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About This Track
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’.
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Albums featuring this track
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The Best of David Bowie 1969-74
David Bowie
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The Best of David Bowie 1969-1974
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
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- Amazon $5.57
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The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
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- iTunes $11.99
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Best of Bowie (disc 1)
David Bowie Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $11.99
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- Buy Album
- Amazon $8.95
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Shouts
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pogopatterson wrote:
What a string of genius tracks Bowie put out in this period.
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AgentSamFisher wrote:
Timeless, perfect, awesome, and u name it !
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Siffiona wrote:
Really is timeless
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georgeus_Loo wrote:
дивно
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pablo323 wrote:
dragon ball
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LuciaAlfie wrote:
Timeless ♥
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itsnotoveryet27 wrote:
why are the albums, where great songs are token from, so often 'Best of albums'? .........I would rather like to see the original album. Is there someone, who can give me a hint
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myonlyweakness wrote:
So beautiful.
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Harry_01 wrote:
How someone could hate this perfect song is a mystery to me.
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keanequeen wrote:
Você fez o scrobble desta faixa 22 vezes. Você fez o primeiro scrobble dela em 5 Out 2010. Você adicionou esta faixa aos favoritos. ♥
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DannyB01 wrote:
I don't think I can express in words just how much I love this song. I mean, I think it's the best song ever written. I love it more than anything ever. <3
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keanequeen wrote:
DIVO.♥
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dandymark wrote:
Awesome !!!!
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crawlpalmetto wrote:
It's the freakiest show :)
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BelleLumineuse wrote:
what a beautiful voice.
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JamesAJanisse wrote:
Excellent song, used to great effect in the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (which also features a soundtrack made of acoustic Bowie covers sung in Portuguese - amazing)
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hamlet666olsdal wrote:
One of the most beautiful songs ever
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Juputu wrote:
This song somehow has shortcut to your heart. Touching and beautiful, both music and lyrics.
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motylanogaa wrote:
<3
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ilpleutamourir wrote:
So fuckin great.
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enduringpoverty, Hethierr, victoriajjc and 7 other people loved David Bowie – Life on Mars?. 33 minutes ago
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