LIFE ON MARS? FEATURE ON THIS IS DIG “Mars happy nation...” As we’re still in the week that marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Hunky Dory in the UK (17th December 1971), here’s another piece that was posted last month over on ThisIsDig in celebration of Red Planet Day (28th November). Titled: LIFE ON MARS?: HOW DAVID BOWIE CREATED AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD CLASSIC, this item was written by Alan York and here are the concluding paragraphs with contributions from the sole surviving Spider fro

“Life on Mars?” is a song by the English musician David Bowie, first released on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Conceived as a parody of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, “Life on Mars?” was recorded on 6 August 1971 at Trident Studios in London, and was co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott. The track features piano by the keyboardist Rick Wakeman and a string arrangement by the guitarist Mick Ronson. “Life on Mars?” is primarily a glam rock ballad, with elements of cabaret and art rock. The lyrics are about