Life on Mars?

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some cosmic vibes as the Zoo Crew spins "Life on Mars?" from David Bowie’s 1971 masterpiece Hunky Dory. This track has a wild origin story: Bowie wrote it as a playful jab at Frank Sinatra’s "My Way," which was adapted from the French song "Comme d’habitude." Annoyed that Paul Anka snagged the rights and turned it into a hit for Sinatra, Bowie crafted "Life on Mars?" using a similar chord progression but infused it with surreal, cinematic flair. He once told the Mail on Sunday, “This song was so easy. Being young was easy. A really beautiful day in the park, sitting on the steps of the bandstand... I took a walk to Beckenham High Street to catch a bus to Lewisham to buy shoes and shirts but couldn’t get the riff out of my head.” That riff became a classic, with Bowie humming the melody in a Kent park and finishing the song that afternoon on piano at Haddon Hall.

Another juicy tidbit: the song’s iconic piano was almost played by comedian Dudley Moore, but Rick Wakeman, then with the Strawbs, stepped in and delivered what he called “one of the most beautiful songs” he’d ever heard. Wakeman, who later joined Yes, told the Irish Examiner, “When recording at Trident, it was clear this was going to be an absolute classic.” Mick Ronson’s string arrangement, written despite having no prior experience with strings, added a “gargantuan” orchestral sweep, as biographer Peter Doggett put it. Fun fact: if you listen closely to the original recording, you’ll hear a telephone ringing at the end, a happy accident caught on tape. Bowie summed up the song’s essence in 1997, saying, “I think she finds herself disappointed with 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.”

Some speculate the song was inspired by Bowie’s brief romance with actor Hermione Farthingale, with a Melody Maker reviewer suggesting it stemmed from a “brief and painful affair.” Bowie himself hinted at its emotional roots during a 1990 tour, introducing it as a love song with, “You fall in love, you write a love song.” The 1973 music video, directed by Mick Rock at Earls Court, showcased Bowie in a turquoise suit and makeup, a nod to his Ziggy Stardust era, though fans on Reddit debate whether it’s Bowie himself or a persona like Ziggy or Aladdin Sane. The song’s cultural impact endures, inspiring the BBC series Life on Mars, named after the track, which used its early ’70s vibe to anchor a time-travel police drama.

David Bowie, born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London, kicked off his career as a restless creative spirit. As a teen, he played saxophone in local bands, inspired by jazz and rock ’n’ roll. By the early 1960s, he was gigging with groups like the Konrads and the King Bees, adopting the stage name Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees. His 1969 single “Space Oddity,” released around the Apollo 11 moon landing, marked his first major breakthrough, showcasing his knack for blending sci-fi themes with introspective lyrics. Bowie’s chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself—through personas like Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke—set him apart, with Hunky Dory marking a pivotal moment where he found his voice after years of stylistic experimentation.

Though Bowie passed away in 2016, his legacy thrives online. Check out his official website at davidbowie.com for news and archives. His official Facebook and Instagram pages keep the flame alive with rare photos and updates, while the David Bowie X account shares gems like the 50th anniversary of the “Life on Mars?” single in 2023. Fans gather at sites like David Bowie News for updates and trivia, and the r/DavidBowie Reddit community buzzes with discussions. Join the David Bowie Fans Facebook group to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who live for Bowie’s cosmic sound.