Warszawa - David Bowie - Low

[Gefilta]

I like the changing colours, with the music brings out the Clockwork Orange

[theone456]

I know its been said before but the music in the second half of low, really does give the representation of life in East Germany during the cold war, the despair and lifelessness.

[leonakita]

what is he singing?..i' ve always wondered

[i1r3e]

@leonakita Some random words. ;)

[CommandoReko]

@i1r3e Nope.

[CommandoReko]

@leonakita Here's all the words. I read them from the album (I'm not sure what language it is): So-lavie di-le-jo So-lavie mi-le-jo He-li venco de-ho Che-li venco de-ho Malio He-libo se-yo-man He-libo se-yo-man Malio Malio

[strzebowiska]

As I wrote somewhere else, Bowie got inspired by the song "Helokanie" from "Śląsk. The Polish Song and Dance Ensemble, vol. 2".

He was travelling from Moscow to Paris on Ost-West Express and purchased some LP's while the train had a technical stop in Warsaw. That's it.

[margethemouse]

@strzebowiska thanks for the background info, I checked out the song you mentioned, sorry I'm replying as you addressed me personally!

[FaulFerkel]

it sounds pretty arabian or asian but why is it called Warszawa?

[TheBitterSweetgr]

Impeccable Berlin atmosphere.....

[edwigederer]

love

[durcysaloon]

This song is kind of haunting. It sort of sounds like a song that would be at the begging of a movie.

[warhols25]

David should come to Warszawa nowadays, after all these years... the song would probably have none of these unnerving and strangely pessimistic overtones. Our Polish capital and Poland in general has immensely changed ever since Bowie's last stay here in 1976. Sir David, feel welcome to come to Poland. I recommend that You also should definitely see my home town of Lodz. Instead of spending Your leisure on the Bahama beaches, Your stay in Poland will inspire You to write new stuff, I'm certain.

[Davmicon]

Excellent work on the graphic, i1r3e - agh, I remember it well first shot is his Billie Whitelaw look. Sppoky electronics from the Man who can - Big up to Kraftwerk. Saw turning to the european canon as cathartic.

[19zuzka94]

why this song is called 'warszawa'?

[josepht44]

@19zuzka94 I think he named the song while waiting for a train in warsaw.

im guessing by the overall tone of the song that the train station had a sad kinda depressing feeling about it.

[foonlyvision]

so SICK

[MrLuciferSam]

friggin coke-heads - LOL

[FrancoDamn]

versatility of time and artist, not like Cher's 1999 hit and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance, when in 10 years, nothing changed

[GoonerAli]

2010.02.16 = Comment #48. = 5 star. TY.

[gorillabelly1]

Wasn't until many years after this song was released that I sought to find out which Bowie album it came from and to buy it, as the theme repeated throughout this song stayed with me all that time, more than any other song on this album. Art Decade was quite memorable too. So, for me, I suppose it was the more eerie melodies from Low that struck me all along, as opposed to the more obvious, pop-oriented tracks like Sound and Vision.

[kjsh987]

i like it

[warzsawa80]

I think Dead Can Dance was influenced by this song

[jocksilver7]

my final word...old as f*** but still effective - I want it played on my funeral party!

[jocksilver7]

emulates,,,not "emultaes"

[macfreak18]

@jocksilver7 Could've been a typo dude, it can happen. Look at how close the word was spelled, he/she was probably typing fast. It'd be like me saying "It's '...' not ',,,'".

[jocksilver7]

@macfreak18 do you mean the mistake in "emultaes"? But it's me correcting myself!!! Check : jocksilver7 twice! I'm not teaching any one here, although I am one by trade! If you mean the polish bloke, well he did mention Cds referring to 1976-77 - and that is no typo, ok?... ...dude?

[macfreak18]

@jocksilver7 oh lol i guess thatd make sense. well dont hate yourself cuz of a mistake = P ...... dude

[jocksilver7]

...so Gen went back to the bookstore to see if he could grab some of those fabulous 1976 CD's...but all he coulf find was some worn out posters from a wacked Nicolas Roeg's alien movie, in which mr jones exposes his...erm...crotch and another one, in profile, with a brand new hooded anorak. Gen thought "wot ei brilliant sleeve diz'd be; E must warn Dave ov thee impact it'll 'ave on urban kids decades from now!..."

[jocksilver7]

needless to say, Genesis P Orridge, was lurking from behind the coffee machine and heard it all...

[kjsh987]

i have a question and before someone judge me i have to say that i realy love bowie´s song and i think that is awesome.the question is. he still being bisexual?

[Gorviee]

Hmm, I don't think he was ever really bisexual; he said he was because it suited his Ziggy Stardust character, and thats the lifestyle alot of people in Europe were living at the time. He realised that people weren't as accepting of that lifestyle in America, so he said saying he was bisexual "was the biggest mistake he ever made". But I'm not sure if all this is true. Someone correct me if I'm wrong,

[kjsh987]

@Gorviee thanks for the answer.that picture is yours?

[Gorviee]

@kjsh987 My display picture? Yeah, it's me.

[MrSKINFLICK]

@Gorviee: Sexual life of different people can have always a variety. I´ve had sex with bisexuals (who are better than many narcisstic gays), but being discreet was always a good advice for seeing them again, because they did not want that their girlfriends/wives found out about it !

Personally i don´t give a damn about Bowie´s sex life (he´s sexually not my zype) but he´s a great great artist.

