I'm not old. Not yet, anyway, but I am old enough that this song feels like what happens when you get to that point in midlife where you look back, and all of a sudden you realize that there's a hell of a lot more "back". You look at your "heyday", and even if you believe that there's other mountains left to summit, well, there's not going to be _that_ many, is there? Your days of youth and glory are not only a memory, but a fast-diminishing one. I can't even remember half of my personal triumphs anymore. Did they even really mean that much, in the grand scheme of things? And yet, in me there's the yearning to have the feeling of those triumphs back, no matter how small they were, to have all that time back... When I first heard this song, I was young. Not extremely young, but young enough that I thought, "Whoa, what's this? Bowie's turnt into an old man!" I skipped over this song a lot. Of course, given the event of this past January, I've been revisiting his catalog in earnest, and when I got to this song this time, I gasped. Because I get it now. Damn, son, how could I have, as a fan, doubted you? I suppose one can only understand some things once they'e been experienced. And now that I'm around the age he was when he wrote this song, I get it.
R.I.P., David Bowie. When M.J. died, the whole world knew about it and indeed, cried, but we were sort of expecting it. He was going down a downward spiral for a very long time. David Bowie dying is the death of another legend, a different one... But, I'm reading the walls of everyone I know and everyone is so shocked and broken. Hurt, even crying. We lost someone truly amazing at a pretty young age. He wrote of death much and sang about it a lot, i.e., "My Death," "Bring Me The Disco King," etc. Upon listening to these songs, it's haunting how human he was...he spoke often of the existential crisis facing us all, that we are not permanent fixtures on Earth, but rather, fleeting gusts of wind. His music, however, will not fade. It will stand the tests of time. In a way, he and his music are forever. Good night, you Disco King, you.
So well stated, there are only 2 things I can add.....Michael Jackson/Prince....they were amazing performers....that were directly influenced by Mr. Jones....so his loss is the loss of the beginning of so much if not to music as a whole but the mourning and the celebration reminds me of his work.........Take Cygnet Committee.....you could put that song or All the Mad Men in any period of music since their birth to now.....and they would be brilliant....
This song is my anthem. So many times I've spent a night staring at Chicago from the top of the city. In the Fall watching the darkness and the lights, writing poetry and thinking of broken love.
If you're feeling old, this may cheer you up. I became mad about Bowie when I was 12, and have been ever since, when I first heard his music in 1972. Can't wait to hear his new album
a lot of people dont like this song but you have to appricate the music behind it. I just love it, love it, love it. No idea what he is on about as usual but it doesnt stop me from loving this guy. Come on Bowie, new album!
I like both versions because David Bowie's voice is that awesome regardless of whats playing in the background. As a matter of fact this song would be awesome with no background music at all, just a`capella. IMO of course.
Love this version, best track. I just listened to the remix, its alright, but the more bowie has to do with the birth of a song the more I like, I don't like listing to songs that feature other "artists" its like watering down a masterpiece. Love.
@David050688 This song is about his life/carrer as an artist, the disco king is himself as the artist, there's a dialogue between the person and the artist
No, it was written for Black Tie White Noise. I even remember it being mentioned in Rolling Stone in an interview with Bowie prior to its release, so appaerently it was removed from that album at the last moment. It was also re-recorded for Earthling I think. Would have been very interesting hearing all three versions.
fantastic! ... this is nearly 20 years old but sounds great :) positively new compared to some of the well known classics! Happy Birthday tomorrow Mr Bowie- you still kick derriere
I don't mind the remixed version of this song, but I think this version is better, this is definitely my favorite song off of Realty. I hope Bowie releases new material one of these days :).
You're dad played this when you were 8? My best bud from high school introduced me to this song in HS when it first came out. Damn the internet for starting to make me feel old. Props to your pops for introducing you to this song. I know that feeling. My dad introduced me to YES when I was young, and I find myself listening to them from time to time (not that I can complain :p).
