One of the most powerful moments in BBC Radio 2s history. I was driving in my car, had just arrived home and simply sat in my car until it finished. A perfect tribute and a very personal private moment and yet shared by millions.
Kevin Field - yes - me too. I’m delighted to have found this on the tube just now. I remember driving home that day when I first heard it and I’ve now got tears in my eyes again.
Another car moment for me as well. Still brings a tear to my eye. That song seemed to encapsulate an era, humanity and the ultimate questioning of existence - all in one. Bloody genius.
@@DanielOlofsson-ye1yyman, that was a shit year, wasn't it? In the course of a couple of years we lose both Lemmy and Bowie, and the world has gone to shit. Coincidence?
me and this taxi driver that drove me home last night was listening to this song on the radio almost fucking balled my eyes out, never had a moment like that with a stranger. we were both in a state lol
+pigknickers It's alright. It's perfectly fine to shed some tears. We're all still mourning his death. Eventually those tears will fade into warm smiles again.
Cosmic Rogue Thanks everyone. It's a bad time for everyone I know. Still it's nice to have some support. It's a terrible loss, like the end of an era. I just woke up with this playing in my head. I didn't know it was recorded at St Anne's Ct - I used to work there when it was EMI studios. Funny to think they all walked the same staircases as me....
+wpollock1 Bowie has always known who to go to for talent on his recordings. He was wise enough to use Adrian Belew, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Fripp, RickWakeman, etc.
Stunning performance Mr. Wakeman. Jaw dropping. There's an interesting consistency in the thousands of fan comments I've been reading, which is the absolute willingness of men to admit that they've been crying over Bowie's passing. Men cry of course but we usually don't bring up the fact that we did. I'm a grown man of 63, a fan since I first saw David at the Boston Music Hall in 1972, and I've cried more than a few times over the past couple of days... inĉluding just now after having made the beautiful mIstake of watching this video. There are men, likely millions of men, around the world... straight men, gay men, young, middle aged and old, white, black, asian, hispanic... who will in future years, as I will, say they cried when Bowie died. The width and breadth and depth of the grief being felt around the world for this man's death is truly, truly remarkable, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
Where was the Music Hall? Present-day Orpheum-? I’ve always wondered. For the record, I’m 53, and when Bowie passed, well, I haven’t been the same since.
+Dino T I agree much with you. There are many fights that are not fair, and this is surely one of them. It's good that an intelligent clever man Rick Wakeman tells about the clever parts of ingenious composing by David Bowie. And finally David's musical ledgends will live, and so inspire other musicians, and noone and nothing will win that from him. I wasn't busy yet with his music on UA-cam, but i want to plan it in the right position for revolutionairy influences. It's coencidence that a sensitive indivdual called me the David Bowie of electronic music, so my emotions are also high especially by that. Rest in Peace David Bowie.
Rick played on the original Bowie song. He wanted to join The Spiders but had committed to Yes. The greatest keyboard player of era and the greatest writer combined
+Jens P " Sorry fot the typo "..that's hilarious! You do know how to edit your posts? Click on the 3 dots at the right of your comment, you can edit or delete.
Rick Wakeman was there! In that tiny London studio in 1971! A marvellous melody that Mr. Wakeman brings to life again solely on piano! For 'Life On Mars?' I always wanted to know if the superb guitar break in the middle was done by the late Mick Ronson, and if it was done in one take or two. I cannot find anything on that.
Rick Wakeman's contribution to early Bowie classics like Hunky Dory was an important element to Bowie's music. Rick is one of the best keyboard players rock music has seen. His playing on Hunky Dory in particular, the sound of that upright piano he played, Bowie's outstanding writing, melody, taste in music.. This helped produce what I consider my fav Bowie album (not by a long shot mind you since he did so many phenom records), and one of the best pop rock albums of all time. I liked early Rick Wakeman interviews where he would be quite comical then blow you away with his masterful keyboard playing.Rick also had an interesting solo career. Six Wives was on my table quite often back in the day. Spot on Rick!
