Individual Artist Poll: David Bowie results

[BleuPanda]

29 users contributed to our David Bowie poll; if you want to see individual lists, check this topic:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3915

I will cover the albums first and then the songs. But first, here's a breakdown of the albums by their songs that didn't place in the top 50:

David Bowie/Space Oddity:
1. ???
2. An Occasional Dream - 1

The Man Who Sold the World:
1. ???
2. Black Country Rock - 2

Hunky Dory:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. Andy Warhol - 47
8. Song for Bob Dylan - 26

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. ???
9. ???
10. Star - 36
11. It Ain't Easy - 5

Aladdin Sane:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. Drive-In Saturday - 42
5. Time - 37
6. The Prettiest Star - 26
7. Cracked Actor - 24
8. Panic in Detroit - 16
9. Let's Spend the Night Together - 3

Pin Ups:
1. Sorrow - 4
2. See Emily Play - 2

Diamond Dogs:
1. ???
2. Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) - 21
3. Big Brother - 12
4. Diamond Dogs - 9

Young Americans:
1. ???
2. ???
3. Can You Hear Me? - 45
4. Fascination - 21
5. Somebody Up There Likes Me - 6

Station to Station:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. Word on a Wing - 31

Heroes:
1. ???
2. Sons of the Silent Age - 30
3. Beauty and the Beast - 28
4t. Joe the Lion, The Secret Life of Arabia - 7

Low:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. Subterraneans - 38
5. Be My Wife - 36
6. Weeping Wall - 23
7. Breaking Glass - 18
8. Speed of Life - 15

Lodger:
1. Fantastic Voyage - 25
2. DJ - 22
3. Look Back in Anger - 17
4. Boys Keep Swinging - 9
5. Yassassin - 4
6. Repetition - 1

Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps):
1. ???
2. ???
3. Teenage Wildlife - 42
4. Because You're Young - 24
5. It's No Game (No. 1) - 12
6. Up the Hills Backwards - 4

Baal EP:
1. The Drowned Girl - 12

Let's Dance:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. Cat People (Putting Out Fires) - 4

Never Let Me Down:
1. Never Let Me Down - 8

The Buddha of Suburbia:
1. Buddha of Suburbia - 20

Outside:
1. Outside - 33
2. The Heart's Filthy Lesson - 16
3. I'm Deranged - 8
4. A Small Plot of Land (Basquiat version) - 2

Tonight:
1. ???
2. ???
3. Don't Look Down - 16
4. Neighborhood Threat - 3

Earthling:
1. ???
2. ???
3. Little Wonder - 13
4. Seven Years in Tibet - 9

Hours:
1. Thursday's Child - 4

Heathen:
1. Slow Burn - 39
2. Heathen (The Rays) - 19
3. 5:15 The Angels Have Gone - 8
4. Everyone Says 'Hi' - 6

Reality:
1. New Killer Star - 5

The Next Day:
1. ???
2. ???
3. Love is Lost - 8
4. The Next Day - 1

Blackstar:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. I Can't Give Everything Away - 18
5. Girl Loves Me - 6
6. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) - 1

Other:
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. Conversation Piece (original Version) - 14
6. Under Pressure (ft. Gail Ann Dorsey) - 9
7. John, I'm Only Dancing - 6
8. Wild-Eyed Boy from Freecloud - 3
9. All the Young Dudes - 2
10. The Laughing Gnome - 1

[BleuPanda]

The David Bowie Album Ranking!





20. David Bowie (1967)
Score: 4 Points
Votes: 1
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Live in Phoenix (#10)



19. Pin Ups (1973)
Score: 22 Points
Votes: 1
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Miguel (#4)



18. Heathen (2002)
Score: 34 Points
Votes: 4
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Mallents (#6)



17. Earthling (1997)
Score: 42 Points
Votes: 3
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
slick (#4)



16. Tonight (1984)
Score: 45 Points
Votes: 2
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Live in Phoenix (#2)

[BleuPanda]

15. David Bowie/Space Oddity (1969)
Score: 46 Points
Votes: 4
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
bonnielaurel (#5)



14. Diamond Dogs (1974)
Score: 56 Points
Votes: 7
2014 AMF Rank: 800 (10 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 1273 (11 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Maschine_Man (#6)



13. Lodger (1979)
Score: 68 Points
Votes: 9
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: 2156 (13 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Chris K., Jackson (#7)

[BleuPanda]

12. Young Americans (1975)
Score: 115 Points
Votes: 12
2014 AMF Rank: unranked
Acclaimed Music Rank: 781 (8 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Fred (#2)



11. The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Score: 128 Points
Votes: 14
2014 AMF Rank: 687 (9 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 1764 (12 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
PlasticRam (#4)



10. The Next Day (2013)
Score: 160 Points
Votes: 14
2014 AMF Rank: 970 (11 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 860 (9 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW (#3)

[BleuPanda]

9. Let's Dance (1983)
Score: 196 Points
Votes: 13
2014 AMF Rank: 648 (8 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 1090 (10 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
andyd (#1)



8. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
Score: 331 Points
Votes: 22
2014 AMF Rank: 423 (7 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 451 (7 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Moonbeam (#1)



7. Heroes (1977)
Score: 399 Points
Votes: 27
2014 AMF Rank: 229 (5 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 244 (4 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
PlasticRam (#2)

[BleuPanda]

6. Aladdin Sane (1973)
Score: 404 Points
Votes: 26
2014 AMF Rank: 240 (6 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 448 (6 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
DaveC, Henrik, Moonbeam, whuntva (#2)



5. Blackstar (2016)
Score: 426 Points
Votes: 24
2014 AMF Rank: n/a
Acclaimed Music Rank: n/a

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW, Maschine_Man (#2)



4. Station to Station (1976)
Score: 528 Points
Votes: 25
2014 AMF Rank: 136 (4 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 297 (5 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Matski (#1)

[BleuPanda]

3. Low (1977)
Score: 740 Points
Votes: 27
2014 AMF Rank: 58 (3 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 100 (3 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Dexter, Jackson, jamieW, ordinaryperson, sonofsamiam (#1)



2. Hunky Dory (1971)
Score: 789 Points
Votes: 26
2014 AMF Rank: 53 (2 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 66 (2 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
bonnielaurel, Fred, PlasticRam (#1)



1. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Score: 1180 Points
Votes: 29
2014 AMF Rank: 5 (1 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music Rank: 16 (1 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
BleuPanda, Chris K., Dan, DaveC, gabebasso, Gillingham, Henrik, Honorio, Listyguy, Live in Phoenix, Mallents, Maschine_Man, Miguel, Neil, Nick, Romain, slick, whuntva (#1)

[BleuPanda]

I'll do the song results tomorrow, so let's discuss the album results...

They were kind of predictable. We already know what we like album wise. The main thing here was to see how high Blackstar would place, and it did very well. It kept shifting places with Heroes and Aladdin Sane throughout the poll, but narrowly pulled through at the end. I think it's pretty quickly solidified itself as one of Bowie's best.

On the lower end, The Next Day appears to have boosted a tiny bit, and Diamond Dogs slipped compared to our last album poll; though with those numbers, it could simply be one big fan missing this poll. Overall based on the points, I'd say there's 8 agreed-upon Bowie classics, a handful of other great works, and a few less popular works that still appeal to a certain crowd. A notable career indeed.

[Live in Phoenix]

I kinda thought the 2 albums he ended on would place even higher. (Says the guy who didn't vote for Hunky Dory or Station to Station)

[Nick]

Does this all but confirm Blackstar topping our AMF EOY albums poll?

[Listyguy]

Pretty good album results, though I always hope for Low to finish over Hunky Dory.

[jamieW]

Pretty good album results, though I always hope for Low to finish over Hunky Dory.

Me, too. Maybe I was paying too much attention to the high placements of "Low," but I was optimistic for a #2 finish. (I do like "Hunky Dory," but it's probably my least favorite of David Bowie's most acclaimed albums.)

Thanks, BleuPanda!

[Moonbeam]

Thanks for putting this together! A minor detail - since I was the only one who voted for "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", it's the 1982 version that I love enough to earn #22 on my list, not the update for Let's Dance, which is also good, but not amazing like the former.

Let me board the train of those who wanted Low to outpace Hunky Dory. Hunky Dory has too many meh tracks to be a top 10 Bowie album for me, though its highs are obviously quite high. I wish there was more appreciation for Scary Monsters - I think it's an amazing capstone to the Low period. As far as latter day Bowie is concerned (2000 onward), it's the stately splendor of Heathen that does it for me more than any of the albums that came after - it really felt like he was reflecting on his mortality around that time. After the news of Bowie's death, it's the album I reached for, and "Heathen (The Rays)" in particular. Those French horns to usher out that album are sublime.

[BleuPanda]

Thanks for putting this together! A minor detail - since I was the only one who voted for "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", it's the 1982 version that I love enough to earn #22 on my list, not the update for Let's Dance, which is also good, but not amazing like the former.

