Straight up, David Bowie fascinates me. He is one of the legendary figures from rock music. He found success by pioneering SciFi Rock and is credited for creating the genre known as Glam Rock. One aspect of his musical journey that sticks out to me is his constant connection to the larger experience known as Rock 'n' Roll. He never lost sight of the origins of modern music and always kept it close to his pioneering work. One does not have to look no further than his song "Rebel Rebel". For me it is Rock 'n' Roll in a song.
I feel this way simply because of the musical feel of the track. The song begins with the staple of clicking drum sticks and a riff being born. As the song continues, the drums become paired with a bass and the riff comes to life. It becomes the life force for the song as a whole and accents the tough grit of Bowie's vocals. He sings in a commanding fashion about a "Hot Tramp" who he "loves so". The person being addressed is a gender-bending friend of Bowie. This lyrical inclusion of an aspect from Bowie's glam rock is matched by a classic rock catchy chorus of "Rebel Rebel". It is repeated just the right amount of times to ensure enthused singing along. Also by this point, the listener is tapping his or her foot along to the riff.
This song came along in the middle of the 70's, a time when rock was still reigning strong. To understand this reign, once again, look no further. Overall, David Bowie is a rocker and songs like this exemplify why.
