sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 I first heard David Bowie when I was a kid and unfortunately, despite my brothers both being big fans, I could not forget the first song of his I heard. It is the first thing I think of, every time people claim he was a genius. He wasn't. It is without doubt the worst record ever released and should be required listening for anyone that needs some balance to the gushing reviews of his body of work. Feel free to listen here. Apparently when he toured his greatest hits in the 90s he asked his fans what he should play and this came top of the list! He didn't play it though. I wonder why? Anthony Newley (those of a certain age us will remember that name) was a big early influence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guided Missile Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 Apparently when he toured his greatest hits in the 90s he asked his fans what he should play and this came top of the list! He didn't play it though. I wonder why? Anthony Newley (those of a certain age us will remember that name) was a big early influence!He looted most of his successful material from Marc Bolan of T Rex. Bolan died at the age of 30 and was everything to me that Bowie wasn't. Later he stole most of Kraftwerk's creative genius, going so far as moving to Berlin. Some more observant of you may notice a resemblance of the "Thin White Duke" to the legend that is Ralf Hütter of Kraftwerk, below: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 I first heard David Bowie when I was a kid and unfortunately, despite my brothers both being big fans, I could not forget the first song of his I heard. It is the first thing I think of, every time people claim he was a genius. He wasn't. It is without doubt the worst record ever released and should be required listening for anyone that needs some balance to the gushing reviews of his body of work. Feel free to listen here. You think it's "without doubt" worse than "Touch My Bum" by the Cheeky Girls, Black Lace's "Agadoo", and "The Birdie Song"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 You think it's "without doubt" worse than "Touch My Bum" by the Cheeky Girls, Black Lace's "Agadoo", and "The Birdie Song"? To be fair, it is pretty bad. You might get away with it as the Cheeky Girls, Black Lace etc but not if you are an aspiring rock/pop icon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsaint Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 A huge musical and cultural icon . A great loss for many reasons. I loved some of his music and detested others. A curious chap and would be interested to know the reason behind the 'constant reinvention'. People are celebrating that but it suggests an unquiet mind. Some of his incarnations appeared as pure sell out or pretentious self indulgence. I'll remember him for Ziggy, Heroes and Under pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallyboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 I'm not entirely sure that Bowie was serious with that iconic Laughing Gnome character he created, but out of the 500+ songs he must have recorded I can see why critics would select this alone as a piece of work to judge him on. Anyway I see there is a funeral on down the road so I need to go down there and shout stuff at mourners, I might kick the flowers about too while shouting look at me, look at me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 A huge musical and cultural icon . A great loss for many reasons. I loved some of his music and detested others. A curious chap and would be interested to know the reason behind the 'constant reinvention'. People are celebrating that but it suggests an unquiet mind. Some of his incarnations appeared as pure sell out or pretentious self indulgence. I'll remember him for Ziggy, Heroes and Under pressure. Following on from what GM was saying, I remember many associates saying way back that he was a bit of a chameleon and would take on ideas of others and make them his own. The trouble with constant reinvention is that you can often ditch something good for something rubbish which he did on more than one occasion. His greatest hits were very good and I am glad that I saw him in concert where he played most of them. There was a lot of stuff that only die hard fans could love too though. Having said that how many artists have had dodgy periods in such a long career. Even Springsteen has produced some duds. The newspaper coverage today has been well OTT in my opinion which is a shame because it could cause some kind of backlash - he wasn't all that so why the fuss - whereas he clearly was a major cultural figure. A bit more balance was needed. Where do you go with it when McCartney dies for example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 To be fair, it is pretty bad. You might get away with it as the Cheeky Girls, Black Lace etc but not if you are an aspiring rock/pop icon. The songs I've listed would all come under the banner of "novelty" as would the "Laughing Gnome". Pretty sure Bowie didn't see himself as a future rock/pop icon at this time, he has said himself he saw himself writing for musicals as he didn't have the confidence or stage presence to be a pop star. Taken in this context "Laughing Gnome" makes more sense. Don't see how this can be used as some yard-stick to judge him by. As a toddler I loved "The Laughing Gnome" and I'm still fond of it. It's a record for kids! If I could make him un-record anything it would be "Dancing In The Street" with Mick Jagger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 I'm not entirely sure that Bowie was serious with that iconic Laughing Gnome character he created, but out of the 500+ songs he must have recorded I can see why critics would select this alone as a piece of work to judge him on. Anyway I see there is a funeral on down the road so I need to go down there and shout stuff at mourners, I might kick the flowers about too while shouting look at me, look at me! Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 I'm not entirely sure that Bowie was serious with that iconic Laughing Gnome character he created, but out of the 500+ songs he must have recorded I can see why critics would select this alone as a piece of work to judge him on. Anyway I see there is a funeral on down the road so I need to go down there and shout stuff at mourners, I might kick the flowers about too while shouting look at me, look at me! It's a close run but I'd vote GM as the biggest cvnt to post on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 The songs I've listed would all come under the banner of "novelty" as would the "Laughing Gnome". Pretty sure Bowie didn't see himself as a future rock/pop icon at this time, he has said himself he saw himself writing for musicals as he didn't have the confidence or stage presence to be a pop star. Taken in this context "Laughing Gnome" makes more sense. Don't see how this can be used as some yard-stick to judge him by. As a toddler I loved "The Laughing Gnome" and I'm still fond of it. It's a record for kids! If I could make him un-record anything it would be "Dancing In The Street" with Mick Jagger. Whatever anyone thinks of Laughing Gnome, he certainly made up for it later in his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 FWIW, Laughing Gnome is my wife's favourite Bowie song. It is 'of it's time' and has to be viewed in that context. For heaven's sake, the Beatles wrote and recorded 'Octopus's Garden'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 Following on from what GM was saying, I remember many associates saying way back that he was a bit of a chameleon and would take on ideas of others and make them his own. The trouble with constant reinvention is that you can often ditch something good for something rubbish which he did on more than one occasion. His greatest hits were very good and I am glad that I saw him in concert where he played most of them. There was a lot of stuff that only die hard fans could love too though. Having said that how many artists have had dodgy periods in such a long career. Even Springsteen has produced some duds. The newspaper coverage today has been well OTT in my opinion which is a shame because it could cause some kind of backlash - he wasn't all that so why the fuss - whereas he clearly was a major cultural figure. A bit more balance was needed. Where do you go with it when McCartney dies for example? He already died mate in the late '60's. Horrific car crash I heard. The guy playing McCartney now is an imposter. Google it. It's all true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 FWIW, Laughing Gnome is my wife's favourite Bowie song. It is 'of it's time' and has to be viewed in that context. For heaven's sake, the Beatles wrote and recorded 'Octopus's Garden'. To be fair that was down to Ringo rather than Lennon/McCartney and they didn't attempt to recreate an Octopus as David did with Laughing Gnome. Oh, and they didn't go to town with the dreadful puns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 (edited) He already died mate in the late '60's. Horrific car crash I heard. The guy playing McCartney now is an imposter. Google it. It's all true. A lot of people believed it at the time! The album cover of Abbey Road is supposed to show George as the grave digger, Paul as the stiff (no shoes was supposed to be the give away), Ringo as the undertaker and John as the preacher. Edited 15 January, 2016 by sadoldgit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 Whatever anyone thinks of Laughing Gnome, he certainly made up for it later in his career. Absolutely, SOG, agreed As Badger has said above - it's "of it's time." The annoying thing is that we're even talking about it! I should never have taken the bait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 Absolutely, SOG, agreed As Badger has said above - it's "of it's time." The annoying thing is that we're even talking about it! I should never have taken the bait Just picked my boy up from Taekwondo.. We belted out Moonage Daydream and Starman at full volume.. God knows what we must of looked like singing away haha. That guitar sound tho on Ziggy.. Proper classic sound that.. Buzz saw with super aggressive teeth on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 12 January, 2016 Share Posted 12 January, 2016 Just picked my boy up from Taekwondo.. We belted out Moonage Daydream and Starman at full volume.. God knows what we must of looked like singing away haha. That guitar sound tho on Ziggy.. Proper classic sound that.. Buzz saw with super aggressive teeth on!! Thanks for sharing. Don't know how old your boy is but I love it that he's hearing such music Mick Ronson! What a sound. Loved the interaction he had with Bowie, can't think of anyone he ever shared the stage with like that............ Bing Crosby???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 14 January, 2016 Share Posted 14 January, 2016 This is the biggest loss for original artistic expression since Douglas Adams died. I find it hard to believe that I only heard about this on Wednesday night!!!! If Kim bloody Kardasian died, I can guarantee I would have heard it on the news two weeks before it happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 15 January, 2016 Share Posted 15 January, 2016 Thanks for sharing. Don't know how old your boy is but I love it that he's hearing such music Mick Ronson! What a sound. Loved the interaction he had with Bowie, can't think of anyone he ever shared the stage with like that............ Bing Crosby???? Apparently Mick Ronson also died of liver cancer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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