David Bowie Copied Part of a ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Song From The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
In his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, David Bowie copied part of a song from The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. During an interview, Bowie said John Lennon did one thing better than anyone else. Bowie explained why he drew inspiration from other artists.
David Bowie said The Beatles’ John Lennon could do 1 thing better than anyone
According to the book Bowie on Bowie: Interviews and Encounters with David Bowie, the “Let’s Dance” singer discussed his views on John. “The one thing that I really adored about Lennon’s writing was his use of the pun, which was exceedingly good,” Bowie said. “I don’t think anyone has ever bettered Lennon’s use of the pun.”
Bowie discussed the difference between the way he used puns and the way John used puns. “I played on it more; Lennon would throw it away in one line,” Bowie added. “I tend to build a song upon it. I treat my puns a lot more seriously.”
David Bowie copied the backing vocals from ‘Lovely Rita’ for his ‘Ziggy Stardust’ song ‘Star’
The book The Complete David Bowie New Edition: Expanded and Updated reports Bowie drew influence from The Beatles in his own work. Bowie admitted he copied the backing vocals from the Sgt. Pepper song “Lovely Rita” for the track “Star” from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
According to Bowie on Bowie, the “China Girl” singer explained why he drew inspiration from other artists.” I have to interplay with other writers, because I’ve always been a fan,” he said. “If I wasn’t a fan, I’d probably be far more individual — the other kind of individuality where it’s very, very ingrained in the self.”
Bowie explained his relationship with society was connected to his relationship with music. “Because I’m very involved with society on my level, I have to use the tools that the present society has been created with, musically,” he revealed. “That’s why, I lift from — and use — and am intrigued by — other writers and their music.”
The way the world reacted to The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’
Neither “Lovely Rita” nor “Star” were released as singles. Both songs appeared on classic albums. Sgt. Pepper became a massive hit. It spent 233 weeks on the Billboard 200. It was on the top of the chart for 15 of those weeks.
Meanwhile, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was considerably less popular in the United States. The album reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200. It lasted on the chart for 88 weeks. Regardless of their chart performance, Sgt. Pepper and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars remain two of the most famous rock albums ever.
