Day 62 | Pretty Thing

If Oh, You Pretty Things celebrated hedonism, this later song contemplates sexual abuse. “Tie you down, pretend you’re Madonna.” I suppose, read without the music, the lyrics could be a value-neutral treatment of S&M, but the instrumentation sounds deranged and Bowie’s vocals are menacing. There’s also the conspicuous and familiar line, “oh you pretty thing,” tossed in the middle of the song. Much as Ashes to Ashes is the sad continuation of Space Oddity, I am pretty sure Pretty Thing is meant as an ominous Part 2. There is a Part 3 (which I’ll get to tomorrow). Album: Tin Machine