Pallas Athena (song)
Encyclopedia
"Pallas Athena" is a song written by David Bowie
in 1993
for the album Black Tie White Noise
.
The name is taken from the Greek goddess, Athena
, who famously depicted in Athenian
statues under the form of Pallas
Athena. Hence, the name of the song is a suggestion of religion and icons and sets the mood for a dark piece concerning the power that religion has over man.
The lyrics are rather sparse, but the phrase beginning the piece, "God is on top of it all, that's all," delivered as though from an African-American preacher, is ominous and intimidating, accompanied with the sound of strings delivering a sorrow melody. The piece develops into a techno
dance piece, using string sounds to hold the ominous mood while overlaid atop bass and drums. David Bowie's saxophone playing is amplified into a scream-like sound, which solos, along with Lester Bowie
on trumpet. A lyric, "We are, we are, we are, we are praying," is repeated through the close of the song in a somber, monk-like fashion. Ultimately, the song is evocative of major issues Bowie has addressed through his music: intolerance and submission.
Bowie used to play a drum'n'bass version of the song during his 1997 Earthling
tour, and a live version recorded at Paradiso, Holland June 10, 1997 was released as a single under the name Tao Jones Index, a very limited edition only available on 12" vinyl. Bowie played as Tao Jones Index during his performance in a dance tent at Phoenix Festival in 1997. It is a pun based on his birth name, David Jones, and his then recent bond offering to the Dow Jones Index. Tao
, a Chinese character
pronounced "dao," not only stands for the Chinese equivalent to Bowie's first initial, "D", but also has heavy religious implications through its correlation to Taoism
, therefore contributing to the religious overtones of "Pallas Athena." The Chinese character 道 means "the way" (the path, the route).
It was announced in March 2010 that a digital download EP would be made available in June 2010.
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
in 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
for the album Black Tie White Noise
Black Tie White Noise
Black Tie White Noise is an album by David Bowie. Released in 1993, it was his first solo release in the 1990s after spending time with his hard rock band Tin Machine, retiring his old hits on his Sound+Vision Tour, and marrying supermodel Iman Abdulmajid. This album featured his old guitarist from...
.
The name is taken from the Greek goddess, Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, who famously depicted in Athenian
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
statues under the form of Pallas
PALLAS
This article is about the research group. See Pallas for other uses of this word.PALLAS stands for Parallel Applications, Libraries, Languages, Algorithms, and Systems. It is a research group in of the at , led by...
Athena. Hence, the name of the song is a suggestion of religion and icons and sets the mood for a dark piece concerning the power that religion has over man.
The lyrics are rather sparse, but the phrase beginning the piece, "God is on top of it all, that's all," delivered as though from an African-American preacher, is ominous and intimidating, accompanied with the sound of strings delivering a sorrow melody. The piece develops into a techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
dance piece, using string sounds to hold the ominous mood while overlaid atop bass and drums. David Bowie's saxophone playing is amplified into a scream-like sound, which solos, along with Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the AACM, and cofounded the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
on trumpet. A lyric, "We are, we are, we are, we are praying," is repeated through the close of the song in a somber, monk-like fashion. Ultimately, the song is evocative of major issues Bowie has addressed through his music: intolerance and submission.
Bowie used to play a drum'n'bass version of the song during his 1997 Earthling
Earthling (album)
Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
tour, and a live version recorded at Paradiso, Holland June 10, 1997 was released as a single under the name Tao Jones Index, a very limited edition only available on 12" vinyl. Bowie played as Tao Jones Index during his performance in a dance tent at Phoenix Festival in 1997. It is a pun based on his birth name, David Jones, and his then recent bond offering to the Dow Jones Index. Tao
Tao
Dao or Tao is a Chinese word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
, a Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
pronounced "dao," not only stands for the Chinese equivalent to Bowie's first initial, "D", but also has heavy religious implications through its correlation to Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, therefore contributing to the religious overtones of "Pallas Athena." The Chinese character 道 means "the way" (the path, the route).
It was announced in March 2010 that a digital download EP would be made available in June 2010.
12": Arista / MEAT 1 (UK)
- "Pallas Athena" (Don't Stop Praying Remix No 2) - 7:24
- "Pallas Athena" (Don't Stop Praying Remix) - 5:36
- "Pallas Athena" (Gone Midnight Mix) - 4:21
- UK 1993 promo
- All mixes were untitled in the original release, with the titles provided on later reissues
- All remixes by Jack DangersJack DangersJack Dangers is an electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.-Career:...
, Don't Stop Praying Remix No 2 and Gone Midnight Mix were not released elsewhere at the time
12": Arista / 74321 51254 1 (UK)
- "Pallas Athena (live)" - 8:18
- "V-2 SchneiderV-2 Schneider"V-2 Schneider" is a largely instrumental piece written by David Bowie in 1977 for the album "Heroes". It was a tribute to Florian Schneider, co-founder of the band Kraftwerk, whom Bowie acknowledged as a significant influence at the time. The title also referenced the V-2 rocket.The only words...
(live)" - 6:45
- Both tracks recorded live at Paradiso, Amsterdam 10-06-97.
- Limited edition - 2,000 copies printed
2010 Digital Download EP
- "Pallas Athena (Album Version)" - 4:40
- "Pallas Athena (Don't Stop Praying Remix)" - 5:38
- "Pallas Athena (Don't Stop Praying Remix No. 2)" - 7.24
- "Pallas Athena (Gone Midnight mix)" - 4.20
Other releases
- A remixed version of the song called "Don't Stop Praying Remix No 2" was released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD version of Black Tie White Noise as well as the tenth anniversary edition. The "Don't Stop Praying Remix No 1" appeared on the single "Jump They SayJump They Say"Jump They Say" is a song by David Bowie from his album Black Tie White Noise. It was released as a first single from the album in March 1993....
" along with the album version. - The live single version, mixed by Mark PlatiMark PlatiMark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
, was released on the single "Seven Years in TibetSeven Years in Tibet (song)"Seven Years in Tibet" is a song and single by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels from the 1997 album Earthling.A version with lyrics in Mandarin was also recorded...
" in August 1997. This version also appeared on the bonus disc for the Digibook Expanded Edition of EarthlingEarthling (album)Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
as well as the rare EP, Earthling In The City.