David Bowie (1947–2016) was an English musician who recorded over 400 different songs in a career which spanned six decades.[1] Bowie worked with numerous artists throughout his career, including producers Tony Visconti, Brian Eno and singer Iggy Pop, and was the primary songwriter for most of his songs; he recorded cover versions of songs by artists including the Who, the Pretty Things and the Yardbirds. Beginning his career under the name Davy Jones, Bowie released singles with multiple backing bands, including the King Bees and the Lower Third, all of which went generally unnoticed.[2] Following his baroque pop and music hall influenced self-titled debut album in 1967,[3] he released his first successful single "Space Oddity", which introduced the fictional astronaut Major Tom. He then released his folk rock inspired second self-titled album in 1969,[4] the hard rock The Man Who Sold the World (1970), and the art pop Hunky Dory (1971), which represented an artistic breakthrough for Bowie,[5] containing songs such as "Changes" and "Life on Mars?".[6]
Between 1972 and 1974, Bowie was a pioneer of the glam rock genre, as showcased on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), which launched Bowie to stardom,[7] Aladdin Sane and the covers album Pin Ups (both 1973), and Diamond Dogs (1974).[8] His songs from this era include "Suffragette City",[9] "The Jean Genie",[10] "Rebel Rebel" and "All the Young Dudes" (made famous by Mott the Hoople), the last two of which are regarded as glam anthems. Young Americans (1975) showcased Bowie's interest in soul and R&B music, as well as funk ("Fame").[11] Station to Station (1976) was the vehicle for his persona the Thin White Duke, and is commonly known as the musical transition between Young Americans and his experimental art rock Berlin Trilogy,[12] consisting of Low (1977), "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979).[13] Working with Eno and Visconti, Low featured songs influenced by electronic and ambient music,[14] "Heroes" expanding upon Low with a more art pop sound (prominently on its well-known title track), and Lodger marking the partial return to his previous drum and guitar-based rock sound, with elements of new wave and world music present. Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980) was a culmination of his 1970s works and featured the singles "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion".[15] Bowie then recorded "Under Pressure" with Queen and the title track for the 1982 film Cat People with Giorgio Moroder.
Bowie reached his commercial peak with the post-disco and dance-oriented Let's Dance in 1983.[16] [17] Tonight followed a year later,[18] after which Bowie contributed to various film soundtracks and released the pop rock Never Let Me Down (1987).[19] In 1988, Bowie briefly halted his solo career to record with the band Tin Machine, who explored alternative and grunge styles before the genres were particularly well-known; the band dissolved in 1992 and Bowie resumed his solo career. Black Tie White Noise (1993) marked a creative resurgence for Bowie, featuring songs influenced by soul and jazz music, and made prominent use of electronic instruments.[20] After releasing the experimental The Buddha of Suburbia later the same year, Bowie experimented with industrial rock on Outside (1995),[21] [22] drum and bass and jungle on Earthling (1997), and ended the 1990s with the pop rock-oriented Hours (1999).[23] Bowie reunited with Visconti for the rest of his career, releasing the rock albums Heathen (2002) and Reality (2003) before taking a break from music. His final releases were the art rock-oriented The Next Day in 2013,[24] [25] the song "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" in 2014,[26] and his final album Blackstar in 2016, before his death of liver cancer two days after its release.[27] The art rock and jazz album was Bowie's intended swan song, featuring several lyrics that revolved around his impending death.[28] [29] Three new songs from the Blackstar sessions were released on the EP No Plan in 2017.[30] Bowie's unreleased album Toy, recorded in 2000, was posthumously released in 2021.[31]
| Writer(s) | Original release | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "1917" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | B-side of "Thursday's Child" (UK CD2) | 1999 | [32] | |
| "1984" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | [33] | |
| "5:15 The Angels Have Gone" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | [34] | |
| David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | [35] | ||
| "Abdulmajid" | David Bowie | (1991 reissue) | 1991 | [36] | |
| "Absolute Beginners" | David Bowie | Absolute Beginners (soundtrack) | 1986 | [37] | |
| "Across the Universe" (The Beatles cover) | Young Americans | 1975 | [38] | ||
| "Afraid" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "African Night Flight" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Lodger | 1979 | [39] | |
| "After All" | David Bowie | 1970 | [40] | ||
| "After Today" | David Bowie | Sound + Vision (box set) | 1989 | [41] | |
| "Alabama Song" | 1980 | ||||
| "Aladdin Sane (1913–1938–197?)" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | [42] | |
| "Algeria Touchshriek" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | [43] | |
| "All Saints" | David Bowie | Low (1991 reissue) | 1991 | [44] | |
| "All the Madmen" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "All the Young Dudes" (live) | David Bowie | David Live | 1974 | [45] | |
| "Always Crashing in the Same Car" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | [46] | |
| "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel cover) | B-side of "Sorrow" | 1973 | |||
| "Andy Warhol" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | [47] | |
| "Angel, Angel, Grubby Face" (demo) | David Bowie | Spying Through a Keyhole | 2019 | [48] | |
| "Animal Farm" (demo) | David Bowie | Conversation Piece | 2019 | ||
| "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (The Who cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | [49] | ||
| "April's Tooth of Gold" (demo) | David Bowie | Conversation Piece | 2019 | [50] | |
| "Art Decade" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "As the World Falls Down" | David Bowie | Labyrinth | 1986 | [51] | |
| "Ashes to Ashes" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | [52] | |
| "Atomica" | David Bowie | 2013 | [53] | ||
| "Baal's Hymn" | Baal (EP) | 1982 | [54] | ||
| "Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette)" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Ballad of the Adventurers" | Baal (EP) | 1982 | |||
| "Bang Bang" (Iggy Pop cover) | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | |||
| "Bars of the County Jail" | David Bowie | Early On (1964–1966) | 1991 | [55] | |
| "Battle for Britain (The Letter)" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Mark Plati | Earthling | 1997 | [56] | |
| "Be My Wife" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "Beat of Your Drum" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "Beauty and the Beast" | David Bowie | 1977 | [57] | ||
| "Because You're Young" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Big Brother" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Black Country Rock" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Black Tie White Noise" (with Al B. Sure!) | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | [58] | |
| "Blackout" | David Bowie | 1977 | |||
| "Blackstar" | David Bowie | Blackstar | 2015 | [59] | |
| "Bleed Like a Craze, Dad" | David Bowie | 1993 | [60] | ||
| "Blue Jean" | David Bowie | Tonight | 1984 | [61] | |
| "Bombers" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory (1990 reissue) | 1990 | [62] | |
| "Born in a UFO" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Boss of Me" | David Bowie Gerry Leonard | 2013 | [63] | ||
| "Boys Keep Swinging" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Breaking Glass" | David Bowie Dennis Davis George Murray | Low | 1977 | ||
| "Brilliant Adventure" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | [64] | |
| "Bring Me the Disco King" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | [65] | |
| "" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "" (with Lenny Kravitz) | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Cactus" (Pixies cover) | Heathen | 2002 | |||
| "Can You Hear Me?" | David Bowie | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Candidate" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" | David Bowie Giorgio Moroder | Cat People (soundtrack) | 1982 | [66] | |
| "Changes" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Chilly Down" | David Bowie | Labyrinth | 1986 | ||
| "China Girl" (Iggy Pop cover) | David Bowie Iggy Pop | Let's Dance | 1983 | [67] | |
| "Ching-a-Ling" | David Bowie | Love You till Tuesday | 1984 | [68] | |
| "Come and Buy My Toys" | David Bowie | 1967 | [69] | ||
| "Conversation Piece" | David Bowie | B-side of "The Prettiest Star" | 1970 | ||
| "Cracked Actor" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Criminal World" (Metro cover) | Peter Godwin Duncan Browne Sean Lyons | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Crystal Japan" | David Bowie | 1980 | |||
| "Cygnet Committee" | David Bowie | 1969 | [70] | ||
| "Dancing Out in Space" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Dancing with the Big Boys" (with Iggy Pop) | David Bowie Iggy Pop Carlos Alomar | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "Day-In Day-Out" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "Days" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Dead Against It" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Dead Man Walking" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "Diamond Dogs" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Did You Ever Have a Dream" | David Bowie | B-side of "Love You till Tuesday" | 1967 | ||
| "Dirty Boys" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "" | Baal (EP) | 1982 | |||
| "D.J." | David Bowie Brian Eno Carlos Alomar | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Do Anything You Say" | David Bowie | 1966 | |||
| "Dodo" | David Bowie | Sound + Vision (box set) | 1989 | ||
| "Dollar Days" | David Bowie | Blackstar | 2016 | ||
| "Don't Bring Me Down" (Pretty Things cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "Don't Let Me Down & Down" | Tahra Mint Hembara Martine Valmont | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Don't Look Down" (Iggy Pop cover) | Tonight | 1984 | |||
| "Don't Sit Down" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Drive-In Saturday" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "" | Baal (EP) | 1982 | |||
| "Eight Line Poem" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Everyone Says 'Hi'" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "Everything's Alright" (The Mojos cover) | Nicky Crouch John Konrad Simon Stavely Stuart James Keith Karlson | Pin Ups | 1973 | ||
| "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Fame" | David Bowie Carlos Alomar John Lennon | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Fantastic Voyage" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Fascination" | David Bowie Luther Vandross | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Fashion" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "Fill Your Heart" | Hunky Dory | 1971 | |||
| "Five Years" | David Bowie | 1972 | [71] | ||
| "Fly" | David Bowie | Reality (bonus disc) | 2003 | ||
| "Footstompin'" / "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" | RarestOneBowie | 1974 | [72] | ||
| "Friday on My Mind" (The Easybeats cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "Future Legend" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Get Real" | David Bowie | Outside (Japanese bonus track) | 1995 | ||
| "Girl Loves Me" | David Bowie | Blackstar | 2016 | ||
| "Girls" (Tina Turner cover) | David Bowie Erdal Kızılçay | B-side of "Time Will Crawl" | 1987 | [73] | |
| "Glass Spider" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "God Bless the Girl" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "God Knows I'm Good" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "God Only Knows" (The Beach Boys cover) | Tonight | 1984 | |||
| "Golden Years" | David Bowie | Station to Station | 1975 | [74] | |
| "Good Morning Girl" | David Bowie | B-side of "Do Anything You Say" | 1966 | ||
| "Goodbye 3d (Threepenny) Joe" (demo) | David Bowie | Spying Through a Keyhole | 2019 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | B-side of "The Laughing Gnome" | 1967 | ||
| "Growin' Up" (Bruce Springsteen cover) | Pin Ups (1990 reissue) | 1990 | [75] | ||
| "Hallo Spaceboy" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Hang On to Yourself" | David Bowie | 1971 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Heat" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Heathen (The Rays)" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "Here Comes the Night" (Them cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" (Ohio Players cover) | Leroy Bonner Joe Harris Marshall Jones Ralph Middlebrooks Dutch Robinson Clarence Satchell Gary Webster | David Live (1990 reissue) | 1990 | [76] | |
| David Bowie Brian Eno | 1977 | ||||
| "Hole in the Ground" | David Bowie | Toy | 2021 | [77] | |
| "Holy Holy" | David Bowie | 1971 | |||
| "How Does the Grass Grow?" | David Bowie Jerry Lordan | 2013 | |||
| "I Can't Explain" (The Who cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "I Can't Give Everything Away" | David Bowie | Blackstar | 2016 | ||
| "I Can't Read" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | (soundtrack) | 1997 | ||
| "I Dig Everything" | David Bowie | 1966 | |||
| "I Feel Free" (Cream cover) | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | |||
| "I Have Not Been to Oxford Town" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "I Keep Forgettin'" (Chuck Jackson cover) | Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller Gil Garfield | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" (Morrissey cover) | Morrissey Mark E. Nevin | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "I Pray, Olé" | David Bowie | Lodger (1991 reissue) | 1991 | [78] | |
| "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship" | Heathen | 2002 | |||
| "I Want My Baby Back" | David Bowie | Early On (1964–1966) | 1991 | ||
| "I Wish You Would" (Billy Boy Arnold cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "I Would Be Your Slave" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "I'd Rather Be High" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "I'll Take You There" | David Bowie Gerry Leonard | 2013 | |||
| "I'm Afraid of Americans" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Showgirls (soundtrack) | 1995 | ||
| "I'm Deranged" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "I'm Not Losing Sleep" | David Bowie | B-side of "I Dig Everything" | 1966 | ||
| "I'm Not Quite" (demo) | David Bowie | 2019 | |||
| "I've Been Waiting for You" (Neil Young cover) | Heathen | 2002 | |||
| "Ian Fish, U.K. Heir" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "If I'm Dreaming My Life" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "If You Can See Me" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "In the Heat of the Morning" | David Bowie | 1970 | [79] | ||
| "" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "It Ain't Easy" | 1972 | ||||
| "It's Gonna Be Me" | David Bowie | Young Americans (1991 reissue) | 1991 | [80] | |
| "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" (Bruce Springsteen cover) | Sound + Vision (box set) | 1989 | |||
| "It's No Game (No. 1)" | David Bowie Hisahi Miura | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "It's No Game (No. 2)" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "Janine" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Jerusalem" (demo) | David Bowie | Conversation Piece | 2019 | ||
| "Joe the Lion" | David Bowie | 1977 | |||
| "John, I'm Only Dancing" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" | David Bowie | 1979 | |||
| "Join the Gang" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Julie" | David Bowie | B-side of "Day-In Day-Out" | 1987 | ||
| "Jump They Say" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Karma Man" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Killing a Little Time" | David Bowie | No Plan (EP) | 2017 | [81] | |
| "Kingdom Come" | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | |||
| "Knock on Wood" (live) (Eddie Floyd cover) | David Live | 1974 | |||
| "Kooks" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Lady Grinning Soul" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Lady Stardust" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Mark Plati | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Law (Earthlings on Fire)" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Mark Plati | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "Lazarus" | David Bowie | Blackstar | 2015 | ||
| "Leon Takes Us Outside" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Let Me Sleep Beside You" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Let's Dance" | David Bowie | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Let's Spend the Night Together" (The Rolling Stones cover) | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | |||
| "Letter to Hermione" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Life Is a Circus" (demo) | Roger Bunn | Clareville Grove Demos | 2019 | ||
| "Life on Mars?" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Lightning Frightening" | David Bowie | The Man Who Sold the World (1990 reissue) | 1990 | [82] | |
| "Like a Rocket Man" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Little Bombardier" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Little Wonder" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Mark Plati | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | B-side of "Rubber Band" | 1966 | ||
| "London Bye Ta-Ta" | David Bowie | Sound + Vision (box set) | 1989 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Look Back in Anger" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Looking for Lester" | David Bowie Nile Rodgers | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Looking for Satellites" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Mark Plati | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "Looking for Water" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Love All Around" (demo) | David Bowie | Spying Through a Keyhole | 2019 | ||
| "Love Is Lost" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Love Missile F1 Eleven" (Sigue Sigue Sputnik cover) | B-side of "New Killer Star" | 2003 | |||
