Letter #10







__________________________________________
MUSIC NEWS

- David Bowie is hosting a songwriting contest, whereby contestants
compete to become co-writer on a new song, titled "What's Really
Happening." Participants are asked to submit three verses (the first
is a double verse) to go with the music and chorus which Bowie has
already written. The winner will not only receive co-writer credit,
but a $15,000 publishing contract compliments of international music
publisher Bug Music, a trip to New York to be present when the song is
recorded and a three-year subscription to Rolling Stone, along with
gift certificates from Cdnow and Barnes and Noble. The grand prize
winner will also receive a free one-year subscription to BowieNet.

Submissions can be entered by anyone worldwide with Internet access
(not just Bowienet subscribers), and a list of finalists will be
chosen by the public themselves via a voting system. Contest voters
are also eligible to win daily prizes awarded for their participation.
Bowie will pick the grand prize winner himself from the list of
finalists. If you're interested in participating, get yourself along
to http://www.davidbowie.com/ where you can hear the song and submit
your entry or entries.

To hear the song, you'll need to download a RealAudio player. A link
where you can do this free of charge is available at
http://www.davidbowie.com/ (If you go straight to RealAudio's site, it
appears you have to pay for the player, so use the link). If you can't
do this, then you'll have to make do with the following from Teenage
Wildlife which outlines the structure of the song:

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING

VERSE 1 (x2)
  La la la la la la-la
  La la la la la la
  La la la la la la-la
  La la la la la

CHORUS
  What's really happening?  What tore us apart?
  What's really happening?

  What's really happening?  What tore us apart?
  What's really happening?

VERSE 2

CHORUS

VERSE 3

CHORUS

Fill in the verse la's with lyrics and away you go. Don't forget to
cut in your Uncle Andy when you win.

- In other news from the press release announcing the song-writing
contest, more information was given on the Earthling Live
liveandwell.com project. A 48 page insert is planned with two pages
per track meaning presumably 24 tracks in total will make their way
onto the virtual CD. In addition, there will be two new tracks
released each month, meaning that this will be almost a year long
project. A quote from the press release says "Plans for the finished
product's future accessibility to the general public are probably in
the hands of BowieNet members". 

- The version of 'Fashion' done by Glamma Kid called 'Fashion '98' is
released in the UK on November 9th. England's Music Week trade
magazine gave it 5 stars in their review of it:
 "Using David Bowie's 1980 'Fashion' rhythm, this Ronnie Wilson/Dennis
Charles production could better the original track's top five placing
after almost 18 years..." 
 
- A new double CD compilation entitled 'THE BEST GLAM ROCK ALBUM IN
THE WORLD... EVER!' has just been released by Virgin/EMI.

Featuring Bowie's 'John I'm Only Dancing', along with tracks from Iggy
Pop, Roxy Music, New York Dolls, T. Rex, Alice Cooper, Sparks, Queen,
Lou Reed, Sweet, Mott The Hoople and many more. The TV ads running in
the UK make heavy use of the "John I'm Only Dancing" video.

- The Serious Moonlight tour video has been rereleased in Australia as
well as in the UK  (PAL format only) for AUD$16.95. 


__________________________________________
MOVIE NEWS

- http://www.reel.com is showing a release date of November 10th for
the slimmed-down price version of Basquiat on video, which weighs in
at only $15 compared to its previous $85-$90 price tag. 

- At the British section of the recent Tokyo Film Festival which took
place 10/24, 10/31 and 11/8 "Everybody Loves Sunshine" starring Goldie
and Bowie was shown for the first time. Andrew Goth the film's
director, writer and lead actor was mobbed by tiny girls! David had no
less than 3 films in this festival: in addition to "Everybody Loves
Sunshine", "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" and "The Man Who Fell to
Earth" were also featured.
______________________
CHART NEWS (from's Dara's latest Chartwatch)

