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Rebel Rebel
Lead vocals: Man
Taal: Engels
Rebel Rebel is de eerste single van David Bowie in 1974, er zouden er dat jaar nog drie volgen. Rebel Rebel is afkomstig van zijn studioalbum Diamond Dogs, dat pas later zou worden uitgegeven; de single kwam 15 februari 1974 uit, de langspeelplaat 24 april 1974. Rebel Rebel is opgenomen in januari 1974 in de Ludolph Studios in Nederhorst den Berg.
Rebel Rebel was een overblijfsel van zijn Ziggy Stardust-musicals en was zijn laatste single binnen het genre glamrock. Tegelijkertijd was het zijn eerste single zonder zijn toen vaste gitarist Mick Ronson. Het nummer is bekend vanwege de wisselingen in sekse binnen de teksten (You got your mother in a whirl / She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl). De vraag is of Bowie het nummer geheel zelf heeft geschreven. Zijn vroegere partner in muziek Wayne County had met Queenage baby eenzelfde soort track opgenomen, die echter destijds niet is uitgebracht.
Het is een van Bowies populairste liedjes als het op covers aankomt, van Bay City Rollers tot Bryan Adams hebben het opgenomen. Het nummer verscheen op tal van verzamelalbums en livealbums van Bowie.
"Rebel Rebel" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released in the UK on 15 February 1974 by RCA Records as the lead single from the album Diamond Dogs. Written and produced by Bowie, the song is based around a distinctive guitar riff reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. Cited as his most-covered track, "Rebel Rebel" has been described as Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement that he had helped initiate, as well as being a proto-punk track. Two versions of the song were recorded: the well-known UK single release and the shorter US single release, which featured added background vocals, extra percussion and a new arrangement.
Upon its release, the song was a commercial success, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart and number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song received critical acclaim for its central guitar riff and strength as a glam anthem. Several publications consider it to be one of Bowie's greatest songs. It was performed live by Bowie during many of his concert tours and since appeared on many compilation albums. It was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set.