Man Who Sold the World

Nirvana

About Man Who Sold the World

"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song written and performed by David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third album, it was released in the U. S. in November 1970 and in the UK in April 1971. The song has been covered by a number of other artists, notably by Lulu, who had a UK No. 3 hit with her version in 1974; by Nirvana, whose 1993 performance of the song for the television program MTV Unplugged introduced it to a new audience; and by Midge Ure, whose 1982 cover of the song was featured in the 2015 video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The song was reworked by Bowie, featuring atmospheric synths, a new bassline, techno-style drums and a notably darker mood, for performances in concerts from 1995 to 1997, including the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards. Bowie later returned to playing the original version in the 2000s. 


Year:
1994
240 
#2

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Nirvana

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. more »

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2 facts about this song

David Bowie Version
1. **Composition:** "The Man Who Sold the World" was written by David Bowie who reportedly composed it after an all-night session at the piano. 2. **Album Title:** The song was the title track of his third studio album, released in November 1970. 3. **Musical Style:** The song is noted for its distinctive guitar riff and is seen as a departure from Bowie's early work, incorporating hard rock and psychedelic folk. 4. **Lyrical Theme:** The song's lyrics are often interpreted as dealing with issues of identity, self-obsession, and spiritual disconnection. 5. **Cover Versions:** Bowie's original version of the track has been covered by several other bands and artists, most notably by Nirvana.
Nirvana Version
1. **Performance:** Nirvana's cover of "The Man Who Sold the World" is most famous for its performance on MTV Unplugged in 1993. 2. **Accolades:** The MTV Unplugged performance was released as an album which won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996. 3. **Impact:** Nirvana's version introduced a whole new generation to Bowie's music and in particular to this song. 4. **Kurt Cobain's Interpretation:** Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's frontman, said in an interview that he related to the song and believed it was about artistic integrity and how commercial pressures can lead to an artist selling out. 5. **Bowie's Reaction:** Despite being initially "blown away" when he heard that Kurt Cobain liked his work, Bowie lamented that many fans didn't realize Nirvana's version was a cover of his original song.

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    "Man Who Sold the World Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/759910/Nirvana/Man+Who+Sold+the+World>.

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