Dwight Yoakam Reveled How ‘Rebel Rebel’ by David Bowie Inspired His Songs

During an interview, country star Dwight Yoakam named “Rebel Rebel” one of his favorite David Bowie songs. Yoakam revealed how “Rebel Rebel” inspired his songs. Notably, “Rebel Rebel” became a hit on two separate occasions in the United Kingdom.

Dwight Yoakam said many artists could learn a lesson about gratitude from David Bowie

Bowie died in 2016. During a 2016 interview with The Orange County Register, Yoakam discussed his feelings about Bowie as a musician. “He was an artist all the way until the end, purely and truly in every sense of the word,” Yoakam opined. “He should be an inspiration for all musical artists.”

Yoakam also commented on what Bowie was like as a person. “He showed a lot of respect to the audience and was grateful for the gift that the artists are given in being able to make music and continue to have the opportunity to express themselves, of course in David’s case, to a massive and wide audience,” Yoakam said. “It’s a lesson in just remembering to be grateful.” Yoakam wished he could have collaborated with Bowie, but “it just wasn’t to be.”

What Dwight Yoakam said about David Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’

During the interview, Yoakam named his five favorite Bowie songs. They were “Rebel Rebel,” “Golden Years,” “”Heroes,”” “Jean Genie,” and Bowie’s cover of Chuck Berry‘s “Around and Around.” Bowie titled the latter “Round and Round.”

Yoakam enjoyed “Rebel Rebel” most of all. “I love the guitars on that and took inspiration from that,” Yoakam said. The country singer also praised the way Bowie contemplated his own mortality on his final album, Blackstar. Yoakam said he planned on listening to many of Bowie’s songs in the future.

The way the world reacted to ‘Rebel Rebel’

“Rebel Rebel” became a minor hit in the United States. “Rebel Rebel” reached No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for eight weeks. Bowie included “Rebel Rebel” on his album Diamond Dogs. Diamond Dogs peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks.

“Rebel Rebel” was even more popular in the United Kingdom. The Official Charts Company reports “Rebel Rebel” reached No. 5 in the U.K. and it remained on the chart for seven weeks. Following Bowie’s death in 2016, the song peaked at No. 65 and it lasted on the chart for one week. Meanwhile, Diamond Dogs hit No. 1 there for four weeks. It spent 42 total weeks on the chart.

Numerous artists covered “Rebel Rebel,” including Madonna, Tegan and Sara, and Duran Duran. “Rebel Rebel” impacted the charts and it impacted Yoakam.