The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

Update: 2023-04-05

Description

By the time David Bowie wrote the songs for his Aladdin Sane album, which was released in April of 1973, it was his first time writing as an actual rock star. Inspired by the people and places he saw in America while touring as his Ziggy Stardust concept, he called Aladdin Sane his “Ziggy Goes To America” album. Two people in particular that he met in New York City became the muse for its first single, the glam rock bop “The Jean Genie.” Get into the story in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comments

Top Podcasts

The Best New Comedy Podcast Right Now – June 2024 The Best News Podcast Right Now – June 2024 The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – June 2024 The Best New Sports Podcast Right Now – June 2024 The Best New True Crime Podcast Right Now – June 2024 The Best New Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Right Now – June 20 The Best New Dan Bongino Show Podcast Right Now – June 20 The Best New Mark Levin Podcast – June 2024

In Channel

How "On The Dark Side" became a surprise hit

2023-04-2612:36

How Bachman Turner Overdrive’s inside joke became a hit song

2023-09-2009:43

The awesome story of Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike"

2023-08-3008:12

Blondie’s hit song inspired by a stalker

2023-08-0909:42

How Paul McCartney landed the title theme for a James Bond film

2023-07-1911:49

How Eddie Money’s Rock and Roll Dream Came True

2023-06-2812:43

The long strange history of “Casey Jones” by the Grateful Dead

2023-06-0715:03

How Tom Petty punched back at the music biz with “Refugee”

2023-05-1712:06

The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

2023-04-0513:41

How “One” unified U2

2023-03-1514:41

The spellbinding story of “Black Magic Woman”

2023-02-2214:37

The love song that started it all for Styx

2023-02-0811:53

How Joe Walsh’s “In The City” went from Warriors to Eagles

2023-01-2514:55

Why Van Halen took their time with “Right Now”

2023-01-1112:41

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Rockin’ The Holidays with Al Pitrelli

2024-12-1827:16

Janda and Christian talk "November Rain," GNR's lost summer in Chicago, and more!

2024-11-2523:28

Guns N’ Roses “November Rain,” explained

2024-11-2016:38

Janda and Christian talk Alice Cooper, Hollywood, and "Guitarmonies!"

2024-11-0616:42

When Alice Cooper stopped playing nice

2024-10-3016:47

Tears For Fears’ timeless dystopian hit

2024-10-0811:24

00:00

The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

#box-pro-ellipsis-173530352407274{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”

The Drive | Hubbard Radio

The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”