David Bowie In The Port of Amsterdam

[htti]

though there's an original exists, he owns what he tries to sing..

[tollou90]

Jacques Brel's version is in french and I dont know french,so, I like more this version... I don't understand why is so bad that he made a cover

[LofAndPies]

Share the love, not the hate ppl

[pierreeuhx]

Actually I would say that it isn't a bad version, but I'im sure about one thing, the original version singed by Jacques Brel sounds better, He was a real poet, and showed it by singing to.

[terrypussypower]

Top version !

[madscottydaniel]

Does anyone know wheres theres footage of anyone doing the hand movements and physical storytelling people used to do to this song?

[tanpiltanpil]

Nearly all rock audiences wouldn't have even heard of Brel if it hadn't been for Bowie!

[shreenisheeth]

This is ok,but Brel's song is the best!No one is even thousand miles close to his song.

[josman91]

Even though I love David Bowie, this just can't be compared to Jacques Brel.

[skasso12]

good job bowie!

[geenfatsoen]

yes Bowie / ziggy stardust was better than the new bowie.. greetz dikkeman.nl

[MrHumphreyDavy]

Bowie's not Interpreting Brel, he's interpreting Walker, Brel is where it's at but Walker does the best English translations of his songs in my opinion (just an opinion folks). Check out "Scott Walkers birthday message for David Bowie" here on youtube, it's possibly the kindest gesture I've heard from one artist to another.

[BaalZobel]

all just opinions, Music is for each of us, the way we hear it is for us, What I hear is not what you hear. Do not tell me that what you hear is what I should hear. There are many paths yours is not mine.

[UncleYuba]

I like Bowie. I like his version.

No one is close to the original.

Mr. Brel does something ... something ... he just rules!!

There is this woman ...

She is getting there.

[kgillerable]

Camille O Sullivans version is the best. Love Bowie, but not a patch on Camille.

[mccaem]

Wonderful version !

[ricsi99]

+++++_fr

[marebitono]

The port of Amsterdam is from a play by Bertolt Brecht called, "Baal". Bowie wasn't born yet.

[imaginerie1]

superbe

[SenseOfDoubt1]

The other Brel cover Bowie did - "My Death" - is magnificent, and I love his interpretation of "Amsterdam", too. Why shouldn't there be a great cover which stands in its own right besides a great original?

[colpeir]

I don't really like this interpretation. Bowie almost tried to turn it into a sad song. While not originally a cheesy or happy song, it was a tribute to a wild and carefree night of sailors. His somewhat effeminate voice doesn't do it justice either, as if he's singing about something that's happening in the distance. Brel's masculine and warm voice almost sucks you exactly into what is happening in his song.

[jimburgus]

as if brel would've give a flying fuck how many times better than bowie he is, or vice versa.. maybe a million, franchement?

[mydreamiscalledbowie]

@denzkore C'est vrai que la version de Brel est magnifique mais ici, Bowie le chante d'une autre manière, c'est tout. Mais c'est quand même une bonne reprise je trouve. :)

[denzkore]

rien avoir avec Jaques Brel, franchement Jacques est 1000 fois mieux que david bowie

[bagolut]

Brel n'aura jamais que le 10ème de

l 'importance de Bowie dans la culture populaire, que tu le veuilles ou non

[denzkore]

@bagolut c'est possible, mais Jacques chante "amsterdam" comme un homme pas comme un gay ;) que tu le veuilles ou non.

[jansenelke]

nee, david, ist total d

aneben

[zelittlegrenouille]

J'aime énormément Bowie, beaucoup plus que Brel. Mais cette chanson reste mieux en francais et chantée par Brel....

[ranelaghm8]

Brel's has dynamics that Bowie flattend a bit too much.

About singing: I'd like to hear who's best from Bowie. I'm sure he'd say what I think too

[CRIMSONK4OS]

Brel's version have more emotion coz he wrote it but Brel isn't as good as Bowie for singing. I really don't like Brel's voice and way of singing.

[sika031]

@CRIMSONK4OS Bowie is singing while Brel is living the song!

[CRIMSONK4OS]

@sika031 It's what I said... but  I still don't like Brel's version.

[sika031]

@CRIMSONK4OS I feel more emotions when I'm listening to a Brel's song than a Bowie's song, even if I do really like David Bowie too. It's not about the talent of each one, but aqbout their own way of singing.

[DORIOR]

this is more panky version

[malthuswasright]

As a Brel fan I do like this version, but the video is from Life on Mars...

[TheVampyre86]

I really like David Bowie. He's a great singer but I prefer Brel's version. Even if Bowie sing it well I find something's missing.

[bloomaxxx]

not a bad cover, and done in a fairly original style, but.... not a patch on brel. and blue eyes? thats his eye shadow, bowie has eyes which are different colours to each other

[64blueblue]

This version, Bowie's version is THE BEST,and sorry all Brel fans-you're partially deaf.And I don't understand why your comments are here if you don't like David.

[Aureasaetas]

@64blueblue or maybe that's you who are deaf, hmmm???

And you can like both versions of Brel and Bowie, but prefer one in the same time.

[Wakaye14]

Bowie is one of my favorite singer, but i gotta admit that Brel's version is by far the best. Bowie's better at singing his own songs.

[MashkaZelandiashi]

wow, I really love Brel.

[bladieblaad]

De Dijk and Acda & munik have pretty good Dutch versions of this song.

[ericrad7]

just listened to brel, better than Bowie, you are havin a laugh

[JRDonsimoni]

Jacques Brel is by far the greatest performer for this song, as is every original singer to his/her original song as they are the ones who feel them, who know them. Only exception is The Righteous Brothers' version of Unchained Melody which I prefer to the original by The Platters... Bowie is good, but in my opinion this song was never his to sing...sorry :)

[hearditman]

Trend jumping. However, it introduced a lot of people to Brel. not a bad thing.

[innschbrucka]

How fucking bad is that? people, please listen to AMSTERDAM by JAQUES BREL

[ezaube1030]

I first knew Bowie's version, which I have always loved, and of course Jacques Brels original is magnificent. It is not fair to say that Bowie murdered the song, he just gives it a different interpretation. Besides this, some of Bowie's live covers of Brels "My Death" are true masterpieces.

[Blackmilk81]

The Bowie at the Beeb version is 100 times better than this one

[charlesbrennan91]

this is fucking atrocious. murdered the song.

[polarkreis201]

lucky guy with this falconpunched eye 

[Hampers91]

The dutch version is great as well: "De stad Amsterdam by Acda en de Munnik

[SabbraCadabra789]

One of my favourite Bowie songs, imo well better than Brel's version.

[kingscourtchess]

Don't think Bowie understands Brel's Amsterdam.

[64blueblue]

@kingscourtchess Don't think you understand David's version.

[Bowiefan1214]

@kingscourtchess I think he understand it and just shows us it in a very different way, more of a balled I suppose.

[aiccu]

@kingscourtchess You don't think? =) I think Bowie understood it just fine. You just don't get it that someone can make his own version. Well, accept it and live with that.

[erbro]

This is a perfectly valid interpretation. I love Brel's, I love this one too

[CBSEye]

I think Rod Mckuen's live versions of this song beats them all. Met Bowie once in '72. Facinating creature. - JG

[angellopezvila]

TINC UN PIRATA COMPRAT AL RASTRO , AUTENTIC !!! ...

[witchkiwi]

I tend to agree that both Brel and Scott Walker's versions of this song are more emotional but I remember this song from my youth and this song has given me a strong introduction to Brel and Walker, Two artisits I would have never found if it hadn't been for Bowie. All three artists bring their own power to this song.

[AAvdH]

Alright... I first heard the Dutch version of this song by Acda en de Munnik, then the original by Brel and now this one. It might be because I'm Dutch myself, but I prefer the Dutch one. But, to everyone their own.

[HenryHammondsworth]

Strange to see so many people comparing this to Brel's original. But this is a different song, you know; English temper is so different from French—what do you expect? Very cool.

[mmedeuxchevaux]

@HenryHammondsworth  i agree with you henry. i happen to love bowie's interpretation and find passion in it. it doesn't diminish the original. some artist's butcher original work. but, i think bowie was paying homage - and doing a damn good job of it. i watch and listen to this video often. it works for me.

[meineusername]

@mmedeuxchevaux "it doesn't diminish the original"? LOL! The very idea of anyone - let alone Bowie - diminishing Jacques Brel. You're hilarious. Brel was unique. Nobody can copy him, improve on him or diminish him. He stands alone.

[mmedeuxchevaux]

@meineusername a tad snarky, are you? i was responding to someone who thought bpwie's version was better than brel's. i love bowie's interpretation. jacques brel's is perfection. i love both screamin' jay hawkins' and marilyn manson's versions of "i put a spell on you" equally. the artist who originally writes a song is judged for conceiving the song itself. the artist who does a cover of the song is judged for his/her interpretation of the original. lol.

