There’s a story about John McEnroe trying to play this riff on guitar in his hotel room when someone knocks on the door. John thought It was going to be someone complaining about the noise. Turns out, it was David Bowie, who was staying at the same hotel. He offered to show John the correct way to play the riff.

A&A - The first rule of listening to Bowie is that you unburden yourself of expectations and let him drive. Bowie does have more mainstream material, but he created it and moved on from it to something else years before anybody else in music went there. He was a time traveler.

"We like dancing and we look divine" - and the perfect cowbell. A great song about androgynous appearance, being a hot tramp and owning it. He was definitely pushing boundaries as well as pushing a lot of buttons.

"Changes" is an absolute classic that must be done at some point.

Classic Bowie radio gold. his talent spread across all possible spectrums, from repetitive pop to "what the fuck was that?" . A true original, and definitely one of a kind. ❤️👍🏻🍸

I was at a Todd Rundgren concert the day David Bowie passed away. Todd and his band learned this song that same day and played it for their finale to honor David.

“Golden Years” is a must listen. Saw David Bowie at the Shoreline (Mt View CA) in 1990. Recently found the concert t- shirt I bought at that concert. Cried a little because I thought it had been tossed out many years ago. So glad it was found and added to the summer wardrobe rotation.

Bowie - a creative force, literally, until his dying day. Icon.

This song is based on the character Julia from George Orwell's "1984". She is described as a "rebel from the waist down"...Interested to see what more modern audiences would make of the lyrics "a handful of ludes"...The album this is from, "Diamond Dogs", was originally conceived as a concept album based on that book. When Bowie was unable to obtain the rights to explicitly reference it from Orwell's widow, he altered it, though there are many, many allusions, such as songs titled "Big Brother", "We Are The Dead", and "1984". Highly recommended. This was the first album Bowie did after parting with his longtime guitarist and collaborator Mick Ronson, and Bowie plays the guitar himself. I'm sorry, but a B+ on this is very nearly heresy...Heh...This is easily in a top ten list of his greatest songs...

Cracked Actor / Panic in Detroit

I was 18 when I first saw Bowie performing as Ziggy Stardust. I was absolutely transfixed. He was way before his time then and always.

Diamond Dogs, what a great album and a great spot in Bowie’s career. Brit who represented the NY glam rock scene in the early 70s that gave birth to punk/alternative. Suffragette City, Heroes, Jean Genie, Modern Love, China Girl, Ashes to Ashes…all are so good. Can’t go wrong.

David Robert Jones , aka, David Bowie was an immensely talented enigma that pushed the envelope of creativity. His imaginative experimentation and artistry didn't always hit the spot, but one could never argue the genius. “I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man. Just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.” - David Bowie, Quicksand

David Bowie was truly unique. Moby was a great admirer and said once, "Without David Bowie, popular music as we know it pretty much wouldn't exist."

The exuberance of youth! That’s what this song will always mean to me. Hits the same now that I’m almost 60 as it did when I was 12.❤

David Bowie is never the same from album to album or even song to song. So talented. Many overlook Aladdin Sane, one of his best albums, which has everything from Panic in Detroit, to the title track, to something totally unexpected like Lady Grinning Soul. He defied genres and reinvented himself so many times and this album is a good cross section of his many talents.

Speaking of Bowie guitar riffs, his early ‘80s album “Let’s Dance” featured a young Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar. Check out “Modern Love,” “China Girl” (co-written by Iggy Pop), and the title track, “Let’s Dance,” which happen to be the first three tracks on the record. Bowie never stayed in the same lane musically. Everything he did was groundbreaking. When you come back to more ‘70s Bowie, check out “TVC-15,” “Changes,” and “Golden Years.”

Changes needs to be listened to next! Modern Love too for 80s Bowie

I have a special place in my heart for artists that seemed to do whatever they felt like musically and got popular anyway. Guys like Warren Zevon, Johnny Cash, Beck, and of course Bowie. His songs can be so different from one to another, and yet somehow they're still OBVIOUSLY Bowie in an indescribable way. When you get back to him, I hope you hit the title track from this album, Diamond Dogs.

Please add "Fame" and " Let's Dance" to your list of Bowie!

