One of the most powerful moments in BBC Radio 2s history. I was driving in my car, had just arrived home and simply sat in my car until it finished. A perfect tribute and a very personal private moment and yet shared by millions.
Kevin Field - yes - me too. I’m delighted to have found this on the tube just now. I remember driving home that day when I first heard it and I’ve now got tears in my eyes again.
Another car moment for me as well. Still brings a tear to my eye. That song seemed to encapsulate an era, humanity and the ultimate questioning of existence - all in one. Bloody genius.
me and this taxi driver that drove me home last night was listening to this song on the radio almost fucking balled my eyes out, never had a moment like that with a stranger. we were both in a state lol
@@DanielOlofsson-ye1yyman, that was a shit year, wasn't it? In the course of a couple of years we lose both Lemmy and Bowie, and the world has gone to shit. Coincidence?
+pigknickers It's alright. It's perfectly fine to shed some tears. We're all still mourning his death. Eventually those tears will fade into warm smiles again.
Cosmic Rogue Thanks everyone. It's a bad time for everyone I know. Still it's nice to have some support. It's a terrible loss, like the end of an era. I just woke up with this playing in my head. I didn't know it was recorded at St Anne's Ct - I used to work there when it was EMI studios. Funny to think they all walked the same staircases as me....
+wpollock1 Bowie has always known who to go to for talent on his recordings. He was wise enough to use Adrian Belew, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Fripp, RickWakeman, etc.
Stunning performance Mr. Wakeman. Jaw dropping. There's an interesting consistency in the thousands of fan comments I've been reading, which is the absolute willingness of men to admit that they've been crying over Bowie's passing. Men cry of course but we usually don't bring up the fact that we did. I'm a grown man of 63, a fan since I first saw David at the Boston Music Hall in 1972, and I've cried more than a few times over the past couple of days... inĉluding just now after having made the beautiful mIstake of watching this video. There are men, likely millions of men, around the world... straight men, gay men, young, middle aged and old, white, black, asian, hispanic... who will in future years, as I will, say they cried when Bowie died. The width and breadth and depth of the grief being felt around the world for this man's death is truly, truly remarkable, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
Where was the Music Hall? Present-day Orpheum-? I’ve always wondered. For the record, I’m 53, and when Bowie passed, well, I haven’t been the same since.
+Dino T I agree much with you. There are many fights that are not fair, and this is surely one of them. It's good that an intelligent clever man Rick Wakeman tells about the clever parts of ingenious composing by David Bowie. And finally David's musical ledgends will live, and so inspire other musicians, and noone and nothing will win that from him. I wasn't busy yet with his music on TH-cam, but i want to plan it in the right position for revolutionairy influences. It's coencidence that a sensitive indivdual called me the David Bowie of electronic music, so my emotions are also high especially by that. Rest in Peace David Bowie.
+Jens P " Sorry fot the typo "..that's hilarious! You do know how to edit your posts? Click on the 3 dots at the right of your comment, you can edit or delete.
Rick Wakeman's contribution to early Bowie classics like Hunky Dory was an important element to Bowie's music. Rick is one of the best keyboard players rock music has seen. His playing on Hunky Dory in particular, the sound of that upright piano he played, Bowie's outstanding writing, melody, taste in music.. This helped produce what I consider my fav Bowie album (not by a long shot mind you since he did so many phenom records), and one of the best pop rock albums of all time. I liked early Rick Wakeman interviews where he would be quite comical then blow you away with his masterful keyboard playing.Rick also had an interesting solo career. Six Wives was on my table quite often back in the day. Spot on Rick!
Rick played on the original Bowie song. He wanted to join The Spiders but had committed to Yes. The greatest keyboard player of era and the greatest writer combined
+Helium Road hmm.. not sure what kind of music you are into man, but Rick Wakeman is in the top 10 best rock keyboardists of all time. Have you never heard of a little band called "YES"? seriously not sure what you consider a good keyboardist if your hating on wakeman who is a god among keyboardists. Pick up a copy of Six Wives of Henry the 8th or take a listen to Close to the Edge by Yes.
Every time someone talks about an artist, I compare them to Bowie. That guy was a great genius, artist and performer. One of the greatest. May you rest in peace.
Prog God Rick Wakeman playing David Bowie's greatest song. Genius, both of them. Real musicians that learnt their craft in small venues and honed it over many years.
We are all sad and for many of us it feels like part of our very essence has been snatched away. I grew up on Bowie and three of the earliest albums I bought were Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Alladin Sane. With a start like that music was always going to play a major part in my life and that continues today and fortunately Glasgow has a great music scene. Thank you David RIP
Thank you David, thank you Rick. I feel everything that matters when I hear this. Love to everyone, especially those finding life hard at the moment - you are not alone.
Rick Wakeman was once asked if he woke up each morning celebrating the fact that he played the piano on Life on Mars. He replied, "Sort of - but I played on a lot of Des O'Connor LPs as well..."
Rick Wakeman's comments about Bowie at the start of this tribute are interesting. To paraphrase him, he mentions "melody man; great ideas for chord structures - would throw in a surprise when you least expected it; 'I know how this is going to go, then it would change'; very clever guy." Mr Wakeman could have been describing Abba. In fact, I think that what Bowie and Abba had in common was this approach to their respective music-making as outlined by Mr Wakeman's own thoughts about Bowie's style here at the beginning. There is everything right about going off on a tangent.
Well, SamGates, the bizarre thing is that in the 70s and 80s, at public school, it was as embarrassing to reveal a fondness for Bowie's music as it was Abba's. I've noticed this. Perhaps because Bowie was genre-defying, defied stereotypes, he annoyed a lot of people. Abba were just too honest and nice as a band - All these traits held by both these acts were anathema to the creeds held by certain sections of our society. Maybe they still are.
Rick Wakeman was there! In that tiny London studio in 1971! A marvellous melody that Mr. Wakeman brings to life again solely on piano! For 'Life On Mars?' I always wanted to know if the superb guitar break in the middle was done by the late Mick Ronson, and if it was done in one take or two. I cannot find anything on that.
Rick Wakeman is a legend to The Legend Bowie! What a Tribute to one of the greatest songs ever! *goosebumps* I could listen to that piano roll in the chorus forever.... 🎹🎶
Thanks Rick, still remember life on mars when i heard it the first time on the radio after i joined the Army as a boy soldier in 1972, which i think was around the time i first heard six wives of henry VIII, my favourite track on that was Catherine Howard but they were all works of Art. by the way i am 59 now. RIP David Bowie. still remember Starman, i was still in school then when i heard it for the first time.RIP David Bowie, a legacy.
This has actually filled my eyes with water, and Im a bIokey bloke. Grew up listening to David Bowie and Life on Mars was the first of his songs I knew as a kid. He originally lived a few streets from me in Brixton and can remember plain as day listening to this when it came out on Top Of the Pops in our dingy little basement slum we lived in. Its only now he's gone that its hit me hard how much I and everyone will miss him. People - never forget or under appreciate him. Its a bit of a cliche to say there will never be another like him but more than anyone else I can think of with there really will NEVER be another.
There's a great documentary on Showtime called "Five Years" which reviews five crucial years or periods in the musical evolution of David Bowie. In the first segment, which covers Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, Rick Wakeman describes how Bowie asked Wakeman to play on Hunky Dory and how much Wakeman loved "Life On Mars" because of Bowie's clever and creative chord structures. Wakeman gives an example, saying before he begins to play, "I haven't played this in 40 years". Wakeman then plays a piano vignette of why he believes the song to be "genius". At the end, after he has finished playing Wakeman says, "I really must go home and learn to play this." It was quite a charming moment in the documentar. The above rendition of "Life On Mars" by Rick Wakeman is absolutely beautiful and sublime.
When I woke up that Monday and learnt David Bowie had passed, I was utterly shocked. I was so shocked that I didn't cry... Until I saw this tribute. Only then I begun to understand and accept the truth. Bowie was more than my favourite artist, he is part of who I am! I hope he is well wherever he is. I am more than grateful for all his contribution to our world...
