managed to scratch the surface off. Writing blogs on Bowie's music has given me a deeper appreciation of the man behind so many iconic music moments and genres. I know without a doubt that there will be more Bowie to be placed in the jukebox in the months ahead.