| "Love Song" (demo) | 2019 | [83] | |||
| "Love You till Tuesday" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Lover to the Dawn" (demo) | David Bowie | Clareville Grove Demos | 2019 | [84] | |
| "Loving the Alien" | David Bowie | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "Lucy Can't Dance" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise (CD bonus track) | 1993 | ||
| "Magic Dance" | David Bowie | Labyrinth | 1986 | ||
| "Maid of Bond Street" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Memory of a Free Festival" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Miracle Goodnight" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Modern Love" | David Bowie | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Moonage Daydream" | David Bowie | 1971 | |||
| "Moss Garden" | David Bowie Brian Eno | 1977 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Mother" (John Lennon cover) | 2021 | [85] | |||
| "Mother Grey" (demo) | David Bowie | Spying Through a Keyhole | 2019 | ||
| "Move On" | David Bowie | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "My Death" (live) (Scott Walker cover) | 1983 | ||||
| "" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Neighborhood Threat" (Iggy Pop cover) | David Bowie Iggy Pop Ricky Gardiner | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "Neuköln" | David Bowie Brian Eno | 1977 | |||
| "Never Get Old" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Never Let Me Down" | David Bowie Carlos Alomar | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "New Angels of Promise" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "New Killer Star" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "New York's in Love" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Nite Flights" (The Walker Brothers cover) | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | |||
| "No Control" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "No One Calls" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | B-side of "Thursday's Child" (UK CD1) | 1999 | [86] | |
| "No Plan" | David Bowie | No Plan (EP) | 2017 | ||
| "Nothing to Be Desired" | David Bowie | B-side of "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" (US single) | 1995 | ||
| "Nuts" | David Bowie | Is It Any Wonder? (digital) | 2020 | [87] | |
| "" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Oh! You Pretty Things" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Outside" | Kevin Armstrong David Bowie | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Pablo Picasso" (The Modern Lovers cover) | Reality | 2003 | |||
| "Pallas Athena" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Panic in Detroit" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Pictures of Lily" (The Who cover) | Substitute: The Songs of The Who | 2001 | |||
| "Plan" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Please Mr. Gravedigger" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Queen Bitch" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Queen of All the Tarts (Overture)" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Quicksand" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" | David Bowie Mogol | 1970 | |||
| "Ramona A. Stone/I Am with Name" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Real Cool World" | David Bowie | Songs from the Cool World (soundtrack) | 1992 | ||
| "Reality" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "Rebel Never Gets Old" | David Bowie | 2004 | |||
| "Rebel Rebel" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Red Money" | David Bowie Carlos Alomar | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Red Sails" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "Remembering Marie A" | Baal (EP) | 1982 | |||
| "Repetition" | David Bowie | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "" (demo) | David Bowie | Conversation Piece | 2019 | ||
| "" (Credited to "The Rebels") | David Bowie Jack Fishman | Just a Gigolo (film) | 1978 | ||
| "Ricochet" | David Bowie | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Right" | David Bowie | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" | David Bowie Warren Peace | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Rosalyn" (Pretty Things cover) | Jimmy Duncan Bill Farley | Pin Ups | 1973 | ||
| "Round and Round" (Chuck Berry cover) | B-side of "Drive-In Saturday" | 1973 | |||
| "Rubber Band" | David Bowie | 1966 | |||
| "Running Gun Blues" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Safe" | David Bowie | Heathen (SACD release) | 2002 | [88] | |
| "Saviour Machine" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "Scream Like a Baby" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno Carlos Alomar | 1977 | |||
| "See Emily Play" (Pink Floyd cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "Sell Me a Coat" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Sense of Doubt" | David Bowie | 1977 | |||
| "Seven" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Seven Years in Tibet" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "Sex and the Church" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Shadow Man" | David Bowie | B-side of "Slow Burn" | 2002 | ||
| "Shake It" | David Bowie | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Shapes of Things" (The Yardbirds cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "She Shook Me Cold" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "She'll Drive the Big Car" | David Bowie | Reality | 2003 | ||
| "She's Got Medals" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Shilling the Rubes" | David Bowie | – | |||
| "Shining Star (Makin' My Love)" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "Silly Boy Blue" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Sister Midnight" (live) (Iggy Pop cover) | David Bowie Carlos Alomar Iggy Pop | 2010 | [89] | ||
| "Slip Away" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "Slow Burn" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels Mike Garson Erdal Kızılçay Sterling Campbell | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "So She" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Some Are" | David Bowie | Low (1991 reissue) | 1991 | ||
| "Somebody Up There Likes Me" | David Bowie | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Something in the Air" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Song for Bob Dylan" | David Bowie | Hunky Dory | 1971 | ||
| "Sons of the Silent Age" | David Bowie | 1977 | |||
| "Sorrow" (The Merseys cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "Soul Love" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "Sound and Vision" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "South Horizon" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Space Oddity" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Speed of Life" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "Star" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "Starman" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Station to Station" | David Bowie | Station to Station | 1976 | ||
| "Stay" | David Bowie | Station to Station | 1976 | ||
| "Strangers When We Meet" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Subterraneans" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" | David Bowie Maria Schneider Paul Bateman Bob Bhamra | Nothing Has Changed | 2014 | [90] | |
| "Suffragette City" | David Bowie | 1972 | |||
| "Sunday" | David Bowie | Heathen | 2002 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Survive" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Sweet Head" | David Bowie | (1990 reissue) | 1990 | ||
| "Sweet Thing" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Sweet Thing (Reprise)" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "Teenage Wildlife" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "Telling Lies" | David Bowie | Earthling | 1997 | ||
| "That's Motivation" | David Bowie | Absolute Beginners (soundtrack) | 1986 | ||
| "That's Where My Heart Is" | David Bowie | Early On (1964–1966) | 1991 | ||
| "There Is a Happy Land" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Thru' These Architects Eyes" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Thursday's Child" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "Time" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Time Will Crawl" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | B-side of "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" | 2014 | ||
| "Tonight" (with Tina Turner) (Iggy Pop cover) | David Bowie Iggy Pop | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "Too Dizzy" | David Bowie Erdal Kızılçay | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "Try Some, Buy Some" (Ronnie Spector cover) | Reality | 2003 | |||
| "Tryin' to Get to Heaven" (Bob Dylan cover) | B-side of "Mother" | 2021 | |||
| "Tumble and Twirl" | David Bowie Iggy Pop | Tonight | 1984 | ||
| "TVC 15" | David Bowie | Station to Station | 1976 | ||
| "Uncle Arthur" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "Underground" | David Bowie | Labyrinth | 1986 | ||
| "Untitled No. 1" | David Bowie | 1993 | |||
| "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Up the Hill Backwards" | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | 1980 | ||
| "V-2 Schneider" | David Bowie | 1977 | |||