UK TOP 200 ALBUMS

Best Of 69/74: 13, 20, 25, 34, 37, 45, 51, 52, 52, 69, 82, 80, 136,
193, out of top 200, 137, 116, 96, 108, 112, 122, 131, 114, 116, 115,
91, 95, 120, 134, 173, 170, 191, out for 3 weeks, 147, 187, out, out,
182, 116, 152, out for several weeks, 165, 132, 149
Low: 131, 128, 157, out
Heroes: 164, 132, 156, out
Station To Station: 170, 145, 192, out

All three studio albums recently reissued mid-price lasted three weeks
on the chart, on the back of good promotion by EMI and much media
coverage. Low fared the best of the three, debuting at #131, then
climbing three. Stage was also re-issued midprice, but didn't make the
chart.

The same week the three mid-price reissues left the chart, "Best Of
69/74" returned to the chart for its fifth chart run. In total, it has
been on the chart for 39 weeks so far, a remarkable run (or series of
runs). It will be interesting to see if it will climb again if or when
"Best Of 80/90" is released, or in the run-up to Xmas.


SUNMACHINE (Dario G single)

UK: 17, 30, 44, 63, 87, 97, 119
  (Dance Top 30): 7, 24, out
Ireland (FM104 Dublin Top 40): 11, 10, 11, 13, 26, out
        (Dance Top 10): 8, out
Netherlands (Veronica Top 100): 99, 90, 95, out
       (ZFM Eurobreakdown): X, 26, 19, 19
      (Wateringse Top 43): 34, 29, out
Belgium (BRF Top 40): 37, out
Turkey (Funky C Club chart): 12, 8, 2, 2, 8, out
Lithuania (M1 Top 40): 38, out
Moldova International Top 50: 48, 39, 40, out
Macedonia (Antenna 5): X, 14, 14, 14, out
Czech Republic (Radio Faktor Top 20): 6, 9, 15
Slovakia (20HS Top 20): X, X, X, X, 2, 3, 8
EuroPop Dance chart: 14, 18
Germany (Top 100): 99, 96, out
        (HR-3 International Hit Parade): 14, 18, out
        (TWS Dance Top 10): 7, 8, 10, 9, 9
        (N-JOY Top 40): 23, 29, 38, 32, out
        (Harz Top 100): 49, 46, 66, 86, 90
        (Eins Live Hitfahrzentrale): 16, out
Italy (Radio Modena Top 40): 36, out
Latvia (Radio chart): 5, 4, 20, out
Europe (Eurochart Top 100): 66, 34, 26

The main development since the last Chartwatch has been the appearance
of the single on the German Top 100 (Germany is reportedly the second
biggest singles market in the world). The single debuted three weeks
ago at #99, climbed three to #96, but drops off this week.

The same week, the Wallflowers cover of "Heroes" debuted at #100 on
the same chart, and it climbed five to #95, so for two weeks, there
were two songs co-written by Bowie on the German Top 100. "Heroes"
enjoyed much better luck in its third week than "Sunmachine", climbing
ten to #85.

In the UK, "Sunmachine" is enjoying a slower-than-usual departure from
the chart. The success of the single has done nothing to revive the
album, which remains one of the surprise flops of the year.


WEDDING SINGER SOUNDTRACK (featuring China Girl)
US (Billboard): 90, 26, 9, 5, 9, 7, 11, 11, 19, 20, 25, 35, 52, 60,
70, 78, 65, 83, 86, 98, 103, 130, 127, 141, 151, 126, 72, 39, 36, 45,
50, 54, 62, 60, 73, 86, 89, 98, 106
Canada (Soundscan): 100, 47, 15, 15, 13, 12, 18, 23, 38, 45, 50, out,
147, 148, 53, 36, 34, 32, 31, 28, 27, 22, 22, 25, 27, 27, 35
       (alternative Top 50): 28, 12, 2, 2, 1, 1, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 14,
17, 21, 22, 21, 23, 24, 26, 25, 33, 35, 35, 40, 38, 14, 10, 11, 11, 8,
9, 9, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8
Australia: X, X, X, X, 13, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 10, 7, 8, 10, 15,
19, 24, 23, 26, 38, 50, 49, 51, out, 70, 69, out
New Zealand: 25, 29, 16, 8, 3, 5, 2, 2, 5, 5, 6, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12,
19, 20, 24, 33, 45, 45, out, 39, out
UK (Compilations chart): X, 15, 18, 18, 23, 22, 24, 23, 35, 50, out
Ireland: 12, 5, 6, 9, 8, 11, 17, 18, 21, 29, out
CDWorld: 17, 27, 2, 5, 5, 14, 27, out, 18, out
  (Soundtrack chart): 7, 9, out, 9, out, 9, 10, 10, 4, 7, 5, out
Internet voting chart: 94, 91, 61, 65, 89, 71, 73, out

The soundtrack has now gone double platinum in the US and Australia.


GODZILLA Soundtrack
US: 4, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, 22, 33, 38, 53, 69, 78, 87, 97, 113,
128, 160, 201, 232, out
Canada (Top 75): 2, 3, 5, 5, 4, 2, 2, 5, 9, 10, 12, 12, 16, 21, 27,
36, 50, 58, 69, out
 (Alternative Top 50): 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10,
14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 19, 20, 24
Australia: X, X, 20, 9, 8, 10, 8, 14, 17, 18, 20, 30, 44, out
New Zealand: 9, 9, 7, 10, 9, 6, 4, 9, 7, 11, 12, 26, 40, out, 34, out
UK (multi-artist compilations chart): 48, 48, 36, 19, 13, 16, 20, 27,
35, 47
France: 48, 45, 27, 33, 44, 58, out
Italy (Topnetita): 22, out
Austria: X, 35, 28, 25, 14, 12, 11, 6, 5, 4, 11, 12, 16, 28, 22
Sweden (Videobutiken Top 20): 19, out
Finland: 37, out
Ireland: 27, 17, 17, 17, 18, 27, out
Belgium (TipTop): 24, 23, 22, 21, out, 19, 18, 17, 21, out
       (UltraTop Top 50): 50, 26, 25, 40, out
       (Studio Brussels): 40, 45, out
Hungary (Ambro Top 20): 4, out
      (Mahasz Top 40): 29, 24, 18, 10, 14, out, 33, 24, out
Czech Republic: 39, 25, 24, 24, 30, 10, 19, 36, out
Poland (RAK Top 10): 2, 9, 8, out
CD World (soundtrack chart): 1, 2, 2, 3, 7, 8, 7, out
CD Outpost Top 50: 22, out
Internet Voting chart: 80, 75, 62, 89, 91, 84, 91, 85, 89, out

This soundtrack has now gone Gold in Australia.


OTHER SNIPPETS

- So far the only charts where Red Hot And Rhapsody (containing the
Bowie/Badamalenti collaboration) seems to have shown up are Music
Boulevard's Online chart (new at #84) and the Tower Records Top 1000,
where it debuted at #209.

The two Best Of's tread water on Tower Records Top 1000 (perhaps
helped by the VH-1 Legends):
Best Of 69/74: 167, 288, 438, 449, 587
Best Of 74/79: 246, 425, 858, 833, 837

There are also three soundtracks featuring Bowie contributions on the
chart. Recent Bowie-related soundtrack performances:

Wedding Singer: 2, 3, 3, 3, 8, 17, 19, 29, 58, 73, 72, 69, 73, 81,
159, 134, 137, 222, 214, 79, 38, 41, 53, 85, 99, 108
Great Expectations: 15, 21, 21, 21, 53, 96, 108, 120, 222, 245, 254,
246, 252, 276, 640, 563, 577, 799, 783, 640, 653, 555, 599, 588, 677,
565, 774, 656
Godzilla: 3, 12, 16, 16, 27, 27, 130, 124, 206, 208, 199, 262, 583,
616, 646



__________________________________________
OTHER NEWS

- "I Am A DJ - I Am What I Play"

With the debut of Rolling Stone Radio you'll be able to experience
Bowie's disc-spinning expertise via the new online radio station
announced today.

Rolling Stone Radio will utilise RealNetwork's software to provide
streaming radio programming with various genre-specific stations (e.g.
country, new-wave, rock). Users will see the name of the artist and
track, and be able to click on the artist's name to get more
information or, of course, buy CDs.

Bowie will act as program director and DJ for an upcoming station to
be added to the Rolling Stone Radio network according to a press
release issued earlier this week.

"As DJ for the BowieNet station on Rolling Stone Radio, my first
playlist will include favorite songs from the last five decades," said
Bowie. "I'm hoping music fans all over the world tune in and join me."

- Singer/musician Dar Williams is holding a People's Choice '98
campaign where Internet users can select one of eight songs which they
would like to see her go into the studio and cover. Among the songs is
Bowie's Starman. Once recorded and mixed, the song will be encoded in
Liquid Audio and released only on the Internet. To see the list of
possible song choice and vote, go to http://www.darwilliams.com/vote/

- One of the stocking filler specially-for-Xmas books doing the rounds
in the UK and Ireland at the moment is called "The Top 10 Of
Everything". It consists of hundreds of top 10 lists. 2 of the lists
are the ten best-selling Bowie singles and albums (in the UK) ever.

TOP 10 BOWIE SINGLES
1. Space Oddity
2. Let's Dance
3. Dancing In The Street
4. Ashes To Ashes
5. Under Pressure
6. The Jean Genie
7. Life On Mars?
8. Sorrow
9. China Girl
10. The Laughing Gnome

TOP 10 BOWIE ALBUMS
1. Ziggy Stardust
2. Hunky Dory
3. Aladdin Sane
4. Let's Dance
5. Pin Ups
6. Scary Monsters
7. ChangesBowie
8. ChangesOneBowie
9. Diamond Dogs
10. The Very Best Of David Bowie (1981 compilation)

- The Mini exhibit at this year's British International Motor Show
(Oct 21 - Nov 1 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham)
featured the limited edition minis designed by David Bowie and Kate
Moss. Bowie's creation is a shiny little number, festooned with
mirrors (apparently one of the most expensive minis ever made because
of the difficulty involved in the paint process). 

- An art exhibition at The Gallery New York in Brugg, Switzerland has
a painting, the 10 foot "The Death of Mama Wati" by David Bowie and
collaborator, South African art-star, Beezy Bailey, shoulder to
shoulder with Masters Joseph Beuys, Keith Haring and Martin Disler.
The Bowie/Bailey piece has already featured in several news stories in
the Swiss Press and seems to be drawing the most comment of any of the
exhibits. On show through December 15th.

- From Wednesday, October 18th to January 9th, 1999, RUPERT
GOLDSWORTHY GALLERY will feature a group of exhibitions on the theme
of David Bowie, organized by Rupert Goldsworthy and Lithgow Osborne.

"This exhibition focuses specifically on Bowie's influences on visual
artists, and specifically on the years between 1971 and 1977 where he
redefined the possibilities of what a pop musician could encompass,
with cultural and musical piracy, flamboyant visual gender play and
life that moved from South London to New York, Los Angeles, exile in
Berlin and "retirement" to Switzerland. This exhibition was conceived
with the idea of bringing together work made about David Bowie,
ranging from fan homages to "work inspired by" to work that focuses
specifically on Bowies different "looks" and themes over his career.
The exhibition concentrates on the inspirations and reference artists
of this era draw from Bowie's work.

Included in the exhibition are works by Ned Ambler, Alex Bag, Tad
Beck, Nayland Blake, Christopher Brooks, Mathew Cusick, Steve Evens,
Erik Hansen, Robert Hawkins, Frank Holiday, Breezy Jones, Jane
Kaplowitz, Elizabeth Kley, Christian Marclay, David Muller, Tony
Oursler, Rob Pruitt, Guy Richards-Smit, Helen Sadler, Mary Weatherford
and others."  
- Anyone familiar with Dara's Qwatches will know that Q is one of the
more Bowie-friendly UK music mags. Q now has an online site at
http://www.qonline.co.uk/. One of the things they do is run weekly
polls. 

