The Return of the Thin White Top Ten

For this, my top ten Bowie songs picks, it’s my third rodeo! As the blog’s made a bit of a comeback (for now, who knows?!), it seemed like a fun thing to reprise.

I did this the first time on November 9th 2003. I took a second shot on August 20th 2013.

But first, a pic. That’s how we do it, isn’t it?!

And here’s the list…

01. “Heroes” (1977)
02. Life on Mars? (1971)
03. Ashes to Ashes (1980)
04. Changes (1971)
05. Absolute Beginners (1986)
06. Where Are We Now? (2013)
07. Starman (1972)
08. Jump They Say (1993)
09. Strangers When We Meet (1993 version)
10. Cat People (1982 version)

Breaking this down, this list and 2013 both diverge from 2003 a fair bit. But between 2026 and 2013, there are only four changes out of ten. 1 and 2 are the same. Ashes to Ashes replaces Ziggy Stardust at 3, because this was my first 45″ single purchase (sadly, it was vandalised by a “friend” in 1987), and why I left it off the previous two lists is quite beyond me. Changes replaces Station to Station at 4… just because. Absolute Beginners and Strangers When We Meet switch places—AB, to me, is such a perfect pop record and deserves a higher spot. Where Are We Now? moves up a place—it’s a classic, and the comfortable highlight of his troubled late period. Starman replaces Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide… I have a more consistent abiding affection for the former. 10 remains the same!

So not a radical shift. I guess my top Bowie picks are getting a little set in stone now!!