The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

By the time David Bowie wrote the songs for his Aladdin Sane album, released in April of 1973, it was his first time writing as an actual rock star. Inspired by the people and places he saw in America while touring as his Ziggy Stardust concept, he called Aladdin Sane his “Ziggy Goes To America” album. Two people in particular that he met in New York City became the muse for its first single, the glam rock bop “The Jean Genie.” Get into the story in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.
Music Producer: Christian Lane
Video Director: Eva Empleo
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About Janda:
Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is a radio DJ at
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podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam.
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[@George-lq3yu]

David Bowie,was a great artist. A man surrounded by legendary mythology of his own creation. I mean even Bowie's legend has a legend!!! Great song, album, & great video.

[@michaeldrysch5177]

Awesome as always Janda...Thank you and Thank you Christian!!!

[@behindthesongpodcast]

Thanks so much!

[@andyw.3048]

Should have mentioned how the song is extremely similar to The Sweet's #1 single "Blockbuster!"

[@damianwhite504]

very similar

[@ladyhonor822]

THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤.
MOUNT CARMEL
PENNSYLVANIA USA 🇺🇲☦️❤️‍🔥🐾🌹❤️‍🩹🧬🧹🧹🧹🪖

[@silverwater211]

Listen to "La fille du Père Noël" (Santa's daughter) by French singer Jacques Dutronc 1966.... Music very very similar, so who composed the music of this song?

[@itnow]

well it might come down from Muddy Water's I'm a man

[@markkumanninen6524]

Great vid, thank you! For starters, I totally fell for the Ziggy album, but nowadays I like AS the best.

[@donwilcox501]

So many people get it wrong. "I'm a Man" was written by Bo Didley. Immortalized by the Yardbirds. Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck are on 2 separate recorded versions

[@harvey1954]

Get to know Bo. It is a rewrite of Bo's tune.

[@DrDiff952]

Thanks for the classic rock and not the 90s crap Janda

[@ladyhonor822]

HAVE FUN 😊.
IT GOES BY SO FAST !!! 🧬

[@upstreameconomics6138]

Glad to have just stumbled across your channel. There are soooo many rock pundits, many self-absorbed, and with such low barriers to entry ... you are engaging to listen to and a first class standout

[@timwilliamson7524]

Thank you four ever ❤😘🌹☀️👍😎🤗

[@derbydreamer103]

This was great. Glad to hear about the NY scene with Lou and Iggy. Angie was a hoor!. This album, cover and content, gave Bowie his Fame..Great Episode

[@behindthesongpodcast]

Thank you!

[@George-lq3yu]

It was The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders from Mars album that made David Bowie a Superstar. With the help of the great Mick Ronson and his mates Trevor Bolder, and the last surviving member of the band Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey. No body can say that Aladdin Sane is anything less than great. Aladdin Sane is basically Ziggy Stardust goes to America. Even Bowie said it himself. There's no way to argue that point when it came from the mouth of David Bowie as well.

[@katk8582]

I just realized I said I had a typo about Angie. I meant to say she was a Hoot !

[@derricklester9210]

I have a David Bowie cd I really have 2 David Bowie cds the 1975 album Young Americans with the hit song Fame and his best most arconnic album Let's Dance

[@rtrout57]

Just discovered you today. From Rockford.

[@vtz54]

Amazing as always! 🎸🎸🎸

[@AnthonyNewman-pq3el]

fabulous and your voice so sultry

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Never heard it - thanks once again for the history lesson.

[@behindthesongpodcast]

My pleasure!

[@JimAllen-Persona]

@@behindthesongpodcast You may want to consider adding Suffragette City on the list down the road - I've read a few different interpretations of what the lyrics mean (Henry is a gay lover, Henry represents heroin, etc..). I'm not sure if there's any other underlying meaning that would make it an interesting back story, but I'm curious.

[@Keithrrr]

I think Bowie put his yang in Iggy’s yin 🤣

[@itnow]

rather reversely

[@BIZARBIES]

Dang... for so many years I always thought that was Angie in the Jean Genie video.
Angie had hair like that around the same time, no?

[@mickorlick1289]

Thanks Janda.i understand songs now,knowing theres a story behind them all.i love your poetic detective work and passion.wonderful🔍

[@behindthesongpodcast]

Glad to hear it! Thank you!

[@JamesJones-zt2yx]

Thanks for an insightful look into this iconic song.

[@jamesdelaney3797]

Who was his china girl?

[@escapefelicity2913]

please do 'dead flowers'