With this, I just want to state I'm likely going to combine all versions of a song unless it's stated clearly otherwise. For the purpose of the song poll, as an example, only "Under Pressure" and "Love is Lost" were counted as having two versions, as votes for either were distinct. I think a good rule of thumb for the future is, only vote for a specific version if it is notably different (such as with "Love is Lost" and its remix) - though, if you want to state a preferred version, I could also make a note of it when the results are revealed.

[Moonbeam]

Thanks for putting this together! A minor detail - since I was the only one who voted for "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", it's the 1982 version that I love enough to earn #22 on my list, not the update for Let's Dance, which is also good, but not amazing like the former.

With this, I just want to state I'm likely going to combine all versions of a song unless it's stated clearly otherwise. For the purpose of the song poll, as an example, only "Under Pressure" and "Love is Lost" were counted as having two versions, as votes for either were distinct. I think a good rule of thumb for the future is, only vote for a specific version if it is notably different (such as with "Love is Lost" and its remix) - though, if you want to state a preferred version, I could also make a note of it when the results are revealed.

This makes sense. I don't mind my vote being counted for the Let's Dance version, and both versions share the same lyrics and basic structure, though the feel is quite different.

[BleuPanda]

Thanks for putting this together! A minor detail - since I was the only one who voted for "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", it's the 1982 version that I love enough to earn #22 on my list, not the update for Let's Dance, which is also good, but not amazing like the former.

With this, I just want to state I'm likely going to combine all versions of a song unless it's stated clearly otherwise. For the purpose of the song poll, as an example, only "Under Pressure" and "Love is Lost" were counted as having two versions, as votes for either were distinct. I think a good rule of thumb for the future is, only vote for a specific version if it is notably different (such as with "Love is Lost" and its remix) - though, if you want to state a preferred version, I could also make a note of it when the results are revealed.

This makes sense. I don't mind my vote being counted for the Let's Dance version, and both versions share the same lyrics and basic structure, though the feel is quite different.

I remember this being a dizzying experience while running the all-time song poll, because it can become a problem where some people want to vote for specific versions while others might not care one way or another. I think a big example might be No Woman No Cry; I think a lot of people prefer the live version, but only a few clarified as such. Then it becomes a question of, do those people who voted for the live version have no interest in the album version, or are they simply consolidating the two and voting for their preferred take? Similarly, do the people who voted for plain old No Woman No Cry prefer the album version, or is their vote for all relevant versions of the song without a care for which specific one gets listed?

Like, comparing this to a live show, when I saw Sufjan Stevens recently, he performed highly stylized takes of his songs; most of his stuff was done in an Age of Adz style, including things like Fourth of July. Yet, I don't think of this as a different song, just another take on the song. Some of the tracks of Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense are similarly odd, and while I have preferences, it's not enough for me to say 'this is a different song entirely.'

This is why I think counting different takes as the same song but making a note of alternate versions is a good solution; that way people who find the multiple versions as about the same quality don't have to choose a single option and hope for the best, while those choosing a specific version can bring attention to it.

[Honorio]

Excellent results for the albums! Looking forward to the songs…

Overall based on the points, I'd say there's 8 agreed-upon Bowie classics, a handful of other great works, and a few less popular works that still appeal to a certain crowd. A notable career indeed.

Yes indeed, a notable career!
I agree with the analysis and the grouping on these three sections. In fact the positions 1-4 seem like set in stone, with almost an exact coincidence with our 2014 Poll and the Acclaimed Music Rank (the only difference being "Heroes" on #4 and "Station to Station" on #5 on the AM rank). But maybe these sections got a lot to do with the fact that we voted a Top 10 (and not ranked the whole discography) and this approach tends to concentrate the votes in the most acclaimed works.

It's remarkable the (deserved) excellent performance of the last two albums, "The Next Day" on the Top 10 and "Blackstar" on the Top 5. Let's wait for the end-of-year lists and the AM update to see if "Blackstar" achieves a similar position for the critics (my guess is not Top 5 but Top 10 for sure).
On the other hand there are some albums I would've like to see higher (agreeing with Moonbeam on it):
a) "Scary Monsters" is for me Top 5 material (it's my personal #3), the icing on the Berlin trilogy cake.
b) "Heathen," the return of both Tony Visconti (making a brilliant production) and the inspiration.
c) "Outside" shouldn't have been left outside (bad pun, I know) of the Top 20. For me it's his best album of the 1990s (above "Earthling"), a difficult but rewarding listen.

About the different versions on the songs, my opinion is that you definitely should combine the votes for the different versions, even with "Love Is Lost" and "Under Pressure." Maybe you can include when you post the results something along the lines "Maschine_Man voted for the album version" or "andyd1010 voted for both the studio and live version."

[Nassim]

Let's wait for the end-of-year lists and the AM update to see if "Blackstar" achieves a similar position for the critics (my guess is not Top 5 but Top 10 for sure).

On the "best of the year so far" lists it already made #2 on paste, #2 on the Quietus and only #11 on stereogum. Most websites however released non ranked lists (NME, Time, the Guardian, NPR, Fact, Mojo, Spin, Rolling Stone, Treblezine...) and every single one of them had the album.
I'm pretty sure the album will be in the top 3 of pretty much any "classic rock" list (Q, Mojo, Spin, RS...) and in the top 10 of most of the web ones, heck even if it didn't get any top 3 placements, the fact that it will most likely be in every single one list safe for the Source and metal magazines should ensure a top 5 in the final tally. There are still a few big name releases to come, but so far I only see Lemonade that could top it come the end of the year.

[Honorio]

Of course, Nassim, I expect that "Blackstar" could end on the Top 5 for the year (and I hope that it will end on #1). But with this Top 5/Top 10 comment I was talking about the final position on the David Bowie discography.

[BleuPanda]

50. Blue Jean (1984)
Score: 49
Votes: 3
#2 Tonight track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Live in Phoenix (#3)

49. Hang On to Yourself (1972)
Score: 50
Votes: 1
#9 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Miguel (#1)

48. Loving the Alien (1984)
Score: 51
Votes: 2
#1 Tonight track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Live in Phoenix (#1)

46 (tie). Stay (1976)
Score: 52
Votes: 2
#5 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW (#7)

46 (tie). Tis a Pity She Was a Whore (2016)
Score: 52
Votes: 4
#3 Blackstar track
2015 Song Poll: n/a
Acclaimed Music rank: n/a

Biggest Fan(s):
Dan (#5)

[BleuPanda]

45. I'm Afraid of Americans (1997)
Score: 54
Votes: 2
#2 Earthling track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
slick (#3)

44. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (2013)
Score: 58
Votes: 2
#2 The Next Day track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: bubbling

Biggest Fan(s):
Listyguy (#4)

42 (tie). Kooks (1971)
Score: 62
Votes: 4
#6 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Maschine_Man (#7)

42 (tie). TVC15 (1976)
Score: 62
Votes: 4
#4 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Live in Phoenix (#7)

[BleuPanda]

40 (tie). This is Not America (with Pat Metheny) (1985)
Score: 65
Votes: 5
#4 Non-Album Track track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
bonnielaurel (#5)

40 (tie). Dead Man Walking (1997)
Score: 65
Votes: 3
#1 Earthling track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Moonbeam (#4)

39. Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy) (2013)
Score: 66
Votes: 4
#3 Non-Album Track track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: bubbling

Biggest Fan(s):
sonofsamiam (#7)

38. Queen Bitch (1971)
Score: 68
Votes: 6
#5 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 3275 (27 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Matski (#11)

37. Soul Love (1972)
Score: 80
Votes: 6
#8 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Miguel (#5)

[BleuPanda]

35 (tie). Always Crashing in the Same Car (1977)
Score: 82
Votes: 5
#3 Low track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 3351 (28 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Chris K. (#4)

35 (tie). Quicksand (1971)
Score: 82
Votes: 5
#4 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
PlasticRam (#9)

34. Absolute Beginners (1986)
Score: 86
Votes: 7
#2 Non-Album Track track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 4160 (30 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
andyd (#8)

33. Fashion (1980)
Score: 93
Votes: 5
#2 Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 2283 (23 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Moonbeam (#3)

32. The Jean Genie (1972)
Score: 97
Votes: 10
#3 Aladdin Sane track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 2568 (24 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
DaveC (#5)

31. Wild is the Wind (1976)
Score: 100
Votes: 7
#3 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: bubbling

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW, Mallents (#8)

[BleuPanda]

30. Lady Stardust (1972)
Score: 111
Votes: 6
#7 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Fred (#7)

29. Fame (1975)
Score: 118
Votes: 11
#2 Young Americans track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 1184 (15 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
whuntva (#6)

28. Where Are We Now? (2013)
Score: 120
Votes: 9
#1 The Next Day track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 1227 (17 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Mallents (#5)

27. Oh! You Pretty Things (1971)
Score: 130
Votes: 7
#3 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Matski (#4)

26. Modern Love (1983)
Score: 142
Votes: 11
#3 Let's Dance track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 2946 (25 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
andyd (#5)

[BleuPanda]

24 (tie). China Girl (1983)
Score: 151
Votes: 10
#2 Let's Dance track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 3836 (29 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Neil (#5)

24 (tie). Rock 'n' Roll Suicide (1972)
Score: 151
Votes: 6
#6 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 795 (15 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 2245 (21 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Jackson (#4)

23. Lady Grinning Soul (1973)
Score: 156
Votes: 7
#2 Aladdin Sane track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Henrik (#1)

22. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (1973)
Score: 158
Votes: 11
#1 Aladdin Sane track
2015 Song Poll: 652 (13 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
Henrik, Moonbeam (#2)

21. Warszawa (1977)
Score: 219
Votes: 16
#2 Low track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: unranked

Biggest Fan(s):
sonofsamiam (#1)

[BleuPanda]

20. Golden Years (1975)
Score: 255
Votes: 14
#2 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: 925 (16 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 1191 (16 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Honorio, Maschine_Man (#4)

19. Blackstar (2015)
Score: 256
Votes: 13
#2 Blackstar track
2015 Song Poll: n/a
Acclaimed Music rank: n/a

Biggest Fan(s):
sonofsamiam (#4)

18. Lazarus (2016)
Score: 259
Votes: 16
#1 Blackstar track
2015 Song Poll: n/a
Acclaimed Music rank: n/a

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW (#2)

17. Suffragette City (1972)
Score: 272
Votes: 13
#5 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 265 (7 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 1408 (18 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Miguel (#3)

16. Let's Dance (1983)
Score: 284
Votes: 18
#1 Let's Dance track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 808 (12 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
bonnielaurel, Honorio, JohnnyBGoode (#8)

[Henrik]

We have a very definitive top 20, with almost 100 points between #20 and #22. That's two #1 votes!

I wonder if you find the placement of "Lady Grinning Soul" odd? For me it has always been one of his best songs and for a long time I thought it was one of his most loved songs overall, even if it wasn't a single. Therefore I am surprised and disappointed that it is not placed high in the critics' Bowie lists. Given that, I am very pleased that 6 others also voted for this song in this poll.

[Henrik]

Continuing on the subject, my #2 "Aladdin Sane" (the song) feels more like a personal favorite than "Lady Grinning Soul", but it's been somewhat of a forum favorite for quite some time. Man, I love Mike Garson's piano in these songs (as well as "Time")!

[Jackson]

Both the songs and albums polls seem mostly on the money. My only surprise is that Rock 'n Roll Suicide only got six votes. As the dramatic closing track from the runaway number one album, I'm not sure why that isn't a standout for more people.

[BleuPanda]

15. Young Americans (1975)
Score: 297
Votes: 17
#1 Young Americans track
2015 Song Poll: 937 (17 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 478 (9 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
BleuPanda (#5)

14. Five Years (1972)
Score: 308
Votes: 18
#4 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 764 (14 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 1976 (20 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Jackson (#1)

13. Rebel Rebel (1974)
Score: 328
Votes: 19
#1 Diamond Dogs track
2015 Song Poll: 543 (12 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 723 (11 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
slick (#6)

12. Station to Station (1976)
Score: 339
Votes: 15
#1 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 1039 (13 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Mallents, Matski, Neil, sonofsamiam (#3)

11. Under Pressure (with Queen) (1981)
Score: 376
Votes: 17
#1 Non-Album track
2015 Song Poll: 497 (10 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 411 (7 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
andyd (#1)

[Jackson]

12. Station to Station (1976)
Score: 339
Votes: 15
#1 Station to Station track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 1039 (13 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Mallents, Matski, Neil, sonofsamiam (#3)

Nice! I can't believe this wasn't ranked in our 2015 poll.

[PlasticRam]

Young Americans is a rare case for Bowie where I heard the song on radio and I liked it and didn't know who was the performer. Last time that happened was after making my list. I had heard the Young Americans album, but didn't pay enough attention to the song. Definitely a top 5 Bowie track for me - I wish I had voted for it.

[BleuPanda]

First up in our top 10, the highest song to not place in our 2015 forum poll!


10. The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Score: 378
Votes: 19
#1 The Man Who Sold the World track
2015 Song Poll: unranked
Acclaimed Music rank: 1096 (14 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
ordinaryperson (#2)

9. Sound and Vision (1977)
Score: 404
Votes: 22
#1 Low track
2015 Song Poll: 510 (11 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 515 (10 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
PlasticRam (#1)

8. Ziggy Stardust (1972)
Score: 405
Votes: 21
#3 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 255 (6 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 268 (5 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Dexter (#3)

7. Moonage Daydream (1972)
Score: 508
Votes: 23
#2 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 266 (8 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 1493 (19 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
jamieW, Moonbeam (#1)

6. Changes (1971)
Score: 517
Votes: 20
#2 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: 164 (4 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 226 (4 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Listyguy, Neil (#2)

[Moonbeam]

That 21-25 stretch is awesome. Will probably be my favorite stretch of the rollout.

[Moonbeam]

Continuing on the subject, my #2 "Aladdin Sane" (the song) feels more like a personal favorite than "Lady Grinning Soul", but it's been somewhat of a forum favorite for quite some time. Man, I love Mike Garson's piano in these songs (as well as "Time")!

Yes! The piano lifts those songs and that album up to great heights for me.

[BleuPanda]

5. Ashes to Ashes (1980)
Score: 626
Votes: 24
#1 Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) track
2015 Song Poll: 327 (9 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 279 (6 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Honorio (#1)

4. Starman (1972)
Score: 717
Votes: 27
#1 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track
2015 Song Poll: 180 (5 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 468 (8 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
Dexter, Listyguy, Neil (#1)

3. Space Oddity (1969)
Score: 835
Votes: 27
#1 Space Oddity track
2015 Song Poll: 54 (3 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 79 (2 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
DaveC, whuntva (#1)








Now we reach our top 2 David Bowie tracks, separated by a mere 2 points!







2. Life on Mars? (1971)
Score: 1084
Votes: 29
#1 Hunky Dory track
2015 Song Poll: 37 (2 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 87 (3 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
BleuPanda, Chris K, Fred, Gillingham, JohnnyBGoode, Mallents, Maschine_Man, slick (#1)

1. "Heroes" (1977)
Score: 1086
Votes: 27
#1 "Heroes" track
2015 Song Poll: 21 (1 for David Bowie)
Acclaimed Music rank: 26 (1 for David Bowie)

Biggest Fan(s):
bonnielaurel, Dan, gabebasso, Matski, Nick, ordinaryperson

[Dexter]

Now we reach our top 2 David Bowie tracks, separated by a mere 2 points!

I'm impressed by the results. I'd be fine with either song being #1. That's one thing what I think sets Bowie apart from other legends is that he lacks a signature song, which is a good thing. U.S. critics chose "Space Oddity" while British critics chose "Heroes" or "Life on Mars?" and over time certain songs get rediscovered like "Moonage Daydream" and "Starman". That's what makes Bowie fascinating.

[DaveC]

Thanks BleuPanda.

[BleuPanda]

From all the results, my favorite is "The Man Who Sold the World" making the top 10 songs. For the longest time it has been a background Bowie song to me, but certain things made it really click with me recently. At the beginning of the year, I was playing Metal Gear Solid 5, which uses a cover of "The Man Who Sold the World" as its theme song (its also about a group known as Diamond Dogs, so the Bowie influence is pretty present). By this coincidence the song happened to be in my mind near Bowie's death, and I believe it was the first song I listened to after hearing the news. There's such an intense sense of paranoia to the track, a direction Bowie rarely explored in his more popular period, though I would say his final album swung hard in this direction; this might be why the song resonated so strongly in this particular year. It's a rare moment of Bowie going hard near the beginning of his career, and I feel he drew from the atmosphere created in this work when making Blackstar. Bowie was a man of a thousand styles, and "The Man Who Sold the World" is often overlooked but a key part in the creation of his image. Likewise, it has a sense of introspection in its lyrics that stand out among his work. And, really, that riff is phenomenal.

[Moonbeam]

Awesome job, BleuPanda! Love the pics!

Here are my ratings for our top 50 Bowie songs:

50. Blue Jean: 9
49. Hang on to Yourself: 9
48. Loving the Alien: 8
46. Stay: 8
46. Tis a Pity She Was a Whore: 6
45. I'm Afraid of Americans: 8
44. The Stars (Are Out Tonight): 8.5
42. Kooks: 8.5
42. TVC15: 9
40. This Is Not America: 8.5
40. Dead Man Walking: 10
39. Love Is Lost: 6 (have only heard the album version)
38. Queen Bitch: 8
37. Soul Love: 8.5
35. Always Crashing in the Same Car: 9.5
35. Quicksand: 8.5
34. Absolute Beginners: 8
33. Fashion: 10
32. The Jean Genie: 9
31. Wild Is the Wind: 9
30. Lady Stardust: 8
29. Fame: 9
28. Where Are We Now?: 8
27. Oh! You Pretty Things: 9
26. Modern Love: 6
24. China Girl: 10
24. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide: 9.5
23. Lady Grinning Soul: 10
22. Aladdin Sane: 10
21. Warszawa: 10
20. Golden Years: 8.5
19. Blackstar: 9
18. Lazarus: 9
17. Suffragette City: 10
16. Let's Dance: 9
15. Young Americans: 7
14. Five Years: 9.5
13. Rebel Rebel: 10
12. Station to Station: 10
11. Under Pressure: 9
10. The Man Who Sold the World: 9.5
9. Sound and Vision: 9
8. Ziggy Stardust: 7
7. Moonage Daydream: 10
6. Changes: 8
5. Ashes to Ashes: 9.5
4. Starman: 10
3. Space Oddity: 10
2. Life on Mars?: 10
1. "Heroes": 8.5

Yeah, that section from 21-25 is my favorite set of 5!