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@DANTECHPFN Yeah, you get the meaning... Note his last words: Soon there will be nothing left of me, nothing left to release....
@hotbuzzard Interesting comment, I feel the same about most of his post-1990 output. Though I still find Reality not quite up there. But Heathen is in my top-5 all-time Bowie albums.
@Xx444nathan444xX Try to listen to this song for what it is and not compare to the other version, but if you like and prefer all the mixing and fixing of the sound I respect your opinion, I think this is supposed to be a sad song since it's about his life as an artist.
@alewis18 I think we can like the original, remix, both or neither without having to stereotype and look down on people with a different opinion. The difference between saying "I like the original better" and "the original is better" is the difference between an opinion and an opinion masquerading as fact.
@Whitedusk225 So what's your opinion on this piece? Because it's not written in that particular period but it's not pop, is it? Please answer this, I'm really interested. :) I mostly feel the same way about music (I'm currently only listening to the 60's radio on Spotify), but I find this song rather interesting!
His two interesting periods were from 69-80 and from 93-03 in my opinion. Sadly, he seemed to have retired completely from music.
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This version is sexy? This is a very sad version, its the final statement of a great musician: Soon there will be nothing left of me, nothing left to realease....
The 90s had lots of great music, Pearl Jam, GnR, The La's and a ot of other stuff. But did seem to go down hill quite rapidly at the start of the 2000s, when ipods, mp3s replaced old forms of listening to music. People started to stop buying the whole album and just choosing the song they liked to download. Moreover music has become more about the visual images than the quality of the song itself, Lady GaGa as an example.
+Mater Motley Disagee with what you say about GAGA Matey. Strip away the gloss and veneer, she can actually sing, write her own material. She was trained in Piano, so we talking a musican my friend.
+Mater Motley Golden age was mid 60s to mid 70s. Bowie was at his peak in 70s too. When punk eclipsed sophisticated fusion rock it was beginning of the end. The barbarians had arrived at the gates. Ipod culture is killing what's left.
@marco calarco I would agree and take it a wee step further saying the 70s and 1980, most of his other output from then on was purely aimed at the mass market. It turned him into a global superstar but at the cost of writing anything meaningful. Personally I would say his greatest period was 1970-1973, The Man who sold tomorrow, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Alladin Sane. I'm not a huge fan of Diamond Dogs, apart from Rebel rebel and Panic in Detroit and the tour that followed the album sounded like he had decided to add cabaret all his work.
I don't know about a remix but I could have sworn my friend showed me a modern version of this song saying it had manyard from tool in it... Is that what people are talking about?
+ma t (dripping) This is the version that was released on the album Reality. As far as I can tell, the black tie white noise and the earthling versions have not been released.
@alewis18 I'm not anything close to a Hot Topic wannabe goth child, and I like the remix better than this. However, I also love this version as well. They are both powerful,sexy,smooth and velvety as hell in their own way. Tsk tsk to you stereotyping.
Still think the original is the best. The new one starts to go out of context with the whole NIN style. Makes the song more of an emo goth poem than the downtown city lament that I think Bowie had intended. I also think the original is a better vampire soundtrack song. Just my opinions.
I'm not old.
Not yet, anyway, but I am old enough that this song feels like what happens when you get to that point in midlife where you look back, and all of a sudden you realize that there's a hell of a lot more "back". You look at your "heyday", and even if you believe that there's other mountains left to summit, well, there's not going to be _that_ many, is there? Your days of youth and glory are not only a memory, but a fast-diminishing one. I can't even remember half of my personal triumphs anymore. Did they even really mean that much, in the grand scheme of things? And yet, in me there's the yearning to have the feeling of those triumphs back, no matter how small they were, to have all that time back...
When I first heard this song, I was young. Not extremely young, but young enough that I thought, "Whoa, what's this? Bowie's turnt into an old man!" I skipped over this song a lot. Of course, given the event of this past January, I've been revisiting his catalog in earnest, and when I got to this song this time, I gasped. Because I get it now. Damn, son, how could I have, as a fan, doubted you? I suppose one can only understand some things once they'e been experienced. And now that I'm around the age he was when he wrote this song, I get it.
R.I.P., David Bowie. When M.J. died, the whole world knew about it and indeed, cried, but we were sort of expecting it. He was going down a downward spiral for a very long time.
David Bowie dying is the death of another legend, a different one... But, I'm reading the walls of everyone I know and everyone is so shocked and broken. Hurt, even crying. We lost someone truly amazing at a pretty young age. He wrote of death much and sang about it a lot, i.e., "My Death," "Bring Me The Disco King," etc. Upon listening to these songs, it's haunting how human he was...he spoke often of the existential crisis facing us all, that we are not permanent fixtures on Earth, but rather, fleeting gusts of wind. His music, however, will not fade. It will stand the tests of time. In a way, he and his music are forever. Good night, you Disco King, you.
+Razielo53 Well said, you have a gift for writing.
Not to mention that his last album Blackstar was all about death, and more than that, his own death.
So well stated, there are only 2 things I can add.....Michael Jackson/Prince....they were amazing performers....that were directly influenced by Mr. Jones....so his loss is the loss of the beginning of so much if not to music as a whole but the mourning and the celebration reminds me of his work.........Take Cygnet Committee.....you could put that song or All the Mad Men in any period of music since their birth to now.....and they would be brilliant....
This song is my anthem. So many times I've spent a night staring at Chicago from the top of the city. In the Fall watching the darkness and the lights, writing poetry and thinking of broken love.
If you're feeling old, this may cheer you up. I became mad about Bowie when I was 12, and have been ever since, when I first heard his music in 1972. Can't wait to hear his new album
He s now touring the universe
Bowie is just a Genius - so many incredible songs and albums. Love Bring me the Disco King.
a lot of people dont like this song but you have to appricate the music behind it. I just love it, love it, love it. No idea what he is on about as usual but it doesnt stop me from loving this guy. Come on Bowie, new album!
"This is seriously my most favourite from him. I just love the beat and lyrics!"
The chromatic drop on 'city spires'...so good, only bowie can make those excellent note choices like that sound so damn good.
So beautiful he was and always will be
WOnderful rhytm,wonderful song,wonderful Bowie!!!!!!
I like both versions because David Bowie's voice is that awesome regardless of whats playing in the background. As a matter of fact this song would be awesome with no background music at all, just a`capella. IMO of course.
the first Bowie song Ive like sing Let's Dance Days and now I just can't stop listening to it!
Love this version, best track. I just listened to the remix, its alright, but the more bowie has to do with the birth of a song the more I like, I don't like listing to songs that feature other "artists" its like watering down a masterpiece. Love.
iv lived through punk,grebo,acid house,all brilliant,but bowie has always been played throughout,outstayed em all.
I like the remix with Frusciante and Maynard more. But this is great too.
It's a timeless song...Ii's very sad but it's a wonderful song!!!!!
I'm eager to hear THE original version of this song... the one recorded with Nile Rodgers for Black Tie, White Noise.
Me too. Apparently it was really fast so the mood was drastically different.
Just read on Wikipedia the original was roughly twice as fast, so just watch the video in 2x speed ;)
+Richard Swaine No, never found it. It seems as though it has never snuck out into the open, even as a low-quality demo.
In 2x speed it looks like something in between Black Tie, Leon and Earthling.
hahaha I'm listening this in 2x speed, I dont wanna hear the album speed.
Bowie at his truly best
@David050688 This song is about his life/carrer as an artist, the disco king is himself as the artist, there's a dialogue between the person and the artist
No, it was written for Black Tie White Noise. I even remember it being mentioned in Rolling Stone in an interview with Bowie prior to its release, so appaerently it was removed from that album at the last moment. It was also re-recorded for Earthling I think. Would have been very interesting hearing all three versions.
one of my favorite songs
fantastic!
... this is nearly 20 years old but sounds great :)
positively new compared to some of the well known classics!
Happy Birthday tomorrow Mr Bowie- you still kick derriere
This is so bowie always surprising us
,what a beutiful sad song . ,so reality in the reality of his death.
this song has some of the best lyrics ever.
I need a martini! This is awesome.
Masterpiece❤
simply AMAZING...
bowie was gone after this song, sad moment ...great song !!! Bowie is god !
Wow, my new favorite lounge singer! :-)
I don't mind the remixed version of this song, but I think this version is better, this is definitely my favorite song off of Realty. I hope Bowie releases new material one of these days :).
Underrated song, holy fuck I love the jazz vibes and his voice so amazing. See ya, Star Man!
If you ask me, the 50's to the 80's were the golden age of music. After that it just went downhill.
You're dad played this when you were 8? My best bud from high school introduced me to this song in HS when it first came out. Damn the internet for starting to make me feel old. Props to your pops for introducing you to this song. I know that feeling. My dad introduced me to YES when I was young, and I find myself listening to them from time to time (not that I can complain :p).
@DANTECHPFN Yeah, you get the meaning... Note his last words: Soon there will be nothing left of me, nothing left to release....
@mydreamiscalledbowie This version was there first... Actually Bowie worked on this song since 1993 until he finally released it in 2003.
bring me the head of the disco king
my anthem too.
Wow, this is so much better than the new version. Miles more class. The new one is kinda kitsch. This is sexy.
When did this come out exactly?
yup .. bravoo for the remix :D
My thoughts, exactly.
LOVE THIS ORIGINAL VERSION.,.
but I also love the revised one with Maynard.,.
@hotbuzzard Interesting comment, I feel the same about most of his post-1990 output. Though I still find Reality not quite up there. But Heathen is in my top-5 all-time Bowie albums.
I want this album, after I heard New killer star I had to have it.
@Xx444nathan444xX Try to listen to this song for what it is and not compare to the other version, but if you like and prefer all the mixing and fixing of the sound I respect your opinion, I think this is supposed to be a sad song since it's about his life as an artist.
@alewis18 I think we can like the original, remix, both or neither without having to stereotype and look down on people with a different opinion. The difference between saying "I like the original better" and "the original is better" is the difference between an opinion and an opinion masquerading as fact.
@Whitedusk225 So what's your opinion on this piece? Because it's not written in that particular period but it's not pop, is it? Please answer this, I'm really interested. :) I mostly feel the same way about music (I'm currently only listening to the 60's radio on Spotify), but I find this song rather interesting!
INtersting history of the song. I assumed it was recent - at the time Reality came out. I stand corrected.
His two interesting periods were from 69-80 and from 93-03 in my opinion. Sadly, he seemed to have retired completely from music.
This version is sexy? This is a very sad version, its the final statement of a great musician: Soon there will be nothing left of me, nothing left to realease....
I like Bowie and I like disco!! XD
The 90s had lots of great music, Pearl Jam, GnR, The La's and a ot of other stuff. But did seem to go down hill quite rapidly at the start of the 2000s, when ipods, mp3s replaced old forms of listening to music. People started to stop buying the whole album and just choosing the song they liked to download. Moreover music has become more about the visual images than the quality of the song itself, Lady GaGa as an example.
Mater Motley sweeping generalizations eh
+Mater Motley You might try actually listening to some Gaga, or have you calcified? I'm likely older than you, but still buying new music. Wake up!
+Mater Motley Disagee with what you say about GAGA Matey. Strip away the gloss and veneer, she can actually sing, write her own material. She was trained in Piano, so we talking a musican my friend.
+Mater Motley
Golden age was mid 60s to mid 70s. Bowie was at his peak in 70s too. When punk eclipsed sophisticated fusion rock it was beginning of the end. The barbarians had arrived at the gates. Ipod culture is killing what's left.
@marco calarco I would agree and take it a wee step further saying the 70s and 1980, most of his other output from then on was purely aimed at the mass market. It turned him into a global superstar but at the cost of writing anything meaningful. Personally I would say his greatest period was 1970-1973, The Man who sold tomorrow, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Alladin Sane. I'm not a huge fan of Diamond Dogs, apart from Rebel rebel and Panic in Detroit and the tour that followed the album sounded like he had decided to add cabaret all his work.
Mater Motley The Man Who Sold Tomorrow? I never heard that one. Panic In Detroit is on Diamond Dogs? Wtf are talking about man?
Claire Ferriter It's man who sold the world.
brain dead zombie...i was talking about someone else screwing up the titles/info
p.s. it's The Man Who Sold the World you dolt
+Mater Motley I would hardly call the Berlin Years a mass market project.
I don't know about a remix but I could have sworn my friend showed me a modern version of this song saying it had manyard from tool in it... Is that what people are talking about?
@mjwally62 Very strange that you could not find anything else worthwhile between these two songs.
@mobile513 Came out in 2003.
Me gusta mas esta version!
Quedaria genial esta cancion de fondo en una velada romantica.
FEED ME NO LIES!!!!!
i don't know about you, I don't know about you...
I'd be happy to send them, if you're still looking.
Get in touch :-)
@mobile513 Agreed, way better than the remix. Yet, all the Hot Topic wannabe goth children will disagree with the sexy, jazzy sound of that piano.
David, où es-tu?
and we have to thank frusciante's guitar for that ;))
Davey Houdini....
paaaaf!
there he was....gone
we get it. you don't like bowie.
you are here why?
So ,as I understand -this is not the version from the Black tie, white noise sessions. Love the minimalist feel. Would anyone know who the drummer is?
+ma t (dripping) Matt Chamberlain
+ma t (dripping)
This is the version that was released on the album Reality. As far as I can tell, the black tie white noise and the earthling versions have not been released.
The original version is from Black Tie White Noise also Earthling not REALITY!
Maybe. The Motel from Outside is pretty damn good too, but is maybe less of a "piano song".
@alewis18 haha- cant argue with that sort
@alewis18 I'm not anything close to a Hot Topic wannabe goth child, and I like the remix better than this. However, I also love this version as well. They are both powerful,sexy,smooth and velvety as hell in their own way. Tsk tsk to you stereotyping.
life it self
Still think the original is the best. The new one starts to go out of context with the whole NIN style. Makes the song more of an emo goth poem than the downtown city lament that I think Bowie had intended. I also think the original is a better vampire soundtrack song. Just my opinions.
RE PeleH20.
Think what david saying in this one is he not sure where his life would have been if he wasnt into the music thing looks back and regrets
What now? Nothing. He will not tour, he will not even do interviews. Goodbye.
Fernando Graça
: This didn't age well.
Drum & Bass Mashup version:
soundcloud.com/arson-bright/bring-me-the-space-oddity
really?"emovampiregirl666" prefers the vampire movie soundtrack version?
seriously though that version rules.
I don't think any thing is as good as Scary Monsters. Mabe Diamond Dogs.
wasnt it recorded in 93?
Reality was okay. But come on, Heathen was great. Further, I don't think there could have been a better song to close his career than Disco King.
Sorry, I didn't want to be a know-it-all ;-). Anyway, I personally prefer this version to the "remix".
Oh. Ok.
@mobile513 2003 :D
@EmoVampireGirl666 Not surprising from someone named Emo Vampire Girl 666. Just sayin'.
Better then Scary Monsters?
@mobile513 '03.
nebuchanezzar/belshazzar
Somebody reanimate Sam Peckinpah right now!
At this point, bowie has produced more nothing songs than something songs. His interesting period was 70s and 80s.
i want to know... .does "disco king" stands for cocaine?
lol
Original is good...but as a Maynard die hard fan...I like the new version...its more James Bond-ish
No, I absolutely do not agree. Why 80s???