Aladdin Sane: First reactions, favourite tracks, and the influence of David Bowie

On the weekend of 21 and 22 April we hosted a number of events at the Southbank Centre celebrating the golden anniversary of this landmark Bowie release. There was exhibitions looking at the album’s artwork, and Bowie’s connection with our venues, plus Bowie-inspired poetry and talks, and of course, naturally, we have music.

On Friday 21 April, Aladdin Sane Live brought a reimagining of the album to our Royal Festival Hall. Led by Nu Civilisation Orchestra, and hosted by Amy Lamé, the concert saw the album’s memorable tracks revisited and reworked by artists including Anna Calvi, Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, Roxanne Tataei, Lynks and Tawiah. 

But what does Bowie mean to those taking to our stage? What are their favourite tracks on the album, and when did they first hear it? Well, we took some time to find out, and quizzed a quartet of the performers; Tawiah, Roxanne Tataei, Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s Peter Edwards, but first, Lynks.

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself as a musician, and your music

My name is Lynks. I’m a masked queer troublemaker from South East London, making large, dumb, messy, angry dance music.

 

Do you remember when you first heard Aladdin Sane?

My parents were David Bowie fans, so his music was around a lot during my childhood, slowly soaking into my frontal cortex throughout most of my early years. Shamefully though, it was only after his death that I properly rediscovered him. And in the way that songs often do when they’ve been subconsciously introduced to you as a kid, his music instantly felt like home. I binged his whole back catalogue including Aladdin Sane like it was a Netflix series and instantly fell in love.

 

Tell us about your favourite track on the album

I reckon it’s got to be ‘Time’. It’s the epic first act finale from the Doctor Who jukebox musical that never was. So melodramatic, so over the top and still so beautiful. Classic Bowie.

 

Is there a track on the album that you think is perhaps underrated?

‘Cracked Actor’ is a big banger. The chorus is just so huge and it’s all so hot ‘n’ sexy. I love it.

 

What does David Bowie mean to you?

Reinvention, creativity, and icon of endless inspiration.

 

What’s your go-to Bowie track to listen to, and what’s your favourite to perform?

The whole of Hunky Dory is perfection. Can’t pick just one track. Though I don’t think there’s a better song to butcher at karaoke than ‘Life On Mars’. Except maybe ‘Boom Boom Pow’ by Black Eyed Peas, but hey, it’s a close call.

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself as a musician, and your music

Over the past decade I’ve worked and toured with artists including Dev Hynes, Kindness, Mark Ronson, Cinematic Orchestra and Kano, and in 2019 I released my debut album Starts Again. In 2022 I joined Michael Kiwanuka on his UK tour to preview my latest release Ertha, which is a concept album, created collaboratively through a process of storytelling and musical interpretation.

 

Do you remember when you first heard Aladdin Sane?

I grew up in a strict pentecostal home so I mostly listened to gospel music in the house, when I was with my uncle (mum's little brother) we would get our Hip Hop/RnB/Soul fix.

When I started at The BRIT School I made friends with people that grew up with different musical references, we would share the music we grew up with. I remember a friend of mine saying they grew up watching Labyrinth and watched it with them thinking Bowie was such an interesting character, they also introduced me to the song ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ and being absolutely taken in by the melody and that beautiful piano playing by Mike Garson. Such an epic song, such drama, beautiful and haunting, that was my introduction into the rest of the album!

 

Tell us about your favourite track on the album

Aha, you’ll probably guess from my previous answer but it’s ‘Lady Grinning Soul’. For all the reasons I mentioned, it’s the song that led me to the album.

 

Is there a track on the album that you think is perhaps underrated?

Possibly ‘The Prettiest Star’, I know Bowie re-recorded it for Aladdin Sane as it didn’t do so well as a single so came back with a harder sound for it. I love that he believed in the power of the song and gave it new life. I love the dreaminess of the original version which I don’t get in this version but I get that love isn’t always dreamy, sometimes it’s about sharing the same message with a different approach… now we get to listen to both, or whichever version speaks to us the most.

 

What does David Bowie mean to you?

Bowie reminds me to stay true to myself, to listen to myself, to keep exploring, to keep learning and to keep sharing! A truly inspiring human.

 

What’s your go-to Bowie track to listen to, and what’s your favourite to perform?

I’ve never performed a Bowie song, this show will change that so I’m really looking forward to leaning into this… It’s going to be fun! I would say my go-to Bowie song to listen to is ‘Right’, it reminds me of my darling friend Blue. The groove, those 1970s soul backing vocals, such a good record, think golden hour, a glass of wine and dancing in your front room - that's the jam!

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself as a musician, and your music

I am the musical director of Nu Civilisation and have arranged the music for the Aladdin Sane: Live performance at the Royal Festival Hall.

 

Do you remember when you first heard Aladdin Sane?

I listened to the whole album for the first time last year and was really surprised. Quite a departure from the Ziggy Stardust material that precedes it. It’s great to hear his interest in modern jazz (‘Aladdin Sane’) and doo wop (‘Drive-In Saturday’).

 

Tell us about your favourite track on the album

‘Time’. I love that mix of Jacque Brel style French cabaret sound and 1970s glam rock with a great anthemic ending.

 

Is there a track on the album that you think is perhaps underrated?

‘Lady Grinning Soul’. It could have been a Bond theme. Not highly rated maybe because it wasn't released as a single so isn’t that well known.

 

What does David Bowie mean to you?

He represents fearless artistic exploration at the highest levels.

 

What’s your go-to Bowie track to listen to, and what’s your favourite to perform?

‘Let's Dance’. Perfect dance floor filler

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself as a musician, and your music

I’m a vocalist first and foremost, so my music always centres my voice. Thematically and sonically, everything I write usually serves as a snapshot into my life, at that moment. Right now, I’d say the music I’m creating sounds like water. Apparently water is the symbol of change, which is apt, as I’m experiencing a lot of that at the moment.

 

Do you remember when you first heard Aladdin Sane?

Honestly, the first time I heard the album was when I was asked to do this gig! I knew Let’s Dance, Space Oddity and Hunky Dory well, but for some reason, I’d never explored Aladdin Sane. On first listen, I remember thinking wow, I really love Bowie’s voice with piano, especially on the title track. Because a lot of his music is guitar driven, that really stood out to me.

 

Tell us about your favourite track on the album

‘Lady Grinning Soul’ is so cinematic. The dramatic intro, with that silence before the verse begins... stunning. I love the Spanish-inspired chord progressions, the songwriting, and I also think the vocal delivery is one of Bowie’s best.

 

Is there a track on the album that you think is perhaps underrated?

‘Drive in Saturday’; it’s very doo-wop and musically sounds quite American. Because Bowie’s music tends to be very UK in how it sounds this is a bit of a departure so I imagine some fans wouldn’t go for it for that reason. But I guess that’s why I’m into it, I love a departure.

 

What does David Bowie mean to you?

Bowie is the epitome of an icon and an artist. Over the years he was able to create eclectic music and visual worlds that morphed and changed, but somehow, always remained him. He defied boundaries and boxes, and created something truly of his own. Iconic!

 

What’s your go-to Bowie track to listen to, and what’s your favourite to perform?

That’s a tough one, but I’d have to say ‘Let’s Dance’. It’s just sexy, and you can’t not dance to it.