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C&L's Late Nite Music Club with David Bowie

Life on Mars?

John Amato has been talking up the British series Life on Mars to me for a while, and I thought I'd check out the American version last night. Gotta love any show that starts with a little Bowie.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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48 Comments
FilthyHarry's picture

Gotta say, don't know what the hell this song is about, but damn it if I don't love the crap out of it.

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

The Man who sold the World.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSnXjE66tvQ


What is your conceptual, continuity?

I love this song.

GonzoD's picture

Listening to Bowie earlier today - "Young Americans"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1hvOcd3B7Q

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

Bit Nola's picture

But that show has a big problem. The seventies people are awesome, but the lead actor blows. Harvey Kietel and his buds need to beat the crap out of him in every episode to get me to watch any more than the opener.

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

GonzoD's picture

Can't let a Bowie thread go without these - "Changes/Space Oddity"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75R3TkXorC4

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

nonny mouse's picture

The British Life on Mars was so good, beautifully done, superb acting, and the producers knew exactly when to quit, two seasons, loose ends tied up (for the most part), just lovely. And the choice of music for each show was spot on. For all the time it ran while I lived in the UK, I never missed an episode - the phone wasn't answered, and the neighbours (those who weren't also watching) knew not to come knocking.

Why oh why do us Yanks feel the need to take someone else's perfect diamond of a show and recut it for the Amurikin taste? This is like... remaking Monty Python with the cast of SNL. It's a terrible idea. No one can better Philip Glenister in the role of Gene Hunt (I'm assuming they're keeping the names as well?), not even Irish actor Colm Meany with an Amurikin accent.

Why can't we just appreciate programmes made in other countries for what they are, and how excellent they can be, without trying to make it 'better'? I don't think I want to watch this... I really don't...

innocent bystander's picture

the british life on mars was perfection, and i couldn't agree more: philip glenister is irreplaceable . . . in my opinion, the best television performance of all time, just barely edging out john simm as sam tyler

alas, i have sullied my memory of the original by giving the amurikin version a try . . . appalling in every way . . . the actors look/feel like they are playing dress up and the lead has zero appeal, even less talent . . . annie's a dud, too . . . the production design is ugly . . . the editing ham-fisted . . . and i am now hating on harvey keitel, once a fav

yet another reason to be embarrassed for being a yank

BC's picture

I don't get why it needed to be remade. BBC Life on Mars is recent, in english and fantastically done. I can't see a reason to bother.

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

calgarylady's picture

That was outstanding! I just love David Bowie.

mudshark's picture

I was at this show.
I almost got thrown out for dancin too much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4iGC-kSKAY&fe...


What is your conceptual, continuity?

calgarylady's picture

And always the trouble-maker, I see! hehe

Seriously, Bowie is a freaking genius. Great tunes tonight, mudshark!

mudshark's picture

Who Me?
You don't the half of it. But I sure had fun.:)


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

You don't know the half of it.A typo is one thing, but to forget a whole word.....................YIKES!
Meanwhile, back @ the LNMC.
Cracked Actor. I just luvs me some super loud morning mania music. Crank It Up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2bMJ-wSvbI&fe...


What is your conceptual, continuity?

Scarlet P.'s picture

Pretty Pink Rose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k02Dn-V3dQ4

(with Adrian Belew)

muddy's picture

The HBO show Flight of the Conchords had a funny Bowie song parody in the first season "Bowie's in Space." That episode also featured a dream Bowie giving horrible (or at least comically vague) advice. Funny stuff!

mudshark's picture

Loving the Alien
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nN8nKdhe0I&fe...
GN folks. Be well.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

calgarylady's picture

Wish you could stay for awhile. I greatly enjoyed all those Bowie tunes. Thanks!

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

calgarylady's picture

Aladdin Sane is a great example. Bowie is fabulous and that pianist is awesome!

uncle joe mccarthy's picture

i am a child of the 70s, and i fell in love with ziggy and totally wore out that album

here is the original version of life on mars...brilliant and beautiful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUOTImKp0k&fm...

and here is bowie with klaus nomi and Joey Arias

the man who sold the world (to me, this is the best version)

http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Timoth...

5 years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=louXPUW7tHU

and here is bowie and gilmour doing arnold layne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K499HpGF46E

stranded's picture

Those SNL performances are my absolute favorite thing Bowie did, but that period is full of wonderful TV guest spots. He was such an exciting performer, and you never knew WHO are WHAT you'd get. I don't think there's ever been anyone like that since.

MarcInDalyCity's picture

Bowie live, with bass player Gail Ann Dorsey doing an amazing and 'soulful' rendition of the Freddy Mercury vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNGQor3dED8

Anonymous's picture

That was lovely. Great song. Very relevant...always..but particularly now.

"Why can't we give love one more chance?....

"cause loves such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people living on the edge of night
and love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves"

Someone needs to get this into the heads of some of Sarah Palin's supporters.....stat.

BowieBoy's picture
calgarylady's picture
Ah,

my most favourite Bowie song of all. C'est magnifique!

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

stranded's picture

I think that in the full-length version of this clip Bowie talks about Barbra Streisand's cover of the song, mentioning that it was during one of her more confused periods. He's had a few of those himself. But his work up through Scary Monsters is brilliant beyond words.

Leadership's picture

fuck tv

mudshark's picture

I probably wouldn't put it quite like that, but the end result would be the same. Anyway, RAWK ON!
Panic in Detroit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKId33rI0Lk&fe...
Be sure to crank it up with your coffee this mornin.:)


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

I swear, I'm so burned out on politics now.
But, it's nice to kick it here in the music club. It's refreshing.
Now, If you haven't cranked it up yet, please do so now.
Stay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or1dyvCgzMw&fe...


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

So, I gonna leave you folks with this one.
Max volume.
Ziggy Stardust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5nL1AUPGr0
Have a great day folks.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

So I have to post it.
All the Young Dudes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xkrbXFPExc&fe...
Ok, adios, for sure for sure .


What is your conceptual, continuity?

calgarylady's picture

... to listen to on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks, mudshark!

FilthyHarry's picture

It occurred to me that I'd LOVE to hear Stevie Wonder sing 'Young Americans', and hear Bowie sing 'Living for the City', Back when they were younger. I think those two could've collaborated on some amazing stuff if they'd gotten a chance.

ysbaddaden's picture

Alice Cooper wannabee wanker!!!

)O(


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Anonymous's picture

And how old is he? Somehow he manages to look like a 30-ish young man without the grotesque plastic surgery look of many of his contemporaries, and his voice is still beautiful....thanks for posting this.

coughcool's picture

I'm no gay But I Love David Bowie. He's such a wonderful singer.

mudshark's picture

Just in case you've decided to check back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNG2z4wWkhA&fe...
Enjoy.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

What is your conceptual, continuity?

rcbloom's picture

Different performance with the same pianist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n8oE3_ecFo

I remember when I was a kid I saw Bowie, wearing a skirt, sing this on the old Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I was thinking, "Oh man, they're freaking out in Peoria right now." I couldn't find a clip on YouTube (there was a 1980 Tonight Show clip, but he was in pants). Posing this one instead.

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