19. The Man Who Sold the World (The Man Who Sold the World, 1970)
It wasn’t a big hit for Bowie, but Lulu took it to #3 and then Nirvana made the entire world think it was their own song in their famous MTV Unplugged performance.
David Bowie does his impression of a falcon eating a mouse
Covers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLoytewvn0g
18. Blue Jean (Tonight, 1985)
Supposedly, David Bowie didn’t much care for this song—even though it won a Grammy and became the subject of the 21-minute video/short film, Jazzin’ for Blue Jean.
Covers: I love the Electric Six version.
17. The Jean Genie (Aladdin Sane, 1972)
One of Bowie’s bluesiest hits, it was actually written for his Ziggy Stardust but didn’t make the record. Frankly, Ziggy didn’t need it—that album is basically one long hit.
Covers: You have to watch the Mary Poppins video. Beyond that, some good versions. Not a tough song to cover.
16. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (Soundtrack to Cat People, 1982)
This was the one so good Bowie recorded twice, once for the (terrible) movie and twice for his Let’s Dance album. The first version was the best, but only if you can find the full-length, which didn’t appear on wax until Bowie’s “Singles 1969-1993” compilation. But the version from Let’s Dance has Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Covers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gbagplwbVs
Next: His Queen duet, and more!
