10 Most Underrated David Bowie Songs
3. Dead Man Walking (1997)
By the time the nineties came along, Bowie had reached a stage in his career where his popularity had been overtaken by those he had previously influenced. Ever the chameleon, he embraced the changing musical landscape. Where others had borrowed from him, Bowie began borrowing from them, with one of the more explicit examples being found in his 1997 album, Earthling. Here, Bowie capitalises on the success of industrial acts, such as Nine Inch Nails, moulding their approach to fit his own vision of the genre.
Had this been a list of the most underrated David Bowie albums, Earthling would be near the top, if not the outright number one. The album is home to an array of underrated gems, including Little Wonder and Seven Years In Tibet.
However, Dead Man Walking is the finest cut from the album. Coming in at nearly seven-and-a-half minutes, it is one of the longest of Bowie's career, but other than the lengthy outro, there are no periods of stagnation. The song encapsulates everything that is good about the album. It retains the understated melancholia of previous releases, but adds a danceable edge.
Despite his extensive explorations across numerous genres, there is an element of Bowie being more out of his comfort zone here than at any previous point in his career. But, as usual, he finds a way to make it work.