Best Song on David Bowie's "Lodger"

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You KNOW who I am he said...

An album with a modicum of variety (and thus perhaps a variety of votes).

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Look Back In Anger 12
Fantastic Voyage 9
Boys Keep Swinging 8
Yassassin (Turkish For: Long Live) 6
D.J. 4
Move On 4
Red Sails 3
African Night Flight 1
Repetition 1
Red Money1


Joe, Friday, 1 June 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

I have a thing for "Yassassin", but generally I have more trouble distinguishing between the songs on "Lodger" than on most other Bowie albums. Voted for "Yassassin" anyway.

Geir Hongro, Friday, 1 June 2007 12:32 (eighteen years ago)

Lots of funny lyrics on this album, "Cyprus is my island" indeed!

Tom D., Friday, 1 June 2007 12:34 (eighteen years ago)

"Look Back In Anger" is great, with those ghostly Ziggy-era backup vocals on the chorus ("waiting so long") mixing with the full-chested vocal Bowie was so fond of at the time.

Euler, Friday, 1 June 2007 12:41 (eighteen years ago)

Sometimes I feel the need to move on, so I pack a bag, and move on.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 1 June 2007 12:43 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, the Andy Warhol style lyrics are great!

I love this album, I love the eclectic, travelogue feel. Have to say "Look Back In Anger" is not one of my favourite tracks though, I don't really like the over-emoting vocal style, it presages the eighties horrors that were to come. Red Money also presages the eighties and his endless recycling of Iggy Pop tunes. There's no stand-out track, it's not that kind of album, but I guess Boys Keep Swinging with its deadpan lyrics and wildman violin does it for me.

underpants of the gods, Friday, 1 June 2007 12:48 (eighteen years ago)

"Look Back In Anger" is great, with those ghostly Ziggy-era backup vocals on the chorus ("waiting so long") mixing with the full-chested vocal Bowie was so fond of at the time.

"Look Back in Anger":

lead vocals: Scott Walker (but really The Walker Bros, with the higher John Walker vocal shadowing the main vocal)
backing vocals: John Lennon

While of course "Red Sails" just totally IS "Monza" by Harmonia

Tom D., Friday, 1 June 2007 13:01 (eighteen years ago)

fantastic voyage is easily in my top 5 favorite bowie songs.

Emily Bjurnhjam, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:20 (eighteen years ago)

"Red Sails" reminds me of Neu! I think Bowie copped to wanting to make a krautrock song with that.

underpants of the gods, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:23 (eighteen years ago)

"Monza" by Harmonia

Tom D., Friday, 1 June 2007 13:24 (eighteen years ago)

If you say so! I don't know it, but I know Neu!, and that's what it reminds me of, like something off Neu! 75.

underpants of the gods, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:29 (eighteen years ago)

Half of Neu were in Harmonia

Tom D., Friday, 1 June 2007 13:31 (eighteen years ago)

Move On

kornrulez6969, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:33 (eighteen years ago)

xpost
In any case, "Red Sails" is definitely Bowie's "influence" song. Quite apart from the motorik thing, it's got an intro that sounds like some Beatles track, it's got guitar work at the end that sounds like the Velvet Underground...

underpants of the gods, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:35 (eighteen years ago)

My absolute favorite Bowie album (nice idea for a poll!).. toss up between "Fantastic Voyage" and "Boys Keep Swinging" but I went for the former

Stormy Davis, Friday, 1 June 2007 14:03 (eighteen years ago)

"Look Back in Anger":

lead vocals: Scott Walker (but really The Walker Bros, with the higher John Walker vocal shadowing the main vocal)
backing vocals: John Lennon

Wow! It never occurred to me, but that description is so OTM.

Joe, Friday, 1 June 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

Also,

"Look Back in Anger":

Rhythm section: "Follow the Leader" from Lou Reed's "Rock 'n'Roll Heart"

Tom D., Friday, 1 June 2007 14:42 (eighteen years ago)

"Red Sails" uber alles!

Davey D, Friday, 1 June 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

God, I love Lodger.

Davey D, Friday, 1 June 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

Gotta go with "Look Back in Anger".

Alex in NYC, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:26 (eighteen years ago)

RED SAILS ... almost went w/ "boys keep swinging" though.

Eisbaer, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:57 (eighteen years ago)

No takers for "African Night Flight" yet? Interesting.

Joe, Friday, 1 June 2007 19:22 (eighteen years ago)

ONE OF THESE DAYS ONE OF THESE DAYS GOTTA GET A WORD THROUGH ONE OF THESE DAYS

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 1 June 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

(I need to find a karaoke bar that has it)

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 1 June 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

BENT ON A WINDMILL, RENT A SONY, WONDER HOW THE DOLLAR WENT DOWN, GOTTA WORD TO ELIZABETH'S FATHER, HEY-HO HE WISHED ME WELL!

Davey D, Friday, 1 June 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

I love the BONG-BONG!! on the lower registers of the piano with that one.

Joe, Friday, 1 June 2007 20:41 (eighteen years ago)

"I got believers..."

JN$OT, Monday, 4 June 2007 06:34 (eighteen years ago)

I'm in a "Yassassin" kinda mood.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 4 June 2007 06:51 (eighteen years ago)

Guess what, y'all?! It was the album's first single in Turkey!!!!

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 4 June 2007 06:52 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Thursday, 7 June 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

Asanti Habari Habari

Joe, Friday, 8 June 2007 01:29 (eighteen years ago)

"Look Back In Anger" by a nose.

kenan, Friday, 8 June 2007 01:41 (eighteen years ago)

same.

tricky, Friday, 8 June 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

That was the last Bowie record I bought. A few years later there was this awful song that I was always hearing on the radio. Shocked I was, to discover who it was. (the song was modern love) Anyway, I like the cover of Lodger.

Rich Smörgasbord, Friday, 8 June 2007 03:01 (eighteen years ago)

You should have bought "Scary Monsters" before you stopped.

Geir Hongro, Friday, 8 June 2007 08:21 (eighteen years ago)

You should have bought Let's Dance, skipped Tonight and then bought Never Let Me Down.

Dr.C, Friday, 8 June 2007 09:02 (eighteen years ago)

And as for a particular song, I guess "Look back in anger", as others have said. It has a difficult groove, it's always on the verge of falling apart. That drummer is way overactive... I think; I'm not sure if it's his fault. The guitar solo is great.

Rich Smörgasbord, Friday, 8 June 2007 09:52 (eighteen years ago)

It's actually Carlos Alomar (the rhythm guitarist), if I recall.

Joe, Friday, 8 June 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

No, he played drums on "Boys Keep Swinging". Worst song on "Lodger" = "DJ" (by a a country mile)

Tom D., Friday, 8 June 2007 12:27 (eighteen years ago)

Yes I've never liked DJ much. L

Dr.C, Friday, 8 June 2007 12:28 (eighteen years ago)

L?

Dr.C, Friday, 8 June 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

I meant it was Alomar who did the guitar solo on "Look Back in Anger". I think I read he wasn't too happy to switch instruments for "Boys Keep Swinging"?

Joe, Friday, 8 June 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

Oh right, yes, got you!

Tom D., Friday, 8 June 2007 12:30 (eighteen years ago)

He used to be my boss and now he is a puppet dancer...

I dunno, DJ's none too shabby. I'm not sure there's really a weak track on Lodger. Could be Bowie's last album without a seriously weak track.

Any takers for the Au Pairs' cover of Repetition?

Zelda Zonk, Friday, 8 June 2007 13:39 (eighteen years ago)

I love D.J., myself.--the funky but straight disco combo of the rhythm guitar, bass, and drums matched with the artsy weirdness of the strings and Chamberlain.

Joe, Friday, 8 June 2007 13:53 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Friday, 8 June 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

Wow...I am surprised at "Fantastic Voyage" snaggin' spot #2. I've always thought that one to be so-so relative to other tracks.

Joe, Saturday, 9 June 2007 01:46 (eighteen years ago)

I am proud of my solitary "African Night Flight" vote.

Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 9 June 2007 02:18 (eighteen years ago)

that's the one I voted for as well, and not the first time my vote wasn't counted

Milton Parker, Saturday, 9 June 2007 02:19 (eighteen years ago)

hanging chads

dmr, Saturday, 9 June 2007 02:43 (eighteen years ago)


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