Ziggy Stardust

The harmony of 'Ziggy Stardust' achieves remarkable depth from relatively simple materials. The main riff's descending bass line — one of rock's most recognizable — creates a sense of elegant decline that perfectly serves the song's narrative of a star's rise and fall. The hammered sus4 on the dominant chord adds rhythmic propulsion, while the introduction of the non-diatonic A major in the chorus provides a harmonic lift that distinguishes the storytelling sections from the more anthemic declarations.

Bowie wrote 'Ziggy Stardust' and 'Lady Stardust' within days of each other in early 1971. The song was registered with his publisher Chrysalis as early as April 1971, before the recording sessions for Hunky Dory. An acoustic demo was recorded between February and March 1971 at Radio Luxembourg's studios in London, around the same time he recorded 'Moonage Daydream' and 'Hang On to Yourself' with Arnold Corns.

The centrepiece of Bowie's legendary 1972 concept album, 'Ziggy Stardust' distills the entire narrative arc of its alien rock star into a single song built on Mick Ronson's unforgettable guitar riff. A glam rock landmark that ranks among the greatest songs ever written, it crystallized Bowie's genius for merging character-driven storytelling with raw, primal rock energy.