Robert Nevin wrote about this concert a couple of years ago and it remains for me a masterpiece of amazing proportions. And the proof that was as good as I remember must be this: how many Bowie shows open with “Wild is the Wind”? he might as well have had a huge sign reading “Strap Yourself In It’s going To Be A Bumpy Ride”. In a good way, needless to add.
So with a live show further away than ever, here is the setlist from 13 years in the past.
Wild Is the Wind – The Station To Station track, which would be a standout by anyone, at that album it was just another blown to smithreens ballad – A+
China Girl – To be honest, I prefer Iggy’s version – B+
Changes – The first sign of supergreatness – A+
Stay – Another perfect ballad, though this time an original, and also from S2S. Any questions? – A
Life on Mars? – And the second off Hunky Dory!! – A
Absolute Beginners – Crap song – C-
Ashes to Ashes – Answer to “Space Oddyssy” and a very effective one – A-
The Jean Genie – Smashing trib to Genet – A
Cracked Actor – Second off Aladin Sane. Now I want you to imagine that I was in THE FRONT ROW – A
Little Wonder – Debatably his last flat out masterpiece, better than anything on the newbie – A-
This Is Not America – Yeah, low point of the evening – D+
Fame – Co-written with John Lennon – A
All the Young Dudes – Glam as all get out – A
The Man Who Sold the World – Yes, but Kurt changed it into a statement for a generation – A
Station to Station – The THIRD off the great album. By now I’m like Mary Magpie at a fall Out Boy concert – A+
Starman – “Let the children boogie…” – A+
Hallo Spaceboy – Ho Hum – C-
Under Pressure At first I thought it was “cat People” whatever, but no it was more than that – A-
Encore:
I Dig Everything -OK, dso we don’t need too much of this encore, but still he has earned the right to push the product – C
The London Boys – Fails to convince even though he is one – C-
“Heroes” – The single most overrated song in his career – B
Let’s Dance – Great intro – B
I’m Afraid of Americans – Mediocre art Bowie – C
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