Some chatterboxes wanted to know in the 70s that he had affairs with Mick Jagger+Lou Reed,who cares?

[macfreak18]

@kjsh987 there was an answer to your question, but i had to say this. if i were you, i wouldn't worry about it, since sexuality is a chemical in your brain from birth... so because of this discovery by scientists, religion is outdated. i love science

[Gibuz94]

It's strange this song, but it make me calm and relaxed and David Bowie is a great!

[Snuffomatica]

This was composed and arranged by Brian Eno with a little help from Tony Visconti's (producer) son.

Bowie added the vocalization on top.

[margethemouse]

....wow.

[SELFproclaimedVIRGIN]

I AM A VIRGIN

[macfreak18]

@SELFproclaimedVIRGIN MOST RANDOM COMMENT I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!

[SELFproclaimedVIRGIN]

howard stern knows I AM A VIRGIN so it is not as random as you may think

[macfreak18]

@SELFproclaimedVIRGIN well... plus your name says so too. and so? many people might know you're a virgin anyways... its more of the fact that i saw you comment on this song of david bowies with nothing relating to it.......... unless you consider your virginity "low"

[sparks377]

not afican more hindu i think

[MrJellybaby1969]

Much of Bowies work at this time was done in Berlin a time where he was very creative.

[RFNIP]

omg...:P dlaczego nazwal utwór warszawa skoro pisal go w gdańsku ???

[ClavarPL]

nie napisał tego w gdańku tylko w warszawie. wracał z rosji do anglii, wysiadł na stacji 'warszawa gdańska' i spacerował tam...

[ponytashagal]

I think some of the songs on Low, including this and Weeping Wall have some African influence, yes?

[sissel35]

Definetly one of my absolute Bowie favourites,I bought LOW when I was about 15years and just fell in love with especially Warszawa..I had no idea that this album was regarded,"a piece of shit" remember how I just knew I would love that record always... Now I know why,Eno/Bowie delicious combination,timeless...

[001puch001]

Yes, I know excactly what you mean,

I bought the record when I was 19 years and no one ever looked at it!

This is the best!

[percy8ferry]

This is THE most amazing record. Every song is a masterpeice.

Breathlessly original, the whole record, side 2 in particular is utterly compelling.

BRAVO David. Sheer genius.

[stephenpaulbeckett]

@percy8ferry I can remember getting this about 30 years ago and being totally knocked out. Just before Maggie Thatchers era and the height of the cold war. Seemed to be a prophesy then, thankfully not. Still, 30years on an awesome track. A bit of a coincidence went to Rome in 2009 and Eno had a sound sculpture exhibition on at a museum. Weird but good. He hasn't moved on much listening to this now. love light and peace paul beckett

[4everA3]

Deze man was (is) zijn tijd ver vooruit!! wat een Genie!!

[sekkletube]

i have this on 12', BRAP.. we call it collumus music... sega game

[mijand]

it was recorded in Paris,France.Bowie wanted out of his RCA contract and recorded a 'pile of shit'album,sales were awful.but it`s years ahead of it`s time,very moody,i can almost see polish refugees trudging through the mud,the man is a genius.bowie is god.

[vannesalp]

for other people: a song "Warszawa" was made in Poland, David Bowie using the stationary train at the railway station of Warsaw to Gdańsk chose to walk to the nearby square Komuny Paris, where in the bookstore purchased several CDs. One of them was the recording of Polish folk songs performed by the Song and Dance Ensemble "Silesia" [in polish ŚLĄSK :) ]

[dehomag]

CD was invented couple years later... :)

[jocksilver7]

@dehomag incredible how these people fanta-SIZE!!... I was expecting him to say : "Then he met a priest with a kind smile and look in his eyes...he asked him : where are you bound my son? dave replied "To Gdansk , Father". "If you meet Lech Walesa give him my regards, will you, David": "Father how do you know my name?" "Come on, dave, an aryan jew travelling from station to station...? It's written on your cheekbones!!" "Father, who are..." - "I'm Karol Woytila and soon you'll be hearing of me!

[ziggy99]

So powerful...Thanx Bowie & Eno great teamwork in Berlin one of the greatest ever created

[Nuiceltico]

Where the band 'Japan'(David Sylvian) meets Bowie

[appbadder]

Check out: Gorecki Symphony No. 3 "Sorrowful Songs" - Lento e Largo (This will make you cry)

Aphex Twin - Heliosphan is a good track to recover. There you go a journey of the senses if you want it!

[shopper332]

This is so powerful - incredibly moody and atmospheric

[youset1983]

ma basta con sto "favorito da Eno". Bowie è un genio.

[kontarkorz]

mi sa che alla fin fine anche bowie e'un bel guitto inventato di "sana pianta" (sempre da visconti o chi per lui?)

cmq.questo e'forse uno dei suoi picchi lirico/artistici,forse in buona parte favorito dalla collaborazione con ENO,(piu'che altro..)

[LadyGrinningSoul08]

This song moves me to tears.

[RedheadMetalC]

david bowie is good

[GoonerAli]

I liked the red bits.lol

[jocksilver7]

@GoonerAli agree, but did you notice the orange ones? There's the answer to this video - it truly emultaes the chromatic nuances from the original sleeve - it's Berlin orange, true Kreuzberg!

[GoonerAli]

@jocksilver7 Indeed. "Bravo!"