[olizum00]

@HenryHammondsworth

Completely agree with you but sorry Brel was not french but belgian !

[aiccu]

@HenryHammondsworth Precisely! This "competition" sounds like French and British still have some issues to deal with ;)

[tandmark]

Had Bowie written this, it would have been an interesting change of pace for him. I like his work a lot, so this should be something I'd like.

But Jacques Brel wrote and performed this song instead. Brel's performance was stronger by far, being perhaps the greatest male song-performer of the 20th Century, from any country, in any language. Brel's actual lyrics were even stronger than this poor translation (or, more accurately, this weak adaptation).

A bad artistic decision for Bowie.

[blackbecks]

even though I am an avid Bowie fan, I have to admit brel's version is more intense and better.

[meineusername]

Pale imitation of Brel ... sorry

[aiccu]

@meineusername You think he imitated Brel? I guess you don't know Bowie at all ;)

[nuid1]

@aiccu Pale Imitation: Definition:

something that is similar to but not as good as something else

'Modern luxury ships are a pale imitation of the glamour and style of the early ocean liners'

(Definition of pale imitation noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

[aiccu]

@nuid1 Thanks, I always love people who read a lot and know what they are talking about ;)

[meineusername]

@aiccu You're welcome. As you can see, a "pale imitation" is an expression and it does not mean the same as straightforwardly "imitating" someone. Hence a "Pale imitation of Brel" does not mean that Bowie imitated Brel. Or tried to.

[aiccu]

@meineusername Well, my comment was meant to be ironic :D I just love to see when people patronize other people and try to raise above them ;)

[yoeppy2]

The dutch version isn't bad either ^^ a really good translation of Jaques' original :)

[henharro]

Zombie-Bowie's singing is just a pain in the a s s - an insult to genius Brel

[christinamaria36DKQ]

Well...I thought that Bowie was the writer...hmm hmm...:)

But..IT IS GENIUS...FOR NOW & EVER

[jdcwcs21]

He ruined the song!

[felixrex20021]

Listen to the German Version of Hildegard Knef. Nicely done aswell and her voice and interpretation depict very nice the situation.

[JaniesGAG]

Brel is the writer and the best interpreter. Sorry David, but it's true.

[irishrOOkin]

I really like david bowie , but i do prefer this song when it's Brel singing it

[ziggy95]

Bowie - This song = superb, you try singing it ???

I known when I was 20 odd I couldn't

[Leustacia]

I dislike adapted and translated songs as a rule, but this is really a beautiful version, and quite faithful to the original's lyrics.

[LatynaH]

i prefer brel , the original composer of this song ..

[falcotje]

i love bowie's vesion best

[jacinthebox92]

Finally they drink to the ladies

Which they give their attractive bodies

Which they give their vertues

For a golden piece

And when they drank well

Get it all wrong the nose in the sky

Blow themselves in etoiles

And they piss as I tear

On the infideles women

[akilshaw904]

IN THE PORT OF AMSTERDAM..

[witchkiwi]

This was on the B side of the single of Sorrow.

The quality of this song turned me on to the hidden beauty of B side songs.

This song has to be 40 years old. I think it was released by Bowie in 1971or 72. Still powerful

[barakobama]

"...to the old willow tree...." Now that is what I am talking about!

[salmig99]

All in all, DB is a better singer than Jacques.. but where's the emotion of the original..?

[saoirseterri]

I must admit I think it's a mervelous song no matter who sings it and full praise to Brel's brilliance for composing such a classic

[nicloetje]

Brel's version is the best by far but you should hear the dutch version by de Dijk. They have the pure rawness the Dutch really have and which goes so well with the song.

[travismfinj]

I honestly prefer bowies version, much, much, more. He was a god given performer.

[tubedepateadents]

Oh God.... Bowie should learn french instead of singing that........it's almost embarrassing...

As a native french speaker, I think brel's version is ROCKING ALL THE WAY!

C'est vrai quoi, il enlève tout le cachet de la version que jacques brel lui avait donné.

[mdryeti]

@tubedepateadents

Belle leçon de chauvinisme, félicitations.

*applaudit*

[thetinalyons]

This period of Bowie's career was too Anthony Newley and emotionally cool for this song. Why he even decided to take on a classic from Jacques Brel - and translate it poorly - I don't know.

[paulporthcawl]

breils version , is the classic !!

