Summoning all Ziggy Stardust fans.
With highly-respected contributions to the history of music, this beloved English singer-songwriter remains an undisputed staple in the hearts of music fans across the globe.
Despite his sad passing in 2016, his legacy continues to blossom in his wake.
Fans continue to delight in remasters, unreleased materials and reissues that keep the very heart and soul of David Bowie alive and well.
Recently, Bowie’s estate announced that his third album, which debuted in 1970, will soon be re-released. The Man Who Sold The World is an iconic tour through what many critics call Bowie’s “classic period.” The original release was praised for the band’s performance, amid a curious web of “unsettling” music and lyrics.
This album also features the title track, “The Man Who Sold The World.”
Upon its initial release, this track went relatively unnoticed.
Bowie did not release it as a single. However, it did appear as a B-side on the 1973 reissue of “Space Oddity.” It wasn’t until 1974, when the song was covered by Scottish singer Lulu that the song peaked on the UK Singles Chart. Mainstream attention subsequently followed.
In decades to come, other artists stepped up to cover the forlorn track.
The song tells the story of a man who no longer recognizes himself, as well as the uneasy feelings that accompany this revelation.
This musical story mirrors much of Bowie’s own struggles with identity, as he used much of his music to express himself in ways he couldn’t do alone.
Of note, is the 1993 cover performed by Nirvana at their classic MTV Unplugged show.
One watch and you’ll instantly realize this heartfelt cover for all its worth!
Nirvana’s intimate unplugged session has achieved a highly-lauded status over the past couple of decades, due to it being one of the band’s final recordings.
Just a few months following this recording, the world quaked with the news of Kurt Cobain’s sudden death.
The band’s quiet but emotionally charged MTV studio recording remains a treasure for both the eyes and the ears.
These icons of grunge deliver a memorable rendition with their own unique acoustic spin.
The sorrowful and despondent nature of the song was fittingly poignant for a struggling Cobain at the time.
When Bowie caught wind that Nirvana had covered his song, he was taken aback.
He was extremely gracious of their efforts, a testament to their talent. He praised the band for their talents:
“I was simply blown away when I found that Kurt Cobain liked my work, and have always wanted to talk to him about his reasons for covering ‘The Man Who Sold the World’” and that “it was a good straight forward rendition and sounded somehow very honest. It would have been nice to have worked with him, but just talking with him would have been real cool.”
He also pointed out that Nirvana’s cover was “heartfelt,” noting that “until this [cover], it hadn’t occurred to me that I was part of America’s musical landscape. I always felt my weight in Europe, but not [in the US].”
One watch and you might agree that Nirvana’s cover stands right up to the original, if not above it.
Ready to see for yourself? Watch this heartfelt performance for yourself in the video linked below.
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