Happy Birthday Bowie!

David Bowie is the best.  People will argue, throw the Stones, Kinks or Beatles in your face, but at the end of the day Bowie wins.  I mean there's really no argument here because the fact of the matter is, he's David F***ing Bowie.  Never in the history of music has one individual influenced so many different and disparate genres of music.  From indie rock to "goth" to electronic and ambient music and more, the ideal of Bowie can be found in some way shape or form on almost every guise of modern music.  Yeah I am a huge fan, so maybe I am a bit biased, but even people that only have a passing interest in Bowie (Steely Dan fans) admit that the man is a major influence on modern music.  I could go on for hours about why he is one of the most important figures in the history of the Rock (see Station to Station) but I would hope that most people who read this already agree with me (and if you don't, 1) You're wrong and 2) I'd love to hear your rational), so I will move on.

Sixty years ago today, January 8, 2006, David Bowie was born.  It's hard to imagine Bowie at 60, but I guess the even more astounding thing is that the man, and his music, still sound as vibrant and vital as it did some 35 years ago.  Unlike many of his contemporaries Bowie continues to make new music, and while his last three records (Hours, Heathen and Reality) might not be as groundbreaking as say Ziggy Stardust or Low, they at the very least create yet another Chapter in the ever evolving Bowie catalog.  At 60 years old, the music of David Bowie, both past and present, sounds as relevant as ever.  Now that's something not a lot of 40 year olds can even say!  In his own words "He's Camelian, comedian, Corinthian and Caricature"

Here are some rarities from the Bowie catalog and some covers of his songs from just a few of his more famous admirers:

The Cure - Young Americans.mp3

Beck - Diamond Dogs.mp3

The Futureheads - Let's Dance.mp3

Sneaker Pimps - Ashes to Ashes.mp3

The Divine Comedy - Life On Mars.mp3

Duran Duran - Fame.mp3

Mercury Rev - Memory of a Free Festival.mp3

The Sea and Cake - Sound and Vision.mp3

Arcade Fire - Five Years (Live).mp3


David Bowie - Can't Help Thinking About Me.mp3 (1966 single with the Lower Third)

David Bowie - Right On Mother.mp3 (Radio Luxemburg March 10, 1971)

David Bowie - Moonage Daydream.mp3 (Arnold Corns Sessions - Single Version)

David Bowie - Helden.mp3 (German version of "Heroes")

David Bowie - Andy Warhol.mp3 (Acoustic Studio Version from the Earthling Tour period)

David Bowie - Lady Stardust.mp3 (Acoustic Studio Version from the Earthling Tour period)

And finally, I remember watching this over and over in college...i can't believe it was already a decade ago!  Here's a clip of Bowie and Robert Smith from his 50th Birthday spectacular at Madison Square Garden: