‘Rebel Rebel’ is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released in the UK on 15 February 1974 as the lead single from the album Diamond Dogs. Written and produced by Bowie, the song is based around a distinctive guitar riff reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. Cited as his most-covered track, ‘Rebel Rebel’ has been described as Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement that he had helped initiate, as well as being a proto-punk track. Two versions of the song were recorded: the well-known UK single release and the shorter US single release, which featured added background vocals, extra percussion and a new arrangement.
Originally planned in late 1973 as part of an aborted Ziggy Stardust musical, ‘Rebel Rebel’ was Bowie's last single in his signature glam rock style. It was also his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick Ronson; Bowie played guitar himself on this and almost all the other tracks on Diamond Dogs, producing what NME critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray called "a rocking dirty noise that owed as much to Keith Richards as it did to the departed Ronno". Singer-songwriter Jayne County, who was a cast member of Pork and among Bowie's entourage for two years, maintains that her 1973 song ‘Queenage Baby’, which included the lyric "can't tell whether she's a boy or a girl", was an influence for ‘Rebel Rebel’.
This song was created in a spate of spontaneous inception. Alan Parker, the guitarist on ‘1984,’ recalled to Uncut magazine: "He (Bowie) said, 'I've got this list and it's a bit Rolling Stonesy – I just want to piss Mick off a bit.'" "I spent about three quarters of an hour to an hour with him working on the guitar riff – he had it almost there, but not quite," Parker continued. "We got it there, and he said, 'Oh, we'd better do the middle...' So he wrote something for the middle, put that in. Then he went off and sorted some lyrics. And that was us done."
Upon its release, the song was a commercial success, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart and number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song received critical acclaim for its central guitar riff and strength as a glam anthem. Several publications consider it to be one of Bowie's greatest songs. It was performed live by Bowie during many of his concert tours and since appeared on many compilation albums. It was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set. ‘Rebel Rebel’ was released on 15 February 1974 in the UK as the lead single of Diamond Dogs with the Hunky Dory song ‘Queen Bitch’ as the B-side. The single quickly became a glam anthem, the female equivalent of Bowie's earlier hit for Mott the Hoople, ‘All the Young Dudes’. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Label – RCA
Songwriter – David Bowie
Producer – David Bowie
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
[Verse 1]
You've got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair's alright
Hey, babe, let's go out tonight
You like me and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they're playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
[Pre-Chorus]
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
[Chorus]
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
{Bridge}
Don't ya?
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
[Verse 2]
You've got your mother in a whirl
'Cause she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair's alright
Hey, babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they're playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
[Pre-Chorus]
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
[Chorus]
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
[Bridge]
Don't ya?
Ooh!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
[Chorus]
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so (don't ya?)
[Bridge]
[Outro]
You've torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can't get enough, but enough ain't the test
You've got your transmission and your live wire
You got your cue line and a handful of ludes
You wanna be there when they count up the dudes
And I love your dress
You're a juvenile success
Because your face is a mess
So how could they know?
I said, how could they know?
So what you wanna know?
Calamity's child, chi-chi, chi-chi
Where'd you wanna go?
What can I do for you? Looks like I've been there too
'Cause you've torn your dress
And your face is a mess
Ooh, your face is a mess
Ooh, ooh, so how could they know?
Ah, ah, how could they know?
Ah, ah