Two Bowie songs, both brilliant songs.

What is amazing, is how, in the space of six years, the style of writing, arranging and even singing is totally different. If you were to play these two songs to someone who has never heard them, or Bowie, they would not believe they were by the same artist.

Life on Mars, a beautiful ballad, with an amazing score and a fantastic guitar solo, and Bowie voice sounding life nothing on earth. It may have been inspired by the same original song as My way, but where as My way comes accross Schmaltzy, this sounds triumphant.

Sound and vision, in the mainstream, like nothing that had been heard before. Less a song, more an instrumental with lyrics. Starting with Dennis Davis' drums crashing in and then settling into this hypnotic, repetitive groove. Midway through there is the most beautiful synth line I have ever heard in my life, followed by Mary Visconti's gorgeous Doo doo doo's. Then like an afterthought, Bowie appears, almost growling the first line. Then almost before it begins it is all over. Short but very very sweet.

It is almost an impossible choice, both are up there at the top of the tree, but I will go with Sound and vision, purely because it was so groundbreaking.

Sound and vision.