Ranking The 20 Best David Bowie Songs
Few artists reinvented themselves with the fearless creativity David Bowie made look effortless.
His music moved through glam rock, soul, electronic experimentation, and sharp-edged pop, shaping not just sound but style, attitude, and cultural identity.
Every era brought something new, yet the songwriting always stayed imaginative, emotional, and unmistakably his. This list dives into his very best songs, celebrating the tracks that defined his brilliance and continue to inspire generations of listeners.
Disclaimer: All rankings and descriptions are based on opinion, listening experience, and cultural interpretation rather than any objective or absolute measure of musical greatness.
1. Heroes
Standing against the Berlin Wall with arms outstretched, Bowie delivered an anthem that transcends time and borders.
This 1977 masterpiece captures the raw emotion of love defying impossible odds, wrapped in soaring guitar work by Robert Fripp that sounds like hope itself.
The song’s power lies in its simplicity and Bowie’s vocal crescendo that builds from whisper to triumphant roar.
2. Life on Mars?
Picture a girl with mousy hair sitting in a cinema, watching her life unfold in surreal Technicolor.
Bowie crafted this baroque pop wonder in 1971 as a response to a rejected song, turning disappointment into pure artistic gold.
His vocal gymnastics leap octaves while Rick Wakeman’s piano cascades like a waterfall of emotion.
The cryptic lyrics paint bizarre scenes that somehow feel deeply personal, making you wonder about your own place in this strange universe we inhabit.
3. Space Oddity
Major Tom floating in his tin can became the most famous astronaut who never existed.
Released just days before the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, this psychedelic folk-pop ballad launched Bowie into orbit and introduced the world to his cosmic storytelling genius.
The song’s haunting isolation mirrors our own feelings of disconnect in modern life.
4. Starman
When Bowie pointed at the camera during his legendary Top of the Pops performance, he gave a generation permission to be different.
This 1972 glam rock gem tells of an alien waiting in the sky, ready to blow young minds with cosmic wisdom and stardust.
Starman represented hope for outsiders everywhere, proving that being weird wasn’t just okay but downright magical and worth celebrating every single day.
5. Changes
Turn and face the strange became the mantra for everyone navigating life’s unpredictable twists.
This 1971 piano-driven track from Hunky Dory acknowledges that transformation isn’t just inevitable but necessary for growth and survival.
Bowie practiced what he preached, constantly reinventing himself throughout his career like a musical chameleon on fast-forward.
The song’s message resonates especially today when change happens at lightning speed and adaptation becomes our superpower for facing tomorrow’s unknowns.
6. Station to Station
Clocking in at over ten minutes, this 1976 epic is a journey through Bowie’s cocaine-fueled Thin White Duke persona.
The track shifts from eerie, minimalist beginnings to a full-blown funk-rock explosion that showcases his fearless experimentation.
Though born from a dark period, the song demonstrates artistic brilliance emerging from chaos.
Its hypnotic rhythm and mysterious lyrics about European canons and white stains create an atmosphere that’s equal parts unsettling and absolutely mesmerizing throughout.
7. Ashes to Ashes
This 1980 new wave masterpiece revisited Bowie’s most famous character with darker, more complex layers that reflected his own struggles and society’s disillusionment.
The groundbreaking music video cost a fortune and looked like a fever dream directed by Salvador Dali.
With its stuttering rhythm and haunting melody, the song proved Bowie could reinvent not just himself but his own mythology with stunning results.
8. Sound and Vision
Blue, blue, electric blue that’s the color of my room where I will live.
This 1977 track from Low is minimalist perfection, with more instrumental buildup than lyrics, yet it communicates volumes about isolation and artistic renewal.
Bowie created this during his Berlin period while recovering from his Los Angeles excesses.
The song’s sparse beauty and repetitive structure feel like meditation, offering listeners a sonic sanctuary where less truly becomes more and silence speaks louder than words ever could.
9. Ziggy Stardust
Meet the rock and roll messiah who played guitar and became a shining star before burning out too fast.
This 1972 title track introduced the world to Bowie’s most iconic alter ego, a bisexual alien rockstar who served as humanity’s last hope.
The song tells a complete story in under four minutes, blending sci-fi concepts with rock mythology.
Ziggy represented freedom for misfits everywhere, proving that being outrageous and authentic beats being normal and boring every single time, no debate needed.
10. Moonage Daydream
I’m an alligator, I’m a mama-papa coming for you! This glam rock explosion from 1972 is pure theatrical excess wrapped in Mick Ronson’s scorching guitar riffs that could melt steel.
