David Bowie - It's No Game (Part 1)

[94and86]

うぅん。やっぱり日本人からすると、すごく不思議な歌・・・（意­味が分かるだけに）

だけれど、なぜこの女の人はこんなに訛ってるんだ？

[c8udyp]

I've always dug Bowie but man, he was about reaching his peak here. This vocal is still one of the most audacious ever put down.

[ragga7bond]

that's a one fine guitar solo

[11paoletta]

One of my favourite Bowie's songs

I remember those scary days

[Bastard471]

its hums but its not real...

[THEprincessFirefly]

sounds like yoko got to him

[redrover327]

@THEprincessFirefly WRONG. Yoko's screaming aren't words.

[THEprincessFirefly]

@redrover327 toooo true!!!

[1Geronimodeleon]

Scary Monster amazed me then... and now.

[Jhensy2012]

Fripp just STOMPS all over this.

[annaq999]

put a bullet in my brain and it makes all the papers

[bckm54]

Two words: Kick ass.

[goodbyeisthenewhello]

ughh, Japanese chick is ruining the groove/jam/power.... can't get back into it.

[drk321]

I know Bowie used Fripp and Belew as guitar players in this era, but which one is it on this track? Or is that even a guitar? It is just one of the most amazing sounds I have ever heard. I remember waiting for this album to come out (80?, 81?) and it is just as amazing today.

[rdiaz21]

@drk321 Fripp.. Its Robert Fripp... Belew was off with the Talking Heads that year...

[drk321]

@rdiaz21 Thanks. I figured Fripp but they both can get pretty outrageous when they want to.

[rdiaz21]

@drk321 yeah no joke.. belews work with the talking heads in remain in light is unlike anything ive ever heard...

[epikouros63]

If, and i say if, God walks on Earth... then he is David Bowie...!! For sure...

[MrEYTheInternational]

The name of the woman is Michi Hirota, and she's basically speaking the lyrics in Japanese. Gives the song an even greater intensity, nice touch, hah? Always loved this album - incidentally, some jerk here on YT felt the need to do a "re-edit" of this track without the woman's voice. I chewed this person out on his channel, the moron.

[ghorejsi1]

just an amazing tune, another bowie masterpiece!

[rudey2shoes1]

since I first heard this when I was 14 I have loved it - this remains the same all these years later - my kids just don't understand...

[tbhamdg]

Does anyone know what the Japanese woman is saying?

[skygranada]

Buensssssssima

[sergiosozi]

LunaSeaSane,

sorry for my english - I'm Italian - but I got to tell you that is always aspected by Bowie something like this beautiful song, 'cause an artist is an artist. Bye bye, dear.

[juberra]

@sergiosozi Dear, this is not a forum for English native speakers - british, americans or whatever - nobody is obliged to be fluent in a language that is used for practical reazons. And when it comes to sharing our love for music, there are no countries and nationalities either. Planet Bowie...

[ultraviolentgeisha]

David Bowie is awesome, but this song is one of his special ones... and it's so underrated.

[lemmy91]

super album rock new-wave avec des guitares surpuissantes ! ambiance punk londonnien , j'y étais voir ! il faut cet album pour sa collection rock !!!!

[mrfudgeyhead]

This is by far the punkiest thing ever created.

[steelyman08]

Shut Up!!!!!! Lol.

[annaq999]

darling david sssssscream

[rjfarrar]

A guitar solo that kills and eats lesser guitar solos.

[steelyman08]

@rjfarrar

Right with you on that one. Is that Robert Fripp or some other genius?

[Tool9395]

@steelyman08 Yes that is Robert Fripp

[LunaSeaSane]

Could be his best song.

[edwigederer]

i loooooooooooove

[20tunes]

Japanese Words. Please. シルエットや影が革命を見ている もう天国の自由の階段はない 俺は現実から締め出され 何が起こっているかわからない どこに教訓があるか 人々は指を折られている こんな独裁者に卑しめられるのは悲しい 新聞は書き立てなさい 難民の記録映画 標的を背にした恋人たち 民衆に石を投げれば粉々になり 昨日に蓋をすれば 恐怖は増す 俺の頭に弾を撃ち込めば 新聞は書き立てる

[BenjDeath]

No more 3 steps to heaven and that Japanese bird is calling you all Homos 

[Alexisme1001]

JamesRNolan: Indeed, they do not seem "thought through." They are blunders, and to say that someone falling down in the middle of a dance is creating a new style is sheer sophistry, unless, of course, it's Marlon Brando in "Last Tango in Paris."

