About the artist: David Bowie (1947 - 2016) was a British singer-songwriter, whose career stretched over six decades. He is generally recognized as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, affecting subjects as diverse as fashion and classical music. He released dozens of studio albums, many of which were bestsellers. David Bowie currently has three songs in my list of about 200 best pop/rock songs of all time (and one as a part of a cooperation).
About the song: David Bowie was one of the most original artists in the first half of the seventies, but to my taste he petered out a bit in the second half of the decennium (I know many will disagree with this statement). He returned once more to his original greatness in 1980 with the album Scary monsters (and super creeps), and especially with the haunting song Ashes to ashes, a remarkably sharp critique on his first major hit Space Oddity, to which he refers in the lyrics with "Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom's a junkie". The music is fabulous, and for many this is the best song he ever wrote. Run time 4:24.
