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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1444









Released: 1972
Length: 3:10
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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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 (97)add comment
 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.



Posted 1 week ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
"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. 
Posted 10 months ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
Brilliant
Posted 10 months ago by pcc    [ Reply ]
Mick Ronson on guitar?  The riffs....
Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 1 year ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 1 year ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 1 year ago by niseywee    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 2 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 3 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 4 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 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}
 
Posted 4 years ago by tockpeas    [ Reply ]
Must have Suffragette City next!
Posted 4 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Well hung and snow white tan? I remember trying to explain that to the kids
Posted 4 years ago by vanillagorilla    [ Reply ]
 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!!


Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
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... 
Posted 4 years ago by Azrica    [ Reply ]
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 ...)

 
Posted 4 years ago by tockpeas    [ Reply ]
Thanks for everything, David Bowie.
Posted 4 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
He's up there somewhere, "jamming good" with Weird and Gilly...
Posted 4 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 j1sey wrote:
david bowie really stinks

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


Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 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.  
Posted 4 years ago by vinylbob    [ Reply ]
just in time, i was starting to doze off
rock on Mr Bowie 
Posted 4 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
david bowie really stinks
Posted 4 years ago by j1sey    [ Reply ]
What an amazing voice!
Posted 4 years ago by DeeJay27    [ Reply ]
I named my dog 'Ziggy' after this song.. one of my favorites from Bowie... 9
 
Posted 4 years ago by mdfergy    [ Reply ]
Ohhhhhhhhh yeah !
Posted 4 years ago by boontonite    [ Reply ]
nuff said. 10+
Posted 4 years ago by Ydesign    [ Reply ]
RIP David. {#Sunny}  Thanks for a mountain of memories.  What a legacy you have left us.
Posted 5 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
OH NOOOOOOOO!! 
Posted 5 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Like some cat from Japan.
Posted 5 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
Love this album!
Posted 5 years ago by (anonymous)    [ Reply ]
Great - instant 9
Posted 5 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
I am not a particular fan of Bowie, EXCEPT for this brillian album, where this song is on the top. GREAT!
Posted 6 years ago by hugogdt    [ Reply ]
 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?
Posted 6 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 6 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 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
Posted 7 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 24noir wrote:
bauhaus

Ziggy_Stardust.. Bauhaus..

 
Yep, that was a really good cover, and a pretty good video too.
Posted 7 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Now here's a real classic.. {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 7 years ago by ski19570    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
That be Mick Ronson on guitar...not Ziggy.


What ever happened to Mick?
 
Sadly, he died from cancer in the 90s.
Posted 7 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
Call me a dope but I coulda sworn Jack White came in with the initial chords.....
Posted 7 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
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.

 


Posted 7 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
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.  
Posted 7 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 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!
Posted 7 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
my turn-on to Bowie...

still with me....
Posted 7 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 7 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
bauhaus

Ziggy_Stardust.. Bauhaus..
Posted 7 years ago by 24noir    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 7 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
Song's a classic, but played too often.
Posted 8 years ago by eve_silver    [ Reply ]
It's just that I'm so sick of this song...{#Wall}
Posted 8 years ago by nicolewe    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 8 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
one of the best rock albums of all time, for my money
Posted 8 years ago by stf9    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 8 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 8 years ago by funkyalfonso    [ Reply ]
 jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 
Actually, it was a thin white duck.
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 mbriner wrote:
Still blows me away and makes me smile after nearly 30 years...
 
Mmmmm...  *40* years, actually.  Strange but true.
Posted 8 years ago by BillG    [ Reply ]
"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!
Posted 8 years ago by ajlept    [ Reply ]
 jademon wrote:
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
 

I always thought it was making love with his ego
Posted 8 years ago by musickat    [ Reply ]
This is a 10 — but only if paired with Suffragette City.
Posted 8 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
 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?
Posted 8 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
Best concert I have ever attended. Period.

Young Americans Tour, Springfield, MA
Posted 8 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
"....so where were the spiders....?" Great tune...from a great album. Yep.
Posted 8 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 8 years ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
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.  
Posted 8 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
Perrrfect song for air guitar! 
Posted 8 years ago by ri_shelton    [ Reply ]
 HazzeSwede wrote:

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

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


Posted 9 years ago by Toke    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 9 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
Love this song, but always hear "making love with his eagle"... disturbing.
Posted 9 years ago by jademon    [ Reply ]
 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!!!!

Posted 9 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 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.


Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Still blows me away and makes me smile after nearly 30 years...
Posted 9 years ago by mbriner    [ Reply ]
"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".
Posted 9 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 9 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
 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?

Posted 9 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
 AphidA wrote:
10+
(please add Moonage Daydream)
 
. . . or "Five Years".

Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
"Suffragette City" is up next.   Yay!   Oh, no, it's something else.   Rats.
Posted 10 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
 AphidA wrote:
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

 

yeah let's FREAK OUT (in a Moonage Daydream)  {#Biggrin}
Posted 10 years ago by musickat    [ Reply ]
Bauhaus did an excellent cover of this back in the 80s which would be great to hear again.
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Rick_V wrote:

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


 

{#Yes} {#Clap} {#Notworthy} 
Posted 10 years ago by tapatia1072    [ Reply ]
 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........
Posted 10 years ago by jools    [ Reply ]
How's the snow horstman?.....Remember...if it's yellow steer clear.

Posted 10 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
me likey very much!!! {#Clap}{#Heartkiss}{#Music}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Sunny}{#Dance}{#Notworthy}{#Propeller}
Posted 11 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
Only Bowie can get away with stuff like this, and all the while doing it so superbly.  
Posted 11 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]

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


Posted 11 years ago by Rick_V    [ Reply ]
 steeler wrote:
This album was like a lightning bolt out of the blue.   
 
{#Yes} ....and to be played at maximum volume !


Posted 11 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 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?
 
Which is what makes this mind-blowingly special - particularly in how it created/defined a particular musical place in time.
Posted 11 years ago by (anonymous)    [ Reply ]
 AphidA wrote:
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

 

YES!
Posted 11 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 11 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 11 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
Simply. Awesome.

{#Sunny}
Posted 11 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
10+

(please add Moonage Daydream)

Posted 11 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 11 years ago by mbriner    [ Reply ]
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?

Posted 11 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]

love this outstanding tribute to Jimi


Posted 11 years ago by goodbugs    [ Reply ]
This album was like a lightning bolt out of the blue.   
Posted 11 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 11 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
wait bowie is ziggy - ziggy is bowie?  i'm guessing this was pre ziggy stardust - the androgynous alter ego?
Posted 11 years ago by pugifat    [ Reply ]
Rock God!

Posted 11 years ago by flatpicker    [ Reply ]