[69Ferg]

@Alexisme1001 Of course I'd prefer to call him disjunctive blundering Jesus at his finest, but agree or disagree that's part his charm. Or do you feel a habitue of kicking a bear into fragments of anomie immensely refreshing.

And thank you Alexisme1001 and Mr. James Nolan. Alas it's just not that easy to encounter like-minded scholars on Youtube.

[Alexisme1001]

JamesRNolan- I haven't considered the other songs that you mentioned. At its finest, art is an absolute good which does not bear relativistic comparison. Humility, edification, and gratitude are the proper responses to even momentary glimmers of brilliance within the most mediocre work, but with Bowie, when he fouls up, it's like Jesus kicking a dog.

[MrJamesrnolan]

@Alexisme1001Part 1 : Dave Marsh : "With Bowie, lyrics are subordinate to overall feel ; the running commentary in front of the bubbling music mainly allows Bowie to emote, a trait that began with Diamond Dogs." Marsh on the LP Heroes : "Ethereal instrumentals contrasted with disjunctive lyrics--Bowie is too obscure to connect on any but the most rarefied levels." Robert Christgau on Lodger : "I'd prefer to call him post-middlebrow--a habitue of prematurely abandoned modernist space.Musically..

[MrJamesrnolan]

@Alexisme1001 Part 2 : ...these fragments of anomie don't seem felt, and lyrically they don't seem thought through. But that's part of their charm--the way they confound categories of sensibility and sophistication is so frustrating it's satisfying, at least if you have your doubts about the categories." Do you agree, diagree or do you feel only parts of their analysis overlaps with your own?And thank you-it's refreshing to encounter intelligent comments on YT rather than monosyllabic nonsense.

[69Ferg]

@MrJamesrnolan Yes I agree, juvenile consistencies of structure are subordinate to categories of contrasted bubbling impressionistic monosyllabic facile contrivances. Indeed they do seem to fit into the sheer sophistry of sensibility and sophistication that one creating a new disjunctive ethereal analysis allows.

Musically it's contrasted with relativistic glimmers of prematurely abandoned immensely post-brittle warm dog foul

[andymouse123]

@69Ferg OH! please get a girl friend

[69Ferg]

@andymouse123 riiiiighte? Look I'm sorry but just can't stand people talking a whole lot of big worded meaningless shit just to make themselves sound intelligent. Did you read previous comments? Why dont they offer an opinion that everyone can understand, it can be done. Oh and by the way, I'm gay so you might wan't to rephrase that response. Thanks anyway.

[andymouse123]

@69Ferg sorry dude I get your point now...at last..and i agree with ya buddy !....so please accept an apology from me to you and ya guy if ya have one....and yes suedo

intellect does suck!!!

[Alexisme1001]

Some of the lyrics are juvenile in the sense of being facile, blundering contrivances to maintain the consistencies of structure. This is a problem that I've noticed in other DB songs as well. It's frustrating, because it does detract from the impressionistic brilliance of his songs.

[MrJamesrnolan]

@Alexisme1001 Thank you for an intelligently thought out argument to support your viewpoint. But just out of curiosity, wouldn't say, the Beatles' "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" or the Hombres' "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" (To select two choices at random) also fit into that sort of categorization? (and this isn't to downgrade those songs, which I enjoy immensely, but there have been statements from others that consider those lyrics as brittle contrivances and/or blundering).

[peer567]

I can't explain why, but this has a place in my all-time top 10 songs

[MrJamesrnolan]

Bowie said in an interview when the LP was released that here he was going for the same primal vocal rawness that John Lennon utilized on his Plastic Ono Band album (a result of Lennon's involvement in Arthur Janov's Primal Scream therapy) and it's excellent when combined with Fripp's "mother-raping" guitar (a popular description of his playing style). The idea of the Japanese vocal was to present lyrics that a Japanese woman would not normally be perceived as saying (Bowie's perspective on it).

[ordolight]

Nooooo! Shinda Babayooo!

[Alexisme1001]

Despite the fact that this is a great song, there are some problems with juvenile lyrics.

[MrJamesrnolan]

@Alexisme1001 Juvenile in what sense?The definition of juvenile is "childish or immature",and frankly I don't hear that.This isn't exactly goofy bubblegum lyrics like "Yummy Yummy Yummy" (a song I do like BTW) or some dumbbell metal suck-my-pazoozle anthem (take your pick from the crop).Confused or confounding perhaps,but as its lyrics appear to emanate from the viewpoint of someone who feels so oppressed their mind might be unraveling,maybe that's how they had to be written.

[Feralicousness]

This is easily one of the greatest songs ever made.

[TheJDSSDJ]

this guy is awesome!!!!!!!

thanks u

[boogiepop14mc]

You can tell that David really was insane when he sang this track because nobody in their right mind would ever tell Robert Fripp to shut up.

[LacsiraxAriscal]

@boogiepop14mc haha true, true

[schragemusik]

@boogiepop14mc What's the story behind that?

[monkeythatwasmixed]

if you looking for genius-look no further

[elegyjay]

I just LOVE Fripp's guitar work on this album

[freakingevilgenius]

It doesn't seem like a lot of younger people like Bowie. I'm 16 and I love him but a lot of people I know haven't even heard of him.

[mrlastnamefirst]

@freakingevilgenius you just have to obnoxiously force all of your friends to listen to him whenever they're around you. This is how I got introduced and a lot of my friends as well. It also will show you who your real friends are

[PhilipHuertas]

my favourite song by bowie!

[lensjockeyvideo]

this is a beautiful and profound album.

[manonfire46]

Genius!!!!

[lindinoz07]

I am 46 now ...with a daughter of my own ...was also a bit of a goth ..ok a lot! ..but Bowie was always my first love ..this album was the first one I bought with my first ever pay packet!

Still have all my vinyl ...used to dress in the same outfits as Bowie to go out clubbing haha!! Used to take me about 3 -4 to get ready to go out haha!!

[MARKSVIGIL]

A bit of trivia for everyone! The woman rapping in Japanese is Michi Hirota..

[harrisongsrule]

listen to tired of my life...

[stevejah7]

the sailor who fell from grace with the sea -yukima mischima

[M0THERKN0WSBEST]

When I was 13 at boarding school, I tried to sneak out one sat night to see Ziggy at Guilford Civic ( even had a ticket )

Was spotted trying to leave the grounds of the school, did a runner across the sports field and got rugby tackled by the gym teacher about 20 feet from some nice dense woods, that I have always felt had I made it to would have given me the cover to slip away into the night.

I was absolutly gutted, not long after it seemed came the Hammersmith show ... and Ziggy was no more.

[stevejah7]

not being funny but have you got the gym teachers home fone???

[M0THERKN0WSBEST]

His home phone?, ... for what purpose?

[HonestHeathen]

@M0THERKN0WSBEST Thats a great Story. Thank you for sharing it.

[missasegei]

My favorite song from the scary monsters album besides ashes to ashes of course.

[gardini100]

who did realy start with the fuzzy gitar sound was it bowie? im think of the sound he use in songs like Heroes early indie if you ask me :)

[missasegei]

Thats guitarist Robert Fripp he played with Bowie for years.

[ebbtides]

This is so far ahead of it's time. Easily one of the most overlooked Bowie tracks (and albums for that matter). Amazing song, amazing man.

[027sarah]

So not overlooked by real fans. Bought my copy of scarey monsters when it came out on the round black thing, was intoduced to bowie by my brother (now 51, 9 years my senior), now have 30+ original albums on vinyl, much better sound than this CD lark, still one of my favourites

[ebbtides]

Tell me about it, I'm lucky enough to have inherited my dad's Japanese vinyl import of this.

Teenage Wildlife is just amazing on vinyl, and not to mention the pops and little crackles make this song all the more raw.

Thank you very much Mr. Bowie.

