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)
The Jean Genie
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers
Ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Talking 'bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
New York's a go-go, and everything tastes right
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
Keep her comin'
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
He's so simple-minded, he can't drive his module
He bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
Oh, Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Go!
Go!
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Go, go go!
In David Bowie's song, The Jean Genie, the lyrics tell the story of a small, green genie who leaves his home to explore the city. The genie is described as being addicted to drugs and is "strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers." He is depicted as a wild and outrageous character who eats razors, talks about Marilyn Monroe and walks on Snow White. The city is described as a place where everything tastes right and is full of life.
The Jean Genie is also a ladies' man who attracts women but only for a short while. He is described as sitting like a man but smiling like a reptile. He tells people he's a beautician and sells nutrition but keeps their dead hair to make underwear. The refrain 'The Jean Genie lives on his back, the Jean Genie loves chimney stacks' indicates that he is always on the move, constantly searching for new experiences.
The overall meaning of the song is not entirely clear, but it seems to be a celebration of the cosmopolitan lifestyle, particularly of New York City in the 1970s. The Jean Genie is a symbol of the freedom and recklessness of this time, a character that embodies the darkness and excitement of the city's nightlife.
Line by Line Meaning
A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city
A mischievous creature named Jean Genie left its small abode in search of adventure in the big city
Strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers
High on the sights and sounds of the city, Jean Genie indulges in the flashy and edgy fashion trends
Ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Jean Genie's impulsive behavior led to it consuming inedible objects and pestering the servers at restaurants
Talking 'bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
Jean Genie references popular culture icons like Marilyn Monroe and fairy tale characters like Snow White while strolling through the city
New York's a go-go, and everything tastes right
Jean Genie enjoys the vibrancy and excitement of New York City, where everything seems perfect
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
Despite Jean Genie's apparent joy, there is a hint of sadness or sympathy for the creature
Keep her comin'
Encouragement to continue the upbeat atmosphere and good times
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The carefree lifestyle of Jean Genie is described, where it takes life as it comes and does not worry about it
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
Jean Genie has a fascination with the industrial aspect of the city, particularly with towering chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie's behavior is wild and crazy, manifested in screaming and making a lot of noise
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
An encouragement to Jean Genie to continue being free-spirited and unrestrained
Sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile
Jean Genie's demeanor is described as sitting like a human, though its facial expression is more akin to a reptile's
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
Jean Genie's flings are described, where it is loved but only temporarily
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
Jean Genie's lovers have a hard time letting go despite Jean Genie being transient
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
Jean Genie lies about its profession and sells dubious nutrition items
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Jean Genie hoards strange items for the purpose of making underwear, including dead hair
He's so simple-minded, he can't drive his module
Despite being wild and unconventional, Jean Genie has limitations and is not capable of a straightforward task like driving
He bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule
Jean Genie indulges in bright, flashy things like neon lights and prefers to sleep in a space resembling a capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
Jean Genie craves attention and affection
Go, go go!
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm to continue having a good time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tbirdsteve1
Back when this came out it was one of the greatest songs I'd ever heard. It still kicks ass to this day.
Lindsay Evans
It is certainly David Bowie's best tune. Classic rock that rocks.
Pauline Bower
They worked together am sorry loads of songs before this prettiest star for one absolutely brilliant 👏
sexobscura
Even if it is just a rehashed John Lee Hooker riff
Justin Haller
This song will kick ass in 4063
Roger Thijs
The Jean Genie IS Bowie for me .
LOST IN MUSIC
1972....I'm 11 years old and seen this in TV. I'm so grateful to have been young during such a great musical time. New timeless songs in the charts every week.
Travis
Always timeless.
And Mick Ronson was genius too
Co Am
saw mick and ian in 1971 at east ham granada cinema we bunked in i was 11!
Mr. Steve O
Mick was the engine