jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
I had a big complex, interconnected challenge that got bogged down. So instead it is A-Z (with a few dates) of David Bowie.
Interpret the prompts however you want. Have fun and stay safe. Sadly I might not be able to play along as much as I would like as I will be away from home a bit more than usual.
Day 1
Arnold Corns - This “band” was created by David to try out some early Ziggy material in 1971 with designer Freddie Burretti as “vocalist” (David is actually singing), going so far as to release a single of Moonage Daydream b/w Lady Stardust.
Play something fake
Day 2
David only had 2 #1 songs in the US (5 in the UK), Fame and Let’s Dance.
Play a “hit”
Day 3
Bowie or Jones - David never changed his last name, David Bowie was strictly a stage name.
Play something by a person who goes by a stage name or pseudonym
Day 4
Crystal Japan - this instrumental track was originally used in a Japanese commercial in 1980
Play a song used in a commercial
Day 5
Drive-in Saturday Night - T.Rex, Mick Jagger and Sixties supermodel Twiggy are all referenced in this song about humans forgetting how to have sex.
Play a song that name drops
Day 6
Brian Eno famously collaborated with David in the late 70s and again in the 90s.
Play a collaboration
Day 7
Footstompin - not sure how David did not get sued for this song when Fame became a #1 in the US.
Play something that reminds you of a different song or artist
Day 8
Golden Years
Play the associated song or artist from yesterday
Day 9
‘Heroes’/Hansa Studio - Though the albums Low, ‘Heroes’ and Lodger are called the “Berlin Trilogy” only ‘Heroes’ was recored at the famous Hansa studio.
Play an album that has taken on a mythology all of its own.
Day 10
Isolar I and II were the names of the StationToStation and Stage tours. It also is an anagram of sailor, which was Bowie’s screen name on BowieNet.
Play a puzzle.
Day 11
The Jean Genie – is a song about about Iggy Pop. Like many of the best Bowie songs it’s a ‘portrait’ of someone who simply caught his eye
Play a song about another musician
Day 12
Kabbalah - David (in)famously dabbled in the occult in the 70s (don’t do drugs kids).
Play something mystical or related to the occult
Day 13
Laughing Gnome
Play the worst song by your favourite artist
Day 14
Mime - Bowie was hired to go on tour with T-Rex as their opening act. As a mime.
Play a not so great career choice
Day 15
Nadsat. A fictional slang language Anthony Burgess created for his novel A Clockwork Orange. Bowie made use of these words throughout his career, especially in Girl Loves Me
Play something with made up or unintelligible lyrics or vocals
Day 16
June 16, 1962 - David Jones’ first live performance, playing saxophone with the Konrads
Play a “first”
Day 17
Oh! You Pretty Things had its first live performance at Glastonbury Fayre on June 23 1971.
Play something “live”
Day 18
Prettiest Star - Marc Bolan played guitar on the earliest version of this Bowie song in 1970.
Play a song with a “guest” on it
Day 19
Quicksand from Hunky Dory has more ideas crammed into the song than a first year university intro to philosophy course.
Play something deep
Day 20
June 20 1969, David records the song Space Oddity. It only reached #5 in the UK charts in 1969, but went to #1 in the UK when re-released in 1975.
Play a song or album that got a “2nd life”
Day 21
Nicholas Roeg directed David in his first movie, The Man Who Fell To Earth, in 1975, but did not want David to record the soundtrack.
Play a soundtrack or a song featured in a movie
Day 22
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-haired Men - founded by David in 1964 as a joke to get some publicity.
Play something long or hairy or both
Day 23
Teenage Wildlife from Scary Monsters was seen as a put down of the many Bowie wannabies and “new wave boys.” But it is also directed to a younger self or younger sibling.
Play something that a “younger” version of you would be surprised by.
Day 24
Under Pressure. Pressure makes diamonds (according to Wikipedia).
Play something hard
Day 25
June 25, 2004 - Last performance of the Reality tour and last full Bowie concert ever, retiring completely from live performing in 2006.
Play something that is “last”
Day 26
Velvet Underground - David received a promo copy of the first VU album in 1966 and quickly added “I’m Waiting for the Man” to his live repertoire, even recording it as an unreleased single. This and later “White Light/White Heat” were played at least once over every subsequent tour until 2004.
Play a cover
Day 27
Warren Peace (War and Peace) was the stage name of Geoff MacCormack, a long time friend of David’s and collaborator with him in the 70s.
Play a pun or a literary allusion
Day 28
There is no X related Bowie fact, so FREE PLAY!!
Day 29
You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving - Recorded first in 1965 and then re-recorded in 2000.
Play a song about leaving or coming back
Day 30
Ziggy Stardust “retired” on July 3rd 1973 (damn so close to June 30), famously captured by documentarian D.A. Pennebaker.
