On this day in 1980 (1 August 1980), David Bowie released “Ashes to Ashes” - the lead single from his fourteenth studio album “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)”.
AllMusic critic Dave Thompson described the track and its accompanying music video as "a very deliberate acknowledgement of the then-burgeoning New Romantic scene." It was ranked as the 5th best single of 1980 by NME magazine.
Writing in Smash Hits, reviewer Deanne Pearson remarked that it was a "strange choice for a single" and "should have been left in the middle of an album", concluding that as a single it was "not a hit". Billboard Magazine said that "tight rock rhythms lay the groundwork for the nuance-rich melody" and that the song combines "rock and dance beats." The Guardian and Far Out ranked the song number two and number six, respectively, on their lists of the 50 greatest David Bowie songs.
Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song
I've heard a rumour from Ground Control
Oh no, don't say it's true
They got a message from the Action Man
"I'm happy. Hope you're happy, too.
I've loved. All I've needed: love.
Sordid details following."
The shrieking of nothing is killing me
Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis
And I ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet is glowing
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
Time and again I tell myself
I'll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh, no, not again
I'm stuck with a valuable friend
"I'm happy. Hope you're happy, too."
One flash of light
But no smoking pistol
I never done good things
I never done bad things
I never did anything out of the blue,
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mama said, "To get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom."
My mama said, "To get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom."
My mama said, "To get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom."
My mama said, "To get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom."