| "Changes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Bowiechanges.jpg) Cover of the French single | ||||
| Single by David Bowie | ||||
| from the album Hunky Dory | ||||
| B-side | "Andy Warhol" | |||
| Released | 7 January 1972 | |||
| Recorded | June–July 1971 | |||
| Studio | Trident, London | |||
| Genre | Art pop | |||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| David Bowie singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Changes" (Live) on YouTube | ||||
"Changes" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie from his 1971 album Hunky Dory. RCA Records then released it as a single from the album on 7 January 1972. Written following his promotional tour of America in early 1971, "Changes" was recorded at Trident Studios in London between June and July that year. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, it featured Rick Wakeman on piano and the musicians who would later become known as the Spiders from Mars—Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey.
At this point in his career, Bowie had experimented with numerous musical styles, all of which failed to earn him stardom. The lyrics of "Changes" reflect this, with the first verse focusing on the compulsive nature of artistic reinvention and distancing oneself from the rock mainstream. The second verse concerns clashes between children and their parents, urging them to allow their children to be themselves as teenagers, a topic Bowie had spoken out about before. Musically, "Changes" is an art pop song that features a distinctive piano riff. The song flopped as a single, later garnering success following the release of Ziggy Stardust. RCA later chose it as a B-side for the reissue of "Space Oddity" in 1975, which became Bowie's first UK number-one single.
"Changes" is regarded as one of Bowie's best songs, with many praising Bowie's vocal performance and Wakeman's piano playing. It has also appeared on several best-of lists. His biographers have viewed the track as a manifesto of his entire career, predicting a constant change of musical styles. Bowie performed "Changes" frequently during his concert tours; it was the final song he performed on stage before his death in 2016. The song has appeared on numerous compilation albums and is the namesake of several. Several artists have covered the song, including Australian singer Butterfly Boucher for the 2004 film Shrek 2, whose version featured new vocals from Bowie.