We're listening to every David Bowie song in alphabetical order. Why? If you have to ask, then this show is probably not for you. Three times a week, we focus on one song, discussing its production, its context—both within Bowie's oeuvre and wider pop culture—along with our personal opinions, musing…
From A To Ziggy — Alphabetical David Bowie
“In other words, Fame” In this episode, Travis and Thomas discuss the fame machine and a place where everybody knows your name.
Concert report! In this special bonus episode, Travis and Thomas discuss a night of Celebrating David Bowie (a.k.a. A David Bowie Celebration)!
“Destruction for the sake of destruction…” Today West Anthony joins us to discuss the Bush administration, Trump, and our song today: “Fall Dog Bombs The Moon!” Have a listen to West’s film music podcast Musical Notation (@notationpod) and follow him on Twitter @drwestanthony!
“This is a fecund track.” We talk eyebrows, a guitar shaped like oneself, and Six Degrees of Dave Grohl. Plus, Thomas forgets Richard Hatch’s name (and his role on the original Battlestar Galactica). Did you miss us? Don’t worry, “Everything’s Alright!”
“Relentlessly cheery…” David Bowie never waves bye-bye, because “Everyone Says ‘Hi!’”
“Duck Tales is the kid-friendly version of Indecent Proposal” David Bowie schools us on class warfare, trickle-down economics, and irresponsible child-rearing. Eighty-six that smile, you; we’ll give you something to “’87 and Cry” about!
“Needles everywhere!” Plenty of tactful cactus innuendo as we discuss David Bowie’s “Eight Line Poem.”
“After you get your hands on duck weed, everything makes you quack up.” What do gorilla drummers, Northeastern kids, and flat adverbs have in common? They’re all utterly unrelated to David Bowie’s “The Drowned Girl!”
“Kids love Deliverance.” Why does David Bowie looks so disappointed on this album cover? Plus Jagger stag films, and more post-apocalyptic stuff! Keep your weekend open, because we’re going to the “Drive-In Saturday!”
“The precursor to the running man.” Boy bands entrancing you with ridiculous dance moves? Can’t help getting force-fed by a post-apocalyptic raven militia? Wake up! You’re one of “The Dreamers!”
“A nice bluesy jam between two slices of hippy bread.” When David Bowie presents a song with a message and values we stand for, we “Don’t Sit Down!”
“A mystery wrapped in an enigma stuffed inside a turducken.” David Bowie goes reggae, a genre we both gush over. In fact we mostly talk about that, but “Don’t Look Down” on us, because we also discuss this song!
“Cheddar and synthesizers.” David Bowie ramps up the 80’s cheese & cheese. Get ready for some slow jam & jams. But whatever you do & do, “Don’t Let Me Down & Down!”
“On the floor in your man cave is not classy enough to go French on.” What kind of pillows are these for my David Bowie man cave? I asked for horse hair! “Don’t Bring Me Down!” PS: Thomas is totally serious about changing his name if you send him stuff.
“Fun with homophones!” Life not making cents? Currency-vents giving you banksiety? Have some Denver mint tea, settle up, and take an interest in “Dollar Days!”
“Orwell, that’s life.” Totalitarianism, your permanent record, and you. Didn’t hear it from us, but you will on this episode: it’s “Dodo!”
“Kinda pathetic, really.” Three Ninjas, young David Bowie goes emo (again), and Dusty Springfield chimes in! Want us to talk about these things and more? Sure, we’ll “Do Anything You Say!”
“Mouth love songs. And songs love mouth.” What do bottled water facts and mouth-love playlists have in common? They’re both explored—thoroughly (for that’s our way)—in our episode on “The Dirty Song!”
“Kinda old-timey danger” A gang of James Cagney-like street toughs visits the library. And just how polite are Canadian drug dealers? Take a powder, bluenose; we’re running with the “Dirty Boys!”
“The hero is a guy named Hugh.” Places to go, people to see, languages to speak! “Did You Ever Have A Dream?”
“How better to command Hunger City than astride my tiny horse!” Before Cat People, David Bowie brought us dog people, tiny horses, the whole apocalyptic menagerie. Keep cool, Adam and Mike return for “Diamond Dogs!”
“There’d just been a war, so you had to make riffs last.” Mike and Adam return to discuss Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and low-budget gangster flicks starring David Bowie. Let us dance, dance, dance, like a “Dead Man Walking!”