Play an artist who is somehow connected to a documentary. Or play something that seemed like the end but wasn’t.
Interpret the prompts however you want. Have fun and stay safe. Sadly I might not be able to play along as much as I would like as I will be away from home a bit more than usual.
Day 1
Arnold Corns - This “band” was created by David to try out some early Ziggy material in 1971 with designer Freddie Burretti as “vocalist” (David is actually singing), going so far as to release a single of Moonage Daydream b/w Lady Stardust.
Play something fake
Day 2
David only had 2 #1 songs in the US (5 in the UK), Fame and Let’s Dance.
Play a “hit”
Day 3
Bowie or Jones - David never changed his last name, David Bowie was strictly a stage name.
Play something by a person who goes by a stage name or pseudonym
Day 4
Crystal Japan - this instrumental track was originally used in a Japanese commercial in 1980
Play a song used in a commercial
Day 5
Drive-in Saturday Night - T.Rex, Mick Jagger and Sixties supermodel Twiggy are all referenced in this song about humans forgetting how to have sex.
Play a song that name drops
Day 6
Brian Eno famously collaborated with David in the late 70s and again in the 90s.
Play a collaboration
Day 7
Footstompin - not sure how David did not get sued for this song when Fame became a #1 in the US.
Play something that reminds you of a different song or artist
Day 8
Golden Years
Play the associated song or artist from yesterday
Day 9
‘Heroes’/Hansa Studio - Though the albums Low, ‘Heroes’ and Lodger are called the “Berlin Trilogy” only ‘Heroes’ was recored at the famous Hansa studio.
Play an album that has taken on a mythology all of its own.
Day 10
Isolar I and II were the names of the StationToStation and Stage tours. It also is an anagram of sailor, which was Bowie’s screen name on BowieNet.
Play a puzzle.
Day 11
The Jean Genie – is a song about about Iggy Pop. Like many of the best Bowie songs it’s a ‘portrait’ of someone who simply caught his eye
Play a song about another musician
Day 12
Kabbalah - David (in)famously dabbled in the occult in the 70s (don’t do drugs kids).
Play something mystical or related to the occult
Day 13
Laughing Gnome
Play the worst song by your favourite artist
Day 14
Mime - Bowie was hired to go on tour with T-Rex as their opening act. As a mime.
Play a not so great career choice
Day 15
Nadsat. A fictional slang language Anthony Burgess created for his novel A Clockwork Orange. Bowie made use of these words throughout his career, especially in Girl Loves Me
Play something with made up or unintelligible lyrics or vocals
Day 16
June 16, 1962 - David Jones’ first live performance, playing saxophone with the Konrads
Play a “first”
Day 17
Oh! You Pretty Things had its first live performance at Glastonbury Fayre on June 23 1971.
Play something “live”
Day 18
Prettiest Star - Marc Bolan played guitar on the earliest version of this Bowie song in 1970.
Play a song with a “guest” on it
Day 19
Quicksand from Hunky Dory has more ideas crammed into the song than a first year university intro to philosophy course.
Play something deep
Day 20
June 20 1969, David records the song Space Oddity. It only reached #5 in the UK charts in 1969, but went to #1 in the UK when re-released in 1975.
Play a song or album that got a “2nd life”
Day 21
Nicholas Roeg directed David in his first movie, The Man Who Fell To Earth, in 1975, but did not want David to record the soundtrack.
Play a soundtrack or a song featured in a movie
Day 22
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-haired Men - founded by David in 1964 as a joke to get some publicity.
Play something long or hairy or both
Day 23
Teenage Wildlife from Scary Monsters was seen as a put down of the many Bowie wannabies and “new wave boys.” But it is also directed to a younger self or younger sibling.
Play something that a “younger” version of you would be surprised by.
Day 24
Under Pressure. Pressure makes diamonds (according to Wikipedia).
Play something hard
Day 25
June 25, 2004 - Last performance of the Reality tour and last full Bowie concert ever, retiring completely from live performing in 2006.
Play something that is “last”
Day 26
Velvet Underground - David received a promo copy of the first VU album in 1966 and quickly added “I’m Waiting for the Man” to his live repertoire, even recording it as an unreleased single. This and later “White Light/White Heat” were played at least once over every subsequent tour until 2004.
Play a cover
Day 27
Warren Peace (War and Peace) was the stage name of Geoff MacCormack, a long time friend of David’s and collaborator with him in the 70s.
Play a pun or a literary allusion
Day 28
There is no X related Bowie fact, so FREE PLAY!!
Day 29
You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving - Recorded first in 1965 and then re-recorded in 2000.
Play a song about leaving or coming back
Day 30
Ziggy Stardust “retired” on July 3rd 1973 (damn so close to June 30), famously captured by documentarian D.A. Pennebaker.
Play an artist who is somehow connected to a documentary. Or play something that seemed like the end but wasn’t.
Last edited:
