The Man Who Sold the World (song)
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| "The Man Who Sold the World" | ||
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| Song by David Bowie | ||
| from the album The Man Who Sold the World | ||
| Released | November 4, 1970 (US) April 1971 (UK) |
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| Recorded | 1970 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:55 3:35 (1995 Version) |
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| Label | RCA | |
| Writer(s) | David Bowie | |
| Producer(s) | Tony Visconti | |
| The Man Who Sold the World track listing | ||
| She Shook Me Cold (7) |
"The Man Who Sold the World" (8) |
The Supermen (9) |
"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by British rock musician David Bowie. It is the title track of his third album, released in the US in November 1970 and in the UK in April 1971. It was later re-popularised and introduced to a new generation by Nirvana's cover on their MTV Unplugged in New York album. In the wake of this cover, Bowie bemoaned the fact that when he performed the song himself he would encounter "kids that come up afterwards and say, 'It's cool you're doing a Nirvana song.' And I think, 'Fuck you, you little tosser!'"[1]
The song's themes have been compared to the horror/fantasy works of H.P. Lovecraft.[2] The lyrics are also cited as reflecting Bowie's concerns with splintered or multiple personalities,[3] and are believed to have been partially inspired by the nursery rhyme "The Psychoed", by William Hughes Mearns:[4]
- Yesterday upon the stair
- I met a man who wasn't there
- He wasn't there again today
- I wish that man would go away
Contents |
[edit] Other releases
"The Man Who Sold the World" appears as a B-side on the American single releases for the songs "Space Oddity" (1972) and "Life on Mars?" (1973). It also appears on various Bowie compilations.
Bowie performed the song live for the first time in 1979 with Klaus Nomi on Saturday Night Live. A portion of this show is included in the film The Nomi Song.
A re-recorded version produced by Brian Eno appears as a B-side on the 1995 CD single for the song, "Strangers When We Meet". This version also appears on the bonus disc that followed some versions of Outside - Version 2
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Lulu
The song was covered by the Scottish singer Lulu in 1974, who performed it in "a sleazy, almost Berlin cabaret style".[5] It was released as a single on 11 January 1974, making #3 in the UK charts. Bowie produced this version with Mick Ronson during the Pin Ups sessions and also contributed guitar, saxophone and backing vocals. The remainder of the band included Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, Mike Garson on piano, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums.[6]
[edit] Richard Barone
The song was covered by American singer Richard Barone in 1987 on his proto-Chamber Pop album, Cool Blue Halo. Using cello, acoustic guitar and symphonic percussion in an intimate, live setting, it forshadowed the Unplugged ethos.
[edit] Nirvana
A live rendition of the song was recorded by the American alternative rock band Nirvana in 1993, during their MTV Unplugged appearance. It was released on the band's posthumous MTV Unplugged in New York album the following year.
The song was released as a promo single for the album, and received considerable airplay on alternative rock radio stations. It was also thrown into heavy rotation on music video stations such as MTV.
[edit] Nirvana cover chart positions
| Year | Artist | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Sweden Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Poland Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Latvian Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Slovakian Airplay Charts | No. 4 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Modern Rock Tracks (US) | No. 6 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Mainstream Rock Tracks (US) | No. 12 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Canadian National Airplay Charts | No. 22 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | French Airplay Charts | No. 34 |
[edit] Other covers
- Midge Ure on the film soundtrack Party Party (1982).
- Here & Now on the album Fantasy Shift (1983).
- Ed Kuepper on the album The Exotic Mail Order Moods of Ed Kuepper (1995).
- Simple Minds on the covers album Neon Lights (2001).
- 3 Melancholy Gypsys sampled the Nirvana version in their song "2010".
- Pachora on the album "Ast" kfr (1999).
[edit] See also
- The Man Who Sold the Moon, a 1949 science fiction short story and collection by Robert A. Heinlein. It contains many of the same themes as the song.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.138-139
- ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.38
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.100
- ^ All Music Guide review
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Op Cit: p.196
- ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Op Cit: p.118
[edit] External links
| David Bowie |
|---|
| Discography |
| Studio albums |
| David Bowie | Space Oddity | The Man Who Sold the World | Hunky Dory | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | Aladdin Sane | Pin Ups | Diamond Dogs | Young Americans | Station to Station | Low | "Heroes" | Lodger | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | Let's Dance | Tonight | Never Let Me Down | Black Tie White Noise | Outside | Earthling | 'hours...' | Heathen | Reality |
| With Tin Machine |
| Tin Machine | Tin Machine II |
| Live albums |
| David Live | Stage | Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture | Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby | Santa Monica '72 | Bowie at the Beeb | LiveAndWell.com |
| Soundtracks |
| Christiane F. | Labyrinth | The Buddha of Suburbia | Lost Highway | |
| Related articles |
| Tony Visconti | Brian Eno | Mick Ronson | Iggy Pop | Mike Garson | Reeves Gabrels |
