Fame

by

David Bowie

Album: Young Americans      Released: 1975

US Chart: 1     UK Chart: 17

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John Lennon helped write this. Bowie invited him to the studio, and Lennon played rhythm guitar on a jam session that resulted in this. Bowie met Lennon less than a year earlier, at a party thrown by Elizabeth Taylor. Lennon was one of Bowie's idols, and they became good friends.

Lennon came up with the title. At first, he was saying something like "Aim," but then he muttered "Fame," and Bowie wrote the lyrics around it.

This song is about what it is like to be famous. Bowie often had conversations with Lennon about how fame took away parts of their lives.

Lennon is also sang the background "Fame" parts in the high voice. (thanks, mtlb - Buffalo, NY)

Bowie's guitarist Carlos Alomar came up with the guitar riff. It was based on a song called "Foot Stompin'" by The Flares, which Bowie had been performing on tour.

This was Bowie's first big hit in America, and also his first to do better in the US than the UK. He had a few UK hits before this, including "Rebel Rebel," "Life On Mars," and "Diamond Dogs."

Bowie: "Fame can take interesting men and thrust mediocrity upon them."

This was recorded at the Sigma Sound studios in Philadelphia, where many Soul classics of the '70s were made. Bowie wanted the album to have a Rhythm & Blues feel, and he called the sound he created "Plastic Soul."

Bowie whispers something at the end. It is rumored to be either "Brings so much pain" or "Feeling so gay, feeling gay."

Bowie performed this on Soul Train. He is one of only a few white performers to appear on the show.

This was remixed as a Techno version for the Pretty Woman soundtrack. It was re-titled "Fame '90." This version was also included on the album Changesbowie when it was re-issued.

At the end of this song, "Fame" is repeated 23 times, each "Fame" being a different note. The repetitions of "Fame" span an amazing 4 octaves. (thanks, Annabelle - Eugene, OR)

In one of Bowie's first US TV appearances, he performed this on The Cher Show in 1975. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

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Comments:

Fame is a flairy kind of Bowie song, but good nonetheless. However it was created, it's catchy.
- John, Concord, NH

In an interview, the fantastic Mr. B. has admitted to experimenting with the caballero's sword in the past, but he said it was just that --experimenting. He is now very happily living with his wife and child. It doesn't matter. Mister David Bowie is still a very talented and handsome gentleman, no matter what his preferences are. Viva Bowie!
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL

I love how this song is about how John Lennon and David Bowie disliked what fame did to their lives, and here people are talking about their private lives, a strong quality of fame, famous people don't like. Great song though.
- Rabia, New York, NY

When I read the Lyrics to "Queen Bitch" off Honky Dory it seems pretty evident Bowie hung around in the gay scene. The references to "watching the cruizers below" (the act of picking up men ie. cruizing). Also "she's known in the darkest clubs For pushing ahead of the dames". That would be a drag queen for sure. I just cant see someone using this jargon if they are totally straight.
- Brian, Vancouver, BC

Duran Duran did a cover of this song. It was a single and not on any of their main albums.
- Karen, Manalapan, NJ

David is in a straight relationship(family man) and seems to thrive on it. I think that the whole androgynous Bowie was something he made up for suckers to take what they wanted from it. The original "Man Who Sold the World" cover was brilliant. "Ziggy", "Aladdinsane", purported the whole gay thing, "Hunky Dory" was part this and a part that, remember "Kooks" was written for Zowie. And also remember that John Lennon "nutted" the journalist who suggested he had a relationship with Brian Epstein. David is a clever man but let's not forget Willie Weekes whose bass playing makes this track.
- John, Dundee, United Kingdom

This song is used for the Choclate Skateboards montage is the skat video "Yeah Right". During this song, Jesus Fernandez, Chico Brennes and Richard Mulder, as well as Kenny Anderson dropped sock parts.
- Kyle, Jefferson, MD

Not to be argumentative, but this was not remotely Bowie's first big hit in America. That honor would go to A Space Oddity.
- Dennis, Anchorage, AK

I heard when Lennon died, Bowie moved out of New York, then came back years later is that true?
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA

John Lennon did not sleep with David Bowie. Period. have any of u guys heard the 90' remix on the album "Changes"
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

Changesbowie is the album, actually
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

If he did have relations with Jagger he did a long time before the ridiculous Dancing in the Streets video! And if he did so what? Listen to the music and let his personal life remain that. He doesn't care who your sleeping with!
- Jeremy, Warren , RI

Lennon and Bowie probably didn't have sex, they both played off the image of being sexually liberated and weird to sell records. Bowie later in his career appeared to play down his bisexuality as a gimick. Bowie claimed to have met his wife while they were dating the same dude.
- Nathan, Defiance, OH

There was a rumour that Bowie had a homosexual affair with Lennon, but I don't know if that was ever confirmed. Then again, there are rumours that Bowie has sex withever he performs with. He did Dancing in the Streets with Mick Jagger and there was a rumour that he did it with Mick Jagger too.
- Roger, Los Angeles, CA

So what about the song, "Hot" by James Brown. It's basically the same song, production and all. I know artists have sampled James Brown probably more than any other artist out there, but is this a case of James "sampling" before sampling existed?
- John, Elkhart, IN

what a great song, and fun to dance to. Especially with that rhythm and blues feel.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

Bowie uses the phrase "plastic soul' I had heard that during the early sixties some african american artists had labeled the Rolling Stones as plastic soul. Rumor has it that Paul Mccartney, refering to the Beatles, asked "Whats that make us" and Lennon "Rubber, whatever they say will bounce off". "Rubber Soul"
- David, Waco, TX

Bowie was jamming with lennon when john started playing shame shame shame, a beatles song, bowie asked what it was and lennon told him that it was easy to make a good song fast, then bowie disappeared, five minutes later he came back with the lyrics to fame
- Ethan, SLC, UT

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