+Helium Road hmm.. not sure what kind of music you are into man, but Rick Wakeman is in the top 10 best rock keyboardists of all time. Have you never heard of a little band called "YES"? seriously not sure what you consider a good keyboardist if your hating on wakeman who is a god among keyboardists. Pick up a copy of Six Wives of Henry the 8th or take a listen to Close to the Edge by Yes.
Every time someone talks about an artist, I compare them to Bowie. That guy was a great genius, artist and performer. One of the greatest. May you rest in peace.
We are all sad and for many of us it feels like part of our very essence has been snatched away. I grew up on Bowie and three of the earliest albums I bought were Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Alladin Sane. With a start like that music was always going to play a major part in my life and that continues today and fortunately Glasgow has a great music scene. Thank you David RIP
Prog God Rick Wakeman playing David Bowie's greatest song. Genius, both of them. Real musicians that learnt their craft in small venues and honed it over many years.
Rick Wakeman was once asked if he woke up each morning celebrating the fact that he played the piano on Life on Mars. He replied, "Sort of - but I played on a lot of Des O'Connor LPs as well..."
Rick Wakeman's comments about Bowie at the start of this tribute are interesting. To paraphrase him, he mentions "melody man; great ideas for chord structures - would throw in a surprise when you least expected it; 'I know how this is going to go, then it would change'; very clever guy." Mr Wakeman could have been describing Abba. In fact, I think that what Bowie and Abba had in common was this approach to their respective music-making as outlined by Mr Wakeman's own thoughts about Bowie's style here at the beginning. There is everything right about going off on a tangent.
Well, SamGates, the bizarre thing is that in the 70s and 80s, at public school, it was as embarrassing to reveal a fondness for Bowie's music as it was Abba's. I've noticed this. Perhaps because Bowie was genre-defying, defied stereotypes, he annoyed a lot of people. Abba were just too honest and nice as a band - All these traits held by both these acts were anathema to the creeds held by certain sections of our society. Maybe they still are.
Thank you David, thank you Rick. I feel everything that matters when I hear this. Love to everyone, especially those finding life hard at the moment - you are not alone.
There's a great documentary on Showtime called "Five Years" which reviews five crucial years or periods in the musical evolution of David Bowie. In the first segment, which covers Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, Rick Wakeman describes how Bowie asked Wakeman to play on Hunky Dory and how much Wakeman loved "Life On Mars" because of Bowie's clever and creative chord structures. Wakeman gives an example, saying before he begins to play, "I haven't played this in 40 years". Wakeman then plays a piano vignette of why he believes the song to be "genius". At the end, after he has finished playing Wakeman says, "I really must go home and learn to play this." It was quite a charming moment in the documentar. The above rendition of "Life On Mars" by Rick Wakeman is absolutely beautiful and sublime.
Rick Wakeman is a legend to The Legend Bowie! What a Tribute to one of the greatest songs ever! *goosebumps* I could listen to that piano roll in the chorus forever.... 🎹🎶
Thanks Rick, still remember life on mars when i heard it the first time on the radio after i joined the Army as a boy soldier in 1972, which i think was around the time i first heard six wives of henry VIII, my favourite track on that was Catherine Howard but they were all works of Art. by the way i am 59 now. RIP David Bowie. still remember Starman, i was still in school then when i heard it for the first time.RIP David Bowie, a legacy.
I never even realized Rick Wakeman played on this. I wasn't a fan of his music - my older brother drove me nuts with YES and similar prog stuff in the 70s. But obviously a brilliant pianist, and this was very touching. The Brit Awards should have him on stage by himself playing this exact piece along to a Bowie slideshow instead of the gawdawful Bono & cast "tribute" they have planned.
+satomiwa I'm not at all interested in any tribute shows they plan, I don't enjoy other artists singing his songs. I'd rather listen and watch the man himself.
+satomiwa Yeah that is Richard Wakeman playing piano all over the Hunky Dory album. It is also Rick on Cat Stevens recording of Morning Has Broken. When they were doing a Cat Stevens special Rick was called to find out how he actually played it. He said well I'll play it at the special. The arses said uh no...
+James Walker On my "Teaser and Fire-cat" album it credits Cat Stevens with guitar and piano. No credit for the arrangement on the sheet music either. Didn't Rick get £20 for the arrangement, the backup track and not to make a fuss?
When I woke up that Monday and learnt David Bowie had passed, I was utterly shocked. I was so shocked that I didn't cry... Until I saw this tribute. Only then I begun to understand and accept the truth. Bowie was more than my favourite artist, he is part of who I am! I hope he is well wherever he is. I am more than grateful for all his contribution to our world...
First heard this song performed by Phish in 1996, which sent me down the rabbit hole to Bowie. I never knew Rick was the pianist -learn something new every day... RIP David Bowie
This has actually filled my eyes with water, and Im a bIokey bloke. Grew up listening to David Bowie and Life on Mars was the first of his songs I knew as a kid. He originally lived a few streets from me in Brixton and can remember plain as day listening to this when it came out on Top Of the Pops in our dingy little basement slum we lived in. Its only now he's gone that its hit me hard how much I and everyone will miss him. People - never forget or under appreciate him. Its a bit of a cliche to say there will never be another like him but more than anyone else I can think of with there really will NEVER be another.
So love this and feeling sad again. I had the honour to have worked on the same film with David in the mid 1980's. He was a kind and beautiful man. Rest in the Stars David.
RIP David Robert Jones. You gave us classics since the '60's, such as "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?" and "Let's Dance!". (Plus his stint in the movie "Labyrinth" :))
Thank you Rick Wakeman. And for the most astute recognition of Bowie's compositional talent that I've ever heard and seen demonstrated. Thanks also for expressing your surprise at hearing something new when familiar chords are played at unexpected times with interesting, and perhaps even, unfamiliar melodies. Flashback: I remember a new, funky Bowie who was warmly embraced by hippies (Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada) in the golden years. I tried to be one (a hippy, not a Bowie fan) but I failed my astrology exam. I'm just starting out with Bowie's music (one artist I want to showcase in my own show) as a performer, but it strikes me that tunes like Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Wild Is The Wind, All The Young Dudes, Golden Years and This Is Not America might be good tunes for any Bowie fan, to begin their performance studies, with.
+Davide Leccese I agree...I was gravely disappointed hearing Elton's so called tribute...Madonna's was better, Bruce Springsteen's was better...Now we just must brace ourselves for that no-talented Kayne to bastardize music with that crap he puts out...UGH
Anyone who knows music isn't going to insult you. Rick's a classy and talented guy, and his piece was a tribute to the musical genius of Bowie-without a trace of sugary sweet, cornball kitsch.
Absolutely brilliant. No one can play it like Rick. My first musical memory was seeing Life On Mars on Top Of The Pops in 1973 when I was 11, before the famous blue suit video - the BBC put together some backstage footage, which I've not seen since. I was hooked from then on.
Denis Borysovskyi I totally agree. Rick Wakeman did a great job covering this as a tribute to Bowie. He even did a great job on the original recording.
Key to Bowie's style: surprising non-diatonic chord changes, and fantastic grooves. Add sublime surrealistic lyrics, press record and voila! Sheer pop brilliance.
Watching and listening to Rick play this. In my mind seeing him with his long gold robe performing in the round with YES at Madison Square Garden circa 1979 +/-. Tempus Fugit
One of the most powerful moments in BBC Radio 2s history. I was driving in my car, had just arrived home and simply sat in my car until it finished. A perfect tribute and a very personal private moment and yet shared by millions.
Kevin Field - yes - me too. I’m delighted to have found this on the tube just now. I remember driving home that day when I first heard it and I’ve now got tears in my eyes again.
Exactly the same. And timed beautifully at the end.
Same here, just parked up outside my home after work.
Sat there until the end.
Extremely moving tribute.
Another car moment for me as well. Still brings a tear to my eye. That song seemed to encapsulate an era, humanity and the ultimate questioning of existence - all in one. Bloody genius.
It happened to me in the same way. I think I’ll never forget that moment. Thanks Rick.. thanks David ….God blessed you all
2023 now, and all these years later I still can't watch this without crying. The world needs more David Bowie.
Same!
@@DanielOlofsson-ye1yyman, that was a shit year, wasn't it? In the course of a couple of years we lose both Lemmy and Bowie, and the world has gone to shit. Coincidence?
Dec 2024 Brilliant
0l0
P
me and this taxi driver that drove me home last night was listening to this song on the radio almost fucking balled my eyes out, never had a moment like that with a stranger. we were both in a state lol
I've got to limit myself a bit as I keep on crying and I'm getting fed up with it. Here I am again in tears. Bloody hell.
You're not alone x
+pigknickers millions are with you,
+simon evans the world of David is crying .
+pigknickers It's alright. It's perfectly fine to shed some tears. We're all still mourning his death. Eventually those tears will fade into warm smiles again.
Cosmic Rogue Thanks everyone. It's a bad time for everyone I know. Still it's nice to have some support. It's a terrible loss, like the end of an era. I just woke up with this playing in my head. I didn't know it was recorded at St Anne's Ct - I used to work there when it was EMI studios. Funny to think they all walked the same staircases as me....
Well that was f*cking beautiful.
Gosh, David Bowie was an amazing talent but Rick has demonstrated on so many occasions that he is simply the master of the piano
That was absolutely wonderful.
Beautiful tribute. David Bowie knew who to go to for talent on his recordings. You can tell how much respect Rick has for the song!
+wpollock1 Too right, I only just found out it was Nile Rodgers who played the guitar on 'Lets Dance'.
And SRV on all the album
+wpollock1 Bowie has always known who to go to for talent on his recordings. He was wise enough to use Adrian Belew, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Fripp, RickWakeman, etc.
+Hirschel Litzenbaum Mick Ronson.
Hirschel Litzenbaum Brian Eno.
Stunning performance Mr. Wakeman. Jaw dropping.
There's an interesting consistency in the thousands of fan comments I've been reading, which is the absolute willingness of men to admit that they've been crying over Bowie's passing. Men cry of course but we usually don't bring up the fact that we did.
I'm a grown man of 63, a fan since I first saw David at the Boston Music Hall in 1972, and I've cried more than a few times over the past couple of days... inĉluding just now after having made the beautiful mIstake of watching this video.
There are men, likely millions of men, around the world... straight men, gay men, young, middle aged and old, white, black, asian, hispanic... who will in future years, as I will, say they cried when Bowie died.
The width and breadth and depth of the grief being felt around the world for this man's death is truly, truly remarkable, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
I wept when I saw this three years ago. And I just wept after seeing it again, three years later.
@@billholmes6933 same here......three years later watching this in tears.
He is mourned by the whole world.
Where was the Music Hall? Present-day Orpheum-? I’ve always wondered. For the record, I’m 53, and when Bowie passed, well, I haven’t been the same since.
8 years later, I still haven't got over the fact that he's left us. 😢
He didn't lose his battle with cancer. It's never a fair fight. RIP DAVID BOWIE.
That's the truth, unfortunately. I won my fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2002, but it's still affecting me in all kinds of ways today.
+Amy Herrmann Hang in there, Amy!
+Dino T The only true loss is to surrender.
+Dino T I agree much with you. There are many fights that are not fair, and this is surely one of them. It's good that an intelligent clever man Rick Wakeman tells about the clever parts of ingenious composing by David Bowie. And finally David's musical ledgends will live, and so inspire other musicians, and noone and nothing will win that from him. I wasn't busy yet with his music on UA-cam, but i want to plan it in the right position for revolutionairy influences. It's coencidence that a sensitive indivdual called me the David Bowie of electronic music, so my emotions are also high especially by that. Rest in Peace David Bowie.
+Dino T ... he didn't lose. He's returned home.
One of the greatest piano accompaniments of all time.
Seven years on and I still find this to be such a beautiful tribute from a man who was there. Fly well, David.
Same same … can’t believe it’s been so long 🕯🌟
Well done, Rick. The best tribute imaginable... RIP Bowie...