| "Valentine's Day" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Velvet Goldmine" | David Bowie | B-side of "Space Oddity" (re-release) | 1975 | ||
| "Volare" (Domenico Modugno cover) | Absolute Beginners (soundtrack) | 1986 | |||
| "" | David Bowie Brian Eno Reeves Gabrels | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Waiting for the Man" (live) (The Velvet Underground cover) | Live Santa Monica '72 | 2008 | [91] | ||
| "Warszawa" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Low | 1977 | ||
| "Watch That Man" | David Bowie | Aladdin Sane | 1973 | ||
| "Waterloo Sunset" (The Kinks cover) | Reality (Japanese bonus disc) | 2003 | [92] | ||
| "We All Go Through" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | B-side of "Thursday's Child" (UK CD1) | 1999 | ||
| "We Are Hungry Men" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "We Are the Dead" | David Bowie | Diamond Dogs | 1974 | ||
| "We Prick You" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "We Shall Go to Town" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | B-side of "Thursday's Child" (UK CD2) | 1999 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Weeping Wall" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "What in the World" | David Bowie | Low | 1977 | ||
| "What's Really Happening?" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Alex Grant | Hours | 1999 | ||
| "When I Live My Dream" | David Bowie | 1967 | |||
| "When I Met You" | David Bowie | No Plan (EP) | 2017 | ||
| "When I'm Five" | David Bowie | Love You till Tuesday | 1984 | ||
| "When the Boys Come Marching Home" | David Bowie | Heathen (SACD release) | 2002 | ||
| "When the Wind Blows" | David Bowie Erdal Kızılçay | When the Wind Blows (soundtrack) | 1986 | ||
| "Where Are We Now?" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" (The Kinks cover) | Pin Ups | 1973 | |||
| "White Light/White Heat" (live) (The Velvet Underground cover) | 1983 | [93] | |||
| "Who Can I Be Now?" | David Bowie | Young Americans (1991 reissue) | 1991 | ||
| "" | David Bowie | 1970 | |||
| "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" | David Bowie | 1969 | |||
| "Wild Is the Wind" (Johnny Mathis cover) | Station to Station | 1976 | |||
| "Win" | David Bowie | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Wishful Beginnings" | David Bowie Brian Eno | Outside | 1995 | ||
| "Within You" | David Bowie | Labyrinth | 1986 | ||
| "Without You" | David Bowie | Let's Dance | 1983 | ||
| "Wood Jackson" | David Bowie | B-side of "Slow Burn" | 2002 | ||
| "Word on a Wing" | David Bowie | Station to Station | 1976 | ||
| "Yassassin" | David Bowie | Lodger | 1979 | ||
| "You Feel So Lonely You Could Die" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "" | David Bowie | 2013 | |||
| "Your Funny Smile" | David Bowie | – | |||
| "Your Turn to Drive" | David Bowie | Nothing Has Changed | 2014 | ||
| "You've Been Around" | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Black Tie White Noise | 1993 | ||
| "Young Americans" | David Bowie | Young Americans | 1975 | ||
| "Zeroes" | David Bowie | Never Let Me Down | 1987 | ||
| "Ziggy Stardust" | David Bowie | 1972 |
| Artist | Writer(s) | Original release | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Amazing" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine | 1989 | [94] | |
| "Amlapura" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine II | 1991 | [95] | |
| "And I Say to Myself" | David Bowie with the Lower Third | David Bowie | B-side of "Can't Help Thinking About Me" | 1966 | ||
| "Baby Can Dance" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Baby Loves That Way" | Davy Jones and the Lower Third | David Bowie | B-side of "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" | 1965 | ||
| "Baby Universal" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Betty Wrong" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Bus Stop" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Can't Help Thinking About Me" | David Bowie with the Lower Third | David Bowie | 1966 | |||
| "Cosmic Dancer" (live) | David Bowie and Morrissey | 2020 | [96] | |||
| "Crack City" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "" | Kashmir featuring David Bowie | Kasper Eistrup | No Balance Palace | 2005 | ||
| "Dancing in the Street" (Martha and the Vandellas cover) | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 1985 | ||||
| "Falling Down" | Scarlett Johansson | Anywhere I Lay My Head | 2008 | |||
| "Fannin Street" | Scarlett Johansson | Anywhere I Lay My Head | 2008 | |||
| "" | David Bowie and Angelo Badalamenti | 1998 | ||||
| "Glad I've Got Nobody" | Davy Jones and the Lower Third | David Bowie | Early On (1964–1966) | 1991 | ||
