Amsterdam (song)
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"Amsterdam" is a song by Jacques Brel. It combines a powerful melancholic crescendo with a rich poetic account of the exploits of sailors on shore leave in Amsterdam.
Brel never recorded this for a studio album, and his only version was released on the live album Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964. Despite this, it has been one of his most enduringly popular works [1]. Mort Shuman translated several of his songs into English for the Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris musical.
Scott Walker recorded several of these translated Brel songs in the late 1960s. This inspired David Bowie to record his own version of "Amsterdam" in 1970. Bowie's version was released as the B-side to his single "Sorrow" in November 1973.
Bowie's version is also found on several other releases:
- The German rerelease of the single "Alabama Song" from July 1982 had "Amsterdam" as the B-side.
- The compilation Rare from 1983.
- It was released as picture discs in both the RCA Life Time picture disc set and the Fashion Picture Disc Set.
- On the Rykodisc CD release of the Bowie album Pin Ups in 1990, "Amsterdam" was released as a bonus track.
David Bowie also played the Brel song "My Death" during his Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973.
John Cale also recorded a cover of the song in 1970 for his solo debut, Vintage Violence.
The Dresden Dolls often play a cover the song live.
Dutch artists Acda en De Munnik recorded a Dutch version of the song for their first album, called "De stad Amsterdam" (The city Amsterdam).
