Heya!
If we're going to invoke Bowie, does "Bombers" fit in anywhere? That studio version HAS to be the campiest thing he ever did.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 August 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)
Is there another one? Is it the Belinda/Germs connection?
"It's a tame, tame, tame sort of world/Where you're caught, bought, taught, as it twirls" vs. "Cold wind, tide move in/
Shiver in the salty air". Darby wins, of course. "As it twirls"-ha!
Well, anyway, they both go round and round. And so did Bowie--when he did the Chuck Berry cover. And what about "Width of a Circle"? Doesn't that song just say it all? That and "Sweet Thing/Candidate" get my vote for best gay songs written by a bisexual man.
You know Bowie once referred to "Bombers" as "kind of a skit on Neil Young." I don't get it, is it the old man thing? Is that vocal sort of an foppish British tribute to Neil?
― Arthur (Arthur), Thursday, 7 August 2003 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)
"Sweet Thing/Candidate"Ah, "Candidate," "Candidate," glorious "Candidate" -- what a song, and WHAT a lyric. Now that's words worth getting to know.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 August 2003 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)
Never heard "Bombers" actually! Must report back on this, sounds like an interesting premise.
However, since you were kind enough to answer the thread, thought I'd share these fantastic liner notes...
"Although he has rarely strayed far beyond his own suburban London, David Bowie, at 19, has seen more of the world that many people do in a far longer life-time. For David's keen sense of perception and unusual powers of observation enable him to view the world around him with the eye of an articulate eagle.
"His line of vision is as straight and sharp as a laser beam. It cuts through hypocrisy, prejudice and cant. It sees the bitterness of humanity, but rarely bitterly. It sees the humour in our failings, the pathos of our virtues. David writes and sings of what he sees to be the truth, and the truth is rarely an ode to the moon and to June. His moon is pock marked and grey. June is not for brides, it is for the birds - if it isn't raining!
"David is very much a product of the fast moving era in which he has spent his teens. An early desire to create took him to art school, but Little Richard discs turned him on to music as a more satisfying art form. At 13 he was playing good enough saxophone to be a credit to his teacher Ronnie Ross. He formed one or two of Britain's early R&B groups. Then somebody gave him a shove and he was out front singing.
"He was immediately impatient with the songs they were to sing and began to write his own. Songs he believed in, songs that were part of him, songs he could sing with feeling. They spilled out all over the place in rapid labour. He moved so fast that everything he did was two years too soon. Why, he was even photographed in 1964 wearing a military jacket!
"The world finally grabbed at him as he was rushing by and the result is this recorded collection of Bowiedotes. Bowie sometimes chose different musicians for the various tracks, but throughout he used the three boys who so ardently believed in his talent and they have loyally supported him during the lean times. They are drummer John Eager, bassist Dek Fearnley and organist Derek Boyes. - Kenneth Pitt"
― dave q, Friday, 8 August 2003 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)
Never heard "Bombers" actually! Must report back on this, sounds like an interesting premise.Two version out there -- there's a BBC take which is comparatively calmer and more restrained, but go for the one that surfaced on the Rykodisc Hunky Dory. That one is just GONE.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)