[autodafeh242]

David i love u...Chris from Amsterdam son of a sailor......

[mirtille64]

A vouloir égaler une légende on ramasse ses dents à la petite cuillère...

[travattore]

@scatix captain obvious

[TheAgapeetus89]

This song is blasphemy when compared to original

[ezaube1030]

It is his very own interpretation of the great original by Jacques Brel and I love it so much, as well as his cover of "My Death"

[pititediablesse]

the original from Brel is the best ever. BUT this one is quite good covered thats true :) especially because it is Bowie :)

[GabriStellinaDelRock]

i love this man

[elzashan]

I was in a record shop yesterday and saw this on a single B-side to sorrow. Thinking 'I havn't heard this one before', I bought it for £2 and when I got it home, the bloody thing was bent!!! :O But this is class. Nice one Bowie.

[Akheronus]

Brel's way is the unique that takes me to the 7th level of the sky.

If you wanna stay as original, you will produce your own instead of using someone else's original. Bowie made the biggest mistake of his music career by imitating Brel's one of the masterpiece.

[claybartlett]

@Akheronus Come on, he's imitating Scott Walker imitating Brel (but I still love it)

[ultrage4]

@Akheronus It's a cover, many singers do it, it is just their own interpretation of some random music that is successful. Many great singers did covers, like Elvis Presley and Peggy Lee. Its perfectly normal, not a mistake, but I do know what you mean by the "Brel's way", it is indeed quite special.

[CEDMAN02]

super musique mais rien ne remplace l'original!

[kenzo92i]

@CEDMAN02 brel a trop la classe

[amirNasser112]

what a copy of jacques brel

[Hellasse]

Dave von Ronk is better than Bowie :)

[gracio78]

Stop saying Brel's original or Walker's version is better than this! We all got this by now!!...but nobody can say Bowie doesn't know how to put something of his own in his interpretation of this masterpiece. We are lucky to have all versions side by side on youtube and I sometime prefer listening to this version, others Brel's or Walker's..and I bet most of you do the same.

[spark1ystuff]

Um, his eyes are two different colors, not both blue.

But the song is nice, I've never heard it before. Thanks for posting it.

[ewanfanatic88]

@spark1ystuff both eyes are blue, one is just permanently dilated

[Naiant]

OK, I've listened to the whole thing now. You *need* to hear Brel sing it.

[ALBAROSASEL]

@Naiant Brel's version obviously is great. But Bowie's one is glamorous and dramatic too

[EnthusiastMonicle]

@Naiant damn straight, to be fair, there aren't many people who can equal Brel, particularly since it is his song

[Naiant]

You can find a version of it by Brel himself on youtube that has English subtitles. Well worth watching.

[placeforfuture]

It's the Jacques Brel's great song "Amsterdam", translated and performed by David Bowie

[DelicatFloydian]

haha 0:02 he seems like an orgasm face lol

[TheKiwiwitch]

The B side of the single Sorrow. I wore out the record. The wonder of this song turned me on to the unknown songs that linger on the B side

[epigonoye]

Brel's version is by far the best coz u can feel his real emotion!!!!

[johnnyjohnny81]

brassens not superior its a different mood...if u want to learn french with all in one my choice would be serge Gainsbourg 7 degree...

[oilmanC]

john denver does a better job on this song!

[Rlassiter]

I agree....not many can touch Scott's versions of Brel.

[mondosolorzano]

nice

but can't touch Scott

but it's cool 

[blasketboy]

why the fuckin vid, nothing is worse!

[TheAxellle]

else, foret, gardienne , next ancien cote d or et biere wielemans ceuppens (emi)

32-33,

[Plutonion2]

I used to love this version by bowie when i was young .i havent heard it in ages

but it's still fab .I Think it was only available as the the B side of "Sorrow" single

and wasn't available on any of the bowie albums .Unfortunatley all my old 45 singles are scratched beyond playable .

[scatix]

Brel's version is by far the best!

[mingmcv]

@scatix Of course it is! But Bowie is great because there is still magic in the song which he can spread...

[GeorgeTel100]

@scatix Brel's version?? He WROTE the song!

[PytOon1]

@GeorgeTel100 no he don't wrote the song it's Gérard Jouannest the writter

[notjustanynick]

@PytOon1 no he didn't. He wrote several songs for Brel en was his pianist, but Amsterdam was written by JB himself.

[AshtonArcher]

@scatix Even Bowie would acknowledge that! :)

[kicknetik]

@scatix it's the best if it's the only one you heard.. or understand perhaps.

check out brel's version.. it's night and day.

