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David Bowie — Ziggy Stardust
Album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
Avg rating:
8.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2383









Released: 1972
Length: 3:10
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Oh

Oh, yeah

Ziggy played guitar
Jamming good with Weird and Gilly
And the Spiders from Mars
He played it left hand
But made it too far
Became the special man
Then we were Ziggy's band

Ziggy really sang
Screwed-up eyes and screwed-down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan
He could lick 'em by smiling
He could leave 'em to hang
They came on so loaded, man
Well-hung and snow-white tan

So where were the spiders
While the fly tried to break our bones?
With just the beer light to guide us
So we bitched about his fans
And should we crush his sweet hands?
Oh

Mm-hmm

Ziggy played for time
Jiving us that we were voodoo
The kids were just crass
He was the nazz
With God-given ass
He took it all too far
But, boy, could he play guitar

Making love with his ego
Ziggy sucked up into his mind, ah
Like a leper messiah
When the kids had killed the man
I had to break up the band

Oh, yeah

Ooh

Ziggy played guitar
Comments (112)add comment
I recall someone here stating that Bowie "oozed cool" or something like that.
He was one who's death rattled me; still does.  Had so much left 
Now Buffett affects me the same way
 lmic wrote:

Thanks for everything, David Bowie.




    
 Byronape wrote:

David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  



Though this listener is probably long gone, I just had to respond. The "androgyny shtick" as you call it, was just one of over a dozen characters that David Bowie transformed into during his career. There was the androgenous Bowie, the hippy Bowie, the disco Bowie, the crooner Bowie, and others.  He was a complete artist, he developed everything from the music to the characters, to the stage shows, to the publicity. I was fortunate enough to see the Bowie museum exhibit when it toured after his death, it is mind blowing to see how creative he was in every aspect of his craft.
 tockpeas wrote:

I worked at a ski resort for the winter of 81-82, had a cassette of this awesome album and listened to it constantly.  I was desperate to listen to tunes on the slopes so I bought this ridiculous contraption that was basically a small car stereo with a cushioned pouch to strap to your chest.  I guess it ran on batteries which was enough to drive headphones.  It actually worked great if you could get over the bulk.  But I fell pretty hard once and it ejected the tape ;)

I know I had a Walkman soon after ... just checked and they were introduced in the US in June '80 but I certainly hadn't seen one or couldn't afford it.  And I bet if the guy who sold me the strap-on knew about them, he was happy to find a sucker to unload it.  (Hmmm - that last sentence sounds pretty weird ...)

 




Thanks for your story. Context is all, isn't it? :))
 Proclivities wrote:

The "androgyny shtick" lasted for about 3 or 4 years out of his close-to-50 years in music.
Right?  And then he married a supermodel!  

 rrowdies wrote:

This is in my top ten desert island records I bought this in 1972 and at least three times since in different formats absolutely legend <3


I listened to the album a few weeks ago.  I had forgotten how good it was ; great songs, great lyrics, great musicians, and great production.  Just incredible.
Bowie was crazy-talented and ground-breaking.

AND…

this song gets too much airplay on RP, imo. It’s just *meh* to me. 
how I love these lyrics.
"he came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan"
and 
"the kids were just crass, he was the nazz, with God given ass"
my imagination conjures this:
And The Lord came to Ziggy and said unto him,
"Thou shalt have ass"
And it was so
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
 tockpeas wrote:

[.....] And I bet if the guy who sold me the strap-on knew about them, he was happy to find a sucker to unload it.  (Hmmm - that last sentence sounds pretty weird ...)

 


I know this is response-necro, but my god, this made my day. Thank you!
With just the beer light to guide us...
This is in my top ten desert island records I bought this in 1972 and at least three times since in different formats absolutely legend <3
It's a solid 10 all day long!!

Thank you Bill
 tockpeas wrote:

It was not this but similar!  Can't believe there was another model of this concept ... but I guess we'll do anything for tunes {#Sunny}
 
Ha.  This was my sweetest Crimbo present ever.  Out with mates with a tape of "Slade Alive" and the single of "School's Out".  Job done.



"He was the nazz"

I learned recently that that "the nazz" originates in the poetry of stand-up comedian Lord Buckley:

But I'm gonna put a cat on you ...
was the coolest, grooviest, swingin'est, wailin'est,
strumminest, swingin'est cat that ever stomped on this jumpin' green sphere.

