David Bowie: Why Nile Rodgers Thinks He Would Be Ignored By Labels Today
David Bowie is an undeniable legend and was a one-of-a-kind artist. However, producer Nile Rodgers says Bowie would have a hard time in today’s music industry. Rodgers, who produced Bowie’s…
David Bowie is an undeniable legend and was a one-of-a-kind artist. However, producer Nile Rodgers says Bowie would have a hard time in today's music industry.
Rodgers, who produced Bowie's 1983 hit album Let's Dance, recently spoke before the U.K.'s House of Commons select committee about music streaming and the lack of profits for artists. Per Ultimate Classic Rock, Rodgers explained how Bowie's label gave him time in the late '70s and early '80s to craft a hit song that would break outside of the U.K. Eventually, he and Rodgers wrote the hit song "Let's Dance." That track went on to top the charts in 16 countries. Among them were the United States, the U.K., Canada and Sweden.
"They took on this financial responsibility, and they would carry the artists they believed in that at some point in time would finally break," said Rodgers. "Those days are truly over."
Another Bowie Producer on Bowie
Another former Bowie producer who still speaks fondly of the late legend is Tony Visconti. Visconti produced a number of Bowie albums, including his "Berlin Trilogy" consisting of 1977's Low and "Heroes" and 1979's Lodger.
Back in February, Visconti, like many music figures, tuned into the Grammy Awards. To put it lightly, he wasn't impressed with what he saw.
In a since-deleted Facebook post that was screenshot by French journalist Steven Bellery, Visconti wrote, "What's the difference between the Grammys and Las Vegas? Nothing!" He then added in the comment section of the post, "Someone just told me that Harry Styles is the new Bowie? From what I saw tonight, he's not worthy of shining his shoes."
Despite Visconti's opinion, Styles still had an incredible showing at the 2023 Grammy Awards. He took home the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and stunned the masses winning Album of the Year for Harry's House.
David Bowie's passing is a few years behind us, and it still somehow feels shocking. His catalog, though, remains as relevant and influential as ever, so choosing his greatest songs was difficult.
We opened the parameters a bit, including songs that he wrote for other artists (Iggy Pop and Mott the Hoople); Tin Machine was fair game, as were remixes of his songs and so were collaborations. And as always, it was difficult to cut the list off at 40, so some of our favorites just missed the cut.
40 “It Ain’t Easy” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino39. “The Heart’s Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor Alternative Mix)” - ‘1.Outside’ (1995)
Virgin38 “Modern Love” - ‘Let’s Dance’ (1983)
Rhino37 “Young Americans” - ‘Young Americans’ (1975)
Rhino36 “Rebel Rebel” - ‘Diamond Dogs’ (1974)
Rhino35. Tin Machine - “Under The God” - ‘Tin Machine’ (1989)
Virgin34. “Cactus” - ‘Heathen’ (2002)
Columbia33 “The Jean Genie” - ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)
Rhino32 Iggy Pop - “Funtime” - ‘The Idiot’ (1977)
Virgin31 Queen + David Bowie - “Under Pressure” - single (1981, later included on Queen’s ‘Hot Space’ in 1982)
Hollywood Records30. “Sound And Vision” - ‘Low’ (1977)
Rhino29. “The Width Of A Circle” - ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ (1970
Rhino28 “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” - ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’ (1980
Rhino27 “Cracked Actor” - ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)
Rhino26 “I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix)” - ‘Earthling’ (1997)
Virgin25 “Hang On To Yourself” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
24 “Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide (live)” - ‘Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)’ (1983)
Rhino23 “Starman” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino22 “Panic In Detroit” - ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)
Rhino21 “White Light/White Heat (live)” - ‘Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)’ (recorded in 1973, released in 1983)
Rhino20 “Drive-In Saturday” - ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)
Rhino19 “Blackstar” - ‘Blackstar’ (2016)
Columbia18 “Life On Mars” - ‘Hunky Dory’ (1971)
Rhino17 “Five Years” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino16 “Let’s Dance” - ‘Let’s Dance’ (1983)
Rhino15 “Thursday’s Child” - ‘Hours…’ (1999)
Virgin14 “Lazarus” - ‘Blackstar’ (2016)
Columbia13 Iggy Pop - “Lust For Life” - ‘Lust For Life’ (1977)
Virgin12 “Station To Station” - ‘Station To Station’ (1976)
Rhino11 “Watch That Man” - ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973)
Rhino10 “Moonage Daydream” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino9 “Suffragette City” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino8 Mott The Hoople - “All The Young Dudes” - ‘All The Young Dudes’ (1972)
Sony Legacy7 “Changes” - ‘Hunky Dory’ (1971)
Rhino6 “Fame” - ‘Young Americans’ (1975)
Rhino5 “The Man Who Sold The World” - ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ (1970)
Rhino4 “Space Oddity” - ‘Space Oddity’ (1969)
Rhino3 “Ziggy Stardust” - ‘The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)
Rhino2 “Ashes To Ashes” - ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’ (1980)
Rhino1 “ “Heroes” ” - ‘Heroes’ (1977)
Rhino
