I saw this live in 1977. Fabulous way to introduce the "new" Bowie. But to correct misimpressions: Eno wrote the music...Bowie added vocals after the fact. The music was already recorded by the time Bowie heard the song for the first time. That is what I read at the time...
This music is not from tatra mountains but from Beskidy.David was Warsaw in 1977 I think and bought LP from Slask leading by Hadyna and used this music which seems strange for him
what a dandy tune. This song really captures a sad mood of ww2, though i'm not really sure if it's about ww2 warsaw. Polish people are great and I love them. From Newfoundland.
@ROMEORAUNCH well, TECH-NIC-ALLY he co-wrote it with eno. and because these too brilliant minds came together we have this incredible piece and the album it came from
dziwne...patrzę sobie David Bowie "Warszawa". David nie był polakiem, nie mieszkał w Polsce, więc nie wiem czemu ten utwór nosi taki tytuł. Jest tyle pięknych miast na świecie a on wybrał naszą Warszawę...Zaszczyt kopnął nas w dupsko. ;]]]]]]]]
I think this music was created around the time that Gorecki had premiered his 3rd Symphony " Sad Songs" in Polish. The symphony - whether it influenced this piece of music or not- is a slow moving minimalist piece of immense beauty, with Dawn Upshaw singing Soprano. If you like Warszawa, you might also like Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. ( his name is pronounced Gore- ess- kee).
@highway61grant well put ! thats what makes bowie, bowie !.. lets hope he has some inspiration left following his heart attack to give us one more creative burst before he leaves this world.
I went to the recording of Stage in Philadelphia the first of two which comprise the album. I think this recording is the best you can see Bowie as a creative person.
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.
@warhols25 oh come on. I'm so fed up with my countrymen singing Poland's praises. It sounds like begging for some attention. BTW if somebody prefers Bahama beaches it's ok. Let ppl live their lives the way they want to.
great album! jump starts you off on an incredible high, and then leaves you a bit... LOW. absolute perfection for a rainy day alone. such a simple song, this one. instant transformation. I have no idea where I am when it plays, but it's a recognized place. very familiar. I'm not sure if I want to stay or leave. the time for weeping is over, right? musn't cry.
AND WHAT A GREAT SHOW THIS MUST HAVE BEEN. it's time to move on to the next station. don't be late!
I saw this tour. Bowie began the tour in San Diego, CA, U.S.A. Ended the desire to 'have to go to a concert'. Was a disjointed performance. Was supposed to make up for the 'StationtoStaion' disaster tour. Yes this was the opening song. Colored lights everywhere. Closer was 'Rebel Rebel'.
False advertising for this concert. Fewer songs, less time than advertised.
@rjpancerniCAUSA I saw Bowie a day or two after you at The Forum in LA. I was 12 rows from the stage, 2 rows off the floor.
"Disjointed"? It was one of the greatest gigs I've ever seen. Two of my favorite albums ("Low" and "``Heroes''") played live, are you kidding me?!? I thought the "Ziggy" mini-set was pointless, not the same band as the Spiders, no point in playing that material if you ask me ...
@RiotNrrrdUTube Yeah, that made things worse. That tour became better and better after each gig (based on what I read). A columnist saw the S.D. and the last U.S. gig. No comparison.
The '75 Station to Station, in San Diego was reported to be a complete fiasco.
this song is just amazing and puts me in a magical trance when I listen to it at night when I'm all alone. I love the whole Low album, especially how the first half of it is quite happy, then it turns into one of the frightening (in an incredible way) albums of all time.
hehe. I have no idea why in song named Warsaw i hear sound that seams to be from Tatra mountains:) Still it's a piece of good job and if i saw Warsaw in 70' i would be so sad as this song. WWII made this City desappere of the feace of this planet, now its Even preety:)
'WARSZAWA' I Think only David Bowie could create a peice of music like this that always makes me still beleive in what it is to be a caring human being and not to forget what some human being did to millions of their brothers in Warsaw not so many years ago - it is a chilling but somehow uplifting peice.
@Pendeho25 Well it was indeed inspired by desolate of 70's Warsaw. It was still quite ruined after war, it lost its diversity and wealth. Communist didn't help much: repression, shortages and overwhelming sadness was widespread. You can still see some of that, I call it scars of the past. Its full of them. It's the biggest difference from for example Prague.
Bowie visited Warsaw when he was coming back to England from Soviet Union in 1977 and the city created a bad impression on him (imagine communism etc)
I think this song is more haunting when performed live. Bowie's singing part never fails to send chills down my spine and the electric violin is a nice addition to the piece. I would have loved to have been at this concert!
good heavens! I've seen this vid a few times before but had never focused my attention on the 2nd keyboard player - creepy because he looks like gary numan? you doubt me? picture him miming car driving....
To think that little over a year before this, he almost died from overdosing...several times... that amazes me, the way he pulled his life together.
And this song! There are no words for it. It captures a distant time and place, a memory I don't know, yet I can see it whenever I listen to this song...it just blows me away.
Certainly not a mellotron- wrong back shape. Since he was using Chamberlain on the album, it would make sense I guess. But sadly can't give you an affirmative. Let's assume so and then try to not sound too geeky! Don't get me started on Eno's kit..
That track always puts me into a strange mood. But anyway I love it. The Low-album is great! Wish I could have seen that performance live. Someone give me a time-machine please :-)
@LadyScreaming i did when i was but a boy of 17 . he played glasgow apollo i seen him play this song live, you coulda cut the atmosphere with a knife!!! it was reflective, mind blowing, goose bump, material. oh to see the thin white duke 1 more time a true poet. lyricist performer. sincere wishes hugh
I saw this live in 1977. Fabulous way to introduce the "new" Bowie. But to correct misimpressions: Eno wrote the music...Bowie added vocals after the fact. The music was already recorded by the time Bowie heard the song for the first time. That is what I read at the time...
fourhawks01 1 month ago
fuck he looks like Luke Skywalker
Fenorn 1 month ago 2
To open a concert with basically an orchestral piece is great- what a beautiful piece of music...
andyr1313 2 months ago
This music is not from tatra mountains but from Beskidy.David was Warsaw in 1977 I think and bought LP from Slask leading by Hadyna and used this music which seems strange for him
2401Maciek 2 months ago
adrian belew looks so bored lmfao. like a kid wiggling around in church
newfuckingwave 2 months ago
Majestic song from a brilliant artist. This live version is captivating.
ajittffcure 3 months ago
what a dandy tune. This song really captures a sad mood of ww2, though i'm not really sure if it's about ww2 warsaw. Polish people are great and I love them. From Newfoundland.
5tar5z 3 months ago 2
sad how whole this Communism.
Wroclove
1nawe 4 months ago
bowie wrote every note. the man was and still is a musical genius.
ROMEORAUNCH 4 months ago
@ROMEORAUNCH well, TECH-NIC-ALLY he co-wrote it with eno. and because these too brilliant minds came together we have this incredible piece and the album it came from
newfuckingwave 2 months ago
brian eno inluenced most of the low album
ColdOasisU2 5 months ago
I wish I could have lived to see this live.
iamanutopian 8 months ago
dziwne...patrzę sobie David Bowie "Warszawa". David nie był polakiem, nie mieszkał w Polsce, więc nie wiem czemu ten utwór nosi taki tytuł. Jest tyle pięknych miast na świecie a on wybrał naszą Warszawę...Zaszczyt kopnął nas w dupsko. ;]]]]]]]]
ilenoiz 8 months ago
this song called "Warszawa" becouse when David Bowie was there it made sad impression for him what we can hear in this song. (it's very sad.)
I read it on polish wikipedia. ;) i'm polish. Greets for pl! ;)
oollkkaaa 10 months ago 2
I think this music was created around the time that Gorecki had premiered his 3rd Symphony " Sad Songs" in Polish. The symphony - whether it influenced this piece of music or not- is a slow moving minimalist piece of immense beauty, with Dawn Upshaw singing Soprano. If you like Warszawa, you might also like Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. ( his name is pronounced Gore- ess- kee).
r5t9m0 11 months ago
This piece of music evoked a scene from René Barjavel's "La Nuit des temps" (The Ice People).
3rdUncleBob 1 year ago
only Bowie would have the balls to try this during a concert and only Bowie could pull it off.
highway61grant 1 year ago 3
@highway61grant well put ! thats what makes bowie, bowie !.. lets hope he has some inspiration left following his heart attack to give us one more creative burst before he leaves this world.
leonakita 9 months ago
Thank Brian Eno for influencing Bowie on this
Locust1313 1 year ago 4
screw david beckham. david bowie is the true Golden Balls.
CleanLineFilms 1 year ago
Wuzza wuzza
doogdoogdoog 1 year ago
I went to the recording of Stage in Philadelphia the first of two which comprise the album. I think this recording is the best you can see Bowie as a creative person.
dnollmeyer 1 year ago
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.
warhols25 1 year ago 4
@warhols25 oh come on. I'm so fed up with my countrymen singing Poland's praises. It sounds like begging for some attention. BTW if somebody prefers Bahama beaches it's ok. Let ppl live their lives the way they want to.
MsLittlemee 1 year ago
Comment removed
lanternmatango 1 year ago
great album! jump starts you off on an incredible high, and then leaves you a bit... LOW. absolute perfection for a rainy day alone. such a simple song, this one. instant transformation. I have no idea where I am when it plays, but it's a recognized place. very familiar. I'm not sure if I want to stay or leave. the time for weeping is over, right? musn't cry.
AND WHAT A GREAT SHOW THIS MUST HAVE BEEN. it's time to move on to the next station. don't be late!
lanternmatango 1 year ago
I saw this tour. Bowie began the tour in San Diego, CA, U.S.A. Ended the desire to 'have to go to a concert'. Was a disjointed performance. Was supposed to make up for the 'StationtoStaion' disaster tour. Yes this was the opening song. Colored lights everywhere. Closer was 'Rebel Rebel'.
False advertising for this concert. Fewer songs, less time than advertised.
rjpancerniCAUSA 1 year ago
@rjpancerniCAUSA I saw Bowie a day or two after you at The Forum in LA. I was 12 rows from the stage, 2 rows off the floor.
"Disjointed"? It was one of the greatest gigs I've ever seen. Two of my favorite albums ("Low" and "``Heroes''") played live, are you kidding me?!? I thought the "Ziggy" mini-set was pointless, not the same band as the Spiders, no point in playing that material if you ask me ...
RiotNrrrdUTube 1 year ago
@RiotNrrrdUTube Yeah, that made things worse. That tour became better and better after each gig (based on what I read). A columnist saw the S.D. and the last U.S. gig. No comparison.
The '75 Station to Station, in San Diego was reported to be a complete fiasco.
No worries. S.D. was just a rehearsal to them.
rjpancerniCAUSA 1 year ago
ridiculous !
boulesquies 1 year ago
I think that I see Adrian Belew in the 3rd minute. This is Belew? Hmm?
szmeg 1 year ago
@szmeg I thought that...
genesisrock43 1 year ago
piękne...................
aniagniech 1 year ago
The beggining reminds of this....The Year: 1462 A.D.
CONSTANTINOPLE HAD FALLEN. MUSLIM TURKS SWEPT INTO EUROPE WITH
A VAST, SUPERIOR FORCE, STRIKING AT ROMANIA, THREATENING ALL OF
CHRISTENDOM. FROM TRANSYLVANIA AROSE A ROMANIAN KNIGHT, OF THE
SACRED ORDER OF THE DRAGON, KNOWN AS DRACULEA. ON THE EVE OF
THE BATTLE, HIS BRIDE ELISABETA WHOM HE PRIZED ABOVE ALL THINGS
ON EARTH KNEW THAT HE MUST FACE AN INSURMOUNTABLE FORCE FROM
WHICH HE MIGHT NEVER RETURN.
Snotra 1 year ago
This is my favourite Bowie song.
Marphis 1 year ago
no words
helly806 1 year ago
this song is just amazing and puts me in a magical trance when I listen to it at night when I'm all alone. I love the whole Low album, especially how the first half of it is quite happy, then it turns into one of the frightening (in an incredible way) albums of all time.
arlykamikaze 1 year ago
hehe. I have no idea why in song named Warsaw i hear sound that seams to be from Tatra mountains:) Still it's a piece of good job and if i saw Warsaw in 70' i would be so sad as this song. WWII made this City desappere of the feace of this planet, now its Even preety:)
Pendeho25 2 years ago 11
@Pendeho25
Thanks for your message about Bowies'
'WARSZAWA' I Think only David Bowie could create a peice of music like this that always makes me still beleive in what it is to be a caring human being and not to forget what some human being did to millions of their brothers in Warsaw not so many years ago - it is a chilling but somehow uplifting peice.
widthofacircle 2 years ago 6
@widthofacircle The Poles survived an awful lot and are richer for it.
