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While everyone else was going Disco, David Bowie found the funk

When Oprah had her daily show, Bowie's wife Iman was a guest. Oprah asked her"What is David Bowie really like? Iman answered, with great sincerity, "He is the coolest man on the planet." I concur...

David consistently reinvented himself up until his very sad death. He was a true artistic genius. 💕

He was one of the first white artists to be on "Soul Train"

John Lennon wrote this with him and does back up vocals, hes sings the second 'fame'

You could spend weeks on David Bowie and cross several genres and styles. He was ever-changing and experimenting. A true artist. He left the world better than he found it.

"Fame- what you get is no tomorrow." -John Lennon

As an old guy I am almost envious of you. I have been listening to Bowie for decades starting when I was like 12 with Ashes to Ashes but the joy of hearing this for the first time on your face is priceless.

Yup! That's David Bowie, and that's John Lennon on guitar and who co-wrote it.

David Bowie got me through middle and high school. I was a nerdy looking little girl and got bullied all those years. He helped me tap into my artistic side and I began to paint. He showed me it was alright to be different and an original. He will never know he saved me all those years ago and I love his music more than any artist I have ever listened to. I hope you do more of his music. When you listen to his beats they are as complex as they are driving. His vocals are like no one else, the man was a genius.

Back in 70s, my father thought Bowie was black until we saw him on Soul Train! To say my father's mind was blown would be an understatement!

The funk transcends time and space, age and race.

This song is 45 years old, and STILL fresh!!!

"Rebel Rebel" "Suffragette City" "Changes"

You see? That's why COLOR doesn't matter. When you've got soul you've got soul.... ;)

One of the most incredibly raunchy, nasty guitar and bass hooks ever.

David Bowie "Let's Dance" - Stevie Ray Vaughan plays guitar

Now you have to hear Bowie's rock side "SUFFRAGETTE CITY" He is so versatile!

You can also really hear Lennon's harmony on "is it any wonder."

Love this. My daughter had this same reaction. She knows my obsession with Bowie's music and wanted me to introduce her to some more of his songs. I put Fame on for her and she damn near jumped out the car window, she was so blown away. Turns out she loved the song for years and thought it was by a black group the whole time.

No one can say the Bowie wasn't original. Three decades of variety, soul, hard rock, glam rock, experimental music and of course pop music. There is something for everyone with Bowie. This is now an edited comment. When I said three decades I meant for me personally. I basically tuned out after Glass Spider. But of course he wrote music until practically the day he died. But lets be honest, how many of you tuned out after the 80's with Bowie? I'd been listening since the release of Space Oddity, and that wasn't even his first. (how many of you listen to "the Laughing Gnome"?). That's what I mean about Bowie. There's something for everyone, and if you did like his music all the way to the end, more power to you!

One thing for certain. You sure couldn’t ever pigeonhole David Bowie. He simply great in any genre.

Caught Bowie twice live in the '70s!

You got the moves Jamel 👍 I love that you call him "brother" He did so much for black artist in the early 80s. He raised his concerns about how little they were represented on MTV. I love Bowie so much 👍👍

"Fame" got David Bowie on Soul Train!!!! Look for that!!!

Jamel, I’ve had a sh$t day, came home, turned this on and now life is good again. Thank you!!

This song was so ahead of it's time -- still sounds amazing.

As far as I know, no one’s ever tried to cover this masterpiece. Once again, thank you, brother, for bringing me back!

I always liked his "Let's Dance"

He had John Lennon as a backup singer and on guitar.

Changes,,,,,,the words are phenomenal. “And these children that you spit on as they try and change there world are immune to your consultations they’re quite aware of what they’re going thru”. Timeless David Bowie

loved funk: "Tell me something Good" by Rufus. "It's Your Thing" - Isley Brothers.

"Fame" crossed over big to the R&B charts. This was the period when Luther Vandross sang backup for Bowie. Bowie even performed "Fame" on Soul Train.

Fun Fact: The person doing the backup vocals is Beatles legend John Lennon.