The greatest singer being paid tribute by the greatest keyboard player (in my opinion) playing one of the greatest songs ever written
Rick played on the original Bowie song. He wanted to join The Spiders but had committed to Yes. The greatest keyboard player of era and the greatest writer combined
This puts me in tears, it just shows you the magic and craftsmanship of David Bowie’s songwriting and music!
And Rick's interpretation.
This music should travel the universe to show other worlds what human beings are capable of…
I've loved YES and Rick Wakeman, but this performance is the most beautiful solo that I ever heard Wakeman ever do.GOD!
+ChevKen If you like classical... you wanna hear Rick do Clair De Lune... musical silk..
Birdman of Alcatraz. But this one was close!
Atlas King Another one of my faves.... but "The Breathalyser" is worth a listen.. esp the lyrics!
+Atlas King I have never heard "Birdman" up until now and it is stunning!
+The realist It is so lilting and relaxing.
A simple, but fabulous tribute to Davis Bowie.Thank you, Rick
Jens P. Sorry fot the typo
+Jens P
" Sorry fot the typo "..that's hilarious!
You do know how to edit your posts?
Click on the 3 dots at the right of your comment, you can edit or delete.
What a touching tribute.
Rick Wakeman was there! In that tiny London studio in 1971! A marvellous melody that Mr. Wakeman brings to life again solely on piano!
For 'Life On Mars?' I always wanted to know if the superb guitar break in the middle was done by the late Mick Ronson, and if it was done in one take or two. I cannot find anything on that.
+Dustshoe The electric guitar was indeed recorded by Mick Ronson, who also wrote the strings arrangements... what a man !
+Lucas HENRY RIP to David Bowie and Mick Ronson as well...
+Lucas HENRY Yes, Mick Ronson also played piano and guitar on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day".
+Claudette Preisinger Let us not forget Trevor Bolder!
Rick Wakeman's contribution to early Bowie classics like Hunky Dory was an important element to Bowie's music. Rick is one of the best keyboard players rock music has seen. His playing on Hunky Dory in particular, the sound of that upright piano he played, Bowie's outstanding writing, melody, taste in music.. This helped produce what I consider my fav Bowie album (not by a long shot mind you since he did so many phenom records), and one of the best pop rock albums of all time. I liked early Rick Wakeman interviews where he would be quite comical then blow you away with his masterful keyboard playing.Rick also had an interesting solo career. Six Wives was on my table quite often back in the day. Spot on Rick!
Wakeman = keyboard god
YES YES YES
i agree with what you said about Wakeman. But dont forget about Mike Garson who played on many Bowie albums and tours for many years...
+Helium Road Not piano God, that's for sure. Keyboards fine, but there are many excellent keyboardists. I like the reference keymaster did aha
+LinkBulletBill Compared to whom,
other than concert pianists, please.
+Helium Road hmm.. not sure what kind of music you are into man, but Rick Wakeman is in the top 10 best rock keyboardists of all time. Have you never heard of a little band called "YES"? seriously not sure what you consider a good keyboardist if your hating on wakeman who is a god among keyboardists. Pick up a copy of Six Wives of Henry the 8th or take a listen to Close to the Edge by Yes.
Every time someone talks about an artist, I compare them to Bowie. That guy was a great genius, artist and performer.
One of the greatest.
May you rest in peace.
Beautiful stuff. *RIP Bowie you legend!!*
I keep getting bummed out about Bowie's death almost 3 years later. Goes to show how much of an impact he really had. RIP
I just stopped crying yesterday after 3 straight days crying. Now I start to cry again. Man oh man.
+Montanee jo I have never had a celebrity death hit me like this before. Among the great musicians Bowie stands out as special.
+g26s239 Thank you so much. Thank you.
Five years on and it's still one of most emotional performances I've ever listened to.
A man who leaves behind his art leaves the world a better place.
We are all sad and for many of us it feels like part of our very essence has been snatched away. I grew up on Bowie and three of the earliest albums I bought were Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Alladin Sane. With a start like that music was always going to play a major part in my life and that continues today and fortunately Glasgow has a great music scene. Thank you David RIP
Prog God Rick Wakeman playing David Bowie's greatest song. Genius, both of them. Real musicians that learnt their craft in small venues and honed it over many years.
