Life on Mars?

Just to remind you, Our Throwback Thursday features a favorite song, something about the song and a cover version of the song. The song today is David Bowie's 1973 classic, Life on Mars -



Bowie has labeled the song "a sensitive young girl's reaction to the media" and added, "I think she finds herself disappointed with reality... that although she's living in the doldrums of reality, she's being told that there's a far greater life somewhere, and she's bitterly disappointed that she doesn't have access to it."



Bowie came up with this after he was asked to put English lyrics to a French song called Comme d'habitude. Paul Anka ultimately bought the rights to the original French song and rewrote it in English as My Way, later made famous by Frank Sinatra. Life On Mars? uses practically the same chords as My Way and the Hunky Dory linear notes state that the song is "inspired by Frankie."



I had a tough time choosing just one cover version of the song. The song was recorded in Portuguese by Seu Jorge for the soundtrack of the 2004 film The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Anni-Frid Lyngstad, formerly of ABBA, recorded a Swedish version titled Liv pa Mars? The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain often performs this song at live shows. Even Jessica Lange got into the act. But I went with Chris Martin and Jimmy Fallon's heartfelt tribute to David Bowie after his death in 2016.



Demand Euphoria!