Life On Mars? (3:44)
1,139,820 plays (222,468 listeners)
In 1968, Bowie wrote “Even a Fool Learns to Love”, a song with lyrics by Bowie set to the music of a 1967 French song (“Comme d’habitude”). Bowie’s song was never released, but Paul Anka bought the rights to the original French version, and rewrote it into “
My Way,” made famous by Frank Sinatra in a 1969 recording on his album of the same name. The success of the Anka version prompted Bowie to write “Life on Mars?” as a parody of Sinatra’s recording.
Bowie described how he wrote the song in notes for a Bowie compilation CD that accompanied a June 2008 issue of The Mail on Sunday:
Workspace was a big empty room with a chaise longue; a bargain-price art nouveau screen (‘William Morris,’ so I told anyone who asked); a huge overflowing freestanding ashtray and a grand piano. Little else. I started working it out on the piano and had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon.
Bowie noted that Rick Wakeman “embellished the piano part” of his original melody and guitarist Mick Ronson “created one of his first and best string parts” for the song.
The liner notes for Hunky Dory indicate that the song was ‘inspired by Frankie’.
My Way,” made famous by Frank Sinatra in a 1969 recording on his album of the same name. The success of the Anka version prompted Bowie to write “Life on Mars?” as a parody of Sinatra’s recording.Bowie described how he wrote the song in notes for a Bowie compilation CD that accompanied a June 2008 issue of The Mail on Sunday:
Workspace was a big empty room with a chaise longue; a bargain-price art nouveau screen (‘William Morris,’ so I told anyone who asked); a huge overflowing freestanding ashtray and a grand piano. Little else. I started working it out on the piano and had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon.
Bowie noted that Rick Wakeman “embellished the piano part” of his original melody and guitarist Mick Ronson “created one of his first and best string parts” for the song.
The liner notes for Hunky Dory indicate that the song was ‘inspired by Frankie’.
Video
Added by track8fodderstompf
Music Video For Life On Mars?
One of my fave songs by Bowie! Im only just getting into him, but I really like him. No Copyright intended : )
Share Video
One of my fave songs by Bowie! Im only just getting into him, but I really like him. No Copyright intended : )
Related Tracks
-
Changes
David Bowie -
Oh! You Pretty Things
David Bowie -
Perfect Day
Lou Reed -
Satellite Of Love
Lou Reed -
All The Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople -
Don't Stop Me Now
Queen
Albums featuring this track
-
The Singles Collection
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $25.92
- eBay Search
-
The Singles Collection (disc 1)
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Best of Bowie (disc 1)
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
The Best of David Bowie 1969-1974
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.52
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
tookeswe wrote:
Yoy don`t know what you mist. That was a time , that never will come back!!!!
-
spacefaceinfurs wrote:
oh man, wish I'd been a teenager during the 70's ...
-
robertswi wrote:
This song is something more than just a music ... is a symbol of that then even 40 years ago we were able to listen to alternative music.
-
Charladay wrote:
One of the best songs of all time
-
tightheadennis wrote:
brilliant and sad but not in an emo way haha
-
DazBee wrote:
an amazing piece of art from an amazing artist
-
visibleman wrote:
probably the best song ever
-
lihei wrote:
Too brilliant
-
JosefScarlette wrote:
YES!!! I freaking LOVE this song!
-
TooCrazyToCare wrote:
I remember that somewhere around 1997 I saw a piece of 'Life on Mars' video on television. It was some 'Remember the 70's" collection VHS commercial ,that's when I fell in love for the first time...
-
FloydPink92 wrote:
Of course there isn't. Don't be silly David. (ps song rulez)
-
useless45 wrote:
oh my GOD! :O
-
Revolution25 wrote:
i love this song so much.
-
captain_shadow wrote:
He is so cool.....his eyes and voice.oh my god!i love him!<3333333
-
Aud_ wrote:
It doesn't get any better than this. He's a genius.
-
szafi19 wrote:
Fuckin epic!
-
mosuri wrote:
An enrichment in the world of music
-
vrrn wrote:
Bowie´s Rhapsody. Genius.
-
Punk_eye wrote:
my soul is in this song. beautiful. !
-
budgallant wrote:
Very powerful song to say the least...
David Bowie
Life On Mars?
full track
Listeners
-
Ouvre-Le-Chien
Listening now
-
maya1515
Listening now
-
Aleat6
Listening now
-
twosoups
Top Listener
-
blossompossum
Top Listener
-
justinnsaur
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
Badj3raz, SNEAKINDECAN, unhandyallang and 9 other people loved David Bowie – Life On Mars?. 50 minutes ago
-
FourandARobot added Life On Mars? to FourandARobot’s library. 4 hours ago
-
AphyCee added Life On Mars? to her Loved Tracks. 4 hours ago
-
cutman97 added Life On Mars? to the playlist CUT 6. 4 hours ago
-
tommsmith, XonkuHc, PureWeasel and 2 other people loved David Bowie – Life On Mars?. 4 hours ago
-
XabisMission and Marie-de-rose added David Bowie – Life On Mars? to their libraries. 5 hours ago
-
Ghaztha, kafkiano, allanschnorr and 6 other people loved David Bowie – Life On Mars?. 5 hours ago
-
M5axWest added Life On Mars? to M5axWest’s library. 11 hours ago
-
M5axWest added Life On Mars? to the playlist. 11 hours ago
-
z313, NowhereMan81, LiquidBlaino and 3 other people loved David Bowie – Life On Mars?. 12 hours ago
Related Journals
-
Questions about my top 10
by outsidethenorm |
29 Oct 2009 | Add comment
-
Top Ten Artist meme
by nefertari_nz |
26 Oct 2009 | 1 comment
-
My Library Annotated: David Bowie
by rwitte |
13 Sep 2009 | Add comment
