David Bowie’s musical preferences revealed in archive

Friday, 12 September 2025 00:05

A newly uncovered note reveals the late icon’s eclectic musical tastes, and highlights the songs he valued most from his own catalogue.

A recently uncovered note within the David Bowie Centre at V&A East in Stratford, London, has provided an unprecedented insight into the late artist’s personal musical tastes. Among a collection exceeding 90,000 items, the note, written on a small Post-it, lists Bowie’s favourite records, offering a rare perspective on the music that inspired one of the most influential figures in modern popular culture.

Bowie’s list demonstrates both the breadth and diversity of his musical interests. Among the works he highlighted were:

Right Now Right Now by Alan Freed and His Rock ’n’ Roll Band

Try Some, Buy Some by Ronnie Spector

Compositions by Richard Strauss and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Jazz works by Miles Davis
Pieces by Tangerine Dream, notably influential during Bowie’s Berlin period

These selections indicate Bowie’s engagement with a wide array of genres, ranging from early rock and roll to classical music, jazz, and experimental electronic compositions.

In addition to his external influences, Bowie compiled a separate list of twelve of his own compositions that he regarded particularly highly:

“Life on Mars?” (Hunky Dory, 1971)

“Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)” (Diamond Dogs, 1974)

“The Bewlay Brothers” (Hunky Dory)

“Lady Grinning Soul” (Aladdin Sane)

“Win” (Young Americans)

“Some Are”

“Teenage Wildlife” (Scary Monsters)

“Repetition” (Lodger)

“Fantastic Voyage” (Lodger)

“Loving The Alien” (Tonight)

“Time Will Crawl (MM Remix)”

“Hang On To Yourself [Live]” (Santa Monica ’72)

This note not only illuminates Bowie’s personal preferences but also underscores his wide-ranging curiosity and artistic openness. His selections reveal an engagement with music that transcended genre boundaries and included both contemporary and classical influences. Bowie’s admiration for works by Miles Davis and Tangerine Dream, as well as his appreciation for early rock and roll and soul, exemplifies the eclectic nature of his musical inspiration.

The list of his own compositions likewise highlights songs that, while not always commercially prominent, held significant personal and artistic meaning. This demonstrates Bowie’s attention to craftsmanship, thematic exploration, and emotional resonance within his oeuvre.

The V&A’s David Bowie Centre will open to the public in mid-September 2025, offering visitors access to an extensive archive encompassing costumes, lyric notebooks, photographs, and other personal effects. The archive presents an unparalleled opportunity to examine the influences and processes behind Bowie’s work.

Several notable themes emerge from Bowie’s musical selections:

Diversity of Influence: Bowie’s list spans multiple genres, from classical to jazz, rock, and experimental electronic music.
Curiosity and Exploration: The selections suggest an enduring engagement with innovative and unconventional music, reflecting his creative philosophy.
Artistic Self-Reflection: His chosen works from his own catalog indicate an affinity for compositions of personal significance rather than solely commercial success.

By examining these preferences, scholars and enthusiasts gain insight into the musical and artistic environment that informed Bowie’s work, providing a deeper understanding of his creative motivations and the factors that shaped his legacy.

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