RIP David Robert Jones. You gave us classics since the '60's, such as "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?" and "Let's Dance!". (Plus his stint in the movie "Labyrinth" :))
First heard this song performed by Phish in 1996, which sent me down the rabbit hole to Bowie. I never knew Rick was the pianist -learn something new every day... RIP David Bowie
So love this and feeling sad again. I had the honour to have worked on the same film with David in the mid 1980's. He was a kind and beautiful man. Rest in the Stars David.
I never even realized Rick Wakeman played on this. I wasn't a fan of his music - my older brother drove me nuts with YES and similar prog stuff in the 70s. But obviously a brilliant pianist, and this was very touching. The Brit Awards should have him on stage by himself playing this exact piece along to a Bowie slideshow instead of the gawdawful Bono & cast "tribute" they have planned.
+satomiwa I'm not at all interested in any tribute shows they plan, I don't enjoy other artists singing his songs. I'd rather listen and watch the man himself.
+satomiwa Yeah that is Richard Wakeman playing piano all over the Hunky Dory album. It is also Rick on Cat Stevens recording of Morning Has Broken. When they were doing a Cat Stevens special Rick was called to find out how he actually played it. He said well I'll play it at the special. The arses said uh no...
+James Walker On my "Teaser and Fire-cat" album it credits Cat Stevens with guitar and piano. No credit for the arrangement on the sheet music either. Didn't Rick get £20 for the arrangement, the backup track and not to make a fuss?
Thank you Rick Wakeman. And for the most astute recognition of Bowie's compositional talent that I've ever heard and seen demonstrated. Thanks also for expressing your surprise at hearing something new when familiar chords are played at unexpected times with interesting, and perhaps even, unfamiliar melodies. Flashback: I remember a new, funky Bowie who was warmly embraced by hippies (Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada) in the golden years. I tried to be one (a hippy, not a Bowie fan) but I failed my astrology exam. I'm just starting out with Bowie's music (one artist I want to showcase in my own show) as a performer, but it strikes me that tunes like Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Wild Is The Wind, All The Young Dudes, Golden Years and This Is Not America might be good tunes for any Bowie fan, to begin their performance studies, with.
This is beautiful and grateful to Rick giving us this gem. I've heard a radio interview from years back where Rick talks about David inviting him over and using his twelve string to play all the songs that would become Hunky Dory and being that they were recorded so close together I'd bet some of Ziggy Stardust songs were among them as well. Rick mentioned realizing immediately how special these songs were. Being asked to put them to piano turned out to be more than just a little session time to a young musician looking to make rent. He became a part of music history. I was twelve years old when this was released and at the time couldn't quite get what all the songs meant but the sound was so different it made you just stop and listen. With Ziggy Stardust released so soon after Bowie was getting tons of Am radio air time almost all at once. The line in Changes, "look out you rock-n-rollers" was for certain! There was no way for me to know at that age just how important this David Bowie was or would become. Somehow the man tapped into a vein of pure genius and we are all the better for it. I'm still shaking my head now at 21 days of time without the man living among us and had no idea how much I would miss him. My grandchildren are already getting a good introduction you can be sure!
Absolutely brilliant. No one can play it like Rick. My first musical memory was seeing Life On Mars on Top Of The Pops in 1973 when I was 11, before the famous blue suit video - the BBC put together some backstage footage, which I've not seen since. I was hooked from then on.
I feel so honoured to live so near to Rick, he lives about 10 minutes dowm the road from me and I make sure to look at his house every time I pass it. what a Man, what a tribute
Denis Borysovskyi I totally agree. Rick Wakeman did a great job covering this as a tribute to Bowie. He even did a great job on the original recording.
Key to Bowie's style: surprising non-diatonic chord changes, and fantastic grooves. Add sublime surrealistic lyrics, press record and voila! Sheer pop brilliance.
![David Bowie - Life On Mars? (Original Ending Version) [4K Upgrade]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ft3b1-Cm-0M/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the most powerful moments in BBC Radio 2s history. I was driving in my car, had just arrived home and simply sat in my car until it finished. A perfect tribute and a very personal private moment and yet shared by millions.
Kevin Field - yes - me too. I’m delighted to have found this on the tube just now. I remember driving home that day when I first heard it and I’ve now got tears in my eyes again.
