That purveyor of everything from crazy cosmic jive and plastic soul to epic disco and elegant Berlin ambient gloom made a hell of an exit last week. His last release, his “parting gift” Blackstar, was a dazzling curtain bow unlike any other. He was a brilliant magpie, smuggling all kinds of ideas from Kabuki and Nietzsche to avant-jazz and cut-ups into impeccable, usually subversive, pop. Whether you saw him as a “major liberator” (Jon Savage) or were put off by the “smorgasbord of lachrymosity" (Julie Burchill), in the past week it became clear how many different types of people's lives he affected, how many he inspired. Many normally erring on the side of cynicism were surprised by the depth of feelings induced by his passing. Including your theartsdesk DJs Joe Muggs and Peter Culshaw, whose tribute show you can hear by clicking here or on the below link.
Our show runs from the beautiful Brazilian version of “Life on Mars” by Seu Jorge, via grunge to classical and electronic musicians who were all moved to do their own take on Bowie. We have a kids' choir singing “Space Oddity” and Bowie himself singing an early blues belter when he was 18 years old (thanks to Joe Cushley for that). Our special guest artist in the studio is Roxanne de Bastion, who performs a touching, almost country, version of “Rebel Rebel” and her own Berlin song.
To listen to the show click here
Tracklist:
Sue Jorge – “Life on Mars”
The Manish Boy – “Pity the Fool”
Robert Glasper Experiment – “Letter to Hermione” (ft. Bilal)
Nina Simone – “Wild Is the Wind” 1966
Guy Called Gerald – “Telling Lies” (paradox remix) Earthling album 1997
Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits – “Oh You Pretty Things” 1971
Dinosaur Jr – “Quicksand” 1991
Eurythmics – “Fame”
Nirvana – “The Man Who Sold the World”
Kelley Polar – “Magic Dance”
Peter & The Wolf – Bowie narration
The Langley Schools Music Project Songs – “Space Oddity”
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – “Suffragette City”
David Bowie & Laurie Anderson – “O Superman”
Roxanne de Bastion – “Rebel Rebel”
Roxanne de Bastion – “Wasteland”
David Bowie – “Love is Lost” (Hello Steve Reich Mix James Murphy)
Philip Glass (Aphex Twin remix) – “Heroes”
M Ward – “Lets Dance”
Isobel Adjani – “Beau Oui Comme”
David Bowie – “Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola”
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