I would expect nothing less than such a wonderful tribute by Wakeman. A true musician and a stand-up man in his own right.
Rick Wakeman was once asked if he woke up each morning celebrating the fact that he played the piano on Life on Mars. He replied, "Sort of - but I played on a lot of Des O'Connor LPs as well..."
Rick Wakeman's comments about Bowie at the start of this tribute are interesting. To paraphrase him, he mentions "melody man; great ideas for chord structures - would throw in a surprise when you least expected it; 'I know how this is going to go, then it would change'; very clever guy."
Mr Wakeman could have been describing Abba. In fact, I think that what Bowie and Abba had in common was this approach to their respective music-making as outlined by Mr Wakeman's own thoughts about Bowie's style here at the beginning.
There is everything right about going off on a tangent.
+Dustshoe Abba, really????
Well, SamGates, the bizarre thing is that in the 70s and 80s, at public school, it was as embarrassing to reveal a fondness for Bowie's music as it was Abba's. I've noticed this. Perhaps because Bowie was genre-defying, defied stereotypes, he annoyed a lot of people. Abba were just too honest and nice as a band - All these traits held by both these acts were anathema to the creeds held by certain sections of our society. Maybe they still are.
+lomax343 Rick Wakeman is known for his sense of humour.. and he is a funny bloke... Des O Connor.. INDEED lol
+Dustshoe
Benny and Bjorn were influenced by David Bowie.
Abba and David's songs certainly had some beautiful melodies.
Thank you David, thank you Rick. I feel everything that matters when I hear this. Love to everyone, especially those finding life hard at the moment - you are not alone.
I have a new appreciation for Wakeman. A beautiful and inspired rendition.
Beautiful rendition of one of the prettiest Davie Bowie songs ever. .Thank you from the USA. Rest in Peace, Mr. Bowie.
That is the most perfect rendition and feeling in a piano piece I have ever heard. Thanks Rick, and thanks David. RIP.
beautiful music sad loss sleep well STARMAN his music goes on... RIP DAVID BOWIE.
This has got to be the most heartfelt Bowie tribute I've ever listened to. Dripping with emotion. Hats off, Mr. Wakeman. You did it.
Beautiful... Rest in peace David Bowie :(( the tears keep going
Thank you, Rick Wakeman. The ultimate tribute.
Classic song. Wonderful playing by Rick Wakemen. Great Tribute.
How lovely. Rick has a true lasting connection with David and his legacy by playing on that song.
Fantastic. Rick you are a genius.
That's so incredibly beautiful. Thank you Rick. Thank you very much.
I emailed Rick to thank him for this heartfelt tribute.
One of the best ballads ever written.
Rick Wakeman is so talented! Touching tribute.
There's a great documentary on Showtime called "Five Years" which reviews five crucial years or periods in the musical evolution of David Bowie. In the first segment, which covers Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, Rick Wakeman describes how Bowie asked Wakeman to play on Hunky Dory and how much Wakeman loved "Life On Mars" because of Bowie's clever and creative chord structures. Wakeman gives an example, saying before he begins to play, "I haven't played this in 40 years". Wakeman then plays a piano vignette of why he believes the song to be "genius". At the end, after he has finished playing Wakeman says, "I really must go home and learn to play this." It was quite a charming moment in the documentar. The above rendition of "Life On Mars" by Rick Wakeman is absolutely beautiful and sublime.
A great tribute from the man who played the mellotron on Space Oddity. Thank you Rick. R.I.P. David.
+ACooke108: And from the man who played this on the original record as well!
Brings me to tears.
A fabulous tribute by one genius to another.
Rick Wakeman is a legend to The Legend Bowie! What a Tribute to one of the greatest songs ever! *goosebumps* I could listen to that piano roll in the chorus forever.... 🎹🎶
Thanks Rick, still remember life on mars when i heard it the first time on the radio after i joined the Army as a boy soldier in 1972, which i think was around the time i first heard six wives of henry VIII, my favourite track on that was Catherine Howard but they were all works of Art. by the way i am 59 now. RIP David Bowie. still remember Starman, i was still in school then when i heard it for the first time.RIP David Bowie, a legacy.