Exactly the same. And timed beautifully at the end.
Same here, just parked up outside my home after work.
Sat there until the end.
Extremely moving tribute.
Another car moment for me as well. Still brings a tear to my eye. That song seemed to encapsulate an era, humanity and the ultimate questioning of existence - all in one. Bloody genius.
It happened to me in the same way. I think I’ll never forget that moment. Thanks Rick.. thanks David ….God blessed you all
me and this taxi driver that drove me home last night was listening to this song on the radio almost fucking balled my eyes out, never had a moment like that with a stranger. we were both in a state lol
2023 now, and all these years later I still can't watch this without crying. The world needs more David Bowie.
Same!
@@DanielOlofsson-ye1yyman, that was a shit year, wasn't it? In the course of a couple of years we lose both Lemmy and Bowie, and the world has gone to shit. Coincidence?
Dec 2024 Brilliant
0l0
P
I've got to limit myself a bit as I keep on crying and I'm getting fed up with it. Here I am again in tears. Bloody hell.
You're not alone x
+pigknickers millions are with you,
+simon evans the world of David is crying .
+pigknickers It's alright. It's perfectly fine to shed some tears. We're all still mourning his death. Eventually those tears will fade into warm smiles again.
Cosmic Rogue Thanks everyone. It's a bad time for everyone I know. Still it's nice to have some support. It's a terrible loss, like the end of an era. I just woke up with this playing in my head. I didn't know it was recorded at St Anne's Ct - I used to work there when it was EMI studios. Funny to think they all walked the same staircases as me....
Gosh, David Bowie was an amazing talent but Rick has demonstrated on so many occasions that he is simply the master of the piano
That was absolutely wonderful.
Beautiful tribute. David Bowie knew who to go to for talent on his recordings. You can tell how much respect Rick has for the song!
+wpollock1 Too right, I only just found out it was Nile Rodgers who played the guitar on 'Lets Dance'.
And SRV on all the album
+wpollock1 Bowie has always known who to go to for talent on his recordings. He was wise enough to use Adrian Belew, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Fripp, RickWakeman, etc.
+Hirschel Litzenbaum Mick Ronson.
Hirschel Litzenbaum Brian Eno.
Stunning performance Mr. Wakeman. Jaw dropping.
There's an interesting consistency in the thousands of fan comments I've been reading, which is the absolute willingness of men to admit that they've been crying over Bowie's passing. Men cry of course but we usually don't bring up the fact that we did.
I'm a grown man of 63, a fan since I first saw David at the Boston Music Hall in 1972, and I've cried more than a few times over the past couple of days... inĉluding just now after having made the beautiful mIstake of watching this video.
There are men, likely millions of men, around the world... straight men, gay men, young, middle aged and old, white, black, asian, hispanic... who will in future years, as I will, say they cried when Bowie died.
The width and breadth and depth of the grief being felt around the world for this man's death is truly, truly remarkable, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
I wept when I saw this three years ago. And I just wept after seeing it again, three years later.
@@billholmes6933 same here......three years later watching this in tears.
He is mourned by the whole world.
Where was the Music Hall? Present-day Orpheum-? I’ve always wondered. For the record, I’m 53, and when Bowie passed, well, I haven’t been the same since.
8 years later, I still haven't got over the fact that he's left us. 😢
Well that was f*cking beautiful.
Seven years on and I still find this to be such a beautiful tribute from a man who was there. Fly well, David.
Same same … can’t believe it’s been so long 🕯🌟
He didn't lose his battle with cancer. It's never a fair fight. RIP DAVID BOWIE.
That's the truth, unfortunately. I won my fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2002, but it's still affecting me in all kinds of ways today.
+Amy Herrmann Hang in there, Amy!
+Dino T The only true loss is to surrender.
+Dino T I agree much with you. There are many fights that are not fair, and this is surely one of them. It's good that an intelligent clever man Rick Wakeman tells about the clever parts of ingenious composing by David Bowie. And finally David's musical ledgends will live, and so inspire other musicians, and noone and nothing will win that from him. I wasn't busy yet with his music on TH-cam, but i want to plan it in the right position for revolutionairy influences. It's coencidence that a sensitive indivdual called me the David Bowie of electronic music, so my emotions are also high especially by that. Rest in Peace David Bowie.
