David Bowie passed away in 2016, at the age of 69, of liver cancer (Image: Getty)
David Bowie’s catalogue was never meant to fade with time. The man “who fell to Earth” had a vision of constant evolution – from Ziggy to the Thin White Duke, from Berlin basements to MTV megastardom. He reinvented pop, styled it in something futuristic, and gave outsiders everywhere an icon to relate to.
With over a billion combined plays on Spotify alone, Bowie’s music continues to hit among listeners worldwide – a testament to his eternal cultural influence and creativity.
Here are David Bowie’s top 10 most-streamed tracks on Spotify, ranked by total global plays:
10. Modern Love
219,581,004 streams
Lifted from 1983’s Let’s Dance, ‘Modern Love’ kicks off our list with a thunderclap of optimism. The opening track from Bowie’s biggest commercial album, it was crafted in collaboration with producer Nile Rodgers and powered by the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar.
Bowie used its gospel-inspired chorus and punchy beat to examine love in an age of paranoia, spiritual confusion and emotional distance. The song made a big splash at the time, charting high in both the UK and US, but it’s the posthumous boost that’s brought it to hundreds of millions of streams today.
Featured memorably in the opening of Frances Ha and again in Asteroid City in 2023, ‘Modern Love’ has endured as a feel-good anthem with lyrical depth hiding beneath the rhythm.
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9. Changes
229,465,524 streams
‘Changes’ wasn’t a hit when it was first released in 1971. It didn’t crack the Top 40 until years later, long after its parent album Hunky Dory had become a cult classic. But time has treated ‘Changes’ well – and now it stands as one of Bowie’s most enduring anthems.
Decades later, ‘Changes’ has been used to underscore everything from personal comebacks to political shifts. It also got a second wind of fame thanks to soundtracks (Shrek 2, for example), advertising syncs, and its ever-relevant message.
8. Moonage Daydream
250,141,997 streams
Originally written for another project, ‘Moonage Daydream’ found its home on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. It’s wild, fun and full of space-age swagger – Bowie as intergalactic prophet, fully embracing the Ziggy persona. The lyrics, a blend of surreal sci-fi and rock ‘n’ roll sexuality, are as over-the-top as they are unforgettable: “I’m an alligator / I’m a mama-papa coming for you”.
‘Moonage Daydream’ is now also the name of the 2022 Brett Morgen documentary that brought rare footage and Bowie’s voice to a new generation – whcih led to a major streaming boost.
7. Let’s Dance
331,026,465 streams
When Bowie released ‘Let’s Dance’ in 1983, some fans were puzzled by the glossy production and radio-friendly sound. But with Nile Rodgers at the helm, Bowie was chasing something bigger: a global audience.
‘Let’s Dance’ became his biggest hit since the 1970s, reaching number one in the UK, US, and across Europe. The song’s heavy rhythm, danceable beat, and lyrical cry for emotional vulnerability worked especially in clubs and on MTV.
The track also signalled a style evolution, as Bowie stepped out of the art-rock shadows into pop’s brightest spotlights.
6. Life on Mars?
351,203,399 streams
A track so layered and surreal that even Bowie once joked it was “a cross between a Broadway musical and Salvador Dalí,” ‘Life on Mars?’ remains a fan favourite decades after its 1971 release. The song originally began as a parody response to Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ (it shares the same chord progression), but it evolved into a cinematic ballad.
Its imagery is famously enigmatic – with Mickey Mouse, Ibiza, and lawman involved – but the emotion is there. Following Bowie’s death in 2016, the song’s streams surged – and it’s been covered endlessly and used in everything from American Horror Story to Doctor Who.
5. Rebel Rebel
416,781,241 streams
‘Rebel Rebel’ was Bowie’s final glam-rock single before the chameleon moved into the soul-infused Young Americans era. Released in 1974, it was a gender-bending anthem for teenage misfits, opening with one of the most recognisable guitar riffs of the decade. Though often mistaken for a Rolling Stones track, Bowie even played all the instruments on the original recording himself.
It’s long been hailed as a pre-punk classic and a queer anthem. It didn’t chart as high as his biggest hits at the time, but in the long run, it became one of his most enduring.
4. Space Oddity
425,310,156 streams
Originally released just days before the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969, ‘Space Oddity’ introduced the world to Major Tom, the doomed astronaut who became a recurring character in Bowie’s musical universe. The BBC famously played it during coverage of the moon mission, and it gave Bowie his first real hit – a Top 5 in the UK, and eventually a US success when reissued in the 1970s.
The song’s legacy is massive – it’s been covered and referenced countless times, and its blend of science fiction and psychological introspection set a template for Bowie’s future work.
3. Heroes
568,725,348 streams
‘Heroes’ wasn’t a hit when it came out in 1977, but over time, it became one of the most important songs Bowie ever recorded. Inspired by a real couple kissing by the Berlin Wall (some accounts say they were producer Tony Visconti and his girlfriend), the song is all yearning and defiance – two lovers dreaming of freedom in a divided city – Bowie even recorded it at Hansa Studio, just yards from the Wall.
Its impact has only grown. ‘Heroes’ was performed at Live Aid in 1985, chosen by NASA for a Mars mission wake-up call, and played at countless ceremonies, memorials, and even the 2012 London Olympics. It’s a song that transcends context, a ballad of bravery and human hope, full of reverb and melancholy.
2. Starman
624,106,625 streams
Bowie’s 1972 performance of ‘Starman’ on Top of the Pops is often cited as the moment he truly became a star. Teenage fans were mesmerised as this glittery alien figure put his arm around guitarist Mick Ronson and sang of hope from the cosmos. It was the breakthrough moment for Ziggy Stardust and a defining one for glam rock.
‘Starman’ is the story of a benevolent alien broadcasting over the radio waves, encouraging kids to “boogie” before the end comes.
Musically, it blended 50s-style doo-wop backing vocals with space-age glam guitar. Lyrically, it hinted at salvation from above – not religious, but extraterrestrial. It was include in Pixar’s Lightyear and other pop culture moments – helping keep the track as relevant as ever.
1. Under Pressure (with Queen)
1,879,410,390 streams
It’s technically a Queen song featuring Bowie – or a Bowie song featuring Queen – but ‘Under Pressure’ stands as the most streamed track in Bowie’s entire Spotify catalogue. Recorded in Montreux in 1981 during a famously chaotic session, the song came together almost by accident, born from a jam session and mutual admiration.
The iconic bassline (famously sampled by Vanilla Ice) and the emotional vocal duel between Freddie Mercury and Bowie turned it into a true classic of its time.
Though not a chart-topper at the time in the US – surprisingly -, it topped the UK Singles Chart and became a staple of both artists’ legacies.
