15/07/2026
Analyse a Songwriter
David Bowie
Bowie noted to be one of the most crucial Artists in the history of popular music was known for his musical genre hopping, unique song writing ability, clever thought provoking lyrics, and innovative ever-changing chameleon like persona. An actor, writer, and musician, my fascination began when I watched him star as the ‘Goblin King’ in the hugely successful 1986 fantasy musical ‘Labyrinth’.
Producing for the likes of Lou Reed on his Revolver album and Iggy Pop’s ‘Nightclubbing” he had a vision for not just himself but for others. Working for 5 decades in the industry in bands and as a solo artist selling over 140 million records, his legacy and music lives on.
‘Lets Dance’ Song Analysis
Lets Dance was originally a folk song penned by Bowie using a 12-string guitar. Involving Nile Rogers on guitar and production, Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar & Bob Clearmountain to assist with the production of the track helped this song become Bowie’s first transatlantic number 1.
The introduction to ‘Lets Dance’ starts with built up layered vocals singing ‘Ah’ going up in quarter notes using G, F, D, and F.
A key feature throughout ‘Lets Dance’ is the funky guitar riff hook. Played on a Stratocaster using ‘up strokes’ with added delay gives a ‘slapback’ reverb effect lasting seconds and fading out.
The song is in the key of A flat major. Using a V, ii, VII 3-chord progression E flat (7), Bb minor and G flat. G flat is a borrowed chord. Bowie often used this technique with his chord progression, borrowing chords in a different key for his music, which in turn created a surprise factor that grasp the listener’s attention.
The lyrics in the opening verse begin with Bowie singing, “Lets Dance, put on your red shoes and dance the blues” meaning you’re pretending to be happy but you’re really sad. Its all a reference to the idea if you wear red shoes you will be able to dance.
In Bowie’s discography, he taps into many different themes and genres, from being the godfather of glam rock to being a key figure in the New Romantic Movement in the early 80s. One of his most intriguing songs in my opinion is ‘Space Oddity’.
‘Space Oddity’ song Analysis
Quickly released just in time for the famous Apollo 11 moon landing the BBC played it as background music during the televised landing.
The songs inspiration is not based on the lunar landing, rather, its actually based on the science fiction movie Space Odyssey. It tells the story of an Astronaut who takes off into space and loses connection with ground control and gets lost. This could be a metaphor for a drug overdose.
Ground Control to Major Tom (a)
Commencing countdown, engines on (a)
Check ignition and may God’s love be with you (x)
In the first verse we see a use of nasal end rhyme and alliteration. We also see a (a)(a)(x) rhyming scheme.
‘Life on Mars’ Song Analysis
Life on Mars is descried as a soaring cinematic ballad.
The intro and verse is in the key of F major. The pre chorus is i the key of B flat minor and the chorus in the key of B flat major and the bridge goes back to F major. The song has a complex structure combining various chord changes throughout. It begins with a slow harmonic rhythm on the chord of F, playing one chord to a bar.
Occasionally there is one chord playing across two bars giving time to enjoy the chord. The bass F chord is moved down a semitone and makes it an F major 7 chord. The chords keep going down semitones sometimes in first inversion; to get the last inversion is unusual for pop music, which is powerful to hear. From E natural to E flat then down another semi tone to D in the next bar. This is known as a chromatic descending bass, which is used across the first four bars.
It's a God-awful small affair (a)
To the girl with the mousey hair (a)
But her mummy is yelling, “No”(b)
And her daddy has told her to go (b)
In the first verse we see a use of perfect rhyme with the use of words such as affair and hair, which are consonant sound and no and go which are vowel sounds.
Lyrical Devices
One of the reasons I’ve chose David Bowies songs to analyse is the way he conjures up unique methods to write them. Analyzing his lyrics is an ambiguous task as they can be disguised as metaphors, similes and difficult to decipher as he was a well-known drug user throughout parts of his career. One being the ‘cut up concept’ where he uses words from magazines, newspapers articles, and books, this creates disassociated new ideas, and offers an element of chance and surprise. Bowie said doing this startled even him and gave him an extra edge on other songwriters. Apparently his friend developed a computer program for him to do this from as it was faster and there were more words and materials to choose.
Summary
“It has been my doorway of perception and the house that I live in” Bowies final words quoted by a close friend.
David Bowie is truly a mesmerizing being. It was like he was from another planet. His legion of fans, his eye for detail, his work ethic, raw talent, and fearless attitude made him who he was. His timing, his voice, style, eloquence and grace were truly a force to be reckoned with. It’s astonishing to me that he released an album two days after he sadly passed away. We have analysed some of his best work, his original methods to writing and producing, people he employed to work with him and other artists such as Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, there aren’t many other artist that could endure a career like his.
By Ayesha Innes June 2022