+Dino T ... he didn't lose. He's returned home.
One of the greatest piano accompaniments of all time.
Well done, Rick. The best tribute imaginable... RIP Bowie...
This puts me in tears, it just shows you the magic and craftsmanship of David Bowie’s songwriting and music!
And Rick's interpretation.
I've loved YES and Rick Wakeman, but this performance is the most beautiful solo that I ever heard Wakeman ever do.GOD!
+ChevKen If you like classical... you wanna hear Rick do Clair De Lune... musical silk..
Birdman of Alcatraz. But this one was close!
Atlas King Another one of my faves.... but "The Breathalyser" is worth a listen.. esp the lyrics!
+Atlas King I have never heard "Birdman" up until now and it is stunning!
+The realist It is so lilting and relaxing.
A simple, but fabulous tribute to Davis Bowie.Thank you, Rick
Jens P. Sorry fot the typo
+Jens P
" Sorry fot the typo "..that's hilarious!
You do know how to edit your posts?
Click on the 3 dots at the right of your comment, you can edit or delete.
Rick Wakeman's contribution to early Bowie classics like Hunky Dory was an important element to Bowie's music. Rick is one of the best keyboard players rock music has seen. His playing on Hunky Dory in particular, the sound of that upright piano he played, Bowie's outstanding writing, melody, taste in music.. This helped produce what I consider my fav Bowie album (not by a long shot mind you since he did so many phenom records), and one of the best pop rock albums of all time. I liked early Rick Wakeman interviews where he would be quite comical then blow you away with his masterful keyboard playing.Rick also had an interesting solo career. Six Wives was on my table quite often back in the day. Spot on Rick!
The greatest singer being paid tribute by the greatest keyboard player (in my opinion) playing one of the greatest songs ever written
Rick played on the original Bowie song. He wanted to join The Spiders but had committed to Yes. The greatest keyboard player of era and the greatest writer combined
Wakeman = keyboard god
YES YES YES
i agree with what you said about Wakeman. But dont forget about Mike Garson who played on many Bowie albums and tours for many years...
+Helium Road Not piano God, that's for sure. Keyboards fine, but there are many excellent keyboardists. I like the reference keymaster did aha
+LinkBulletBill Compared to whom,
other than concert pianists, please.
+Helium Road hmm.. not sure what kind of music you are into man, but Rick Wakeman is in the top 10 best rock keyboardists of all time. Have you never heard of a little band called "YES"? seriously not sure what you consider a good keyboardist if your hating on wakeman who is a god among keyboardists. Pick up a copy of Six Wives of Henry the 8th or take a listen to Close to the Edge by Yes.
Every time someone talks about an artist, I compare them to Bowie. That guy was a great genius, artist and performer.
One of the greatest.
May you rest in peace.
Five years on and it's still one of most emotional performances I've ever listened to.
Prog God Rick Wakeman playing David Bowie's greatest song. Genius, both of them. Real musicians that learnt their craft in small venues and honed it over many years.
I would expect nothing less than such a wonderful tribute by Wakeman. A true musician and a stand-up man in his own right.
A man who leaves behind his art leaves the world a better place.
We are all sad and for many of us it feels like part of our very essence has been snatched away. I grew up on Bowie and three of the earliest albums I bought were Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Alladin Sane. With a start like that music was always going to play a major part in my life and that continues today and fortunately Glasgow has a great music scene. Thank you David RIP
I just stopped crying yesterday after 3 straight days crying. Now I start to cry again. Man oh man.
+Montanee jo I have never had a celebrity death hit me like this before. Among the great musicians Bowie stands out as special.
+g26s239 Thank you so much. Thank you.
Thank you David, thank you Rick. I feel everything that matters when I hear this. Love to everyone, especially those finding life hard at the moment - you are not alone.
I have a new appreciation for Wakeman. A beautiful and inspired rendition.
Rick Wakeman was once asked if he woke up each morning celebrating the fact that he played the piano on Life on Mars. He replied, "Sort of - but I played on a lot of Des O'Connor LPs as well..."
