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Why did Americans not get David Bowie?

Posted on 3/5/23 at 3:21 pm
Posted by Mike Joyce
Member since Jan 2021
393 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 3:21 pm
I have just read that Bowie never had a number 1 US album in his lifetime. Whereas bands like Nickelback have.

Why did Americans not take to Bowie like the rest of the world?
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
142485 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 3:34 pm to
He was a major star and media presence with a long career even w/his often eccentric career choices

I know he had at least one #1 single in the '70s, and then had a big commercial comeback in the '80s.

He just wasn't as big in the US as he was in the UK, that's all

Lies, damn lies, and statistics... FWIW Creedence never had a #1 single, and they were the biggest selling band in the US for two years -- yes, outselling The Beatles.
Posted by rebelrouser
Columbia, SC
Member since Feb 2013
10681 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 4:19 pm to
What does Nickleback have to do with anything? Bowie was popular but he was competing against the likes of The Beatles, The Who, CS&N, The Doors, etc. The list of No. 1 albums in 1970: Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin II, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Let It Be, Woodstock Soundtrack, Cosmos Factory, etc. Tough competition back then. I think Bowie wasn't as popular in the U.S. as he was in England because of the weirdness.
Posted by genuineLSUtiger
Nashville
Member since Sep 2005
73023 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 5:05 pm to
I always thought he was pretty popular over here. Always on the radio in the 70’s and 80’s. Let’s Dance was a huge album that was released in MTV’s heyday. It was a perfect medium for him.
Posted by DeltaTigerDelta
Member since Jan 2017
11348 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 7:58 pm to
We were just Young Americans
Posted by Locoguan0
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2017
4333 posts
Posted on 3/5/23 at 8:40 pm to
Bowie was much more niche than other acts. Other than the 80s sellout that many 60s-70s acts were guilty of, he was never mainstream pop.
Posted by pecanridge
South
Member since Apr 2009
1256 posts
Posted on 3/6/23 at 4:31 am to
To me will always be thankful that Bowie tapped Stevie Ray Vaughn to guest guitar on Let’s Dance album after seeing them at a Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. First public recording of SRV before Texas Flood came out.

Bowie and SRV

SRV guitar fills. 1:50-2:15
3:30-3:58
This post was edited on 3/6/23 at 5:07 am
Posted by Honest Tune
Louisiana
Member since Dec 2011
15797 posts
Posted on 3/6/23 at 6:36 am to
According to their social media, every girl in Nola “got” his music when he died. TONS of Bowie tributes on ig.
Posted by MorbidTheClown
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2015
66364 posts
Posted on 3/6/23 at 10:07 am to
didn't realize this was a thing. I listened to Bowie as a kid and still do from time to time. Not a huge fan of his 80s MTV stuff. But, Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, Rebel Rebel, fame,
great songs
Posted by danilo
Member since Nov 2008
20254 posts
Posted on 3/7/23 at 3:19 pm to
If not number 1 therefore don’t “get it”?
Posted by wareaglepete
Lumon Industries
Member since Dec 2012
11048 posts
Posted on 3/7/23 at 5:41 pm to
quote:

Why did Americans not take to Bowie like the rest of the world?


Posted by athenslife101
Member since Feb 2013
18607 posts
Posted on 3/8/23 at 10:12 pm to
He’s probably my favorite musician just because he was willing to be weird.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38781 posts
Posted on 4/30/23 at 12:12 am to
He dressed like a tranny for a little while so america said nope.
Posted by Telecaster
Memphis
Member since May 2017
1690 posts
Posted on 4/30/23 at 8:14 am to
The Gene Genie

The Spiders From Mars. Mick Ronson was the coolest.
Posted by biglego
Ask your mom where I been
Member since Nov 2007
76547 posts
Posted on 4/30/23 at 9:20 am to
quote:

Why did Americans not get David Bowie?






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