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"Moonage Daydream" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 and first released as a single under the name Arnold Corns. A rerecorded version was released in 1972 on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

In the song, the alien messiah is revealed/created, and his destiny to save the world from the disaster in "Five Years" is also hinted at, as well his fate as the quintessential "soul lover". In terms of the plot, this is one of the most important songs as it describes the creation of Ziggy from a combination of religion, romance, sexual freedom, rebellion, and passion; he metamorphoses into the archetypal rock star.

Moonage Daydream: The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust is the title of a book written by David Bowie, published in 2002 by Genesis Publications, named after this song. The book documented the years 1972-73 and was fully illustrated with the photography of Mick Rock. David and Mick met in 1972 and formed a working relationship and lasting friendship. Subsequently, Mick Rock was allowed to become the only photographer authorised to record the 2-year career of Ziggy Stardust.

Arnold Corns version

The Arnold Corns version of "Moonage Daydream" was released by B&C on single in the UK in April 1971. "Hang on to Yourself" was the B-side.

Production credits

• Producer:
  • David Bowie

• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: Vocals
  • Freddi Buretti: Vocals
  • Mark Carr Pritchard: Guitar
  • Mick Ronson: Guitar
  • Trevor Bolder: Bass guitar
  • Mick "Woody" Woodmansey: Drums

The official band line-up, fronted by dress designer Freddi Buretti, was a total fabrication; Buretti was at the session but his contributions were simply lost alongside Bowie's.

This version was also released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc rerelease of The Man Who Sold the World album (1990) with an alternate lyrics (Come on strong girl, and lay your heavy trip on me, the church of mad love is such a holy place to be...). It also appeared on the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc in 2002.

Live versions

• A live version recorded at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 20 October 1972 was released on Santa Monica '72.
• The version played at the famous concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, July 3 1973 was released on Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture.
• A recording from the 1974 tour was released on David Live. Another live recording from the 1974 tour was released on the rare live album A Portrait in Flesh.
• On the Outside tour in 1995 Bowie once again played "Moonage Daydream" an a new live version was released on the "Hallo Spaceboy" single in 1996. This version was also released on the bonus disc that followed some versions of Outside - Version 2

Other releases

• It was released as the B-Side of the rerelease of the single "Space Oddity" in December 1972.
• It also appeared on the compilations The Best of David Bowie (Japan 1974), Starman (Russia 1989) and the Sound and Vision box set (1989).
• A new mix of the song appeared on the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc.

Appearances in popular culture

• Appears as downloadable content in the music video game series Rock Band in a 3-song pack, along with covers of other David Bowie songs "Heroes" and "Queen Bitch".
• Appeared in the movie School of Rock.
• Canadian Idol runner-up Mitch Macdonald sang this song.
• The introductory guitar riff would be later incorporated into punk pop band Green Day's 2005 hit single, "Jesus of Suburbia".

Cover versions

• Portugal. The Man - Live Recording 2009/2010
• the Smashing Pumpkins - Unreleased recording for an aborted tribute album in 1993/1994
• The Chameleons - Track on the Album This Never Ending Now
• Cienfuegos - Cienfuegos
• Eyfo Hayeled - Live Recording
• J. Hell - Crash Course for the Ravers - A Tribute to the Songs of David Bowie (1996)
• Sass Jordan - Live Recording
• Timothy Moldrey - The Dark Side Of David Bowie: A Tribute To David Bowie (1997)
• Racer X - Second Heat and Vol. 2 - Live Extreme (1986)
• Mick Ronson - Live Recording
• Mike Scott - King Electric CD Single
• Shades of Red - Demo CD/Cassette
• Matthew Sweet - Live Recording
• Techno Cowboy - The Ziggy Stardust Omnichord Album (2009)
• 10,000 Maniacs - Single
• Terrorvision - Long Live Tibet (various artists) (1997)
• Warrior Soul - (Love Is) The Drug single (1995)
• The White Stripes - Live Recording (Nov. 27, 1998)
• Rozz Williams - Live Recording
• Zen Guerrilla - Trance States In Tongues (1999)
• Patti Rothberg - Track on the Album Candelabra Cadabra (2001)
• Fingersauce^[1]- Single (2006)
• Of Montreal - Live Recording (Jan. 21 2007, San Antonio)
• Low Vs. Diamond - The Saturday Sessions (2007)
• Wendy Ip - Spiders from Venus: Indie Women Artists and Female-Fronted Bands Cover David Bowie (2003)
• Danny Michel - Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie (2004)
• The Spiders from Mars - The Mick Ronson Memorial Concert (2001); the Spiders here consisting of Joe Elliott (vocals, acoustic guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Bill Nelson (guitar), Trevor Bolder (bass), Woody Woodmansey, (drums), Billy Rankin (guitar), and Phil Lanzon (keyboards)
• LA Guns - Rips the Covers Off (2004)
• The Killers- Live Recording (Sept. 30, 2005, Jones Beach)
• Dennis Dunaway Project - Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie (2007)
• Sexy Sadie - Odd tracks out! (2000)
• Mars Needs Women - Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie (2007)

References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5