[Henrik]

Moonbeam, you should listen to the Love Is Lost remix asap. Perhaps not that many agree with me, but IMO it's the best thing James Murphy has ever done.

[Honorio]

Awesome, BleuPanda! You did an excellent work! I specially loved the selection of (chronologically ordered) pictures of David Bowie. Many thanks to you and to all the people that participated!

Now, as I did with Radiohead, here it is the Acclaimed Music Forum official playlist with our consensus Top 50. For the order of the playlist I broke the ties (using 1 the number of voters and 2 the highest position), only remaining a tie between Kooks and TVC15.



And I've expanded the playlist to a Top 100 using the points BleuPanda provided (in this case I ordered the ties in alphabetical order). A pretty great playlist by the way…



And, as a bonus, here it is a mini-playlist with the songs on the Top 50 that had a different version (with Bowie involved on the recording) released PREVIOUSLY to the acclaimed version. It includes:
- The Arnold Corns version of "Moonage Daydream" released in May of 1971 as a single (with Bowie on piano and vocals).
- The Iggy Pop version of "China Girl" released in March of 1977 as the fifth song of the album "The Idiot" (with Bowie on keyboards, sax and toy piano).
- The Peter Noone version of "Oh! You Pretty Things" released in June of 1971 as a single (with Bowie on piano).
- The original version of "Love Is Lost" released in March of 2013 as the fourth song of the album "The Next Day."
- The original version of "I'm Afraid of Americans" released in September of 1995 as the second song on the "Showgirls" soundtrack.
- The original version of "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" released in November of 2014 as the B-side of the single "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)."
- The Arnold Corns version of "Hang On to Yourself" released in May of 1971 as the B-side of the single "Moonage Daydream" (with Bowie on piano and vocals).



I was planning to include some comparative stats with the official AM lists and our previous poll but I'll wait a couple of days to see if BleuPanda (or someone else) want to do it.

[Romain]

Here are my ratings for our top 50 Bowie songs:

50. Blue Jean: 9
49. Hang on to Yourself: 9
48. Loving the Alien: 8
46. Stay: 8
46. Tis a Pity She Was a Whore: 6
45. I'm Afraid of Americans: 8
44. The Stars (Are Out Tonight): 8.5
42. Kooks: 8.5
42. TVC15: 9
40. This Is Not America: 8.5
40. Dead Man Walking: 10
39. Love Is Lost: 6 (have only heard the album version)
38. Queen Bitch: 8
37. Soul Love: 8.5
35. Always Crashing in the Same Car: 9.5
35. Quicksand: 8.5
34. Absolute Beginners: 8
33. Fashion: 10
32. The Jean Genie: 9
31. Wild Is the Wind: 9
30. Lady Stardust: 8
29. Fame: 9
28. Where Are We Now?: 8
27. Oh! You Pretty Things: 9
26. Modern Love: 6
24. China Girl: 10
24. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide: 9.5
23. Lady Grinning Soul: 10
22. Aladdin Sane: 10
21. Warszawa: 10
20. Golden Years: 8.5
19. Blackstar: 9
18. Lazarus: 9
17. Suffragette City: 10
16. Let's Dance: 9
15. Young Americans: 7
14. Five Years: 9.5
13. Rebel Rebel: 10
12. Station to Station: 10
11. Under Pressure: 9
10. The Man Who Sold the World: 9.5
9. Sound and Vision: 9
8. Ziggy Stardust: 7
7. Moonage Daydream: 10
6. Changes: 8
5. Ashes to Ashes: 9.5
4. Starman: 10
3. Space Oddity: 10
2. Life on Mars?: 10
1. "Heroes": 8.5

When I see this top 50, I seriously doubt anybody (on the """universaly acclaimed""" artist), except the Beatles can provide an amount of songs with this quality.

I have don't vote for the songs, but, maybe, Where Are We Now? would have finished first. With Life on Mars?, Space Oddity, Starman and Station to Station on the top5.

Whatever, great songs bu a great artist..And good job BleuPAnda.

[Daniel]

Oh crap! I just remembered today that I forgot to vote. I may still submit something just for fun

[Moonbeam]

When I see this top 50, I seriously doubt anybody (on the """universaly acclaimed""" artist), except the Beatles can provide an amount of songs with this quality.

That little guy from Paisley Park that we both love?

[Romain]

When I see this top 50, I seriously doubt anybody (on the """universaly acclaimed""" artist), except the Beatles can provide an amount of songs with this quality.

That little guy from Paisley Park that we both love?

I agree, for me, four "artist" (Beatles, Bowie, Prince and Gainsbourg) can provide such quality. But it's why I put "universaly acclaimed" in my sentence. Gainsbourg, of course, is not and I'm not sure Prince his on the same level than Bowie and The Beatles (just because his music is not accessible on internet since 10 years).

[Fred]

Awesome job, BleuPanda!

Here are my ratings for our top 50 Bowie songs:

50. Blue Jean: 6
49. Hang on to Yourself: 7
48. Loving the Alien: 4
46. Stay: 8
46. Tis a Pity She Was a Whore: 5
45. I'm Afraid of Americans: 5
44. The Stars (Are Out Tonight): - (don't know the song)
42. Kooks: 7
42. TVC15: 7
40. This Is Not America: 8
40. Dead Man Walking: 6
39. Love Is Lost: 6
38. Queen Bitch: 8
37. Soul Love: 6
35. Always Crashing in the Same Car: 8
35. Quicksand: 9
34. Absolute Beginners: 9
33. Fashion: 8
32. The Jean Genie: 6
31. Wild Is the Wind: 10
30. Lady Stardust: 9
29. Fame: 7
28. Where Are We Now?: 7
27. Oh! You Pretty Things: 7
26. Modern Love: 8
24. China Girl: 6
24. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide: 8
23. Lady Grinning Soul: 8
22. Aladdin Sane: 9
21. Warszawa: 9
20. Golden Years: 7
19. Blackstar: 9
18. Lazarus: 7
17. Suffragette City: 8
16. Let's Dance: 7
15. Young Americans: 9
14. Five Years: 9
13. Rebel Rebel: 8
12. Station to Station: 10
11. Under Pressure: 7
10. The Man Who Sold the World: 8
9. Sound and Vision: 9
8. Ziggy Stardust: 8
7. Moonage Daydream: 5 (I am being kind here)
6. Changes: 9
5. Ashes to Ashes: 9
4. Starman: 10
3. Space Oddity: 9-
2. Life on Mars?: 10
1. "Heroes": 9

[Honorio]

A quick comparative results between our ranking and the critics ranking. These are the songs ordered according the difference of positions between our list and the critics' one. Obviously the green is for the ones with better positions in our list and the red for the worse:

Moonage Daydream (+12)
Five Years (+6)
China Girl (+5)
Starman (+4)
The Man Who Sold the World (+4)
Wild is the Wind (+4)
Ashes to Ashes (+1)
Life on Mars? (+1)
Sound and Vision (+1)
Station to Station (+1)
Suffragette City (+1)
"Heroes" (0)
Modern Love (-1)
Space Oddity (-1)
Changes (-2)
Rebel Rebel (-2)
Rock 'n' Roll Suicide (-3)
Ziggy Stardust (-3)
Absolute Beginners (-4)
Golden Years (-4)
Let's Dance (-4)
Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy) (-4)
Under Pressure (with Queen) (-4)
Young Americans (-6)
Always Crashing in the Same Car (-7)
The Jean Genie (-8)
The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (-9)
Fashion (-10)
Queen Bitch (-11)
Where Are We Now? (-11)
Fame (-14)

A special mention for the 3 songs on the critics Top 40 that didn't end in our Top 25. It's remarkable that two "bubbling under" songs didn't receive a single Top 25 vote from us:
Diamond Dogs (-56)
Art Decade (0 points)
A New Career on a New Town (0 points)


And now the differences between our list and our Top 17 according to the 2015 Songs Poll:
Ashes to Ashes (+4)
Sound and Vision (+2)
Young Americans (+2)
Moonage Daydream (+1)
Starman (+1)
Five Years (0)
"Heroes" (0)
Life on Mars? (0)
Space Oddity (0)
Rebel Rebel (-1)
Under Pressure (with Queen) (-1)
Changes (-2)
Ziggy Stardust (-2)
Golden Years (-4)
Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (-9)
Rock 'n' Roll Suicide (-9)
Suffragette City (-10)

The 10 highest entries this time were:
The Man Who Sold the World (10)
Station to Station (12)
Let's Dance (16)
Lazarus (18)
Blackstar (19)
Warszawa (21)
Lady Grinning Soul (23)
China Girl (24t)
Modern Love (26)
Oh! You Pretty Things (27)

[BleuPanda]

^You left off The Man Who Sold the World for highest entrant.

[Honorio]

Oops, you're right. Edited.