Rick Wakeman's comments about Bowie at the start of this tribute are interesting. To paraphrase him, he mentions "melody man; great ideas for chord structures - would throw in a surprise when you least expected it; 'I know how this is going to go, then it would change'; very clever guy."
Mr Wakeman could have been describing Abba. In fact, I think that what Bowie and Abba had in common was this approach to their respective music-making as outlined by Mr Wakeman's own thoughts about Bowie's style here at the beginning.
There is everything right about going off on a tangent.
+Dustshoe Abba, really????
Well, SamGates, the bizarre thing is that in the 70s and 80s, at public school, it was as embarrassing to reveal a fondness for Bowie's music as it was Abba's. I've noticed this. Perhaps because Bowie was genre-defying, defied stereotypes, he annoyed a lot of people. Abba were just too honest and nice as a band - All these traits held by both these acts were anathema to the creeds held by certain sections of our society. Maybe they still are.
+lomax343 Rick Wakeman is known for his sense of humour.. and he is a funny bloke... Des O Connor.. INDEED lol
+Dustshoe
Benny and Bjorn were influenced by David Bowie.
Abba and David's songs certainly had some beautiful melodies.
Beautiful stuff. *RIP Bowie you legend!!*
I keep getting bummed out about Bowie's death almost 3 years later. Goes to show how much of an impact he really had. RIP
Brings me to tears.
That is the most perfect rendition and feeling in a piano piece I have ever heard. Thanks Rick, and thanks David. RIP.
This has got to be the most heartfelt Bowie tribute I've ever listened to. Dripping with emotion. Hats off, Mr. Wakeman. You did it.
This music should travel the universe to show other worlds what human beings are capable of…
Beautiful rendition of one of the prettiest Davie Bowie songs ever. .Thank you from the USA. Rest in Peace, Mr. Bowie.
How lovely. Rick has a true lasting connection with David and his legacy by playing on that song.
beautiful music sad loss sleep well STARMAN his music goes on... RIP DAVID BOWIE.
What a touching tribute.
Rick Wakeman was there! In that tiny London studio in 1971! A marvellous melody that Mr. Wakeman brings to life again solely on piano!
For 'Life On Mars?' I always wanted to know if the superb guitar break in the middle was done by the late Mick Ronson, and if it was done in one take or two. I cannot find anything on that.
+Dustshoe The electric guitar was indeed recorded by Mick Ronson, who also wrote the strings arrangements... what a man !
+Lucas HENRY RIP to David Bowie and Mick Ronson as well...
+Lucas HENRY Yes, Mick Ronson also played piano and guitar on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day".
+Claudette Preisinger Let us not forget Trevor Bolder!
Beautiful... Rest in peace David Bowie :(( the tears keep going
Thank you, Rick Wakeman. The ultimate tribute.
Rick Wakeman is a legend to The Legend Bowie! What a Tribute to one of the greatest songs ever! *goosebumps* I could listen to that piano roll in the chorus forever.... 🎹🎶
Thanks Rick, still remember life on mars when i heard it the first time on the radio after i joined the Army as a boy soldier in 1972, which i think was around the time i first heard six wives of henry VIII, my favourite track on that was Catherine Howard but they were all works of Art. by the way i am 59 now. RIP David Bowie. still remember Starman, i was still in school then when i heard it for the first time.RIP David Bowie, a legacy.
Fantastic. Rick you are a genius.
Taken me a week just to be able to listen anything related to David.
Thank you Rick that was very nice.
Missing you David
Thank you for the memories
That's so incredibly beautiful. Thank you Rick. Thank you very much.
I emailed Rick to thank him for this heartfelt tribute.
Omg!! Could I sit and listen all day and do nothing else???? Bowie's music is mind blowingly out of this world, Beautiful!
Outstanding
This has actually filled my eyes with water, and Im a bIokey bloke.
Grew up listening to David Bowie and Life on Mars was the first of his songs I knew as a kid. He originally lived a few streets from me in Brixton and can remember plain as day listening to this when it came out on Top Of the Pops in our dingy little basement slum we lived in.
