On the occasion of his birthday, here are the 50 best songs by David Bowie.

Relax, it’s all OK. The word “best” is entirely subjective. I’m clear on that. I’m just a fan among many others who wants to share my love for my favorite musician.

Before I share this list, let me just state for the record that my heart is still broken about losing him. I couldn’t listen to Blackstar for a solid six months (after a joyful three-times-in-a-row listening the day after it was released on his birthday in 2016). I still sometimes can’t believe we’re living in a world without David Bowie in it. And when my grief is at its worst, that’s when I remind myself why his departure was so deeply felt by so many people: HIS MUSIC.

When I got the call from a friend very early on the morning of 1/11/16 telling me that he had died (which as we know was on the 10th but the news broke early on the 11th) I felt something break inside me. I had never cried about the death of someone famous. I never got to meet David Bowie though I’ll always be thankful I got to see him perform live on three separate occasions. I can’t imagine what it must have been like – and still be like- for those closest to him.

I’m going to share a quick story before I share the list of songs because it’s something I’ll never forget.

In December of 2015 I interviewed Blackstar producer (and producer of several other DB records), musician and longtime friend of David Bowie, Tony Visconti. The interview was via telephone and was in advance of a performance in Portland, Maine (where I live) from Holy Holy. Holy Holy featured Visconti on bass and former Bowie drummer (not to mention one of the Spiders from Mars) Woody Woodmansey among other first-rate musicians. They were on tour  playing “The Man Who Sold the World” album in its entirety as well as some other 70s era Bowie tracks.  I of course went to the show on January 7, 2016 (the day before Bowie’s 69th birthday) and got to say hello to Tony in person. What a lovely, friendly, wonderful man (not to mention tremendous producer and musician!).  The show was fantastic.

A few days later Bowie was gone. On January 22, still in shock,  five friends and I (two from Maine and three high school ones from my home state of Massachusetts) met for dinner in Boston before going to see the Holy Holy show at the Wilbur Theater.  These tickets were purchased months earlier. I was half expecting that show to be cancelled and we would have absolutely understood if it had.

The six of us were happy to be spending time together but the sorrow was palpable. We had lost our hero. We didn’t really know what to do or say. While we were eating who walks in but Tony Visconti accompanied by two other people. They were seated close to us. In a moment of huge uncertainty I walked over and said hello. Before I even got the word out of my mouth it struck me that I probably shouldn’t have. I should have let Tony and his friends be. He had just lost someone very dear to him. I was a random journalist/fan from Maine invading his space.  Tony was so kind and introduced me to his companions. I didn’t say anything about Bowie. I mean what could I say? I was nervous and shaky. I wandered back to my table, my friends unaware of who was sitting so close to us. I managed to whisper to my friend Becky “Beck, that’s Tony Visconti over there.” She couldn’t believe it. And here’s the reason why I’m sharing this story with you now. About 20 minutes later, Tony walked over to our table and said hello to everyone and told us he hoped we enjoyed the show. And if that’s not the classiest, kindest thing ever, I don’t know what is.  Before the show started Woody and Tony came out on stage and talked to the audience for a few minutes, both in tears.  And then the show began and it was an emotional roller coaster but also a magnificent experience of shared grief and immense love for a man and his music.

So about that list…

These songs aren’t really in a specific order except for the first one on it, though it does sort of flow in and out of being chronological. Also, I of course love WAY more than 50 Bowie songs, these are just my absolute favorites.

THE 50 BEST DAVID BOWIE SONGS

1. Rock ‘N’Roll Suicide
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll With Me
3. Heroes
4. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
5. When I’m Five
6. The Man Who Sold The Word
7. Oh! You Pretty Things
8. Wild Is The Wind
9. Life on Mars?
10. Quicksand
11. Queen Bitch
12. Five Years
13. Lady Stardust
14. Moonage Daydream
15. Starman
16. Drive-In Saturday
17. Panic in Detroit
18. Time
19. Lady Grinning Sould
20. Here Comes the Night
21. Friday On My Mind
22. Sorrow
23. Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family
24. Fascination
25. Across the Universe
26. Word On A Wing
27. Stay
28. Breaking Glass
29. Sound and Vision
30. Warszawa
31. Sons of the Silent Age
32. Fantastic Voyage
33. Yassassin
34. D.J.
35. Boys Keep Swinging
36. Up the Hill Backwards
37. Ashes to Ashes
38. John I’m Only Dancing (Again)
39. Fashion
40. It’s No Game (Part 2)
41. Modern Love
42. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
43. Loving The Alien
44. Blue Jean
45. I’m Afraid Of Americans
46. The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
47. Where Are We Now?
48. Lazarus
49. I Can’t Give Everything Away
50. Kooks

I would sure love to know what your favorite Bowie tracks are so please comment away here or in the land of social media.

Bonus! Here’s a Spotify playlist of this list!

https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/eastcoastaimsel/playlist/0uYl9TjQuzK6fng0OTBH8K

I love you, David Bowie.  Always. Happy Birthday!!!

Ponti out

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Aimsel on the Record is sponsored in part by LB Kitchen in Portland, Maine.

 

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