From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rebel Rebel
Rebel Rebel
"Rebel Rebel" Music and lyrics
Originally written for a mooted Ziggy Stardust musical in
late 1973,[4] "Rebel Rebel" was Bowie’s last single in the
glam rock style that had been his trademark. It was also
his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick
Ronson; Bowie himself played guitar on this and almost
all other tracks from Diamond Dogs, producing what NME
critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray called "a rock-
ing dirty noise that owed as much to Keith Richards as it
did to the departed Ronno".[5]
The song is notable for its gender-bending lyrics
("You got your mother in a whirl / She’s not sure if you’re
a boy or a girl") as well as its distinctive riff, which rock
Single by David Bowie journalist Kris Needs has described as "a classic stick-in-
the-head like the Stones’ ’Satisfaction’".[6] Bowie himself
from the album Diamond Dogs
later said, "It’s a fabulous riff! Just fabulous! When I stum-
B-side "Queen Bitch" bled onto it, it was ’Oh, thank you!’"[7]
Transsexual rock artist and former Bowie associate
Released 15 February 1974
Jayne County claims that "Rebel Rebel" was based in part
Format 7" single on County’s own song "Queenage Baby",[8] which was
Recorded Ludolf Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands January recorded in January 1974 by Bowie’s Mainman Records,
1974 but not released at the time. The song later surfaced on
the independent 2006 release Wayne County at the Trucks,
Genre Glam rock
and some critics, upon hearing the track, echoed Coun-
Length 4:20 (Album Version) ty’s claims.[9][10]
2:58 (US Single Mix)
Label = RCA Records
LPBO 5009 Release and aftermath
Writer(s) David Bowie The single quickly became a glam anthem, the female
equivalent of Bowie’s earlier hit for Mott the Hoople, "All
Producer David Bowie
the Young Dudes".[5] It reached #5 in the UK and #64
David Bowie singles chronology in the USA. The latter release initially featured a differ-
ent recording altogether. The single, credited to simply
"Sorrow" "Rebel Rebel" "Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide" ’Bowie’, is shorter (2:58) and more uptempo, dense and
(1973) (1974) (1974)
camp, featuring phased vocals and Bowie playing all of
the instruments with the exception of Geoff MacCorma-
Diamond Dogs track listing
ck on congas.[7] It was swiftly withdrawn and replaced
by the UK single version, but the same arrangement was
"Sweet Thing "Rebel "Rock ’n’ Roll
(Reprise)" Rebel" with Me" used on Bowie’s North American tour in 1974, appearing
(5) (6) (7) on the concert album David Live.
After retiring the song on the 1990 Sound and Vision
tour, Bowie brought "Rebel Rebel" back for the 1999
Rebel Rebel"
"Rebel Rebel is a song by David Bowie, released in 1974
’hours...’ promotional tour. In 2003, a new version was
as a single and on the album Diamond Dogs. Cited as his
recorded, featuring an arrangement by Mark Plati and
most-covered track,[1] it was effectively Bowie’s farewell
without the reference to quaaludes present in the origi-
to the glam movement that had made him a star.[2][3]
nal. This was issued on a bonus disc that came with some
versions of the Reality album the same year, and on the
30th Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs in 2004. Also in
2004, the track was blended in a mash-up with the Reality
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rebel Rebel
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 28
Canadian Singles Chart 30
German Singles Chart 33
Irish Singles Chart 2
Norwegian Singles Chart 9
UK Singles Chart 5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 64
song "Never Get Old"; the result was issued as the single used as the opening piece for the bulk of A Reality
"Rebel Never Gets Old". Tour.
Track listing Other releases
1. "Rebel Rebel" (Bowie) – 4:20 • It appeared on several compilations:
2. "Queen Bitch" (Bowie) – 3:13 • ChangesOneBowie (1976)
The US and Canadian version of this single had "Lady • Changesbowie (1990)
Grinning Soul" as the B-side. • Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
• The Singles Collection (1993)
Production credits • The Best of 1969/1974 (1997)
• Best of Bowie (2002)
• : • It was released as picture discs in the RCA Life Time
• David Bowie picture disc set and the Fashion Picture Disc Set.
• : • A cover version of the guitar intro was featured in a
• David Bowie: vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, series of Mazda car advertisements in the US and
keyboards Canada in 1998/1999.[citation needed]
• Herbie Flowers: bass • The soundtrack of the 1999 film Detroit Rock City
• Mike Garson: piano featured "Rebel Rebel".
• Aynsley Dunbar: drums • The rare US single version was released in the Sound
• Mick Ronson: guitar on "Queen Bitch" and Vision box set and on the bonus disc of the 30th
• Trevor Bolder: bass on "Queen Bitch" Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs in 2004.
• Mick Woodmansey: drums on "Queen Bitch" • The 2003 rerecording was released on the bonus disc
of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs and on
Charts the Limited Edition bonus disc of Reality.
• A version of this song appeared on the Charlie’s
Angels: Full Throttle soundtrack.
Live versions • The soundtrack of the 2009 film Bandslam (in which
Bowie makes a cameo) features "Rebel Rebel".
• A live version from the 1974 tour was released on
• It is also featured in the 2010 film The Runaways, and
David Live. This version was also issued on the Dutch
is included on its soundtrack album.
release Rock Concert. Another live recording from the
1974 tour was released on the semi-legal album A
Portrait in Flesh. Cover versions
• Bowie performed the song during his set at Live Aid
• Bryan Adams – Live recording on The Secret Show
in 1985.
(1993)
• The song was performed during 1987’s Glass Spider
• Bay City Rollers – It’s a Game (1977)
Tour and released on the subsequent Glass Spider
• Shaun Cassidy – Wasp (1980)
live VHS (1988) and DVD/CD (2007).
• Dead or Alive - Nukleopatra (1996)
• Bowie performed the song on Later... with Jools
• Def Leppard in 2002
Holland, a UK television programme in 2002
• Rick Derringer – Live in Cleveland Promo (1976)
• The new version of "Rebel Rebel" from 2003 was
• The Diamonds – Million Copy Hit Songs Made Famous by
performed live on the A Reality Tour DVD. This was
Elton John & David Bowie
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rebel Rebel
• Double You – The Blue Album (1994) • Terminal Bliss - .2 Contamination: A Tribute to David
• Duran Duran – Live recording Bowie (2006)
• The Great Imposters – Dollars in Drag: A Tribute to • Manchester United F.C. fans sang a chant to the tune
David Bowie of ’Rebel Rebel’ called ’Neville Neville’ in honour of
• International Chrysis – Single (1994) defenders Gary and Phil.
• Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – Flashback (1993) • Unknown Hinson - Live in Atlanta, Georgia 10/24/
• Rickie Lee Jones – ’Traffic From Paradise (1993) 2009
• Seu Jorge – Portuguese version for the film The Life
Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
• Magnus Uggla - Godkänd pirat (live 1980)
Notes
• Manic Street Preachers - used as the intro to Motown [1] Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie:
Junk on the Forever Delayed tour (2002) pp.90-92
• Medi and the Medicine Show - BowieMania: Mania, une [2] Mat Snow (2007). "Hang on to Yourself", MOJO 60
collection obsessionelle de Beatrice Ardisson (2007) Years of Bowie: p.51
• The Mike Flowers Pops [3] David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David
• Niels – Swedish version called "Punkjävel" ("Punk Bowie: The Definitive Story: pp.210-217
Devil") [4] David Buckley (1999) Ibid: p.140
• Iggy Pop and Lenny Kravitz performed the song live [5] ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An
at the VH-1 Fashion Awards 1998. The video for "The Illustrated Record: p.60
Jean Genie" was used as a backdrop for the [6] Kris Needs (1983). Bowie: A Celebration: p.29
performance. [7] ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). Op Cit: p.170. Pegg also
• The Rockridge Synthesiser Orchestra – Plays David credits Alan Parker with augmenting Bowie’s
Bowie Classic Trax guitar work on the album and UK single version of
• Sigue Sigue Sputnik – The First Generation (1990) and "Rebel Rebel", although the Diamond Dogs sleeve
David Bowie Songbook and Starman: Rare and Exclusive acknowledges Parker only on "1984"
Versions of 18 Classic David Bowie Songs, CD premium [8] Fox, Katrina (2006-08-24). "Complete and Utter
from the March 2008 issue of Uncut magazine. County". http://www.katrinafox.com/
• Slant 6 – Single jaynecounty.htm.
• The Dykeenies [9] Lalumia, Jimi. "Wayne County at the Trucks". Punk
• The Smashing Pumpkins – Live in Spectrum, Oslo, Globe Magazine. http://www.punkglobe.com/
Norway, 4/12/96 waynecountytrucksreview.html.
• Tegan and Sara (featuring Grace Nocturnal) - Spiders [10] Thompson, Dave. "Wayne County at the Trucks -
from Venus: Indie Women Artists and Female-Fronted Review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/
Bands Cover David Bowie (2003) album/r862715.
• Twilight Clone – Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David
Bowie (1998)
• Kyosuke Himuro – Live in Tokyo Dome (1989)
References
• Kenichi Asai (2006) Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds &
Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rebel_Rebel&oldid=444185053"
Categories:
• 1974 singles
• David Bowie songs
• LGBT-related songs
• Songs written by David Bowie
• Dead or Alive songs
• 1994 singles
• Glam rock songs
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