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)
Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the spiders from Mars. He played it left hand
But made it too far
Became the special man, then we were Ziggy's band
Now Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
He could leave 'em to hang
So where were the spiders, while the fly tried to break our balls
With just the beer light to guide us
So we bitched about his fans and should we crush his sweet hands?
Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were voodoo
The kid was just crass, he was the nazz
With God given ass
He took it all too far but boy could he play guitar
Making love with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind
Like a leper messiah
When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band
Ziggy played guitar
The lyrics to David Bowie's song Ziggy Stardust describe the rise and fall of a flamboyant and otherworldly rock star named Ziggy Stardust. The first verses introduce the character Ziggy, a left-handed guitarist, who is part of a band called the spiders from Mars. The chorus suggests that they all worked together to create the persona of the “special man” Ziggy. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Ziggy is more than just a musician – he’s a powerful figure who influences the youth culture of the time.
The second verse describes Ziggy’s appearance, with references to his "screwed-up eyes" and "screwed down hairdo." His ability to charm his fans (or "lick 'em by smiling") is also highlighted. This section also includes references to his drug use, with the line "Came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan." The third verse is more introspective, revealing that the character has become consumed by his own fame and ego. Ziggy is compared to a “leper messiah,” which suggests that his influence is both healing and destructive. The final verse reveals that the band has broken up, possibly due to Ziggy’s untimely death at the hands of his fans.
Overall, the song is open to interpretation, but it’s clear that it’s a commentary on the nature of stardom, the power of music to transform lives, and the dramatic rise and fall of those who become part of the cultural zeitgeist.
Line by Line Meaning
Ziggy played guitar
Ziggy, the main character of the song, played guitar as his way of expressing himself and connecting with others through music.
Jamming good with Weird and Gilly and the spiders from Mars. He played it left hand but made it too far. Became the special man, then we were Ziggy's band
Ziggy played guitar collaboratively with his bandmates Weird, Gilly, and the Spiders from Mars. Despite being left-handed, he excelled in his craft and ultimately became known as a unique and special musician, with his bandmates following his lead.
Now Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo. Like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling. He could leave 'em to hang. 'Came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan
In addition to his guitar skills, Ziggy was a talented singer who affected a unique and memorable appearance. He was charismatic and could charm his audience with his smile, but at the same time be aloof and detached. Despite his indulgent lifestyle, he maintained a fit and healthy physique.
So where were the spiders, while the fly tried to break our balls. With just the beer light to guide us. So we bitched about his fans and should we crush his sweet hands?
The lyric speaks to the tensions and disagreements between Ziggy and his bandmates. The phrase 'where were the spiders' implies that the band was not around to support Ziggy when he needed them. The group experiences conflict, unsure of how to deal with fans who could be too demanding.
Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were voodoo. The kid was just crass, he was the nazz. With God given ass. He took it all too far but boy could he play guitar
Ziggy was known for his elaborate stage performances, often dancing and interacting with the audience in ways that some saw as 'jiving' or insincere. Despite some negative opinions regarding his attitude and behavior, his talent with the guitar was undeniable and praiseworthy.
Making love with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind. Like a leper messiah. When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band
The song concludes with a metaphorical portrayal of Ziggy's downfall. His obsession with himself and his own persona, represented by his ego, led to his own demise. The line 'when the kids had killed the man' alludes to the negative impact of fame and stardom, ultimately leading to the end of the band.
Lyrics © MIMIL LTD, 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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