What are David Bowie's 3 signature songs?

I think I'd have a much harder time picking my three favorites. Way too many to choose from

 

I can listen to Space Oddity from the David Bowie lp, in the Five Years box set, all day long. Oh my goodness that song sounds so wonderful.

The first song going through all 13 lps in the box, and it's the best sounding, and best, of the lot.

Inspired.

 

Space Oddity, Changes, Rebel Rebel, Heroes
It allowed me to choose four so I did.

 

Space Oddity - his first big hit, identified him as the (with respect) "space cadet" which defined his eccentric career.
Ziggy Stardust - the song which defined his theatrical and alter-ego personas.
"Heroes" - Non-pop Bowie, experiments which produced powerful music unique to him.

Close - Ashes to Ashes - the Space Oddity reprise, and a big hit.

 

Now that hes gone I suspect signature tunes will become set in amber along with a bunch of other Bowie tropes but I consider Where Are We Now emblematic of Bowies last phase. Its a gorgeous song.

 

"Space Oddity" is interesting to assess because it is (a) so uniquely Bowie and (b) because it is... so uniquely Bowie. Usually a signature song would be one that becomes a standard, a song that numerous artists tackle (like "Yesterday" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water"). But "Space Oddity" belongs to Bowie, and you can't take it from him, or him from it; it's too eccentric to become a song that takes on a life of its own, or inhabits different lives with different artists. It's not destined to have a life beyond Bowie, in the way that "Life On Mars?" or "Changes", for example, are likely to. But that uniqueness makes it very much a signature song, in a 'who else could possibly have written and performed this?' way. So I suppose, on reflection, it really is his one absolutely signature song.

 

In the past, I don't remember "Life on Mars?" being a signature Bowie song. Everyone seemed to latch onto this song after his passing, but it was pretty much always a deep track. He would play it often in concert, but the same could be said of "Cactus." Hardly ever heard it on the radio and tellingly, it was not featured on Changesonebowie or Changestwobowie. Nor was it on "David Live" or "Stage." I've been a fan since the 70's.

I like the song just fine, my observation is not an attack on it in that regard.

 

Tough one. I went with Space Oddity, Heroes, and Rebel Rebel.

 

Space Oddity, Life on Mars, "Heroes".

But I think I might as well have chosen Changes, Ashes to Ashes, Let's Dance.. for example.

 

Space
Changes
Heroes

 

"Life on Mars" is much more associated with Bowie in the UK than it is in the States. I was thinking globally when I made it one of my picks.

 

Yup. Life On Mars could never be considered a mere deep track in Europe or Japan.

When EMI UK issued Ryko's ChangesBowie in 1990 they insisted Mars?, Starman and Sound And Vision (all top ten hits in Britain) be added to the non-CD formats (no room on the CD editions) because they're revered outside of the US in a way that perhaps Moonage Daydream and Suffragette City are within the States but not so the rest of the world. Intriguing, but then America is not the world.

 

Love Lies Breeding
It Don't Come Easy
Band On the Rug
Cold Turkey Leftovers

Ooooooooops. Wrong 'Signature Songs' thread.

 

I find it tougher to pick three rather than the one that best qualifies, IMO: "Space Oddity."

After that, there's:
"Changes" (what he was all about)
"Ziggy Stardust" (most famous persona)
"Fame"
"Heroes"
"Let's Dance"

Another one that could be added to the poll list: "The Man Who Sold the World."

 

Space
Mars
Heroes

 

1. Drive In Saturday (Anneka Rice seems to agree)
2. Life On Mars
3. Rebel Rebel

All The Young Dudes by Mott The Hoople is probably my favourite Bowie written recording.

 

Bowie doing Pixies' Cactus live? Well that only happened around the time Heathen (the album from which it features) was out.

Mars has always been a signature song in Europe. Maybe not America but then America is not the world.

Hardly. Lulu's cover aside, Bowie disowned the song (and most of TMSWTW album) until the Nirvana factor kicked in. DB then including it in his live shows for the first time in almost 25 years means it can't really be considered a signature song. Am I right @stepeanut ?

 

Same for me as well.

 

I think that's exactly it though, the song is a classic but the persona is probably more well known than the song.

 

Space Oddity, Life on Mars and "Heroes".

So many great and well-known songs to choose from, but I think those three are his most recognised.

 

My favorite Bowie Song is 'Absolute Beginners', but I cannot list it as a Signature Song, as really does not fit(although who knows what 3 Songs Bowie himself would have selected).

With option to select 4 Songs, my picks would be:

Space Oddity
Heroes
Fame
Ashes to Ashes

Although, cannot dispute other selections(Changes, Let's Dance, Life on Mars) made by some Posters.

Why is 'Golden Years' not on this list, as I would think that song could also be one of his Signature Songs?

 

Still ripping people off, dear.

 

It's very hard as the majority of them are utter classics.

Based on their impact in the UK, I went for

Life On Mars
Starman
Ashes To Ashes
Let's Dance

Hate having to leave Space Oddity and about 15 others out...

 

David Bowie is best known to me for these three songs:

Let's Dance

Modern Love

Rebel Rebel

 

God, even Barbra Streisand (!) covered "Life On Mars?"... in 1974. I would say it's been viewed as one of his signature songs from the day the first person listened to it on Hunky Dory and thought, hmmm this song's a bit special (or, slightly thereafter).