Quicksand (David Bowie song)
| "Quicksand" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Quicksand" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 for the album Hunky Dory; it was recorded on 14 July 1971.[1] This ballad features multi-tracked acoustic guitars and a string arrangement by Mick Ronson. Producer Ken Scott, having recently engineered George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass, attempted to create a similarly powerful acoustic sound with this track.[2]
Lyrically the song, like much of Bowie's work at this time, was influenced by Buddhism, occultism, and Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the Superman.[3] It refers to the magical society Golden Dawn and name-checks one of its most famous members, Aleister Crowley, as well as Heinrich Himmler, Winston Churchill and Juan Pujol (codename: Garbo).[4]
Reception
NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray have described it as "Bowie in his darkest and most metaphysical mood",[3] while a contemporary review in Rolling Stone remarked on its "superb singing" and "beautiful guitar motif".[5]
Marilyn Manson has stated that "Quicksand" and Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" are his favorite songs.[6]
Other releases
- It was released as the B-side of the single "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" in April 1974.
- RCA included the song in the picture disc set Life Time.
- A studio demo version of the song was released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc release of Hunky Dory in 1990.
Personnel
- David Bowie: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Mick Ronson: acoustic guitars, Mellotron, string arrangement
- Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
- Rick Wakeman: piano
- Mick Woodmansey: drums
Cover versions
- Emilíana Torrini's 2001 single 'Unemployed in Summertime' uses the same verse melody
- Dinosaur Jr. – single (1991) (Dinosaur Jr.'s version makes several changes to the lyrics)
- Seu Jorge - a Portuguese version for the film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
- Seal - live recording (MTV) [citation needed]
- Robert Smith - live recording (with David Bowie) (1997)
- End of Fashion - part of Australian radio station Triple J's Like a Version series (2005)
- Aslan - On their 2009 album, Uncase'd
- Abbeyvein - .2 Contamination: A Tribute to David Bowie (2006)
- Rainbow Arabia - We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie (2010)
- Züri West - Tribsand (adaption to Swiss German), on Aloha from Züri West (2004)
- Temple of the Dog performed the song live during their 25th Anniversary Tour in 2016
Notes
- ^ Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now - David Bowie: The London Years: 1947-1974: pp.223-224
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.115
- ^ a b Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.41
- ^ David Sheppard (2007). "Wishful Beginnings", MOJO 60 Years of Bowie: p.24
- ^ John Mendelsohn (6 January 1972). "Hunky Dory". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Scaggs, Austin (October 14, 2004). "Q&A: Marilyn Manson". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
References
Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5