1972 Hit Ranked Among ‘Best Rock Songs’ of All Time Became a Timeless Classic
1972 Hit Ranked Among ‘Best Rock Songs’ of All Time Became a Timeless Classic
Nina DerwinWed, March 4, 2026 at 1:09 AM UTC
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(Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
In 1972, David Bowie unveiled a song that would help launch one of rock's most imaginative eras.
"Starman," released during the rise of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust persona, has since been ranked among the best rock songs of all time by Entertainment Weekly. More than five decades later, the track still shines as one of the defining moments of glam rock, a bright, theatrical anthem about hope arriving from the stars.
The song first appeared on Bowie's landmark album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, a concept record that told the story of an alien rock star bringing a message of salvation to Earth. Within that narrative, "Starman" plays a pivotal role: it's the moment humanity first hears the mysterious visitor broadcasting through the radio waves.
Musically, the song blends Bowie's futuristic imagination with nods to classic pop influences. Its soaring melody, uplifting chorus and shimmering guitar work, courtesy of Bowie's collaborator Mick Ronson, helped transform the track into one of the era’s most recognizable glam-rock singles.
"Starman" also became a cultural turning point thanks to Bowie’s unforgettable 1972 performance on the BBC music show Top of the Pops. Appearing in Ziggy Stardust’s flamboyant costume and bright red hair, Bowie delivered the song with theatrical flair, even wrapping an arm around Ronson during the broadcast. The moment stunned viewers and introduced a generation to a bold new vision of rock stardom.
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By that point, Bowie was already redefining what a rock artist could be. Across a career that spanned more than five decades, he constantly reinvented himself, from glam rock to soul, electronic experimentation and beyond, becoming one of the most influential musicians in modern music.
"I think we took it on our shoulders that we were creating the 21st century in 1971," Bowie said of himself and some of his musical peers in a 2022 interview. "That was the idea. And we wanted to just blast everything in the past, rather like the Vorticists did at the beginning of the century in Britain, or the Dadaists did in Europe. You know, it was the same sensibility of, everything is rubbish, and all rubbish is wonderful."
Bowie died on January 10, 2016, at age 69, just two days after releasing his final album, Blackstar. His death prompted a worldwide outpouring of tributes celebrating his boundary-pushing artistry and cultural impact.
More than 50 years after it first landed on the airwaves, "Starman" remains one of Bowie's most beloved songs, a glittering reminder of the moment a cosmic messenger arrived and rock music was never quite the same again.
Related: 1982 Hit Ranked ‘Best Rock Song of All Time’ Became a Timeless Classic
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