I never even realized Rick Wakeman played on this. I wasn't a fan of his music - my older brother drove me nuts with YES and similar prog stuff in the 70s. But obviously a brilliant pianist, and this was very touching. The Brit Awards should have him on stage by himself playing this exact piece along to a Bowie slideshow instead of the gawdawful Bono & cast "tribute" they have planned.
+satomiwa I wish I could "like" the above comment multiple times
+satomiwa oh no not Bono.
+satomiwa
I'm not at all interested in any tribute shows they plan, I don't enjoy other artists singing his songs. I'd rather listen and watch the man himself.
+satomiwa Yeah that is Richard Wakeman playing piano all over the Hunky Dory album. It is also Rick on Cat Stevens recording of Morning Has Broken. When they were doing a Cat Stevens special Rick was called to find out how he actually played it. He said well I'll play it at the special. The arses said uh no...
+James Walker On my "Teaser and Fire-cat" album it credits Cat Stevens with guitar and piano. No credit for the arrangement on the sheet music either. Didn't Rick get £20 for the arrangement, the backup track and not to make a fuss?
Amazing Bowie,Amazing Wakeman ❤
So beautiful song and so well played, wow, nice piano hands.
Very beautiful
When I woke up that Monday and learnt David Bowie had passed, I was utterly shocked. I was so shocked that I didn't cry... Until I saw this tribute. Only then I begun to understand and accept the truth. Bowie was more than my favourite artist, he is part of who I am! I hope he is well wherever he is. I am more than grateful for all his contribution to our world...
First heard this song performed by Phish in 1996, which sent me down the rabbit hole to Bowie. I never knew Rick was the pianist -learn something new every day... RIP David Bowie
Rick Wakeman is the grand wizard of keyboards. I've been a musician all my life and I'm insanely jealous of his mastery. Respect. 😉
There’s just something about that generation of British musicians, right..???
Taken me a week just to be able to listen anything related to David.
Thank you Rick that was very nice.
Missing you David
Thank you for the memories
This has actually filled my eyes with water, and Im a bIokey bloke.
Grew up listening to David Bowie and Life on Mars was the first of his songs I knew as a kid. He originally lived a few streets from me in Brixton and can remember plain as day listening to this when it came out on Top Of the Pops in our dingy little basement slum we lived in.
Its only now he's gone that its hit me hard how much I and everyone will miss him.
People - never forget or under appreciate him. Its a bit of a cliche to say there will never be another like him but more than anyone else I can think of with there really will NEVER be another.
So love this and feeling sad again. I had the honour to have worked on the same film with David in the mid 1980's. He was a kind and beautiful man.
Rest in the Stars David.
Omg!! Could I sit and listen all day and do nothing else???? Bowie's music is mind blowingly out of this world, Beautiful!
Seven years, and this still makes me cry.
Same same ❤
What an incredible tribute to David Bowie. I love this!
This beautiful song brought me to tears. Rest in peace, Mr. David Bowie.
Rick Wakeman still magic....playing a tune from a genius
It's heartbreaking. Just too much - but thank you Mr Wakeman. A fitting tribute to one legend from another.
Wow--Wakeman still plays flawlessly and still with so much heart. I never knew he was original keyboardist for LOM.
RIP David Robert Jones. You gave us classics since the '60's, such as "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?" and "Let's Dance!". (Plus his stint in the movie "Labyrinth" :))
And Ricochet
Rick is brilliant as well...what feeling.
Beautiful Tribute From a Keyboard Legend !
Nice job by Rick Wakeman....paying tribute to David Bowie...Two Amazing musicians. Love you Bowie...and Rick. A beautiful song.
Two of the all time great musicians. Rick and Bowie. Fabulous tribute 8-)
Huge Yes fan saying thanks for this tribute to David. He is watching and smiling from above Mr. Wakeman!!!!