Little story for y'all. Back when I was a teen in the 70's I loved roller skating, so would go every Friday and Saturday night to the local rink. I would often get in for free by helping the bands (they often had live music) set up. There were two songs you could count on being played every time you went. This, and "Last Child" by Aerosmith. Every time I hear either of those songs I am 16 again, my long blonde hair in my face because I am skating backwards fast and swaying in time to the bop. Good times......

Funky Soul Music 💙❤️💙 my favorite is a song called Let's Dance"

“I thought it was a P-Funk song” is the highest compliment this song could ever have.

David Bowie is probably the coolest dude who ever lived lol!!!

The story is that they recorded parts of this song with John Lennon singing on a train moving past the microphone at 60 mph, and that’s how they got the Doppler effect.

I was hitting the dance bars a lot when this was released in the 70's (arggh...ok they were disco bars) and this song would bring down the house, dance floor was packed. And those places played the music LOUD. I mean, really really LOUD. And this song sounded great loud, you couldn't sit still listing to it. Same with Let's Dance, China Girl, etc. Bowie really got what the mid 70's music audience wanted and cranked out a lot of hits.

More great funk/soul from Bowie: "Young Americans," "Stay," "Win," "Ashes to Ashes"

Now you gotta check out Young Americans by Bowie, great tune

One of the songs that definitely stood out in the 70s. One of my faves by David Bowie/John Lennon.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. My teens. Remember a party where many bong hits and beer were passed around listening to this song. The bass line IS DOPE. John Lennon is in the background singing FAME. Funkalicious. This is the song that put David Bowie in the stratosphere.

Next on your Bowie setlist should be “Fashion” or “Ashes To Ashes”! Trippy videos!

Co-written by John Lennon, who also sang backing vocals and played guitar.

Love your reaction to this Bowie was a bloody genius I was lucky enough to see the master live 6 times he is SO missed

I want this on a t-shirt: It's one thing to hear a song but another to listen to it.

A true chameleon, and versatility was one of his special talents...he just knew how to make great music

Bowie performed this and Golden Years on Soul Train.

I'm 57 now, but this song came out when I was in fifth grade. During lunch time, we ate in the classroom and could bring our music 45's to listen to. I brought this song and when it was played, almost all of the class said to turn it off, so they did. I felt embarrassed. The only black kid in our class, ( BIG kid and very popular), asked me what the song was and who sang it. He loved it! I felt so much better!

you've been getting me through life, let alone a pandemic . peace

the back vocal on this is John Lennon

David Bowie was the music chameleon. Let's Dance, Young Americans, Rebel Rebel, Modern Love, Under Pressure (which would most likely get blocked)

Bowie '76 to '82 was untouchable. Whatever was fuelling his creativity, and that's well documented, brought him and his music to unprecedented highs.

His real name is David Jones but called himself Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees (RIP). It was written by John Lennon formerly of The Beatles (1940-1980) whom he was close Friends with. He also was one of the very few White Acts to do Soul Train in the 1970's. He is a guy who reinvented himself musically over and over. He was also considered to be next to Rod Stewart and Robert Palmer (RIP), one of the world's best dressed men. He is also a very smart and savvy Businessman in the sense that he co owns the Beatles catalogue with Michael Jackson's Estate. In the 1970's when he did this Album, he had an up and coming Singer named Luther Vandross sing backup for him. Check out Modern Love, China Girl, or even Let's Dance. Diddy then known as "Puff Daddy" sampled the Song for Been Around The World.

You can't imagine how much fun that was to dance to in the clubs.

I looked up "Fame" in the dictionary... it had David Bowies' picture.

Been away for some time. This is one of my favorite artists... his last song: Black Star: he loved some serious soul. Went on soul train... never acted like someone who he wasn’t. Authenticity to its core. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Jamal, your reactions are priceless. I can tell when the music hits you, Fingers pop and OOOOOOOOOH. That’s what it’s all about.

Heroes, Young American, Changes...these are fantastic Bowie songs too. The man was just magical.

John Lennon's playing the guitar in the song and background vocals and he co wrote the song too.

In case no-one mentioned it in the many comments, John Lennon pushed David to do this song and sings harmony in it. I've listened to this this song since it came out in the mid 70's and had no clue john lennon is singing on it until Alan Cross did a radio tribute upon bowie's death.

You can recognize John's voice if you listen. Love this song

Bowie is one of the best musical artists of all time.

May he R.I.P.

Dude, I love watching you listen to great music! Super joyful, Brother Jamel. Thank you. 🙏🏾

And John Lennon sang the high "fame" answer vocal part.

Brother Jamel getting stank faced. Stank steppin'. Love it!

1975, when Bowie was so funky he even appeared in person on "Soul Train." Of course, he was just copying the US funk artists he was obsessed with at the time, but still, he was good at it.

😃 I just love the reaction when he realises that "THIS is David Bowie?!!" 😃 I just wish we could have seen his reaction when he found out it's Bowie and John Lennon! 😃

You should check him out singing it on "Soul Train." And Elton doing "Philadelphia Freedom" there, too. Hot stuff.

Bowie - RIP - One of the most diverse vocalists ever... Also, Stevie Ray Vaughan played on Bowies 'Let's Dance' album.. awesome stuff...

You must do Modern Love- You will know that one.

You hit it on the head. “There is a difference between hearing a song vs really listening to it.” I have been really listening to songs I’ve heard my whole life with you today and it has been a surprising joy ❤️

Bowie and Bing Crosby singing Little Drummer Boy on Bing's Christmas show back in the early 70's. It's one of the prettiest songs ever.

Doing great Bowie songs will keep you busy for some time Jamal..keep it going!!!

John Lennon co-wrote this song, and also plays electric guitar on it (distorted riff) .. as well as background vocals

The beauty of David's thin white duke phase. He made beautiful and upbeat music with the most dark subject matter. Golden years is dark but the music moves in such a way that you can't help but smile until you know what he's talking about.

Love your channel, you make me re-appreciate songs that I've taken for granted for years. 🤗

“... makes a man think things over...”

You gotta check out Freddie Mercury's collab with David Bowie: Under Pressure, Brother Jamel! Keep on keeping great music alive!

I just stumbled on your reaction videos and have to tell you that watching has become my self care because I smile and dance so much when I watch you react to a lot of my favorite songs! Thank you!

You are QUICKLY becoming one of my favorite to watch ! I feel your LOVE for music and can see how it moves you !!! Keep GREAT MUSIC ALIVE😃❤

I was 6 years old when this came out. Those were the days when every genre of music was on the one AM radio station.

To think, Bowie often said that he didn't consider himself to be a great vocalist. The genius fool.

The album 'Young Americans' is fab from start to finish... Bowie had it all.... funk, soul, heart, love... it's all there..'If you don't know how to dance, somebody gone catch you' love that comment !

Love what you're doing on the channel! And yeah, Bowie had an authentic love of soul. There was this great interview in a special that I think Showtime did and Nile Rodgers (who I believe is playing bass on this track) talked about the first time he saw Bowie and how he was not only the whitest white person he'd ever seen, but one of the few he'd met who was so in love with and respectful of the music.

You are going to be a Bowie superfan at the end of this journey. And the David Bowie /John Lennon combination is complete legend. Loving all your Bowie reactions!!!

David Bowie was amazing. So much amazing art that man created.

Good for you Jamel playing this rockin song. "Fame" is one of my all time faves. Thanks brother.

Funk to the max. Thank you for adding to the pleasure of listening to one of the greatest performers of my time. Your reactions always are fantastic!!!

David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing Little Drummer Boy on Bing’s Christmas special. So interesting to see those two together.

David Bowie was a chameleon and made many different types of music. Love seeing you enjoy this, Jamel! ✌️♥️😊

Wow, Thanks for putting a big smile on my face this morning. I remember dancing around my parents living room as a kid when this came out. Awesome

I've watched - and thoroughly enjoyed - several of your videos now, this is the first one I found incredibly moving. It really brought a lump to my throat!

Come on now who doesn't know "The Thin White Duke" David Bowie He was the first major rock star I got an autograph from when I lived in Cleveland going to the Agora club where he played piano when he toured with Iggy Pop..

This was my favorite song to do “The Bump” dance back in the day. You remember that dance? The Bump??

I know this is an oldie of yours. But been binge watching you since I found you and this is one of my top favs - your reaction had me smiling sooo big!!! I loved this song back in the day so long ago but watching you was like I was listening for the first time. Thanks!!😀😁