Tunes Du Jour Presents The David Bowie Songbook

David Bowie’s songwriting genius extends far beyond his own performances, as evidenced by this eclectic collection of covers spanning five decades. From punk pioneers to country legends, pop icons to elementary school choirs, artists across the musical spectrum have found fresh ways to interpret Bowie’s compositions. Iggy Pop’s raw, proto-punk “Lust for Life” shares space with Willie Nelson and Karen O’s unlikely but touching duet on “Under Pressure,” while Barbra Streisand’s take on “Life on Mars” contrasts with Ibibio Sound Machine’s Afrofuturistic reimagining of “Heroes.”

What’s particularly fascinating is how these songs illuminate different facets of Bowie’s writing. Some artists stay relatively faithful to the originals, while others take bold creative liberties. Together, these versions demonstrate not only Bowie’s versatility as a songwriter but also the enduring adaptability of his work across genres, generations, and cultures.

Follow Tunes Du Jour on Facebook

Follow me on Bluesky

Follow me on Instagram

Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 12-11-23

The first time Brenda Lee topped the Billboard Hot 100 was with “I’m Sorry” in 1960. The most recent time Brenda Lee topped the Billboard Hot 100 was a few days ago, when her 1958 single “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” finally ascended to the top of the chart. That makes Lee the oldest person to ever have a US number one single and marks the longest-ever climb to number one and the longest gap between number one singles for an artist. 

Brenda Lee was born on this in 1944. A couple of her hits are included on today’s playlist.

Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook

Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter

Follow me on Instagram

Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 11-21-22

Today’s playlist celebrates the November 21 birthdays of Carly Rae Jepsen, The Sugarcubes’ Björk, Phoenix’s Thomas Mars, Dr. John, WAR’s Lonnie Jordan, Vivian Blaine, and Amanda Lepore; and the November 22 birthdays of Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club’s Tina Weymouth, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O, Cypress Hill’s Sen Dog, Max Romeo, The Trashmen’s Steve Wahrer, The Youngblood’s Jesse Colin Young, Climax’s Sonny Geraci, Jason & the Scorchers’ Jason Ringenberg, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s Steve Van Zandt, Lynda Lyndell, and composer Hoagy Carmichael.

Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook

Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter

Follow me on Instagram