david bowie

under the covers #17

/ mobius faith
Mystery Space Theater 1 – Alien In The Desert

Today and tomorrow will feature images I “snagged” off NASA’s YouTube video of the sample return mission. I really like how these images are not the best quality – in fact I did make an effort to further distress them so they look more like some out of focus image you might find on a tabloid.

Seeing this felt so alien to me and in fact we were watching something alien (not of this planet) that was captured and brought back to earth. So it seems fitting that I would want to feature covers of my favorite earth alien – David Bowie.

LIFE ON MARS is one of many Bowie favorites. Here is is covered by award winning jazz and classical pianist Brad Mehldau from his album Your Mother Should Know – a recording of Beatles covers and one by George Harrison. The bowie track closes out the album as a way of making connections between the songwriting of the Beatles and the great songwriters who followed. Enjoy this wonderful solo piano version. 











			

	


			
				


	

							
under the covers #16
						

			 / mobius faith								

			


		

		


RENOVATION NATION






Philip Glass has long been a favorite composer.   I've been following his work and career since his opera of Einstein on the Beach.  

In 1977 David Bowie released "HEROES" the second in his Berlin Trilogy series (the first being LOW).   It was a ground breaking album that was co-written by Brian Eno and featured some guitar work by King Crimson's Robert Fripp.    An amazing conceptual work overall.    

Here Philip Glass has covered that album or perhaps more accurately used those musical ideas to re-compose the music into a symphony as only Glass could do.   Featuring many of Glass' signature motifs (repeating phrases etc).   It really is a work of art in itself.    And this is the way I like to see covers done - re-imagined with respect and reverence to the original.     As I've said before faithful covers/copies are not of any interest to me as I suspect you've noticed by now.   

Enjoy this title track from the "HEROES" Symphony by Philip Glass from the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno. 














A bit of trivia:   the live Bowie version below features guitar work of Ohio native and future (80's era) King Crimson Alumn Adrian Belew.   










			

	


			
				


	

							
bowie and bing
						

			 / mobius faith								

			


		

		

I remember when this was originally broadcast on US television in 1977.   I was 17 years old and Bowie was an idol.   Still takes my breath away.    David Bowie and Bing Crosby (“the poor relation from America” LOL) since Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy












			

	


			
				


	

							
we need more of this…
						

			 / mobius faith								

			


		

		


we need more laughter.


some favorite songs about laughing


I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life – by Sarah Vaughan




Funeral Tango by Jacques Brel covered by Scott Walker




Only Want to Laugh by Dusty Springfield




The Laughing Gnome – by David Bowie




Laughter by Bruce Cockburn


			

	


			
				


			
				


	

							
Looking far into the future…
						

			 / mobius faith								

			


		

		
… when COVID-19 will be a memory and better – a footnote in history.


I came across this YouTube channel by accident.   It’s simply called CHOIR!CHOIR!CHOIR!  and they have a whole bunch of videos where large groups of people gather and learn backups or whole songs from contemporary/popular performers.   Imagine a time when people will sing and perform popular works from the 20/21st  century in the same way that we still perform popular works from the 17th/18th century.  There’s something incredibly inspiring about this and a GREAT tribute to the creators of popular song. When music becomes a part of the cultural lexicon and practice of the common man it truly is timeless.


I’m going to include four favorites.   First is a song by Patti Smith that I have always loved and have found it inspiring and strength building.   Enjoy PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.




Next is an unexpected nice rendition of Aerosmith’s, I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING




And since we are coming up on the 4th anniversary of Prince’s death here is a 1,999 voice cover of WHEN DOVES CRY




And lastly David Bowie’s SPACE ODDITY. There is something both heartening, refreshing and enlightening about popular music in this context.




To hear/see other wonderful covers of music by Journey, Cindy Lauper, Taylor Swift, Talking Heads, R.E.M. et al – check out the CHOIR!CHOIR!CHOIR! YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Kte42xsXIT80UzG1jotiw