Pablo Picasso vs. David Bowie
August 19th, 2003
The new David Bowie album, Reality, is now available for preorder. His promotional website is also sporting a new Flash jukebox with selected excerpts from the album.
Glitter kids, if you’re still out there, take note.
Personally, my favorite Bowie songs these days are his remakes. The last album, Heathen, had two amazing gems on it—a remake of the darkly whimsical “Cactus” originally by the Pixies and a latter day rearrangement of his very own “Conversation Piece” which was originally recorded in the early seventies and now sounds remarkably even more sincere with his complimentary aging baritone.
And it looks like this album continues that tradition which actually started on Pin-Ups (that is giving due credit to some lesser known, yet influential, artists in song covers). The track “Pablo Picasso” was a favorite of mine from an older John Cale bootleg. Originally written and recorded by Jonathan Richman, the song ponders the well known sexual exploits of the famous artist. As usual, Bowie’s version looks to be all his own.
Well some people try to pick up girls
And get called assholes
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist his stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an assholeWell the girls would turn the color
Of an avacado when he would drive
Down their street in his El Dorado
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist his stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not like youWell he was only 5 foot 3
But girls could not resist his stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not in New YorkOh well, be not schmuck, be not abnoxious
Be not bellbottom bummer or asshole
Remember the story of Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist his stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole