David Bowie Cover of the Week: “Ashes to Ashes” by Gary Jules with David Poe

One of the joys of the “Cover of the Week” exercise is discovering great musicians with whom I had not previously been familiar. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that Gary Jules and David Poe are two such artists. I’m embarrassed because it turns out that both are heavy-hitters– quite prominent and accomplished musicians. You can tell they are pros by their great live performance of “Ashes to Ashes”– very well done.

This arrangement is largely faithful to Bowie’s original, but it seems slowed down just a bit. Possibly one of Bowie’s most personal songs, reflecting on his own struggles with addiction (though you can never be too sure what inspired Bowie’s songwriting), Jules and Poe delicately present it, while making slight alterations. This performance lacks the song’s “hidden” lyrics I recently posted about (see HERE). There are a very few other, subtle lyrical changes, for instance, Poe appears to sing, “jazz girls in synthesis” rather than the potentially offensive, “Jap girls”.

It is also worth noting that the sound quality and mixing is excellent for a live performance, and multiple cameras were used, which is much appreciated after watching a boatload of fixed-camera videos of guys with guitars in their basements! Overall, this is a very high-quality cover.

Gary Jules is an acclaimed singer-songwriter best known for his haunting rendition of “Mad World,” which reached UK Christmas #1 in 2003 and has been featured in Donnie Darko and Gears of War, with over 228 million streams on Spotify. Born in Fresno, California, and raised in San Diego’s surf culture, Jules began his musical journey in the late 90s, later performing on stages worldwide, including Glastonbury, T in the Park, and a three-week tour with Bob Dylan. His evocative voice and poignant songwriting continue to inspire, with his music featured in films, television, and covered by artists like Adam Lambert and Pentatonix. You can learn more about him on his website, which is what I based that biographical sketch on, HERE.

David Poe is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and composer known for his seven solo albums and collaborations with some of the most celebrated musicians of our time. He has toured with legends like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, written songs recorded by numerous artists, and composed for film, television, and dance, including his recent work for London’s West End and his album Everyone’s Got A Camera. A composer fellow of the Sundance Institute, Poe has been praised for his lyrical craftsmanship and continues to be a vital force in the music industry, captivating audiences worldwide. Poe, too, has a website (again, that’s where I got this information), which you can link to HERE.

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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another quality cover that was posted this week, from friend-of-the-blog EgoB, who released his version of “Survive,” perhaps to mark the 25th anniversary of Hours…. EgoB is a master of electronic music. He plays his gruff, altered voice against that music to underscore the vulnerabilities exposed by the song. As usual with his work, I enjoyed this one very much.

You can view the video HERE.