Kate Moss on her favourite David Bowie song
In the ever-evolving world of fashion, certain names stand as timeless symbols of grace, allure, and influence. Among these icons, Kate Moss holds a unique place. From her groundbreaking debut in the 1990s to her enduring impact on the fashion landscape today, Moss remains an embodiment of chic elegance and the epitome of a supermodel.
Arriving towards the conclusion of the ‘supermodel era’ in high fashion, Moss captured attention with her ‘heroin-chic’ aesthetic, laying the foundation for a significant portion of the runway style in the 1990s. Earlier this year, Moss shared eight songs that held immense significance for her on Desert Island Discs, providing a glimpse of her musical preferences.
Showing her appreciation for 1960s and 1970s rock, Moss discussed David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’, describing what initially drew her to this hit track by the beloved Starman. In her own words: “When Mario [Sorrenti] was printing pictures, I would listen to ‘Life On Mars’ and dance around the studio and think that in my fantasy that the song was about me. The girl with the mousy blonde hair, whose mummy is yelling no, and her daddy is telling her to go. That was like the soundtrack to my childhood at the time.”
‘Life on Mars’ is often hailed as one of Bowie’s finest works, standing out on Hunky Dory like a surreal declaration from his upcoming persona, Ziggy Stardust. Reportedly crafted as a semi-parody of Frank Sinatra’s 1969 song ‘My Way’, a track emblematic of the self-determination ingrained in the American psyche, ‘Life on Mars’ holds up a mirror to this mentality.
Elsewhere in Moss’ list of favourites, she opts for The Velvet Underground’s timeless classic, ‘Oh! Sweet Nuthin”, expressing her admiration for the band. “I love The Velvet Underground. Them hanging out at CBGB’s with Iggy Pop, that picture of Iggy and Lou and David, I’ve had in a frame for a long time since I was a kid. ‘Oh! Sweet Nuthin” has got my best friend’s name in it. Jimmy B, Jimmy Brown, and I played it every day during the pandemic for some reason. It uplifted me.”
She also mentions a remix of the iconic ‘Back to Life’ by Soul II Soul. She said: “I heard Kanye’s Sunday Service version of ‘Back to Life’, and I was blown away. His gospel choir mixed with Jazzie B’s Soul II Soul original. This was when I was 14, and my friend had a [Ford] Escort Mk. I with roll bars and speakers in the back. We would blast it down Croydon High Street and think we were the coolest people.”
Many of Moss’ favourites are evidently ones that left an impact on her in her younger years, from the familiar chords of ‘My Sweet Lord’ by George Harrison to The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy For The Devil’. Her choices offer a small glimpse into her world beyond the iconic fashion figure and cherished essence of chic sophistication that we’ve all come to know and love.
