70s Cup Round 2 Match 1 *Modernist14- Griff 25*

[never/ever]

A

Gary Numan - Complex





B

David Bowie - Stay

[Osgood]

It would require something very special to beat that Bowie track. I feel merciful and will spare my comments about A

A big B

[Darkness_Fish]

Ooh, I like the choice of A, a lesser-known Gary Numan track, that's quite brave, talk about picking someone with a lot of BCB-unfriendly baggage. The opening melody reminds me of Ultravox's "The Man Who Dies Every Day". It's kind of lightweight, isn't it, simplistic synth-pop normally needed more of a hook, there's something just not quite there with this.

The first Bowie pick took longer than expected, and it's from the era I don't really care for much, and is less familiar to me. Cool drumming. Funky guitar. All those things which I don't like. Some of the riffing reminds me of the music they use for snooker on BBC2, which is a random association that just sprung to mind with no particular purpose. Doesn't move me, but neither did A, which is much closer to my comfort zone of synth and eyeliner.

B

[Diamond Dog]

Now this is a real shame - two wonderful songs, pitted against eachother.

I love that swirling synth sound on this (and other) Numan tunes - it cuts through brilliantly. The violin is a lovely touch too.

"Stay" has always been one of my favourite Bowie tracks, and it still sounds magical to my ears. One of his great vocals too....

An incredibly difficult choice but... it's B by a slither.

[trans-chigley express]

Oooh, two real good ones to open round 2. That Bowie album has been one of my most played of his for a while now and Stay is the best track after Golden Years and the title track. Very hard to choose but I'll give it to Numan in what for him was something a little different with the addition of vioin/viola yet still somehow making it sound all electronic and otherworldly.

A

[naughty boy]

Oooh look! it's Bowie doing funk!

I'm going for A. It's no good, but at least it's over in three minutes.

[Samoan]

A

[The Modernist]

Both great. But A is less cool and therefore less obvious.

A

[C]

I am not a massive Bowie fan and that track selected is not a track I am too keen on.

Numan on the other hand is delightful

I like a bit of fiddle and synth!

-+A+-





.

[Polishgirl]

Difficult one as my reaction to both is the same ; essentially not keen with the discordancy, but vaguely interested anyway. A has a bit more depth for me

A

[sloopjohnc]

B

Real Bowie vs. Bowie pretender

[GoogaMooga]

I'll take the lethargic drone of po-faced Numan over yet another chameleon-like turn by Bowie. Always nice to see a fellow Asperger make good in life.

A

[Penk!]

Whatever happened to Numanoids? You never hear about them any more.

'Stay' is not a favourite Bowie song: it has that powerhouse opening riff and is great for a while, but struggles to maintain that early momentum and ends up going on far too long.

I think, though, that it has enough to beat the nice but inconsequential A.

B

[Rayge]

A - God, Numan was a dullard wasn't he? Always hated the Tory Twat. At least it's not one of his dreadful hits. In fact it's not at all bad when he keps his gob shut. That vile monotone whine, it's really horrible. Fuck off and die you balding bore. 2.5 / 10 for the bits between
B - God, 'funky' Bowie was several shades of dogshit, wasn't he? This album and Young Americans would be a stain on any escutcheon. Such a dry, nasty sound, cocaine a-gogo. At least his sub-Newley chuntering is not as horribly alienating as Numan, but the rest of this - the 'song', the 'idea', the 'funk', is appalling. The horror, the horror. Lasted three minutes 2/ 10

Neither of them is worth a vote, but here's a peg on nose


a

[Sneelock]

Look in your heart, Skywalker and you will know the answer is B

[Dayodead]

For me, the Numan track fits better when in the context of the album....

Another vote for B...

[joels344]

I’m going for B as well.

[Purgatory Brite]

With all due respect to Gary Numan, he simply can't compete with The Dame. Bowie takes this tie for me.

B

When will the inevitable Bowie backlash begin?

[Ranking Ted]

I’d not heard that Gazza Numan track before and it’s pretty if, as has been said, rather inconsequential. Sadly, for it, it’s against a cracker from an album I adore. I know you should get some kind of penalty for picking Bowie but this is fabulous - the two plastic soul records still stand as an apogee of something or other. Whatever it is, I heartily approve.

B

[kath]

as much as i enjoyed A (and i truly did), i hafta give it to bowie. i love stay. love it.