Don't Let Me Down & Down. Ouch. The groove is like 70s Marvin Gaye or Al Green reinterpreted through a Yamaha DX7. It’s very 80s sounding, which is unfortunate to say in 1993. Actually it’s like a very careful recreation of Roxy Music’s Avalon album. The best thing about it is Lester. In spite of it all, there is some passion about it. But it’s way too long, like everything else on the album. 2.5/5
"Don't Let Me Down & Down" - I don't have much to add beyond this. Except that it is a little interesting in just how many bad decisions went into creating this, from the choice of the song, to the weird quiet vocal in the first part, to the lack of energy and almost dirge-like pace of the groove, to the absence of charm - the one thing you could usually rely on Bowie to supply even when he was phoning things in in the '80s. 1/5
To be fair "Don't Let Me Down & Down" eschews much of the busy production touches on those latter '80s records - but it is still MOR fodder not quite worthy of what had appeared to be a bit of a significant DB comeback. And you say the song was offered by his blushing bride? Tough spot for Mr. Bowie to be put in. Makes me better understand "Boss of Me", a stridently wonderful song that would come along 20 years later.
"Don't Let Me Down & Down" Meh. Not much to say about this. It's not bad, but it's not good either. 2.5/5
DLMD&D Wow, really don't hear this song the way others are. To me it is light and easy and relaxing shift of mood. Probably what album needed. Always thought it was lovely and linked to the wedding track in some sense. Also contains that wonderful explosive change of vocal style. 3/5
It does have a feel of "ok I will do it, whatever makes you happy". But even the esteemed bride must have been disappointed at this half-cocked showing.
Don't Let Me Down & Down This sounds like something that could fit in on Prince's album from around this time (the symbol album). In other words, it's atrocious. This song wishes it was good enough to be on Tonight. 1/5
Dont Let Me Down and Down Etc Well this is some wild **** Primo 1992 smooth r and b balladry transforms into a desperate plea for fidelity. The odd edges of the production (those gasping balloon leaking backing vocals) and the wild shape to the vocal elevate this one far above its station. 4/5 Edit: reading and enjoying everyone's hilarious responses to this one. Sometimes sincerity is the boldest most experimental move
Don't Let Me Down & Down and SNAP the spell is broken. this definitively could not ever be on Lodger or Scary Monsters, it might squeak onto Never Let Me Down as one of its more disappointing tracks; just when I thought he'd left the lush overproduction behind here it is again, and once again paired with a bored, draggy vocal delivery. And yeah he takes it up a couple of notches at the end of the song but.... I mean compare that bit to the fade on yesterday's song... it feels like he just flipped the "add emotion" switch and dragged his voice up to "passionate" without losing a bit of the boredom and ennui. Maybe it was all to be able to say "yes, doing something my supermodel wife's princess friend wrote."
Don’t Let Me Down & Down A song this bland and boring should really illicit nothing more than a "meh" and a shrug of the shoulders......but it really is almost offensively dull. And I never knew it was a cover! Christ almighty all the songs he could cover and he does this drivel, textbook old fart music, awful. 1/5
My god thats it! I absolutely despised Boyz 2 Men and that kind of slow motion, over emoting "RNB" ****e back in the day......no wonder I hate "Don’t Let Me Down & Down" so much! Great call.
Yes it’s too long, yes DB sings in an extremely mannered way with an odd accent to boot on the first half, yes it’s soppy as hell but the second half of Don’t Let Me Down and Down and Down and Down and Down is absolutely marvellous. Bowie’s vocals are stupendous. It’s a welcome change of pace and style for the album and although it’s not a song I’d pick out as a highlight, it certainly holds my interest when I play the album. And, in keeping with the vague wedding theme, DB recorded this for his lovely wife. What a romantic! 3/5
Don’t Let Me Down & Down You know, with few exceptions, I usually love Bowie’s cover versions. The back story and motivation for covering this is so interesting and quite endearing. Hearing the original for the first time today, have to say that I love the instrumentation and its minimalist style, obviously don’t understand the language, but find the vocal quite captivating. However, here’s the big but… The Bowie version is like a throwback to the worst of the 80s, on a par with God Only Knows. First there’s over three minutes of an unusual choice of vocal style that is just…err…awful. Then at 3 minutes 20 we suddenly get a wonderful soaring vocal to lead us through the last 90 seconds or so, as if he’s been messing with us all along…but it’s been so awful up to that point that the change is far too late. Musically it’s pretty awful too, so much so that even Lester Bowie’s trumpet can’t save this. It’s unfathomable how this has actually been stuck in my head all day…thought maybe I was beginning to like it, but… 1/5 for its unfathomable ability to be catchy
You know I really tried to earn one of those today with the Skinemax reference. Thought for sure in a Bowie thread that would put Hans over the edge. So disappointing.
Earn.. I'm deeply gratified you look on his appearances that way. However, he and I have standards of outrage. And perhaps Skinemax doesn't "rise" to that level..
Don’t Let Me Down & Down 1.5/2 Meh. I'll be using that phrase a lot until Earthling. To mimic a better Bowie 80's song....... THIS IS NOT BOWIE!
Yea, I wonder what Hunt Sales might have brought to this tune? It’s stuck in my head, I’ll give it that. Maybe he should have called this The Wedding Album? 2/5
