David Bowie – "Rebel Rebel" (1974)

Got your mother in a whirl

She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl

[NOTE: I originally posted about the last of this year's group of inductees into the 2 OR 3 LINES "GOLDEN DECADE" ALBUM TRACKS HALL OF FAME on November 25, 2011.]

To call David Bowie a musical chameleon is an understatement.  A chameleon may be able to change its colors, but it remains a chameleon.  It can't turn itself into a fish or a bird or a monkey.

(Love the eyepatch!)

It seemed that Bowie changed musical identities almost as often as I change my underwear.  (Once a week, whether I need to or not.)  When I was in college, he was a glam-rocker from outer space (Ziggy Stardust).  During my law-school years, he was a funk/soul/disco dude (the "Thin White Duke").  Later he transformed into the cooly post-modern minimalist of the "Berlin Trilogy" albums.  So confusing!

His 1974 album, Diamond Dogs, was his last glam-rock album and his first "plastic soul" album.  (One + one = one in this case.)

"Rebel Rebel" – his last glam-rock single – was originally written for a planned Ziggy Stardust musical that never got off the ground.  It's a gender-bender like the Kinks' "Lola," but sounds more like an old Rolling Stones song.  

Dozens of other artists have covered it – everyone from the Bay City Rollers to Def Leppard to Duran Duran to Joan Jett to Iggy Pop to the Smashing Pumpkins.

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Manchester United soccer fans sang this tribute to Gary and Phil Neville – two brothers who once played on the team – to the tune of "Rebel Rebel":

Neville Neville, they're in defence

Neville Neville, their future's immense

Neville Neville, they ain't half bad

Neville Neville, the name of their dad

And yes, Neville Neville is the actual name of Gary's and Phil's dad, a former cricketer.

Netballer Tracey Neville

By the way, Neville Neville's other child, daughter Tracey – Phil's fraternal twin – is a professional netball player (whatever netball is).

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Click here to watch a fabulous old video of Bowie lip-synching "Rebel Rebel."

Click here to order the record from Amazon.