Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. "Space Oddity", released in 1969, was his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Bowie's single "Starman" and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as "plastic soul", initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the album Young Americans. In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the "Berlin Trilogy". "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.
After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and "Under Pressure" (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved massive commercial success in the 1980s starting with Let's Dance (1983). Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with The Next Day. He remained musically active until his death from liver cancer at his home in New York City. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016).
During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In the UK, he was awarded ten platinum, eleven gold and eight silver album certifications, and released 11 number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie
Studio albums
David Bowie (1967)
David Bowie/Space Oddity (1969)
The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Hunky Dory (1971)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Pin Ups (1973)
Diamond Dogs (1974)
Young Americans (1975)
Station to Station (1976)
Low (1977)
"Heroes" (1977)
Lodger (1979)
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
Let's Dance (1983)
Tonight (1984)
Never Let Me Down (1987)
Black Tie White Noise (1993)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
Outside (1995)
Earthling (1997)
Hours (1999)
Heathen (2002)
Reality (2003)
The Next Day (2013)
Blackstar (2016)
Hang On to Yourself
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Praying to the light machine
She wants my honey not my money she's a funky-thigh collector
Layin' on 'lectric dreams
Come on, come on, we've really got a good thing going
Well come on, well come on, if you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
We can't dance, we don't talk much, we just ball and play
But then we move like tigers on Vaseline
Well the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar
You're the blessed, we're the spiders from Mars
Come on, come on, we've really got a good thing going
Well come on, well come on, if you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
Come on
Come on, come on, we've really got a good thing going
Well come on, well come on, if you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
Come on, come on, we've really got a good thing going
Well come on, well come on, if you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Hang On to Yourself by David Bowie is a song that encapsulates the themes of rebellion, hedonism, and raw energy that characterized the glam rock era of the early 1970s. The lyrics describe a woman who is a "tongue twisting storm", someone who is wild and unpredictable. She is "praying to the light machine", a reference to the spotlights and other effects used in live performances. The woman wants Bowie's "honey not my money"; she is not interested in him for his wealth but for his sexual energy and charisma. She is a "funky-thigh collector," someone who seeks out excitement and pleasure wherever she can find it. Bowie sings about "electric dreams", referring to the futuristic and fantastical visions that he and his audience shared.
The song has a sense of urgency, a feeling that Bowie and his band are living life to the fullest and that the people watching them need to do the same. The chorus admonishes the listener to "hang on to yourself" if they want to keep up with Bowie and his crew. The verses describe the way that they move and act, as though they are animals with an innate sense of rhythm and grace. The line "we're the spiders from Mars" is a reference to the concept album that Bowie released the same year as this song, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The song is a classic example of Bowie's theatrical style and his ability to create memorable characters and narratives through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well she's a tongue twisting storm, she will come to the show tonight
The woman is an unpredictable force that brings excitement to the performance.
Praying to the light machine
Relying on technology to create a worthy performance.
She wants my honey not my money she's a funky-thigh collector
The woman is not interested in material possessions, but rather the experience of being with him.
Layin' on 'lectric dreams
Imagining a future where technology is even more integrated into their music.
Come on, come on, we've really got a good thing going
We have a great connection and collaborative energy.
Well come on, well come on, if you think we're gonna make it
If we are going to succeed, we need to stay dedicated and focused.
You better hang on to yourself
Stay strong and believe in yourself.
We can't dance, we don't talk much, we just ball and play
We are not concerned with social norms or verbal communication; we just focus on the music.
But then we move like tigers on Vaseline
When we perform, our movements are smooth and powerful.
Well the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar
Often the most authentic and raw emotions are expressed through unconventional means.
You're the blessed, we're the spiders from Mars
We are unique and special, and our music reflects that.
Come on
Keep the energy and momentum going.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DrJKintobor
on I Can't Give Everything Away
I can totally imagine this being the end theme of Sabrina Online, when Sabrina marries Richard and they drive off into the sunset...
Peter Bonney
on Diamond Dogs
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