I prefer the version on Re:Call that doesn’t have reverb on the guitar. Great song and easy to play on the guitar.
Even knowing the backstory of "Life on Mars?" ("revenge" for losing out to "My Way"), and the somewhat silly cut-up lyrics, there's just something so right about that song, and there's no better Bowie song to belt along to.
Some peculiar choices to me! and some classic tunes indeed! Just wanted to say that is great to see some love for Blackout, I feel #1 for me is currently a tie between The Sweet Thing suite, Teenage Wildlife, Sister Midnight (in collaboration with Iggy) & Blackout. Thought I just recently got into Blackout and the whole Heroes album beyond the title track and Sons of the silent age, another masterpiece to me. Blackout may be my current favorite, just has everything I'd need from a Bowie song. It's quite unique, danceable, melancholic, yet uplifting, it's experimental as can be and I feel may be Bowie at his prime. There's a video by Nacho with clips from a live performance of the song and the audio is very well put together video, sounds as good as the studio version, if a bit different, both versions are genius. On this note I'm thinking Heroes is arguably Bowie's more experimental work, the songs, apart from Heroes, which is genius too, have this unusual structure and sound.. it's more daring than Low and Lodger to me.. Only other two as experimental work would be 1.Outside & The Idiot,. which I think is the album that would be his most "way ahead of it's time" in experimentation, gaving birth to post punk before The Cure and Co. with the help of Iggy and the rest of the band, of course. Iggy would be involved in both: proto punk and proto post punk in this regard. --- TL;DR: My current vote goes for Blackout.
It's the album's. Arguably the best song in the album for me. I love both Iggy's and Bowie's versions, though I prefer Iggy's.
He did a version of this for the American Psycho soundtrack, where the piano is the prominent instrument rather than Reeves’ guitar. That’s a lovely version as well.
Don't agree with a lot said here but wanna say I actually thought St. Vincent would choose Boys Keep Swinging! or Speed Of Life. Those would be a couple from which she would take inspiration to me. Then again I really don't listen to her a lot.
His singing on the "Heroes" album AND 1978 tour would like to have a talk on that! Though just playing devil's advocate, Suite Thing suite would still top it, but there's so many honorable mentions! Actually I'd say depends on mood and what he's communicating/ expressing/saying.. he's a master on so many levels.. the singing on The Sweet Thing suite fits that song, but singing is more than just octaves indeed! I'd say the end of Teenage Wildlife he also reaches some of his best, in both, energy/mood and octaves and whatnot, in my perspective.
It's probably one of these. I suppose Ziggy Stardust if pushed... Modern Love, China Girl, Let's Dance, Heroes, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Life On Mars, All The Young Dudes, Ashes To Ashes, Loving The Alien, Absolute Beginners, Hallo Space Boy...
Bowie's best song? I would rather try to understand quantum physics than answer that question. What the heck.....Station to Station.
Since the fellow above me had Station to Station i will go with Teenage Wildlife. Neither one of us is wrong
Bowie has so many great songs, in so many different styles, so my favorite song of his may change depending on my mood, tody I'll go with: Ch Ch Changes....
Repetition from Lodger has an "important" message, done in a humorous and engaging way that doesn't come off as preachy. A difficult feat when addressing the topic of wife beating. Bowie said this is one of his favorites from his catalog.
