Honky Dory by David Bowie: A Timeless Ride That Still Hits Different
Alright, let’s talk about Honky Dory. Yeah, yeah—I know it originally dropped way before 2015 (like, decades ago), but this remastered version from Parlophone gave me a reason to revisit it with fresh ears. And man, did it slap. This UK-born gem is pure pop-rock gold, dripping with Bowie's signature charm and weirdness. If you’re into music that feels like an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in velvet, this one’s for you.
First off, can we just take a moment for “Life on Mars?”? Like, holy crap. Every time I hear those opening piano notes, my brain goes, "Oh no, here comes the feels train." It’s dramatic without being over-the-top, dreamy yet sharp as hell. The lyrics hit different every time—like, what even is this song about? Is it alienation? Dreams crumbling? Or just straight-up poetic chaos? Either way, it sticks to your soul like gum under a shoe. You don’t forget something like that easily.
Then there’s “Changes,” which might as well be the soundtrack of anyone who’s ever felt stuck in life. That sax solo? Iconic. The way Bowie sings, "Turn and face the strange"—it’s like he’s whispering directly into your existential crisis. Honestly, I’ve had moments where I’ve screamed this track in my car after some dumb adulting fail. It’s empowering, chaotic, and oddly comforting all at once. Like, yeah, life sucks sometimes, but hey, at least Bowie gets it.
The rest of the album has its own magic too. Tracks like “Queen Bitch” bring the rock edge, while “Kooks” feels like a warm hug from someone slightly unhinged—but in the best way possible. Even the lesser-known tunes, like “The Bewley Brothers,” have this quirky personality that makes you wanna dig deeper. Bowie wasn’t just making music; he was painting sonic portraits of humanity, flaws and all.
But here’s the thing: listening to Honky Dory now feels almost surreal. In 2015, when this reissue came out, Bowie was already gone, leaving behind a legacy so massive it still looms over everything. Listening to these songs reminds me how rare it is to find artists who can blend raw emotion with theatrical flair like he did. He wasn’t just ahead of his time—he was floating above it, waving casually like, “Catch me if you can.”
So yeah, Honky Dory isn’t just an album—it’s more like a little universe you can escape into whenever real life gets too heavy. And honestly? If aliens ever invade Earth, I’d play them this record first. Maybe they’d understand us better through Bowie’s words than anything else we could say. Who knows?