Two weeks ago, they ran the following poll:
"Who has had the most influence on rock?"

Lydon : 22%
Lennon : 10%
Presley : 20%
Bowie : 48%

Bowie also topped last week's poll:
"Who invented Glam Rock?"
Glitter : 5%
Ferry : 2%
Bolan : 38%
Bowie : 55%

- The "Bowie-inspired" movie Velvet Goldmine opened disappointingly in
London, taking only £156,050 from 77 screens. Reviews in the UK have
been almost uniformly scathing.

In the US, reviews have been more favourable, but the movie failed to
make an appearance on the Top 10 Box Office charts.

Here's a user comment from the Internet Movie Database that caught my
eye:
"Geoff Morris
Delft, the Netherlands

Date: 10 September 1998
Summary: David Bowie should sue

I have absolutely *no* idea why the other voters appear to have rated
this film so highly (this being the first comment to be registered)
but I thought it was awful.

Basically, this is the film-maker's gay fantasy about Bowie and Iggy
Pop brought to the screen. I am by no means homophobic, and the gay
issue is not what bothers me, what *does* is that the whole story is
complete and utter rubbish. It suggests that Bowie was preying on
schoolboys, indulging in bi-sexual orgies and infatuated by Iggy Pop,
all the while simpering about with a permanent "I'm camp and
melancholy" expression on his face.

This would be bearable but for the ludicrous screenplay (boys walking
into Disney-style animated sunsets, Iggy Pop seducing the journalist
(presumably the figure played by the writer in his fantasies) on a
roof-top, suggestions of links with Oscar Wilde, etc.), poor acting
and cheap feel. The music isn't up to scratch either, unfortunately.

There are moments of gut-wrenching corn which are so bad, they would
almost be good... if this were a satire.

3/10"

Having seen the film myself, I can only say I couldn't have said it
better myself, Geoff. 

- The one hour long documentary film WHEN SATURN RETURNZ about GOLDIE
is part of Channel 4's THE BA BA ZEE series, directed by David Lawson
from the Black Audio Film Collective.
The documentary which features footage of Bowie with Goldie at the
Chisholm House Art Gallery will be screened on Monday, December 14th
at 11pm on Channel 4.

- For Americans, some forthcoming Bowie to look out for on your
screens:
SHOW Basquiat 12-2:30am Wed Nov-11 
SHO2 Basquiat 3-5:30am Wed Nov-11 
HBOSIG Gentle Into the Night (Passaggio per il paradiso) 9-11:30pm Thu
Nov-12 

For those of you wondering what the Hell "Gentle Into the Night
(Passaggio per il paradiso)" is and what it has to do with Bowie, it's
an Italian/French/British film from 1996 for which Bowie was executive
producer.

__________________________________________
END CREDITS

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The main Aladdin Sane website is at http://welcome.to/aladdinsane.

- The two biggest Bowie fan sites on the Web are Evan Torrie's Teenage
Wildlife (http://www.etete.com/Bowie/) and Bassman's site
(http://www.algonet.se/~bassman/BOWIE.html).

- Little Wonderworld now has its own domain name
http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/. Its Webmaster Paul Kinder is also
collecting email addresses for his database. From Paul:
"If you haven't already received any information from Paul Kinder at
Little Wonderworld and would like to join the database of already
nearly 3,500 Bowie fans worldwide please contact Paul Kinder at Little
Wonderworld to have your name included.
This is NOT a newsletter it is for official information only."

- The rather excellent Bowie Covers and Collaborations page at
http://www.epix.net/~dhnb/bowiecovers/ has been updated with a new
section called And Now A Word From Our Sponsors which contains some
info about television shows and ads that have used Bowie's songs. To
convince yourself that yes, Robbie Williams did murder Kooks and you
didn't just dream it all, get yourself along there.

- Bonnie Powell runs the other more frequent Bowie newsletter
covering, in her own words "things only a fan would want to know".
Send her a mail at Dbfan@aol.com if you want in.

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