The Rolling Stones vs. David Bowie

[toomanyhatz]

I voted Stones too, but Bowie owned the 70s, just as the Stones were starting to slip.

The Stones retained the edge in the 80s, however, while Bowie rolled downhill.

Come off it, The Stones were has-beens trading off past glories by the turn of the 80s.
The last time they sounded vaguely relevant was Some Girls.

If it's 'relevant' you're looking for, neither of them could offer that by 1981.

"Start Me Up" is a much better single than anything by Bowie, however.

[Snarfyguy]

"Start Me Up" is a much better single than anything by Bowie, however.

In the 80s, yeah. But I never liked it anyway. By-the-numbers knock-off with awful lyrics and horrible production. Its popularity has always baffled me.

[The Modernist]

I voted Stones too, but Bowie owned the 70s, just as the Stones were starting to slip.

The Stones retained the edge in the 80s, however, while Bowie rolled downhill.

Come off it, The Stones were has-beens trading off past glories by the turn of the 80s.
The last time they sounded vaguely relevant was Some Girls.

If it's 'relevant' you're looking for, neither of them could offer that by 1981.

"Start Me Up" is a much better single than anything by Bowie, however.

Every single Bowie released from Scary Monsters was better, as was the title track from Lets Dance.

[kath]

no no no, hatz, 'ashes to ashes' beats 'start me up' all across town.

[toomanyhatz]

no no no, hatz, 'ashes to ashes' beats 'start me up' all across town.

Not to me. I've never gotten the appeal of "Ashes to Ashes."

[kath]

no no no, hatz, 'ashes to ashes' beats 'start me up' all across town.

Not to me. I've never gotten the appeal of "Ashes to Ashes."

might i suggest that there is sumthin wrong with yer very BRAIIIIIN?

just kiddin. i'm sure most of yer braiiiiin is just fine.

[Goat Boy]

Who's coolness? It is almost comical ,middle class educated dandies playing at being street urchins, smoke and mirrors. At times brilliant, agreed. Bowie is just what I want from a musician. He is cool.

The Stones weren't playing 'street urchins'. What they came to represent was some kind of alternative, middle class bohemian lifestyle.....drugs, models, radical chic etc but with a helicopter waiting in the wings to chopper them away when the crowd got nasty. of course by the time we get to the mid 70s the radical chic has gone and you're just left with the drugs and the women.

[bobzilla77]

I would say that Tattoo You is about as good a Stones album as Scary Monsters is a Bowie album, and both have a completely terrible 80s after that.

Bowie had a better 90s with a few interesting tracks from Earthling & Outside. The Stones have almost nothing of interest.

On balance, if we're talking total career, I'd go with the Stones.

[Goat Boy]

"Start Me Up" is a much better single than anything by Bowie, however.

what, ever?

[the masked man]

Every single Bowie released from Scary Monsters was better, as was the title track from Lets Dance.

As was 'Absolute Beginners'. 'Start Me Up' is an ugly, squally record.

[Bungo the Mungo]

'Start Me Up' is fucking brilliant.

[Quaco]

Who's coolness? It is almost comical ,middle class educated dandies playing at being street urchins, smoke and mirrors. At times brilliant, agreed. Bowie is just what I want from a musician. He is cool.

The Stones weren't playing 'street urchins'. What they came to represent was some kind of alternative, middle class bohemian lifestyle.....drugs, models, radical chic etc but with a helicopter waiting in the wings to chopper them away when the crowd got nasty. of course by the time we get to the mid 70s the radical chic has gone and you're just left with the drugs and the women.

Great comment. On a similar note, I read a quote somewhere about how Altamont really affected the band. The next tour, they were on a high stage, with security guys, the were superstars through and through on their own jet, and never again did they fraternize with the masses.

[Samoan]

Can't You Hear Me Knocking is sublime so I voted accordingly.

[toomanyhatz]

"Start Me Up" is a much better single than anything by Bowie, however.

what, ever?

Read the whole post. I may be crazy but I'm not that crazy!

[kath]

Every single Bowie released from Scary Monsters was better, as was the title track from Lets Dance.

As was 'Absolute Beginners'. 'Start Me Up' is an ugly, squally record.

i can't listen to 'start me up' even pseudo-objectively anymore. it was and is played at just about every damn football game that ever starts, even peewee football... or kickoff that starts... or halftime that starts... or beer run that starts, or watch that starts, etcetcetc.

i *do* remember there being a time when i thought it was okay enough, sure. bounceable, instantly forgettable. but if i want basic rock by numbers kinda stones (and they can do that better than just about anybody when they really wanna)... in the 80s... i want that lil cranked up, sped up chuck berry track. 'she was hot'. yeahhh. i liiiiike that. from one of those 80s albums that average two good tracks... which would be all of em. (i like some others on tattoo you... lil T & A, hang fire, what's that other one, gotdammit? )

i do luvv absolute beginners. especially the beeb version. that one just strokes my artichokes somehow. i love most of let's dance and half of tonight's the night. what. i actually like some of the 90s stones better than some of 90s bowie, just by a smidgen.

p.s. any excuse in a.. ... kinda calm, nonstormy day.

[kath]

Can't You Hear Me Knocking is sublime so I voted accordingly.

and you would be correct on this. ::sigh::

[kath]

Who's coolness? It is almost comical ,middle class educated dandies playing at being street urchins, smoke and mirrors. At times brilliant, agreed. Bowie is just what I want from a musician. He is cool.

The Stones weren't playing 'street urchins'. What they came to represent was some kind of alternative, middle class bohemian lifestyle.....drugs, models, radical chic etc but with a helicopter waiting in the wings to chopper them away when the crowd got nasty. of course by the time we get to the mid 70s the radical chic has gone and you're just left with the drugs and the women.

Great comment. On a similar note, I read a quote somewhere about how Altamont really affected the band. The next tour, they were on a high stage, with security guys, the were superstars through and through on their own jet, and never again did they fraternize with the masses.

i remember the first time i ever watched gimme shelter... watchin mick's face when he first saw the real crowd footage... you can't fake that crap.

(even though i kinda stayed with the whole sleasy drugs and women chic stones, too...)

[Limpin' Jez McKenzie]

I love classic period Bowie (though do not put Station to Station as high as some others) but the Stones are way ahead.

[Matt Wilson]

Those Bowie albums from '72-'74 sounded a bit like the Stones when you think about it.

[Bungo the Mungo]

Those Bowie albums from '72-'74 sounded a bit like the Stones when you think about it.

There were certainly very Stones-y tracks there - 'Watch That Man' and 'Diamond Dogs' spring to mind.