David Bowie (52,335 views)

[Macca]

I'm hearing the B1 in China Girl getting down to A1 on the second half of "Mouth"

[EddieCheivz]

I remember pitched that some time ago something as: "Mo" (on B1) and "outh" going in fact upper, (something around D2) don't remember exact pitches but definitely an ascending interval, not a descending one.

[PerhapsXarb]

I think this "Joe the Lion" B4 should be black (@ 2:17 on song).

Also the Somebody Up There Likes Me C5 is a good choice for a bold imo, and the song has an unlisted G2.

[PerhapsXarb]

Oh also the A4 in Modern Love is missing ("...puts my trust in GOD and man...")

And rip Heroes bold B4, I still love you, technically imperfect as you may be

[queenfan11]

I'd personally mark this "Life on Mars?" live D5 as black, it has similar tone to the "Five Years" and "Stay" E5s:

[Macca]

Okay listening to that China Girl note I'm hearing a B1 then a jump to D2 which then decends to A1

[Osmosis]

Sept 11, 2023 23:34:52 GMT queenfan11 said:

I'd personally mark this "Life on Mars?" live D5 as black, it has similar tone to the "Five Years" and "Stay" E5s:

I agree

[queenfan11]

Bb4 in "Teenage Wildlife", I think there might be a C#3 right before it.

[hillaryh]

Oct 4, 2019 21:38:41 GMT glo said:

Oct 4, 2019 17:04:32 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Decent Singer

Ha!  I'll second that.  Very much a punk-type singer / glam-rock / "no effs given" singer, at least aesthetically.  But very finessed in reality.  He knew how to use his instrument.

Also: the A5 yelp in "Sweet Thing", countable?  There are also a few harmonies in "Station to Station" that I'd count, including a G5 exclamation too (mainly up to B4/D5)

Hello, I'm new to this website so I'm not sure if I'm posting this comment of mine in the correct location. I'm sorry if I'm not. I'm not a musician however I thought that Bowie has been credited with a G1 at 3:15 mark of 'I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship'? youtu.be/-ogaeFVmxok?si=C6vlGX0RmJ2shvL9&t=192 If so, would G1-Eb6 equal a vocal range of at or above 4.67 octaves? I'm a huge fan of Bowie's so I just wanted to ask about this. Thanks! www.quora.com/Who-is-the-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/answer/Hillary-Frasier-Hays

[Steingrim]

Nov 9, 2023 4:33:28 GMT hillaryh said:

Oct 4, 2019 21:38:41 GMT glo said:

Ha!  I'll second that.  Very much a punk-type singer / glam-rock / "no effs given" singer, at least aesthetically.  But very finessed in reality.  He knew how to use his instrument.

Also: the A5 yelp in "Sweet Thing", countable?  There are also a few harmonies in "Station to Station" that I'd count, including a G5 exclamation too (mainly up to B4/D5)

Hello, I'm new to this website so I'm not sure if I'm posting this comment of mine in the correct location. I'm sorry if I'm not. I'm not a musician however I thought that Bowie has been credited with a G1 at 3:15 mark of 'I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship'? youtu.be/-ogaeFVmxok?si=C6vlGX0RmJ2shvL9&t=192 If so, would G1-Eb6 equal a vocal range of at or above 4.67 octaves? I'm a huge fan of Bowie's so I just wanted to ask about this. Thanks! www.quora.com/Who-is-the-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/answer/Hillary-Frasier-Hays

That's vocal fry bordering on clicking noises. I'm not sure if it has a pitch (does it?). G in the key of C seems like a mere guess. It's very low quality, at any rate.

[queenfan11]

I'd mark the F4s in "I'm Afraid of Americans" as lead vocal. These ones for example are the most prominent voice:

There's also A4s in "Andy Warhol" and "Stay" that are right before the falsetto B4s, but i'd count them since they're the highest "full" notes in the song. I'd also add the A4 in "Modern Love" mentioned earlier.

[jwo]

Jul 29, 2023 17:47:53 GMT Macca said:

I'm hearing the B1 in China Girl getting down to A1 on the second half of "Mouth"

Which version? On the studio version, this is spoken rather than sang.

[halloweenjack95]

Mar 3, 2024 11:34:10 GMT jwo said:

Jul 29, 2023 17:47:53 GMT Macca said:

I'm hearing the B1 in China Girl getting down to A1 on the second half of "Mouth"

Which version? On the studio version, this is spoken rather than sang.

Isn't almost every note around this area rather spoken tho?

[Macca]

Mar 3, 2024 11:34:10 GMT jwo said:

Jul 29, 2023 17:47:53 GMT Macca said:

I'm hearing the B1 in China Girl getting down to A1 on the second half of "Mouth"

Which version? On the studio version, this is spoken rather than sang.

The studio version. And in a later reply I’m hearing it as an B1 going up to a D2 going down to an A1

[jwo]

Mar 3, 2024 13:30:36 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Mar 3, 2024 11:34:10 GMT jwo said:

Which version? On the studio version, this is spoken rather than sang.

Isn't almost every note around this area rather spoken tho?

Exactly! I'm not sure there is a determinable pitch, in the true sense? I cover this song and replicate Bowie's phonation fairly accurately I would say, but my singing range bottoms out around E2.

[StYoseph]

I'm new here but have been here before. But is that B1 really solid?

The lowest melodic note I thought I'd heard was the C#2 in I Feel Free, that sounds like it was recorded in the morning (after years of smoking 60 a day).

Bowie always defaulted to baseline D2s before. In speaking before song vocals. In interviews throughout the 70s-80s, I can hear frequently landing onto D2 tone wise...

I really just don't see this guy singing a melodic B1 without any vocal fry whatsoever, he's a mid-high baritone. I think the C2 in Sweet Thing is more
countable.

Then, anything's possible if the tenor Paul Mccartney can sing a solid A1.

But if I'm mistaken oh well.

If this post offends please delete. salutations.

[BAZanine]

I do personally find that note remarkably underwhelming, quite honestly; I'd both italicize and spoiler it. Let's see what some others think.

[Homelander]

Jun 3, 2024 17:34:30 GMT BAZanine said:

I do personally find that note remarkably underwhelming, quite honestly; I'd both italicize and spoiler it. Let's see what some others think.

I agree. The B1 sounds like weak vocal fry to me.

[Electric Mami]

As for the "Sweet Thing" C2, if we're talking about 0:42, I'd say no as well personally. It's intentional and melodic sure, but it's also veeery fry-ish, weak in tone and barely makes it to C2, to me :/

[Bink]

If we're on this topic, I would not bold that C#2 either personally.

[Yojojo]

and while we're at it, every single note this guy has ever hit should be removed bc he sucks. David Bowie more like David Bowel Movement eww stinky.

[Electric Mami]

I would keep it a bold personally, it stands out in the song, and I find the note greatly executed with solid tone and nicely controlled vibrato

[Homelander]

Jun 3, 2024 21:38:43 GMT Bink said:

If we're on this topic, I would not bold that C#2 either personally.

I strongly agree, actually. If anything, I'd underline it too. I could barely hear it the first time I listened.

[u2wright]

It's pretty audible to me.

[Bink]

I'd say it's perfectly audible I just wouldn't personally bold it, especially considering the key center and the fact that the note itself seems kind of random.