Life on Mars? (Bowie) meets My Way (Sinatra) - Behind the Score (Ep. 33)
Added 2022-12-13 23:34:38 +0000 UTCAfter the realization in the last Fan Favorites video that David Bowie's Life on Mars? has a fascinating back story and history with My Way by Frank Sinatra, I just HAD to take some time to look further into this connection.
So, this Behind the Score includes both songs, as we compare their similarities and contrasts musically and lyrically...and revel in the fact that they're both based on the same source material.
I hope you enjoy!
Comments
A classical pianist friend of mine couldn't play this song, because the chord progression made no sense to him. He even grabbed the sheet music book and threw it across the room and stormed off. lol
Robert Thornton
2024-03-29 16:27:54 +0000 UTCGreat choice! Thanks.
R. Douglas Helvering
2022-12-16 16:25:34 +0000 UTCI'm so delighted that my suggestion for fan favorites made it to Behind the Score! This was so much fun. I specifically chose it because of the harmonic structure. Thank you!
B.K. Pagels
2022-12-16 01:12:58 +0000 UTCFascinating. Thanks Doug.
Dave Brockis
2022-12-15 23:06:20 +0000 UTCMy guess is that Bowie's original recording was run slow, accidentally or intentionally...and the 2016 mix restored it to its original pitch. Complicating issues is that Bowie, in later years, transposed a number of his songs to accommodate his voice (a common enough tactic—actually, I wish more acts would do so when their singers can no longer reach their former peak pitches!)...so anyone transcribing a later live recording might well find it performed in a different key...
Jeff Norman
2022-12-15 03:53:12 +0000 UTCI also think the films Bowie's protagonist is watching are actually Frank Sinatra films.
Chris Ramsbottom
2022-12-14 18:31:44 +0000 UTCI'm sure I used to play Life on Mars in E!
Chris Ramsbottom
2022-12-14 18:07:43 +0000 UTCSteve HOGARTH..sometimes played this song on his solo gigs and his Christmas Naturell gigs…no official ..no good quality. https://youtu.be/OfHccsgkR5c
christoph ziesecke
2022-12-14 05:48:52 +0000 UTCCA Here's a wonderful solo interpretation of "Life On Mars", by Rick Wakeman, who played piano on David's original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmcJ0Q9E8Zk
Bill Coonley
2022-12-14 01:33:11 +0000 UTCI have the original vinyl releases of all of David's material which I love. The 2006 remasters are a disaster and I chose CD format for the convenience. Tony Visconti should have been the only person hired to do the remasters since he seemed to understand what David was trying to accomplish. Mock Rock, blah! He is better used elsewhere IMHO! Thanks Doug!
Stop Propaganda
2022-12-14 01:24:00 +0000 UTC
