‘Life on Mars?’ is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, first released on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. The song was recorded on 6 August 1971 at Trident Studios in London, and was co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott. Bowie's backing band consisted of guitarist and string arranger Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder, drummer Mick Woodmansey and Strawbs member Rick Wakeman on piano. ‘Life on Mars?’ is primarily a glam rock ballad, with elements of cabaret and art rock; it has a complex structure that includes chord changes throughout. The lyrics are about a girl who goes to a cinema to escape reality, and include surreal images that reflect optimism and the effects of Hollywood. To promote the single, photographer Mick Rock filmed a video that shows Bowie in make-up and a turquoise suit singing the song against a white backdrop.
Upon release as a single, ‘Life on Mars?’ entered the UK Singles Chart at number 21, peaking at number three in mid-July and remained on the chart for thirteen weeks. In West Germany, the song peaked at number 39 on the Official German Charts. In the wake of the massive commercial success of Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance, ‘Life on Mars?’ returned to the UK chart for one week, peaking at number 97. ‘Life on Mars?’ is considered by commentators as one of Bowie's greatest songs, and one of the best songs of all time. Critics have praised Bowie's vocal performance and growth as a songwriter. The song's title was given to the British television series Life on Mars, and films and other television programmes have included ‘Life on Mars?’.
In early 1968, David Bowie's publisher David Platz invited him to write the English lyrics for a song called ‘Comme d'habitude’. Bowie's translation, which was titled ‘Even a Fool Learns to Love’, was influenced by his recent work as a mime artist. After Bowie recorded an unreleased demo of ‘Comme d'habitude’ in February 1968, the song's French publishers rejected him, primarily due to his obscurity. Soon after, songwriter Paul Anka bought the rights to ‘Comme d'habitude’ and rewrote it as ‘My Way’, which was recorded and made famous by American singer Frank Sinatra in 1969. The success of ‘My Way’ prompted Bowie to write ‘Life on Mars?’ as a parody of Sinatra's recording. He told Michael Parkinson: "That really made me angry for so long—for about a year ... eventually I thought, 'I can write something as big as that, and I'll write one that sounds a bit like it'." Bowie acknowledged ‘My Way’'s influence in the liner notes for Hunky Dory, which state ‘Life on Mars?’ was "inspired by Frankie".
Retrospectively, reviewers and commentators have praised ‘Life on Mars?’ as one of Bowie's finest songs. Pegg called it Bowie's "1971 masterpiece" and O'Leary called it "the Citizen Kane of Bowie's songs: young man's bravura". Doggett and Rob Sheffield considered Bowie's vocal performance on the song to be one of his best. Spitz described it as "one of the best pop songs ever written". Publications including Digital Spy, Mojo and Consequence of Sound have also considered ‘Life on Mars?’ Bowie's greatest song. Digital Spy stated it has "perhaps become [Bowie's] signature song—filled with surreal cut-up lyrics ..., it married vivid imagery with a tender, heartbreaking melody".
In April 2007, over 30 years after its initial release, ‘Life on Mars?’ re-entered the UK singles chart at number 55, largely because of its use in the British television series Life on Mars. Two years later, it charted at number 67 in Australian. Following Bowie's death in 2016, ‘Life on Mars?’ charted around the world, reaching the top five in France and Ireland. In the US, it peaked at number seven and twelve on Billboard's Euro Digital Song Sales and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts,
Label – RCA
Songwriter – David Bowie
Producers – David Bowie, Ken Scott
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling, "No!"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
[Pre-Chorus]
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
[Chorus]
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh, man, look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh, man, wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
[Verse 2]
It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
[Pre-Chorus]
But the film is a saddening bore
Because I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
[Chorus]
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh, man, look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh, man, wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
[Outro]
[Phone ringing, muttering]