The Man Who Sold the World (song)
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"The Man Who Sold the World" is the song by the British rock musician, David Bowie. It is the title track of his third album, released in 1970. It was later re-popularized and introduced to a new generation by Nirvana's cover on their MTV Unplugged in New York album.
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[edit] Meaning
The song is believed to be partially inspired by the nursery rhyme "The Psychoed," by William Hughes Mearns.
- Yesterday upon the stair
- I met a man who wasn't there.
- He wasn't there again today
- I wish that man would go away.
[edit] Other releases
"The Man Who Sold the World" appears as a b-side on the American singles for the songs "Space Oddity" (1972) and "Life on Mars?" (1973). It also appears on various Bowie compilations.
Bowie famously performed the song live for the first time in 1979 with Klaus Nomi on Saturday Night Live. A portion of this show is available in the film The Nomi Song.
A re-recorded version produced by Brian Eno appears as a b-side on the 1995 CD single for the song, "Strangers When We Meet". This version also appears on the bonus disc that followed some versions of Outside - Version 2
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Lulu
The song was covered by the Scottish singer Lulu in 1974. It was released as a single, and provided the singer with a hit. Bowie not only produced this version, but also played a saxophone solo on it.
[edit] Richard Barone
The song was then covered by American singer Richard Barone in 1987 on his influential, proto-Chamber Pop album, Cool Blue Halo. Using cello, acoustic guitar and symphonic percussion in an intimate, live setting, it forshadowed the Unplugged ethos.
[edit] Nirvana
A live rendition of the song was recorded by the American rock band Nirvana in 1993, during their MTV Unplugged appearance. It was released on the band's posthumous MTV Unplugged in New York album the following year.
The song was released as a promo single for the album, and received considerable airplay on alternative rock radio stations. It was also thrown into heavy rotation on music video stations such as MTV.
[edit] Nirvana's Chart positions
| Year | Artist | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Sweden Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Poland Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Latvian Airplay Charts | No. 1 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Slovakian Airplay Charts | No. 4 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Modern Rock Tracks (US) | No. 6 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Mainstream Rock Tracks (US) | No. 12 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | Canadian National Airplay Charts | No. 22 |
| 1995 | Nirvana | The Man Who Sold the World | French Airplay Charts | No. 34 |
[edit] 3 Melancholy Gypsys
Hip-hop group 3MG samples the Nirvana version in their song 2010.
[edit] Here & Now
The psychedelic band Here & Now covered the song on their 1983 album "Fantasy Shift".
[edit] See also
- The Man Who Sold the Moon, a 1949 science fiction short story and collection by Robert A. Heinlein. It contains many of the same themes as the song.