And they called dis here cat ... Da Nazz!

The poem is about Jesus ... of ... Nazareth. 
Brilliant
Mick Ronson on guitar?  The riffs....
 niseywee wrote:
Love his music, love his sexy smile. I read this article recently which discussed his favorite books and how they influenced his music. Worth a read. https://lithub.com/the-books-t...
 

very cool link. there's also a link in the comments to a longer list.
 Byronape wrote:
David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  
 
The "androgyny shtick" lasted for about 3 or 4 years out of his close-to-50 years in music.
Love his music, love his sexy smile. I read this article recently which discussed his favorite books and how they influenced his music. Worth a read. https://lithub.com/the-books-t...
 tockpeas wrote:
I worked at a ski resort for the winter of 81-82, had a cassette of this awesome album and listened to it constantly.  I was desperate to listen to tunes on the slopes so I bought this ridiculous contraption that was basically a small car stereo with a cushioned pouch to strap to your chest.  I guess it ran on batteries which was enough to drive headphones.  It actually worked great if you could get over the bulk.  But I fell pretty hard once and it ejected the tape ;)

I know I had a Walkman soon after ... just checked and they were introduced in the US in June '80 but I certainly hadn't seen one or couldn't afford it.  And I bet if the guy who sold me the strap-on knew about them, he was happy to find a sucker to unload it.  (Hmmm - that last sentence sounds pretty weird ...)

 
 Scary - I know EXACTLY the unit you are talking about I believe.  I wanted that so bad but it was too expensive for me at that young age! Ha.... and YES - a spectacular and legendary album....if you had only one this is about as good as any.

 treatment_bound wrote:
He's up there somewhere, "jamming good" with Weird and Gilly...

 
Maybe David Bowie/Ziggy is, but I have a feeling that David Jones is still down here, afraid of Americans.
 vanillagorilla wrote:
Well hung and snow white tan? I remember trying to explain that to the kids

 
don't forget about the God given ass{#Wink}
 h8rhater wrote:


Was it the Astraltune Stereopack:  https://unofficialnetworks.com/2013/10/sony-walkman-astraltune

Astraltune

 

That IS old-timey!!



 
It was not this but similar!  Can't believe there was another model of this concept ... but I guess we'll do anything for tunes {#Sunny}
 
Must have Suffragette City next!
Well hung and snow white tan? I remember trying to explain that to the kids
 tockpeas wrote:
I worked at a ski resort for the winter of 81-82, had a cassette of this awesome album and listened to it constantly.  I was desperate to listen to tunes on the slopes so I bought this ridiculous contraption that was basically a small car stereo with a cushioned pouch to strap to your chest.  I guess it ran on batteries which was enough to drive headphones.  It actually worked great if you could get over the bulk.  But I fell pretty hard once and it ejected the tape ;)

I know I had a Walkman soon after ... just checked and they were introduced in the US in June '80 but I certainly hadn't seen one or couldn't afford it.  And I bet if the guy who sold me the strap-on knew about them, he was happy to find a sucker to unload it.  (Hmmm - that last sentence sounds pretty weird ...)

 

 

Was it the Astraltune Stereopack:  https://unofficialnetworks.com/2013/10/sony-walkman-astraltune

Astraltune

 

That IS old-timey!!


There are songs that trigger instant memories of certain events like a pop up photos, but with Ziggy Stardust song its a totally different story, there is flow of like a film rolls memories...Thank you David for the decades and decades of magical memories... 
I worked at a ski resort for the winter of 81-82, had a cassette of this awesome album and listened to it constantly.  I was desperate to listen to tunes on the slopes so I bought this ridiculous contraption that was basically a small car stereo with a cushioned pouch to strap to your chest.  I guess it ran on batteries which was enough to drive headphones.  It actually worked great if you could get over the bulk.  But I fell pretty hard once and it ejected the tape ;)

I know I had a Walkman soon after ... just checked and they were introduced in the US in June '80 but I certainly hadn't seen one or couldn't afford it.  And I bet if the guy who sold me the strap-on knew about them, he was happy to find a sucker to unload it.  (Hmmm - that last sentence sounds pretty weird ...)

