"V-2 Schneider" is a largely instrumental song written by David Bowie in 1977 for the album "Heroes", and released as the B-side of "'Heroes'". The song was not played on the subsequent Isolar II Tour and its first live rendition occurred in 1997, 20 years after it was recorded.[1] Mojo magazine listed it as Bowie's 95th best track in 2015.[2]
| "V-2 Schneider" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by David Bowie | ||||
| from the album "Heroes" | ||||
| A-side | "'Heroes'" | |||
| Released | 23 September 1977 | |||
| Recorded | July–August 1977 | |||
| Studio | Hansa Studio by the Wall (West Berlin) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:10 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editIt was a tribute to Florian Schneider,[3] co-founder of the band Kraftwerk, whom Bowie acknowledged as a significant influence at the time.[4] The title also referenced the V-2 rocket, the first ballistic missile, which had been developed for the German Army during World War II, and whose design (and engineers) played a key role in the American space program.[5]
The only words sung are those in the title, initially distorted by phasing.[1] Musically, the track is unusual for the off-beat saxophone work by Bowie, who kicked off his part on the wrong note,[6] but continued regardless.[7]
Live versions
editA live version recorded at Paradiso, Amsterdam in June 1997, was released as the B-side of the single "Pallas Athena" in August 1997, under the name Tao Jones Index.[8] This version also appeared on the bonus disc for the Digibook Expanded Edition of Earthling.
Other releases
edit- It appeared on the compilation Chameleon (Australia and New Zealand 1979).
- It was featured in the film Christiane F. and its soundtrack.
- It was released as a picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
- It was included on the Bowie instrumental album All Saints.
Cover versions
edit- Philip Glass – "Heroes" Symphony (1996)
- Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps – 2000 repertoire
- Shearwater – as part of a live performance of the entire Berlin Trilogy for WNYC (2018)[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Nicholas Pegg (2000). Op Cit: p.228
- ^ "David Bowie – The 100 Greatest Songs". Mojo. No. 255. February 2015. p. 54.
- ^ Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.92
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.302
- ^ O'Leary 2019, chap. 2; Doggett 2012, p. 336.
- ^ Buckley 2005, p. 280.
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.324
- ^ "Pallas Athena" at Teenage Wildlife. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ Dorris, Jesse (23 October 2018). "A Surprising Tribute to David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, Played in a Manhattan Mall". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.