The genius who was 50 years ahead of his time!! This song was released in 1974. I love it but it is reminiscent of the rolling stones. Great reaction as usual guys. Thank you!

Sweet Thing/Candidate on this album falls into the category of weird and excellent that nobody else could do. That's a close second to Station to Station overall.

Bowie the musician/performer was innovative, brilliant, spellbinding. He was also one of the most INTERESTING interview subjects EVER. Even if you were clueless or apathetic about what he was going on about, his razor-sharp intelligence, resonant speaking voice, wittiness and infectious smile and laugh, and just the sheer physical beauty of his visage rendered him mesmerizing. He knew about SO much, from architecture to zookeepers, and gave fascinating thoughts and observations on it all.

Bowie's music was always true to who he was at the time.

One of my favourite guitar riffs.I believe Bowie played all of the guitar parts on this album.

Bowie was so much more then a singer so to speak. He reinvented himself so many times to keep up with the times. He was really a genius in many respects. Very smart man ! Thx guys. Merry Christmas

Fun fact is that this song was recorded at a very small studio, Ludolph Studios in a small town called Nederhorst den Berg, in The Netherlands. Bowie wanted some peace and quiet, so he decided to come to this peaceful quiet town and he stayed one month to write some stuff and finish Rebel Rebel.

My favorite Bowie song 🎶✌️🙏❤️💋

David Bowie is THE artist. Music, movies, paintings, etc. He is so versatile, creative and ahead of his time. Not for nothing that i have all his albums, many movies and saw him 2 times in concert. Simply Amazing !

Rebel Rebel has been my phone ringtone since before he passed (RIP) and I don’t think I’ll ever change it. Definitely a GOAT riff.

This track got me on the dance floor back in the day, not one of Bowie's best tracks, but still what an irresistible and relentless groove. I always felt this was his Ziggy doing a take on Mick Jagger, it has strong echoes of The Stones 'Satisfaction'.

That great guitar riff makes this even more a great song. 🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸

The man is a musical chameleon. This is one of his more "radio friendly" songs. The great thing about this artist is if you don't care for one song, there are many many more to pick from! A true Legend.

A&A, you'll love his "Modern Love", "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" and "Changes"!!! Stevie Ray Vaughn on guitar for "Modern Love"!

I always loved this song! Reminds me of partying after the bar with all my friends back in the day

Bowie played a lot of the instruments on this album; his producer Tony Visconti did the string arrangements and played bass, I think. This album was done in an 8-day coke binge; Bowie didn't remember making his Diamond Dogs and Station To Station albums because he was so wrecked while making them.

This was early 70's so before punk rock. It was edgy for its time. Always one of my favorites by him.

Imagine this exact production done, but for the Stones. Bowie was really trying hard to sell a song to Jagger at this time, and this absolutely a Stones tune. 🤯

"Diamond Dogs" would be another great whole album reaction.

I still would love for you to see Bowie and Annie Lennox sing Under Pressure with the band Queen, at a tribute concert. Its more dynamic than seeing Freddie sing it alone. It was written with Bowie, recorded with Bowie. Should be seen performed with 2 great people.

Such a huge talent. Gone too soon. R.I.P. 😢❤

I first saw Bowie on the Diamond Dog tour and the David Live album was recorded. I was about 13. First of 5 concerts of his I saw.

This songs fits neatly inside a VERY weird album. This is the break in the weirdness that is necessary in the whole album context.

I feel like Changes needs to be your next stop. Maybe my favorite from Bowie.

Bowie sure could belt it out when in the mood, my favorite Bowie is his 70s success with the brilliant Spiders From Mars headed by raging lead guitar from Mick Ronson. Try from his Ziggy Stardust live video for Moonage Daydream, Ronson is on fire there. Real rocking Bowie and his stage presence is both intriguing and odd in his own iconic way. Well worth checking out, Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

They joy of Bowie is that his music is a constant voyage of discovery and there will be tracks that don't hit the spot for someone, but the journey is never ever dull. There are so many Bowie songs to discover and apologies if you've hit some of these already and I missed them - Fame, Fashion, The Jean Genie, Changes, Golden Years, Boys Keep Swinging, Sound and Vision, Let's Dance, Modern Love (from his 80's revival period) and Absolute Beginners - which I think is a love it or hate it song, but it's a great song. Have fun guys, and Happy Christmas!

