Pandemic Playlist: Our Top 5 David Bowie songs to comfort you amid these turbulent times
Hey there, music lovers. We hope you've been safe and sound despite the recent events that have rocked the nation. We're not just talking about the mounting threat of the coronavirus pandemic, although that still remains a critical issue. We've also been keeping a close eye on the protests that have sparked all over the country in the aftermath of the horrific death of George Floyd, yet another victim of police brutality. These are times when we all need to keep our heads, speak our minds, and walk together as a unified force, determined to stamp out anything that threatens the protection of our basic human rights and liberties. Speaking of which, June 1 also marks the start of Pride Month. Although it may be a subdued time for the country, it's also an opportunity to join hands together as one, and speak loud and proud on behalf of our LGBTQIA+ community. So we thought the best thing to do was start off our pandemix with songs from an iconic superstar, David Bowie, who was a passionate supporter of gay and civil rights. David Bowie was a flamboyant queer performer and lion of the pride, and he never shied away from taboos related to crossdressing and his own bisexual identity. Although he was taken away from us too soon in 2016, his immortal songs and voice will always remain dear to our hearts, and they are the best things to remember him by in the unsettling times ahead.
Pandemic Playlist - David Bowie Edition
'Space Oddity'
Let's start things off with the song that launched David Bowie into the stratosphere. When it first came out in 1969, 'Space Oddity' and David Bowie himself were looked upon with a mixture of shock and awe, given how peculiar he seemed as an oddball, yet incredibly gifted performer. The song had been inspired by the Stanley Kubrick film, '2001: A Space Odyssey', which gave Bowie the title for the fabled song about Major Tom floating in space. Since the track had been released to coincide with the moon landing in July 1969, some people were quick to dismiss Bowie as a novelty act, but he persevered over the years, and gradually became one of the most beloved performers of his generation. The fact that Chris Hadfield went viral in 2013 while singing this song in the International Space Station is a testament to David Bowie's enduring legacy.
'Changes'
This groovy song from 1971's 'Hunky Dory' remains one of Bowie's enduring hits and was even included on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The lyrics, which include the iconic stuttered line, "Turn and face the strange / Ch-ch-changes!" were viewed as a manifesto for Bowie's chameleon-like personality, given his frequent reinventions in both musical styles and personas, from Ziggy Stardust to The Thin White Duke. 'Changes' was also recognized as Bowie's official debut in the United States, and fittingly enough, his last live performance before his retirement closed out with this song.
'The Man Who Sold The World'
This Bowie classic from 1970 has been covered by numerous artistes over the years, from Nirvana to the Vitamin String Quartet. Although it remained relatively obscure among the pantheon of other great Bowie hits, it was given new life when the Scottish singer Lulu recorded a version in 1974. People soon recognized that it was a masterpiece of haunting storytelling, and many other artistes soon followed suit with their own renditions, with the most definitive recording being Nirvana's acoustic cover from their 'MTV Unplugged' set in 1993. Although lyrically cryptic in nature, it does seem to be inspired by the poem 'The Psychoed' by William Hughes Mearns, which contains the lines: "As I was going up the stair / I met a man who wasn't there / He wasn't there again today / I wish, I wish he'd stay away."
'Life On Mars?'
Another incredible song off 1971's 'Hunky Dory', this infectious track about sailors and lawmen and everyone in between captured the imagination of the fabled '70s era when anything was suddenly possible. It was named the best song on The Daily Telegraph's '100 Greatest Songs of All Time' list and it's hard not to see why. Bowie admitted at the time that it was both a love song, and about a girl who finds herself disappointed with reality. "She's being told that there's a far greater life somewhere, and she's bitterly disappointed that she doesn't have access to it," he revealed. However, even more interestingly, David Bowie later admitted that it was a direct response to Frank Sinatra's 'My Way', a tune which Bowie had unsuccessfully submitted lyrics for in the past. So in truth, it was also a song borne out of petty revenge against a record label!
'Heroes'
Yet another Bowie classic from 1977 that has been covered by scores of artistes in the past, 'Heroes' is that rare gem of a song that simultaneously inspires you and moves you to tears. The genesis of the song came from seeing the iconic image of Bowie's producer Tony Visconti and his lover as they embraced each other by the Berlin Wall. David Bowie's phenomenal 1987 performance of 'Heroes' at the German Reichstag in West Berlin has long been considered one of the decisive factors that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall, which Germany acknowledged after his death in 2016. It was also reported that while the song was being recorded, the microphone (3 mics were used as part of a multi-latch system) was gradually moved further and further away from Bowie, so by the time the song ends, you can really hear the raw power and emotion in his voice as he keeps belting out the song with intensity and feeling, in an effort to be picked up by the mic. It's no wonder this was considered one of his signature songs, and the timeless lyrics are still words we can live by to this day - "We can be heroes just for one day."
Pandemic Playlist is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained instead of feeling drained while you're isolated at home. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!