PRODUCER'S NOTES - 'LIFE ON MARS', DAVID BOWIE
‘She could spit in the eyes of fools, As they ask her to focus on, Sailors fighting in the dance hall’
To help you make sense (where it’s to be found) of rock and pop music, and get the most out of the Rock & Pop 2018 syllabus, we’re creating a range of Producer's Notes. Looking at some of the iconic songs on the new Rock & Pop 2018 syllabus, these notes include information on aspects such as recording and production, composition, and influences, to give you a great tool with which to explore the song.
And here we’re bringing you Producer's Notes on ‘Life on Mars?’ by David Bowie.
Why ‘Life on Mars?’?
As Rock & Pop 2018 consultant Chris Walters explains, it would be impossible to leave David Bowie off any notable music collection: ‘The English singer, songwriter and musician David Bowie was one of rock’s most iconic, influential and enigmatic figures. His achievements include record sales of 140 million during his lifetime, nine platinum albums in the UK and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996’.‘Vocalists will need to turn their confidence up to maximum to capture the unmistakable Bowie swagger’
He goes on to describe why Bowie’s hit ‘Life on Mars?’, in particular, was chosen to be included in the Vocals syllabus: ‘‘Life on Mars?’ contains several of Bowie’s unique stylistic markers: vivid but surreal lyrics, filmic orchestral scoring and dramatic vocal declamations. Vocalists will need to turn their confidence up to maximum to capture the unmistakable Bowie swagger’.
EXPLORE ON SPOTIFY
We've put together a Spotify playlist exploring the track and other related songs. If you don’t already have a Spotify account, it’s free to set one up. Follow us and our playlists on Spotify to easily find them again.
