Lady Grinning Soul

"Lady Grinning Soul" is a ballad written by David Bowie, which is the final track on the album Aladdin Sane, released in 1973. The composer’s first meeting with American soul singer Claudia Lennear in 1972 is often cited as the inspiration for the song.^[1][2]

The style of the piece has been compared to a James Bond theme.^[3] Pianist Mike Garson described his own performance as "about as romantic as it gets … French with a little Franz Liszt thrown in there".^[4] Rolling Stone's contemporary review called Bowie's singing "the album's most expansive and sincere vocal",^[5] while author Nicholas Pegg considers the track "one of Bowie's most underrated recordings … quite unlike anything else he has ever done".^[6]

The piece opens in the key of F# minor and undergoes many unexpected modulations. Bowie exhibits his wide vocal range in the finale, hitting a series of high notes (G#5, G5, F#5, D#5).

The track was used in the 2010 film The Runaways during a scene in which Cherie Currie, played by Dakota Fanning, lip synchs to the song for a school talent show.

Other releases

• It was released as the B-side of the single "Let's Spend the Night Together" in June 1973.
• It was also the B-side of the Spanish release of the single "Sorrow" in November 1973.
• The US release of the single "Rebel Rebel" had "Lady Grinning Soul" as the B-side.
• It appeared as the B-side of the Japanese release of the single "1984" in April 1974.

Cover versions

• Box Office Poison – Single
• Ulf Lundell – Sweethearts (Swedish translation called "Elden")
• Paul Roberts – Faith (1999)
• Lucia Micarelli – Instrumental version on Music From a Farther Room (2004)

Notes