Album:
Life on Mars? is a track on Hunky Dory which entered the Australian albums chart* on 20 March 1972 and peaked at #39.
Songwriter:
David Bowie
Producers:
David Bowie, Ken Scott
Record label of Australian release:
RCA Victor
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Bonus clip below – how David Bowie wrote Life On Mars? as a revenge on the song My Way by Frank Sinatra
Wikipedia:
Life on Mars? by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie was first released on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. The backing band included Rick Wakeman on piano.
Life on Mars? is primarily a glam rock ballad, with elements of cabaret and art rock; it has a complex structure that includes chord changes throughout. The lyrics are about a girl who goes to a cinema to escape reality, and includes surreal images that reflect optimism and the effects of Hollywood.
Life on Mars? is considered by commentators as one of Bowie’s greatest songs, and one of the best songs of all time. Critics have praised Bowie’s vocal performance and growth as a songwriter. The song’s title was given to the British television series Life on Mars.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Mars_(song)
Lyrics:
It′s a God-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling, “No!”
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she’s hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS CLIP
How David Bowie wrote Life On Mars? as a revenge on the song My Way by Frank Sinatra:
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