A Millennial’s Top 10 David Bowie Songs
By: Samantha Chipman
Tags: First Post, Hunky Dory, Top 10, David Bowie

David Jones is an average name, and David Bowie sounds like it could cut you. Simply imagine being exposed to his greatest hits during your childhood; counting down to “Space Oddity” after tuning in to the radio. Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing that I haven’t created this list sooner. It was inevitable that my British father introduced me to this versatile singer, songwriter, and (possibly) alien who fell to Earth: A compilation of my David Bowie favorite hits had to be written at some point.

10. “Golden Years” from Station to Station (1976)

We play this song in my household and dance to it. The speaker’s devotion to his partner is touching, and the beat is catchy.

9. “Ashes to Ashes” from Scary Monsters (1980)

I appreciate that Major Tom has a story arc, and the clown persona in the video.

8. “Little Wonder” from Earthling (1997)

David Bowie’s artistic range and references to fairy tales will never cease to amaze me. Neither will the surreal video that accompanies this energetic number.

7. “Andy Warhol” from Hunky Dory (1971)

I can’t help but crack a wry smile whenever I hear this song. The intro is uncanny, and the lyrics are simple yet amusing; to me, the applause at the end of this acoustic ditty reeks of sarcasm towards Modernity (and Warhol).

6. “Fame” from Young Americans (1975)

This song seems introspective and deep, all with a catchy beat. The riff is dynamic, and I can’t help but think that the outro is symbolic of the fleeting nature of fame itself.

5. “Five Years” The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

This seems like a difficult one to perform live. I’ve always appreciated the ecological concerns of this song; In my view, it’s also a source of hope during the times of the pandemic.

4. “Life on Mars” from Hunky Dory (1971)

I play this one on my piano, and the cinematic imagery of that girl in the theatre captures my focus; I find it relatable in my experience of daily life. It’s also lovely to have a trendy(?) song in my (limited) repertoire that is not classical music (which I adore. It’s the variety that I value.)

3. “Lazarus” from Blackstar (2016)

When Bowie died, my parents felt the need to give me a hug. The release date for this album is eerie and prophetic. I also think that there’s an element of self-reflection in this song.

2. “The Man Who Sold the World” from The Man Who Sold the World (1970)

I appreciate the album cover as much as I appreciate the raspy vocals.

“Quicksand” from Hunky Dory (1971)

I admit it; Hunky Dory is my favorite album. I used the lyrics for this song as my senior year book quote, and the premise of sinking in my thoughts is quite relatable:

“I’m not a prophet or a stone-age man/ Just a mortal with potential of a superman/ I’m living on”

The shifting identities in that lyric sample and Bowie’s own stage personas remind me that we exist as individuals, regardless of anything that might undermine our search for identity. As much as I enjoy finding meaning in Bowie’s songs, I also understand that a few of them might be counter to that search for significance. Despite the abundance of time, this top ten list of David Bowie songs was definitely overdue.