Continuing my look at the most underrated songs of the 80s (as determined by writer Chris Dalla Riva), #6 on the list is David Bowie’s ‘Ashes to Ashes.’
This song was the first single on Bowie’s 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and went to #1 in the UK but fell just short of cracking the Hot 100 in the U.S. The video received a fair amount of airplay — which is good, because at the time it was the most expensive ever made. Watching it, that’s hard to believe.
‘Ashes to Ashes’ owes its placement on this list to lack of present-day streaming, of course, but just as important is another factor: it has become much more critically acclaimed over the years. At the time of its release it was largely ignored or dismissed by critics, but a couple of decades later it is considered one of Bowie’s best.
This is Bowie’s 14th most-streamed song on Spotify. If the less-streamed ‘Golden Years’ or ‘Young Americans,’ to use two examples, showed up higher on the critics’ consensus they would surpass ‘Ashes to Ashes’ on the underrated list.
Do you remember a guy that’s been
In such an early song?
I’ve heard a rumour from Ground Control
Oh, no, don’t say it’s true
They got a message from the Action Man
“I’m happy, hope you’re happy too
I’ve loved all I’ve needed, love
Sordid details following”
[Pre-Chorus]
The shrieking of nothing is killing
The shrieking of nothing is killing
Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis
Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis
And I ain’t got no money and I ain’t got no hair
I ain’t got no money and I ain’t got no hair
But I’m hoping to kick, but the planet is glowing
But I’m hoping to kick, but the planet is glowing
[Chorus]
Ashes to ash and funk to funky
We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low
[Verse 2]
Time and again, I tell myself
I’ll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh, no, not again
I’m stuck with a valuable friend
“I’m happy, hope you’re happy too”
One flash of light, but no smoking pistol
[Pre-Chorus]
I’ve never done good things
I’ve never done good things
I’ve never done bad things
I’ve never done bad things
I never did anything out of the blue, whoa whoa
I never did anything out of the blue, whoa whoa
Want an axe to break the ice
I want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
I want to come down right now
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low
[Outro]
My mama said to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said
Meet Me In Montauk 
This song’s video was in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV, and was probably my entry point into Bowie’s music.
Wonder why it was so expensive??