“It’s like Aqua tried to write an indie record.” Join guests Adam and Mike from Breaking Glass — The Bowie Catalog to decide whether we support this David Bowie song or we’re “Dead Against It!”
“Some good old-fashioned dwelling.” David Bowie really knows how to bum us out. No matter; we could talk about his songs all the “Days” of our lives!
“Like the Energizer Bunny but with an 80’s guitar instead of drums.” Ready for another episode? We’re talking about David Bowie “Day-In Day-Out!”
“So 80’s” David Bowie brings his friends Carlos and Iggy. Now we’re “Dancing With The Big Boys!”
“What if the dog knows all languages but can only speak in Dog…?” Deep and important themes are revealed—something like religion—in our close reading of David Bowie’s “Dancing Out In Space!”
“Like Pacino and De Niro doing Gone Fishin’.” David Bowie and Mick Jagger dispense questionable advice, but we follow them anyway and go “Dancing In The Street!”
“He was in a pretty fowl mood….” We join David Bowie in vehemently rejecting all things swan and opposing the agenda of the “Cygnet Committee!”
“For fifteen seconds it’s like watching Twin Peaks.” David Bowie travels to Japan to star in commercials. Trusted soft drink companies make dodgy new product choices. And MTV VJs are collected like Pokémon. In these times, why not enjoy the cool, refreshing taste of “Crystal Japan!”
“Less dance.” Did David Bowie forsake some of his fans by backpedalling about his sexuality? Which artists are allowed to change the lyrics to songs? The wrong words make us listen in this “Criminal World!”
“Second/early third act of any E! True Hollywood Story” David Bowie brings Ziggy to La-la-land, encounters an agent of The World’s Oldest Profession™, and stars in a couple films to become a “Cracked Actor!”
“I don’t believe that Nancy Reagan ever smoked crack.” We discuss Reagan’s drug problem, bicycle seat fetishes, and false endings. Plus yet another Beck tangent, and David Bowie’s best worst lyric. You can find it all here in “Crack City!”
“It’s like the end of The Sopranos.” All we are saying is give “Conversation Piece” a chance!
“The 1960s equivalent of a Mumford and Sons song…” It’s a hard life out there in the Ye Olde English countryside, so quit playing with your thumb wounds, let Father have the soup rock, and “Come And Buy My Toys!”
“Bludgeon them both with a doo-dah horn.” We talk unreliable lyrics sites, peculiar respiratory afflictions, and the folly of forming a band with your significant other in “Ching-A-Ling!”
We can’t escape this feeling that this song’s a little racist—and not in a good way. Guest Abby drops in to help us decide on “China Girl!”
“Corrupting young children for 15 years” Hey, could you lower us a blanket? It’s “Chilly Down” here!
“Reveling in the dystopia…” Get those old bones a-shakin’ and a-movin’ with “Chant Of The Ever-Circling Skeletal Family.”
Ch-ch-ch-check out our latest episode on a wee quaint number called “Changes!”
“Cat People is an erotic thriller in the same way Caligula is a historical epic.” Today we discuss a song (and the remake of a song) that’s the theme to a movie that’s a remake of another movie. We also discuss the movie (the remake, not the original). Also Australian music, hipster fire departments, and explosive guitar … Continue reading "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
“I feel like there’s an episode of Saved By The Bell like that.” It’s August, and you know what that means. “Candied Dates!” Mmm… (It’s the demo version of “Candidate” today, folks.)
“Binders full of sets…” Looking for a David Bowie song to analyze? We present you with a “Candidate!”
“The mid-60’s DB equivalent to the sad piano music at the end of The Incredible Hulk.” Can’t help listening to the show? Good, because we can’t help talking about “Can’t Help Thinking About Me!”
“This is single entendre, this song.” Can you hear us talk about “Can You Hear Me?” Here you can!
“A progression of increasing intimacy…” “Cactus?” You hardly know us!
“I don’t believe that you’re right. But I believe that you believe that you’re right.” Have your fare ready and don’t look strangers in the eye, because today we’re at the “Bus Stop!”
We seek enlightenment in unlikely places meditating with the “Buddha Of Suburbia!”
“It has something to do with disco.” Hey! I’ll bring you this episode if you “Bring Me The Disco King.”
“The perfect DVD menu song” Pick up your koto, put on your kimono, ’cause we’re gonna go-go on a “Brilliant Adventure!” #NotYaphet