Its only now he's gone that its hit me hard how much I and everyone will miss him.
People - never forget or under appreciate him. Its a bit of a cliche to say there will never be another like him but more than anyone else I can think of with there really will NEVER be another.
Seven years, and this still makes me cry.
Same same ❤
Rick Wakeman is so talented! Touching tribute.
One of the best ballads ever written.
A great tribute from the man who played the mellotron on Space Oddity. Thank you Rick. R.I.P. David.
+ACooke108: And from the man who played this on the original record as well!
There's a great documentary on Showtime called "Five Years" which reviews five crucial years or periods in the musical evolution of David Bowie. In the first segment, which covers Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, Rick Wakeman describes how Bowie asked Wakeman to play on Hunky Dory and how much Wakeman loved "Life On Mars" because of Bowie's clever and creative chord structures. Wakeman gives an example, saying before he begins to play, "I haven't played this in 40 years". Wakeman then plays a piano vignette of why he believes the song to be "genius". At the end, after he has finished playing Wakeman says, "I really must go home and learn to play this." It was quite a charming moment in the documentar. The above rendition of "Life On Mars" by Rick Wakeman is absolutely beautiful and sublime.
When I woke up that Monday and learnt David Bowie had passed, I was utterly shocked. I was so shocked that I didn't cry... Until I saw this tribute. Only then I begun to understand and accept the truth. Bowie was more than my favourite artist, he is part of who I am! I hope he is well wherever he is. I am more than grateful for all his contribution to our world...
Rick Wakeman is the grand wizard of keyboards. I've been a musician all my life and I'm insanely jealous of his mastery. Respect. 😉
There’s just something about that generation of British musicians, right..???
A fabulous tribute by one genius to another.
I still can't watch this without crying. I miss you, David. We all do.
Amazing Bowie,Amazing Wakeman ❤
Rick Wakeman still magic....playing a tune from a genius
Huge Yes fan saying thanks for this tribute to David. He is watching and smiling from above Mr. Wakeman!!!!
RIP David Robert Jones. You gave us classics since the '60's, such as "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?" and "Let's Dance!". (Plus his stint in the movie "Labyrinth" :))
And Ricochet
What an incredible tribute to David Bowie. I love this!
This beautiful song brought me to tears. Rest in peace, Mr. David Bowie.
Wow--Wakeman still plays flawlessly and still with so much heart. I never knew he was original keyboardist for LOM.
First heard this song performed by Phish in 1996, which sent me down the rabbit hole to Bowie. I never knew Rick was the pianist -learn something new every day... RIP David Bowie
Nice job by Rick Wakeman....paying tribute to David Bowie...Two Amazing musicians. Love you Bowie...and Rick. A beautiful song.
So love this and feeling sad again. I had the honour to have worked on the same film with David in the mid 1980's. He was a kind and beautiful man.
Rest in the Stars David.
I never even realized Rick Wakeman played on this. I wasn't a fan of his music - my older brother drove me nuts with YES and similar prog stuff in the 70s. But obviously a brilliant pianist, and this was very touching. The Brit Awards should have him on stage by himself playing this exact piece along to a Bowie slideshow instead of the gawdawful Bono & cast "tribute" they have planned.
+satomiwa I wish I could "like" the above comment multiple times
+satomiwa oh no not Bono.
+satomiwa
I'm not at all interested in any tribute shows they plan, I don't enjoy other artists singing his songs. I'd rather listen and watch the man himself.
+satomiwa Yeah that is Richard Wakeman playing piano all over the Hunky Dory album. It is also Rick on Cat Stevens recording of Morning Has Broken. When they were doing a Cat Stevens special Rick was called to find out how he actually played it. He said well I'll play it at the special. The arses said uh no...
+James Walker On my "Teaser and Fire-cat" album it credits Cat Stevens with guitar and piano. No credit for the arrangement on the sheet music either. Didn't Rick get £20 for the arrangement, the backup track and not to make a fuss?
It's heartbreaking. Just too much - but thank you Mr Wakeman. A fitting tribute to one legend from another.
Thank you Rick Wakeman. And for the most astute recognition of Bowie's compositional talent that I've ever heard and seen demonstrated. Thanks also for expressing your surprise at hearing something new when familiar chords are played at unexpected times with interesting, and perhaps even, unfamiliar melodies.
Flashback: I remember a new, funky Bowie who was warmly embraced by hippies (Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada) in the golden years. I tried to be one (a hippy, not a Bowie fan) but I failed my astrology exam.
I'm just starting out with Bowie's music (one artist I want to showcase in my own show) as a performer, but it strikes me that tunes like Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Wild Is The Wind, All The Young Dudes, Golden Years and This Is Not America might be good tunes for any Bowie fan, to begin their performance studies, with.
Rick is brilliant as well...what feeling.
Just wonderful.
So beautiful song and so well played, wow, nice piano hands.
Very beautiful
Classic song. Wonderful playing by Rick Wakemen. Great Tribute.
Lovely tribute to a lovely man .. David leaves us with beautiful music .. and in style .. on a Full Moon .. xo's
Never knew Rick played this, another trophy head on the wall, bravo.
Thank you Rick Wakeman for a beautiful tribute.
Two of the all time great musicians. Rick and Bowie. Fabulous tribute 8-)
Absolute fuckin' genius, on both Bowie;s and Rick's part....Thanks to both of you, that was the greatest song of my childhood!
And my adulthood as well!
More than 8 years on and his passing still affects me. I think about him often and what he’d make of current times.
This is beautiful and grateful to Rick giving us this gem. I've heard a radio interview from years back where Rick talks about David inviting him over and using his twelve string to play all the songs that would become Hunky Dory and being that they were recorded so close together I'd bet some of Ziggy Stardust songs were among them as well. Rick mentioned realizing immediately how special these songs were. Being asked to put them to piano turned out to be more than just a little session time to a young musician looking to make rent. He became a part of music history.
I was twelve years old when this was released and at the time couldn't quite get what all the songs meant but the sound was so different it made you just stop and listen. With Ziggy Stardust released so soon after Bowie was getting tons of Am radio air time almost all at once. The line in Changes, "look out you rock-n-rollers" was for certain! There was no way for me to know at that age just how important this David Bowie was or would become. Somehow the man tapped into a vein of pure genius and we are all the better for it. I'm still shaking my head now at 21 days of time without the man living among us and had no idea how much I would miss him. My grandchildren are already getting a good introduction you can be sure!
It doesn't get better than that.
That was amazing Rick. Just amazing. What a great tribute.
In tears now - listening to one masters payment of respect to anothers!
Este es el mejor homenaje a David Bowie gracias maestro Wakeman's.
Absolutely brilliant. No one can play it like Rick. My first musical memory was seeing Life On Mars on Top Of The Pops in 1973 when I was 11, before the famous blue suit video - the BBC put together some backstage footage, which I've not seen since. I was hooked from then on.
Lovely tribute to a very special and totally unique man
I feel so honoured to live so near to Rick, he lives about 10 minutes dowm the road from me and I make sure to look at his house every time I pass it. what a Man, what a tribute
Como siempre, Rick Wakemans un tremendo artista rindiendole tributo a otro grande....hermoso...
I Don't Often Comment On Anything I See On You Tube But That Was Magic !
Now THAT's a guy who's got the right to give tribute to Bowie by playing one of his songs.
A very touching tribute, by a maestro who retains the complete command of the instrument he has always had..
Very nice. In the 1970's Rick Wakeman was one of my favorite musicians and this seems to be very appropriate
My son and I, different generations, were changed by his music.
one of best covers i heard! so nice feeling
Denis Borysovskyi I totally agree. Rick Wakeman did a great job covering this as a tribute to Bowie. He even did a great job on the original recording.
Superb! R.I.P. David Bowie.. Beautiful Piano. I have rocketed to Mars and Milky Way in that song.
An unequalled score, and once again excellently executed, nice one Rick
A very touching and delicate tribute to a Magnificent Artist.
Rick, you're A-Great-Man
Key to Bowie's style: surprising non-diatonic chord changes, and fantastic grooves. Add sublime surrealistic lyrics, press record and voila! Sheer pop brilliance.
This is glorious
Very nice tribute!