Those riffs stay in your head forever. One of my all time favorites. The whole of diamond dogs is great.

My favorite Bowie song 💕

Great tune ! S-Tier for me. Queen Bitch would be a great next one to hit ! Have a great Xmas !

This song is the definition of cool. Not a banger, but the ultimate iconic cool groove.

So glad you're hitting up earlyish Bowie. What an artist, and career. Gone now 6 years I think. Happy you're keeping his music alive. Back when they were still a bar band, Twisted Sister used to cover this song, as well as Suffragette City and Diamond Dogs. Got to hit those up as well, if you haven't already.

Definitely an out and out pop song but the rest of the album is seriously out there and up there with his Ziggy Stardust and full of great melodies and sound effects that add so much weirdness to his stellar music and lyrics. Do the whole album please

Just a quick thanks - I love the fact you both enjoy the song all the way through before reacting to it. Bowie is sorely missed. And his final album is so powerful

Bowie !!! There a so many words to describe this Genius ! He has been desribed as a Chameleon ! I just loved his music !! The sound that Mick Ronson produced for the "Spiders from Mars " Was brill !!! Ronson scraped the Varnish of his Gibson les Paul because he beleived it sounded better ! Is he right ?

I won this single in a disco dancing competition in 1974. Twas a good day.

All Bowie music us timeless .. he was a musical genius.

I say this every time you guys give a listen to some of the Bowiez--Station to Station. It's a 10 minute rock and roll symphony. Trust me; you won't be disappointed. Thanks for Rebel Rebel.

Let’s Dance- Stevie Ray Vaughn lead guitar on this one. Banger personified.

I'm so glad you guys hit this one, I loooove it!!! And it is so timeless, I'm feelin it strong like I did the first time I heard it. Alex this was the last song featuring Bowie's glam rock style, so he was in transition to other projects. That's why you might have felt it wasn't the Bowie you have heard thus far. Thanks guys, love ya!!! Stay safe.

This is Bowie just doing straight up 4/4 rock n roll just because he felt like it. He could play in all the genres. 😋

While on the subject of Bowie ! An Album that gets overlooked quite a bit is "The Man Who Sold The World " Bowie plays a 12 string Acoustic ,and saxaphone , The Bass is ace as well ! Tracks to Check out IMO are "Running Gun Blues " and "Black Country Rock " Cheers !

Hey Bowie needed some radio hits too! The album this is from, Diamond Dogs has a ton of the Bowie avant-garde sound you want and this song slots in fantastically as a light moment. Listening to the whole album in order is an experience. Highly recommend. What makes Rebel Rebel quintessential Bowie is the core Bowie message of it's ok to be whoever you are. You will be loved and accepted even if it doesn't feel like that now. In this case it comes out in terms of gender expression or fluidity which was a message definitely ahead of its time.

Alex, this IS the “other” Bowie. Like Ziggy, Diamond Dogs is a concept album about a dystopian future based on the writings of William S. Burroughs and George Orwell. This is just the poppiest song from it. Ziggy Stardust has songs like this too. Like “Hang On to Yourself.”

You have to hit Diamond Dogs. Classic Bowie weirdness.

GOOOOOOOD MORNING A&A FAMILY!!! ☮️💟♾️

This album (Diamond Dogs) should be your next album. It’s SO WEIRD! You should hear the songs that lead into this one, if nothing else. The transition is incredible. Definitely check out the whole album.

Teenage school dances, everyone on the floor for this one!

My favorite Bowie song will always be Changes! I get chills every time I hear it.

This is not America is the Bowie song you still need to hit.

Alex needs to write that song with his faux-Bowie lyrics. "There's a thing in the window and your dress is right - but maybe not" It's a good start, man!

In 1974, 'Diamond Dogs' was the first Bowie album I bought. I was 15. And even though it's not the most complicated song to play but that riff! "Rebel Rebel" is my favorite Bowie tune mainly because of the lyrics. The US was in the midst of a sexual revolution and "You got your mother in a whirl, she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl..." fits perfectly in the times because I WAS THERE!

Bowie was eclectic and played all kinds of music depending on what he was feeling or what was trending socially at that time!

The often imitated but never duplicated....Bowie. 😁

Modern Love and Let's Dance.

Probably the biggest Bowie song that you haven't hit yet is "Changes". I recommend it be next if you're OK with a catchy Bowie pop song. If the next Bowie song has to be a bit weird, you'll probably want something else.

One of my favorites, that riff 🤘😤, plus his charisma as a singer. Please hit "Queen Bitch" next

How much I deep dive into Bowie's music I always come back to this song and Life on Mars. It's a true banger

Nowadays, nearly 50 years later, l hear a connection of this one and his friends Lou Reed's songwriting.

You need to hear “Heroes” live at ‘The Concert For New York City’.

This is a song that I'm (someone who wasn't born when this came out either) shocked that you two, especially as musicians, have never heard. Like....SHOCKED.

Seen Bowie live 4 times...Ziggy Stardust tour, Diamond Dogs tour, Moonlight tour, and at Dodger Stadium and he rocked!!! Lenny Kravitz opened show, Chavez Ravine was an rockin' that night!!!

David Bowie, Saw him at the 1983 US FESTIVAL, SAN BERNARDINO CALIFORNIA…. I was 17 …. Music is great The song CHANGES is still one of my favorites 🧚🏼✨💫👍💙

Bowie wrote about everything that moved him, and that included hanging out with the amazing people he came across in his amazing life. If you're expecting every song to be a scifi fantasy, you've put him in a box, and he definitely didn't live in boxes. Check out his version of 'Wild is the Wind', or even his Tin Machine stuff, to see a different side. He even did a duo with Bing Crosby for god's sake! BTW: if you get a chance to see the movie 'Moonage Daydream', do! Not a documentary, it's more of an audiovisual assault on the senses for 2 hours, but gives a good impression of him as a person and artist.

As is often true, you just had to be there. This was fresh and killer when it came on the radio and it was instantly cool.

Definitely one of my favorites!!!!!! Thank you!

Merry Christmas Andy and Alex.....and Everyone. ...and Happy New Year also,....your channel is Awesome.

That what makes bowie unique. he tried different styles. punk rock, glam rock and experimental rock. He was great!

Damn guys, you just made my day. LOVE this song and Bowie in general. The lyrics are spot on as are all of his songs. Check this out at Live Aid in 1985. He has toooo many great hits to list but "Changes", "Ziggy Stardust", "Heroes", "Modern Love", "Moonage Daydream" etc etc to name a few...Appreciate you keeping it honest as always with your reactions!🧡

One of my favorite Bowie songs. I even had it on as the tone for my cell phone 🙂 Regards from Chile!

Classic Bowie is the best. Merry Christmas! 🎄

"Changes", "Heroes", "Hang On To Yourself", "Fame". All so different from each other that they couldn't possibly have come from the same person. But "Changes" for sure is next.

Great Reaction. Very thorough breakdown. Way Cool.

Bowie was a just little before my time but I have a cousin who is 15 years older than me and he has always said that David Bowie is the the soundtrack of his life. I can totally understand that.

But guys (Alex) the thing you need to remember is that this song came out in 1974. A timeless ready For Radio hook but lyrics that were once again socially so far ahead of the times

This song has no bridge and doesn't need one. One of Bowie's best. 5 star proof he knew how to rock.

I was just about to click on another KZfaq channel when I saw this. I had to watch. Love love love this song.

One of my faves from WAY back!

Loved dancing to this song, 70s club days. 👍👍👍

1983 in a dance club in college, with the lights popping and spinning over the dance floor, and this song pumping out of the speakers, (yeah, it was several years old then, but they used to play Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" for us to dance to as well, so... ) and a hundred Gen X kids in all kinds of getups, hopping around and shaking our heads like crazy. That was a moment in my life. Love this song. Then we went straight into "What I Like About You" or something. You'd dance for like an hour or until you felt like you were gonna collapse.

Played this song in one of the first bands I was in 40 years ago.