Thank you Rick Wakeman. And for the most astute recognition of Bowie's compositional talent that I've ever heard and seen demonstrated. Thanks also for expressing your surprise at hearing something new when familiar chords are played at unexpected times with interesting, and perhaps even, unfamiliar melodies.
Flashback: I remember a new, funky Bowie who was warmly embraced by hippies (Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada) in the golden years. I tried to be one (a hippy, not a Bowie fan) but I failed my astrology exam.
I'm just starting out with Bowie's music (one artist I want to showcase in my own show) as a performer, but it strikes me that tunes like Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Wild Is The Wind, All The Young Dudes, Golden Years and This Is Not America might be good tunes for any Bowie fan, to begin their performance studies, with.
Superb! R.I.P. David Bowie.. Beautiful Piano. I have rocketed to Mars and Milky Way in that song.
Maybe I'm going to get insulted, but this tribute is WAY BETTER than Elton John's one
He is the same pianist performing on the original recording...
+Davide Leccese I agree...I was gravely disappointed hearing Elton's so called tribute...Madonna's was better, Bruce Springsteen's was better...Now we just must brace ourselves for that no-talented Kayne to bastardize music with that crap he puts out...UGH
+Davide Leccese elton didnt even play a bowie song for his tribute..so poo on MR John
Anyone who knows music isn't going to insult you. Rick's a classy and talented guy, and his piece was a tribute to the musical genius of Bowie-without a trace of sugary sweet, cornball kitsch.
+Davide Leccese elton john used rick as a session musician also so he wont be insulted
Absolutely brilliant. No one can play it like Rick. My first musical memory was seeing Life On Mars on Top Of The Pops in 1973 when I was 11, before the famous blue suit video - the BBC put together some backstage footage, which I've not seen since. I was hooked from then on.
Lovely tribute to a lovely man .. David leaves us with beautiful music .. and in style .. on a Full Moon .. xo's
I still can't watch this without crying. I miss you, David. We all do.
Thank you Rick Wakeman for a beautiful tribute.
Rick Wakeman, a perfect gentleman, and very, very beutifully played. 1,000,000 percent respect
Lovely tribute to a very special and totally unique man
Just wonderful.
Este es el mejor homenaje a David Bowie gracias maestro Wakeman's.
A very touching tribute, by a maestro who retains the complete command of the instrument he has always had..
Absolutely brilliant. I had forgotten just how good Rick Wakeman is on the piano.
Once you listen to Rick 🙏 One never forgets his truly phenomenal wonderment 🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
WOW This song played by a master... written by another master - such a wonderful piano arrangement :-)
That was amazing Rick. Just amazing. What a great tribute.
Well done, Rick. Very well done.
Very nice tribute!
Merveilleux hommage à un grand artiste !! Bravo Rick que j'ai découvert dans les années 70 en allant en Angleterre.
Thanks Rick, David certainly left his mark
My son and I, different generations, were changed by his music.
Como siempre, Rick Wakemans un tremendo artista rindiendole tributo a otro grande....hermoso...
From one mega talented musician to another and a lovely tribute.
one of best covers i heard! so nice feeling
Denis Borysovskyi I totally agree. Rick Wakeman did a great job covering this as a tribute to Bowie. He even did a great job on the original recording.
Two of my favorites, Rick Wakeman and David Bowie. I have to return every month or so to spend an hour or two just listening and watching.
Key to Bowie's style: surprising non-diatonic chord changes, and fantastic grooves. Add sublime surrealistic lyrics, press record and voila! Sheer pop brilliance.
Watching and listening to Rick play this. In my mind seeing him with his long gold robe performing in the round with YES at Madison Square Garden circa 1979 +/-. Tempus Fugit
Absolute fuckin' genius, on both Bowie;s and Rick's part....Thanks to both of you, that was the greatest song of my childhood!
And my adulthood as well!
A very touching and delicate tribute to a Magnificent Artist.
Rick, you're A-Great-Man
Very nice. In the 1970's Rick Wakeman was one of my favorite musicians and this seems to be very appropriate