The song captures the Ziggy era’s wild, unapologetic spirit perfectly.
Its science fiction imagery and ambiguity pushed boundaries that needed pushing.
Whether Bowie’s talking about space invaders or something more intimate remains deliciously unclear, making this track endlessly replayable and open to your wildest interpretations and cosmic daydreams.
11. Under Pressure
When Bowie joined forces with Queen in 1981, magic happened in the studio.
That iconic bassline by John Deacon kicks off a collaboration that addresses the crushing weight of modern existence while offering love as the ultimate solution.
Freddie Mercury and Bowie’s vocal interplay creates goosebumps every time.
The song’s message about compassion in tough times feels more relevant than ever, reminding us that checking in on each other isn’t weakness but the strongest thing we can do in this pressure cooker world.
12. Modern Love
Church on time terrifies you, and this 1983 new wave banger captures the confusion of relationships in a rapidly changing world.
With its driving beat and Bowie’s urgent vocals, the song examines how traditional concepts of romance clash with contemporary reality.
The track became a massive hit from Let’s Dance, his most commercially successful album.
Its infectious energy makes you want to dance while simultaneously questioning everything about commitment, faith, and connection in our increasingly complicated modern landscape of swipes and likes.
13. Young Americans
Bowie went full Philadelphia soul in 1975, crafting this funky examination of American youth culture and its contradictions.
The song’s groove is irresistible, featuring Luther Vandross on backing vocals before he became a superstar himself.
Though celebrating American energy, the lyrics hint at emptiness beneath the surface glamour.
It’s simultaneously a love letter and gentle critique, capturing the complexity of chasing dreams in a land of opportunity where success doesn’t always equal fulfillment or genuine happiness.
14. Fame
Co-written with John Lennon and guitarist Carlos Alomar, this 1975 funk masterpiece takes a cynical look at celebrity culture’s dark side.
The repetitive, almost hypnotic groove mirrors how fame traps people in cycles they can’t escape.
Bowie knew firsthand how success could become a prison. The song’s biting commentary remains painfully relevant in our influencer age where everyone chases viral moments.
15. Golden Years
This 1975 disco-funk hybrid is pure joy wrapped in a shimmering production that makes you move.
Bowie originally wrote it for Elvis Presley, but the King never recorded it, so Bowie kept this golden treasure for himself, thankfully.
The song celebrates living in the moment and cherishing the best times while they last.
Its optimistic vibe contrasts with much of Bowie’s darker work, offering a reminder that even chameleonic artists need sunshine sometimes.
16. Suffragette City
Wham bam thank you ma’am! This 1972 glam rock stomper is pure adrenaline and attitude, built on a riff that demands air guitar.
The song’s raw energy captures the Ziggy Stardust era’s rebellious spirit and theatrical excess perfectly.
Nobody’s entirely sure what suffragette city means, but who cares when the song rocks this hard? It’s become a concert favorite and karaoke staple, proving that sometimes pure fun beats deep meaning.
17. Let’s Dance
Nile Rodgers’ guitar work on this 1983 smash hit is instantly recognizable, creating a song that dominated dance floors worldwide.
Bowie went pop without losing his artistic edge, showing how commercial success and quality aren’t mutually exclusive concepts.
The track’s video featured groundbreaking imagery addressing racial issues in Australia. Beyond its infectious groove, Let’s Dance carried substance and social commentary.
18. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
You’re not alone! Bowie’s outstretched hand at the end of Ziggy Stardust’s story offers comfort to every misfit feeling isolated.
This 1972 ballad builds from quiet desperation to triumphant affirmation, showcasing Bowie’s theatrical genius.
The song served as Ziggy’s finale, where the character faces his mortality but finds connection in his final moments.
19. Blackstar
Released just two days before his passing in 2016, this haunting ten-minute opus serves as Bowie’s artistic farewell.
The song’s experimental jazz influences and cryptic lyrics about mortality create an atmosphere that’s simultaneously beautiful and deeply unsettling.
Knowing Bowie crafted this while battling cancer adds profound weight to every moment.
20. Lazarus
Look up here, I’m in heaven! This final single from Blackstar feels like a message from beyond, with Bowie literally singing about his impending departure.
The song’s stark beauty and resigned acceptance of mortality create an incredibly moving listening experience.
The music video shows Bowie in a hospital bed, making art from his illness with characteristic courage.