 
Thanks for everything, David Bowie.
He's up there somewhere, "jamming good" with Weird and Gilly...
 j1sey wrote:
david bowie really stinks

 Hmm... I never got close enough to smell him. 


 j1sey wrote:
david bowie really stinks

 
If you don't anything nice to say, then keep quiet. Didn't your parents mention this?  Bowie is rock royalty.  
just in time, i was starting to doze off
rock on Mr Bowie 
david bowie really stinks
What an amazing voice!
I named my dog 'Ziggy' after this song.. one of my favorites from Bowie... 9
 
Ohhhhhhhhh yeah !
nuff said. 10+
RIP David. {#Sunny}  Thanks for a mountain of memories.  What a legacy you have left us.
OH NOOOOOOOO!! 
Like some cat from Japan.
Great - instant 9
I am not a particular fan of Bowie, EXCEPT for this brillian album, where this song is on the top. GREAT!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Yah, damn, now I need to hear it.

 

>>And it was cold and it rained so I felt like an actor<<

WTF?

 treatment_bound wrote:
I think I saw you in an ice-cream parlour
drinking milk shakes cold and long
Smiling and waving and looking so fine
don't think you knew you were in this song
 
Yah, damn, now I need to hear it.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

. . . or "Five Years".


 

I think I saw you in an ice-cream parlour
drinking milk shakes cold and long
Smiling and waving and looking so fine
don't think you knew you were in this song
 24noir wrote: 
Yep, that was a really good cover, and a pretty good video too.
Now here's a real classic.. {#Dancingbanana}
 idiot_wind wrote:
That be Mick Ronson on guitar...not Ziggy.


What ever happened to Mick?
 
Sadly, he died from cancer in the 90s.
Call me a dope but I coulda sworn Jack White came in with the initial chords.....
More like a thin white fuck...


 
Boy_Wonder wrote:
What a brilliant response.... love you guys!!
jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 
Actually, it was a thin white duck.

 


That be Mick Ronson on guitar...not Ziggy.


What ever happened to Mick?   he was an OK player but not up to the other great players in that time period.  
 Boy_Wonder wrote:
What a brilliant response.... love you guys!!
jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 
Actually, it was a thin white duck.

 
duke, dude, duke!
my turn-on to Bowie...

still with me....
 Byronape wrote:
David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  

 

{#Clap}  Yep.  I give this a 10 though.  Prolly the only Bowie song I love without reservation. He was a great showman, I'll bet, if you go for that sort of thing.  I just go for the music.  Don't care about the show.
bauhaus

Ziggy_Stardust.. Bauhaus..
 eve_silver wrote:
Song's a classic, but played too often.
 
You are late to the party.  You should only post the "played too often" comment on the first/oldest page of the song comments, not the second.{#Tongue}
Song's a classic, but played too often.
It's just that I'm so sick of this song...{#Wall}
What a brilliant response.... love you guys!!
jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 
Actually, it was a thin white duck.
one of the best rock albums of all time, for my money
 Byronape wrote:
David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  
 
Androgyny's fine with me. (kd lang is wonderful) It's the overall silliness of Bowie that I just can't stomach. Not my style and I can't respect it. I don't understand why he is still played. 
 Baby_M wrote:
A pretentious glam-rock song about a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star, performed by a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star.

Kinda recursive there, ain't it?

 
That's just crazy talk.
 jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 
Actually, it was a thin white duck.
 mbriner wrote:
Still blows me away and makes me smile after nearly 30 years...
 
Mmmmm...  *40* years, actually.  Strange but true.
"well hung and snow-white tan...."

As a teenager listening to this, I found out that the walls didn't always filter out the vocals. The "TURN IT DOWN!" didn't always mean it was too loud. But damn, was it good!
 jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 

I always thought it was making love with his ego
This is a 10 — but only if paired with Suffragette City.
 Proclivities wrote:

Jeez, you say that as if it's a bad thing.  What have you got against recursion being employed as an artistic statement?

 
Somewhat Warholian?
Best concert I have ever attended. Period.

Young Americans Tour, Springfield, MA
"....so where were the spiders....?" Great tune...from a great album. Yep.
 Byronape wrote:
David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  
 
Agreed. I'm so done with him. And this song is just overplayed and overrated. Even at 3.
David Bowie's talent = 10
David Bowie's infulence on music in general = 10
David Bowie's music (to my ears) =4 + or - 1 depending on the song.

He's just not my thing.  Never been a big fan of the androgyny shtick.  
Perrrfect song for air guitar! 
 HazzeSwede wrote:

{#Yes} ....and to be played at maximum volume !

Yes I got my ''OFF'' Button MAXED OUT
 


Funny to see the comments now & to remember what was said in 1973.
Lots of disparaging comments then about Mr. Bowie & crew.

The song? Yes, changed the music world.
Kind of the way "I want to hold your hand" changed the world. Though, not quite the same scale.
Made it turn the corner at least.
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 horstman wrote:


Wow, Zappa reference!

Nicely done.

No snow in August. But Halloween is not out of the question, Essex.
  Wow - turns out horstman was prescient!!!!

 Baby_M wrote:
A pretentious glam-rock song about a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star, performed by a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star.

Kinda recursive there, ain't it?
 
Jeez, you say that as if it's a bad thing.  What have you got against recursion being employed as an artistic statement?  I believe that was his point with this song.


Still blows me away and makes me smile after nearly 30 years...
"To be played at maximum volume."

So say the liner notes. Can't argue with that. Would love to hear this with the segue into "Suffragette City".
 EssexTex wrote:
How's the snow horstman?.....Remember...if it's yellow steer clear.

 

Wow, Zappa reference!

Nicely done.

No snow in August. But Halloween is not out of the question, Essex.
 Rick_V wrote:

Brilliant song from one of the greatest, most monumental albums ever released. "10" doesn't do it justice.


 



Don't mince words, tell us what you REALLY think about this song/album.
Seriously, is there a rock n' roll musician out there today who doesn't consider this one of their influences?

 AphidA wrote:
10+
(please add Moonage Daydream)
 
. . . or "Five Years".

"Suffragette City" is up next.   Yay!   Oh, no, it's something else.   Rats.
 AphidA wrote:
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

 

yeah let's FREAK OUT (in a Moonage Daydream)  {#Biggrin}
Bauhaus did an excellent cover of this back in the 80s which would be great to hear again.
 Rick_V wrote:

Brilliant song from one of the greatest, most monumental albums ever released. "10" doesn't do it justice.


 

{#Yes} {#Clap} {#Notworthy} 
 pugifat wrote:
wait bowie is ziggy - ziggy is bowie?  i'm guessing this was pre ziggy stardust - the androgynous alter ego?
 
Check out the name of the Album........
How's the snow horstman?.....Remember...if it's yellow steer clear.

me likey very much!!! {#Clap}{#Heartkiss}{#Music}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Sunny}{#Dance}{#Notworthy}{#Propeller}
Only Bowie can get away with stuff like this, and all the while doing it so superbly.  

Brilliant song from one of the greatest, most monumental albums ever released. "10" doesn't do it justice.


 steeler wrote:
This album was like a lightning bolt out of the blue.   
 
{#Yes} ....and to be played at maximum volume !


 AphidA wrote:
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

 

YES!
 Baby_M wrote:
A pretentious glam-rock song about a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star, performed by a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star.

Kinda recursive there, ain't it?

 

And this in of itself is what makes the song so incredibly awesome. None of the above attributes have anything to do with how great a songwriter Bowie is.
I love that my association with this song is now my nephew wanting to play it for me on Guitar Hero (and playing it well) because he knows it's a song I like.
Simply. Awesome.

{#Sunny}
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

Awesome stuff... ...heard this song when it was first released in the early 70's and was blown-away. Sure, glam rock isn't for everybody...
But Bowie was the king and IMO one of the most creative guys in music.

A pretentious glam-rock song about a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star, performed by a pretentious, androgynous glam-rock star.

Kinda recursive there, ain't it?

love this outstanding tribute to Jimi


This album was like a lightning bolt out of the blue.   
Is this new to RP?  Perhaps Bill thought it too overplayed... until now.  {#Stupid}

Doesn't matter in the end i guess.  It it a great song from a great album.
wait bowie is ziggy - ziggy is bowie?  i'm guessing this was pre ziggy stardust - the androgynous alter ego?
Rock God!