[missasegei]

What! I am 43 years old and I believe this dropped when I was like 16 years old in NYC and BOWIE and this album was da shyt! It was the final curtain for major Tom and they used to play songs from this LP in the clubs, man.

[MARKSVIGIL]

You better hush yo mouth!

I'm 45 now and I still continue to listen to this album. It's all quite relevant even still!

[missasegei]

You ain't lyin'.... Shoot we shoulda been hangin' out back in tha day..LOL.

[MARKSVIGIL]

foshizzy! HA HA Well I was really quite young then, going to punk and goth clubs, drinking lots, throwing up and waking up in my car with girls whos names I didn't know. Yep yep yep good times! If my kids ever read this; I know they have channels here, they would think their old man is pretty kewl! oh wait I turned them on to groups like Bauhaus and Siouxsie & the Banshees; they already think their old man is pretty kewl!

[MizzSefronia]

Me too...I'm 45 this year...age is just a number...Bowie is an Icon!

[MARKSVIGIL]

OMG! So you were there TOO! What a great time that was, huh?. Did you have black nail polish on your nails and lots and lots of hair all cripped out? I don't know about you but I was scandelous!

The 20 year olds of today are a mother's wet dream compared to what I did back in the early 80's

[MizzSefronia]

Yeah......but don't advertise it...LOL!

[pussypop100]

ive just turned 51 i have this guys name tattoed on my arm love him

[carriesking]

Absolitely fucking legend goots be the most over the top Bowie song ever!!!! 5 stars :)

[koba0228]

シルエットや影が革命を見ている。

もう天国への自由への階段は無い～。

[Fosh192]

The female vocal is by Michi Hirota and is a direct translation of the vocal by David, that's straight from a Japanese friend of mine..

[LunaSeaSane]

One of the most impressive songs in music history.

And I'm not one to claim every release is a "master piece".

[TravellerFellow]

@LunaSeaSane this song and its part two ARE extraordinary to say the least !!

[LunaSeaSane]

@TravellerFellow I would definitely agree they are extra the ordinary.

[jackhillty]

SHUT UP!

[gardini100]

damn it was good to hear this song again "think this song did just as much as heroes to get bands like pixies and and indie rock "pop" like sonic .dino J.r ....placebo some to build at :))

[gardini100]

best vocal use from bowie ever !!

[ivankaramasov]

At least, most extreme:-) Don't think I have ever heard anyone else go so totally over the top!

[sakuramari]

Does anyone know the song that he sang in Japanese, please? Somebody pointed me to this song, but only the woman is talking in Japanese. I can only find his Mandarin songs '7 years in Tibet'

[wherehopesleeps]

I think (i'm not 100% sure) that she's just saying the verses in Japanese?

[sakuramari]

Thank you. I found it later. It was called "Girls" and David Bowie sings in Japanese. David Bowie is so cool :)

[solrart]

Robert Fripp and Bowie where awesome together....

[FinnMove]

Robert Fripp steals the show in this album. But if you are a master of guitar playing you don´t have to say hardly anything. You just play your share and then you go home. Fripp´s monstreaus guitar riff´s are amazing in this album.

[bresmith]

I love Bowie, but my favorite Bowie songs are songs Fripp played guitar on.

[ivankaramasov]

I agree that he is important to the sound of the album, but I wouldn't say that he steals the show. However, I'd say that his work on this album is the best I have heard from him, and that is no small thing.

[corkykab]

@FinnMove Funny you mention this- wonder if you're referring to an anecdote attributed to Bowie many years ago re. the Fripp work on this album. I believe, if memory serves, that Bowie had such faith in Fripp that he basically just let him come into the studio one day, handed him the guitarless tracks, and let him work his magic alone in the sound booth. Exit sound booth, "Here you go David" , David replies "Shut up" , and the rest is rock history...

[FinnMove]

@corkykab thankks for the relply. I think Robert Fripp is one of the best rock- guitarists. It´s the differece. You like him or not. And him also something else in King Crimson music. But the same answer : You like it or not. What is your opinion ?

[kbbarzso]

@FinnMove Definitely.

He's very underrated. If you listen to the solos he can do, and the rhythm parts he can do,l you wonder why he's not considered to be in the same tier as more popular people like Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. It's just a matter of the music. Maybe if Fripp had been in hugely sucessful bands like Cream or Led Zeppelin, he would be in that tier, but he chose to be in bands like Bowie's and King Crimson, which have much less commercial appeal.

[nicochoog]

@FinnMove I think this is the perfect example of how wrong notes can be so right.

[AlexLenke]

This song has one of the greatest guitarsolos in it.

[pleutman]

Like this song and the 2nd reprize at the end of the album....Is it about putting camel shit in the walls?:well shit ferments and it gets hot and makes a good wall cavity heating system....

[maeusesheriff]

Perfect, hard Bowie Sound

[joethelion84]

How the hell can he sing/scream so well??!! sends chills up my spine

[panacea999]

Love this tune, it teeters on the brink of madness. Only Bowie would start a middle eight with "Documentaries on refugees..."!!

[scottishdanish]

i toshiba

meet you on some ippj

i really don't understand the situation

[niacom8]

The ONLY good song on the album, but so good it makes up for all the rest.

[Bminus420]

You guys are all fucking stupid I have the album in my fucking hand and its Part I you greasy cheeseburger eating mofos.

[ITeutonica]

Congratulations on being a professional fan.

[Zigaldiam]

great new version of a song David wrote around 1970 called,Tired Of My Life.this is much more raucous.classic song.thanks for the posting,Zig.

[FugginNorb]

Really? It's labeled on the album articles as no. 1. I see, there's a no. 2 that I missed.

[FugginNorb]

It's not part one, it's number 1

[Bminus420]

It's Part I you fuggin-norb. Part II can be found on Scary Monsters.

[bresmith]

They can both be found on scary monsters, but it is no. 1 not Part 1 you moron.

[eliseandnicky]

does any one know how to find Its no Game Part 2???

[mechanicalvalve]

Dear God Bowie never ceases to amaze me. He sounds incredible here.

[FinnMove]

Robert Fripp steals the show here by his

masterful monstreous guitar work !

[bresmith]

My favorite bowie songs have Fripp on guitar.

[TheScumwhisperer]

My favourite Fripp songs always have Bowiepoos on vocals

[ivankaramasov]

Is that meant to be as stupid as it sounds?

[TheScumwhisperer]

to be insulted by these fascists is so degrading

[missasegei]

So wheres the moral people have their fingers broken.. To be insultede by these fascists its so degrading.

[kenfig]

Looks like jonathan ross in this photo

[aidenmnuroff]

wow

[jackhillty]

the only man who could get away with sreaming shut up to robert fripp

[moondustx8]

Pleas, come back !!!! Please, please !!!!.... Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so !!!!

[frenchfanbowie42]

i buy my first disk vinyl of bowie because a love ashes to ashes song, i love him!!!

[izyakat]

Yeah, the lyrics in this half of the song are simply the lyrics of the second half translated into japanese. It's pretty :) I think Scary Monsters is probably the best of David Bowie's albums and was pretty much the peak of his career. Does anyone know if a matching music video was ever made?

[RICECAKEGOESWHEE]

The japanese language sounds really pretty when spoken. And David is probably at his best here. I've heard someone describe his performance 'as if he's ripping out his intestines'. One of my favorite bowie songs.

[AzzieAvenell]

amazing pic of bowie

[ZZZwolverineZZZ]

what is that language the girl sings? Is it Japanise? I found the lyrics, but I could not figure it out? Does anyone know what it says?

[JasonBNYC]

Yep, Japanese. I'm pretty sure the lyrics are a translation of what comes next (in English).

[supermaggo]

he's one of the best singer!!!

[onlessin]

Lovely crazy sound...

[cycimian]

onlessin im still waiting for the 3/4 beat done in a 4/4 rythem to this tune. It was a concert from im still looking after that then this is a rag tune.

[wackinoffski]

I LOVE this song! woke up with it in my head today!

[Dizazstar]

It's a bit like the olympics!

[andrewelo]

I love this, one of the best songs from the 'Scary Monsters' album

[mistersloppy]

you are so right my friend...was singing the japanese part to my girlfriend and couldn't believe i remembered it all....only pheonetically of course