Please see my tribute video: SPACER PO WARSZAWIE (THEY SURVIVED THEIR TYRANNIES!)
TheDustpile 1 year ago
@Pendeho25 Well it was indeed inspired by desolate of 70's Warsaw. It was still quite ruined after war, it lost its diversity and wealth. Communist didn't help much: repression, shortages and overwhelming sadness was widespread. You can still see some of that, I call it scars of the past. Its full of them. It's the biggest difference from for example Prague.
EnhancedNightmare 1 year ago
@Pendeho25
Bowie visited Warsaw when he was coming back to England from Soviet Union in 1977 and the city created a bad impression on him (imagine communism etc)
source: polish Wiki.
Funky92 1 year ago
@Pendeho25 david was in warsaw in '70 and thats song about the city
stupka1111 8 months ago
@Pendeho25 My people were largely repsonsible for that....sad.....
PeterMayer 1 month ago
I owe David Bowie a debt of gratitude for providing the first music I would go into deep trance and astral project while listening to.
This still stirs a memory of somewhere else whenever I hear it...
Atlantis perhaps ???
Zeuszgrl 2 years ago
Beautiful
ZWC777 2 years ago
Simon House on violin, another legend.
Bowiehawk 2 years ago 2
warsaw is not longer sad city look on youtube warsaw poland it was because russians and germans destroy poland allot of times ......
DavTSim2 2 years ago 4
I think this song is more haunting when performed live. Bowie's singing part never fails to send chills down my spine and the electric violin is a nice addition to the piece. I would have loved to have been at this concert!
PockyBebop 2 years ago
good heavens! I've seen this vid a few times before but had never focused my attention on the 2nd keyboard player - creepy because he looks like gary numan? you doubt me? picture him miming car driving....
jocksilver7 2 years ago 3
it's Adrian Belew (King Crimson's singer and guitarrist) as guitarrist in this 78 tour ! Two great masters of pop music.
Long Live to david and adrian!
Jorgewallyness 2 years ago 5
To think that little over a year before this, he almost died from overdosing...several times... that amazes me, the way he pulled his life together.
And this song! There are no words for it. It captures a distant time and place, a memory I don't know, yet I can see it whenever I listen to this song...it just blows me away.
margethemouse 2 years ago 6
Is that a chamberlin that Bowie is playing? Anyone know?
r5t9m0 2 years ago
Certainly not a mellotron- wrong back shape. Since he was using Chamberlain on the album, it would make sense I guess. But sadly can't give you an affirmative. Let's assume so and then try to not sound too geeky! Don't get me started on Eno's kit..
2bitvillain 2 years ago
Thanx a lot !!
THIS is just PERFECT !!!
" 5 stars" can't be "enough" !!
Song + mood , just hit the "point" somehow ...
Sorry Warszawa !!!
Kammler03 2 years ago 2
David.... Warsaw is no longer a sad city...
StarskiPL 2 years ago 4
ian curtis loved this song..
itwasacrow1985 2 years ago
people read about Warsaw Uprising 1st august- 2nd october 1944. really amazing story.
TheNills27 2 years ago 30
davvero bellissimo!
tarduahum 2 years ago
The album Low has a never leaves my cd player. It is just so great!
David looks fab here- love the get-up.
this is quite an interesting rendition of Warszawa, I like it ^^
Thanks for posting.
sashamoniker 3 years ago 6
@sashamoniker Definitely beautiful bowie boy here.
MrFrendan 1 year ago
That track always puts me into a strange mood. But anyway I love it. The Low-album is great! Wish I could have seen that performance live. Someone give me a time-machine please :-)
LadyScreaming 3 years ago 19
@LadyScreaming i did when i was but a boy of 17 . he played glasgow apollo i seen him play this song live, you coulda cut the atmosphere with a knife!!! it was reflective, mind blowing, goose bump, material. oh to see the thin white duke 1 more time a true poet. lyricist performer. sincere wishes hugh
shug2261 1 year ago
@LadyScreaming
shug2261 1 year ago