| "Goodbye Mr. Ed" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Gunman" | Adrian Belew (featuring David Bowie) | David Bowie Adrian Belew | Young Lions | 1990 | ||
| "Hammerhead" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Hunt Sales | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Heaven's in Here" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Hop Frog" | Lou Reed featuring David Bowie | 2003 | ||||
| "I'll Follow You" | Davy Jones and the Lower Third | David Bowie | Early On (1964–1966) | 1991 | ||
| "I Can't Read" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "I Pity the Fool" (Bobby Bland cover) | Davy Jones and the Manish Boys | 1965 | ||||
| "If There Is Something" (Roxy Music cover) | Tin Machine | Tin Machine II | 1991 | |||
| "Isn't It Evening (The Revolutionary)" | Earl Slick and David Bowie | Earl Slick David Bowie | Zig Zag | 2003 | ||
| "Jewel" | Reeves Gabrels featuring David Bowie, Frank Black and Dave Grohl | Reeves Gabrels David Bowie Frank Black Mark Plati | Ulysses (Della Notte) | 1999 | ||
| "Just for One Day (Heroes)" | David Guetta vs. David Bowie | David Bowie Brian Eno | Just a Little More Love | 2003 | [97] | |
| "" | Reeves Gabrels featuring David Bowie | Reeves Gabrels David Bowie | 1995 | |||
| "Like a Rolling Stone" (Bob Dylan cover) | Mick Ronson featuring David Bowie | Heaven and Hull | 1994 | |||
| "Liza Jane" | Davie Jones with the King Bees | Leslie Conn | 1964 | [98] | ||
| "Louie, Louie Go Home" | Davie Jones with the King Bees | B-side of "Liza Jane" | 1964 | |||
| "Nature Boy" (Nat King Cole cover) | David Bowie and Massive Attack | Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film | 2001 | |||
| "One Shot" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" | David Bowie and Bing Crosby | Ian Fraser Larry Grossman Alan Kohan Harry Simeone K.K. Davis Henry Onorati | 1982 | |||
| Peter and the Wolf | Philadelphia Orchestra with David Bowie | David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf | 1978 | |||
| "Perfect Day" (Lou Reed cover) | Various Artists | 1997 | ||||
| "Piano-La" (demo) | David Bowie and John Cale | David Bowie John Cale | – | |||
| "Planet of Dreams" | David Bowie and Gail Ann Dorsey | David Bowie Gail Ann Dorsey | Long Live Tibet | 1997 | ||
| "Pretty Pink Rose" | Adrian Belew (featuring David Bowie) | David Bowie | Young Lions | 1990 | ||
| "Pretty Thing" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Prisoner of Love" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Province" | TV on the Radio featuring David Bowie | Return to Cookie Mountain | 2006 | |||
| "Pug Nosed Face" | David Bowie | David Bowie Ricky Gervais Stephen Merchant | Extras (TV series) | 2006 | ||
| "Run" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Kevin Armstrong | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Sacrifice Yourself" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Saviour" | Kristeen Young featuring David Bowie | Breasticles | 2003 | |||
| "Sector Z" | Rustic Overtones featuring David Bowie | Dave Gutter | ¡Viva Nueva! | 2001 | ||
| "" | David Bowie and BT | David Bowie Brian Transeau | Stealth: Music from the Motion Picture | 2005 | ||
| "Shopping for Girls" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "Sorry" | Tin Machine | Tin Machine II | 1991 | |||
| "Stateside" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Hunt Sales | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "This Is Not America" | David Bowie and Pat Metheny Group | David Bowie Pat Metheny Lyle Mays | (soundtrack) | 1985 | ||
| "Tin Machine" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Truth" | Goldie featuring David Bowie | Saturnz Return | 1998 | |||
| "Under Pressure" | Queen and David Bowie | Freddie Mercury Brian May Roger Taylor John Deacon David Bowie | 1981 | |||
| "Under the God" | Tin Machine | David Bowie | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Velvet Couch" (demo) | David Bowie and John Cale | David Bowie John Cale | – | |||
| "Video Crime" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine | 1989 | ||
| "Wake Up" (live) | Arcade Fire and David Bowie | Live EP (Live at Fashion Rocks) | 2005 | [99] | ||
| "Without You I'm Nothing" | Placebo featuring David Bowie | Without You I'm Nothing | 1998 | |||
| "Working Class Hero" (John Lennon cover) | Tin Machine | Tin Machine | 1989 | |||
| "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "You Can't Talk" | Tin Machine | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels Hunt Sales Tony Fox Sales | Tin Machine II | 1991 | ||
| "You've Been Around" | Reeves Gabrels featuring David Bowie | David Bowie Reeves Gabrels | 1995 | |||
| "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" | Davy Jones and the Lower Third | David Bowie | 1965 |