[kurt2890]

@scatix no shit, sherlock

[patatorish]

each persone got is interpretation of muzic nothing is wrong nothing is right im french from bretagne and i love the song from brel but bowie do what i want but what is the most important the singer or the song

[yvesofzo]

Shame the video is from a different song///

[sgizzle248]

If you don't like this version then don't listen to it. Everyone has their own interpretations of music. Open your minds and allow yourselves to be swallowed by all different aspects of music. and don't knock other people's efforts. Two different versions (Brel and Bowie) both good for different reasons.

[ggcaille]

je n'aime pas du tout cette version c'est une insulte a Jacques Brel

[ArthorBearing]

@ggcaille You frogs just hate the English, it's an excellent version

[Daphneefrance]

@ArthorBearing

wahou... that is such a primitive thought. one thing i know for sure is that I don't like you.

[dgloom]

Used to play this as a B side in Lancs & yorks (Bamber Bridge, Preston)

Landladie hated it but rest of pub loves it.

Class !!

[thiery60]

This is the best interpreting version of the great Brel's song, but if so it's becouse Bowie just copy and not interprated. I don't blame him. He's such a great artist, but he understood how difficult it was to do better than Jacques did. Thanks david, you proove that Jacques is one of the best french writer and interpreter of the world.

[alvinvdv]

Bowie...... one of the greatest!

But not great as Brel!!!

[alvinvdv]

Bowie...... one of the greatest!

But not as Brel!!!

[foncleaa]

no way la version de brel reste la plus belle !

[Lithana69]

Super version d'"Amsterdam", j'vais m'acheter un poisson rouge que j'appellerai Bowie

[acentogalego]

HERMOSA VERSION DE BOWIE DE ESTA HERMOSISIMA CANCIÓN DE BRELL.

EN YOU TUBE TENGO 40 VIDEOS CON CANCIONES DE MI REPERTORIO

UN CANTAUTOR DE GALICIA-ESPAÑA

XOÁN EIRIZ

[clairoobscur]

I must disagree with most of the previous posters. I think that Bowie's version is as moving and powerful as Brel's original. Which isn't a cheap compliment, given I'm a huge fan of Brel. In fact I'm amazed that so different singers can channel the same kind of emotion singing the same song.

[Goob2112]

I'm a huge Bowie fan, but I still like Brel's original and Scott Walker's cover better. I do enjoy this though.

[wolvie14]

Sorry , David, but Brel would feel insulted

[zabawkarz]

@wolvie14 David presents us with his version in own style , not copy of Brel ,

[wolvie14]

Sorry , Dvid, but Brel would feel insulted

[SmallTanga]

Quelle insulte pour ce pauvre Brel !

[bvscfanatic]

I studied French 40+ yrs ago, and I'm fluent in Spanish. I've studies other languages briefly. Brel wrote with such passion about subjects such as love, death and war, that translating the full power of his words directly into English seems impossible. For most of in the US, "Jacques Brel Is Alive & Well, etc." (the Eric Blau/Mort Shuman translation) was our introduction to Brel & must be admired for what it was and what it accomplished. I saw it in Boston in 1971 and I still love it.

[jessicarc14]

french version is better

[R0ckyoursoul]

The lyrics in french are much more powerful ...but i like this version too. Rien ne vaut toutefois Jacques Brel...

[amiraltoto]

not even close to brel...

[5463486]

pathetic impression of the worlds best singer..

[DirtyEndOfWinter]

I love Bowie but i think i prefer Scott Walker's version

[SuperDutchman007]

Sucks. Brel rules!

[phalanxgripper]

show us ya tits!!

[andzwe]

It only now occurs to me how much he sounds like Kevin Coyne in this one, especially in the first part.

[calousand100]

fantastique !!!

[vinniyo]

youre silly

[muhans]

bowie is gay junkie 

[thecouze]

I have been raised with this song (Brel).... 30 years later I have just discovered that Bowie did his version!!!???!?!? Well done... he put his touch and the English touch... for once a great song has been remade without being destroyed... ok I am late.

[artgenies]

It would have been great and perfect if the post-synchonisation had been been well-made. But we want is music, doesn't we ?

[M4rmelade]

Brel's original song ;-)

I like Bowie but he's nothing compared to The Great Brel, the best singer, song writter and performer of all time...search for "Brel live Amsterdam" click on the first video and prove me wrong !! :D