Life on Mars? is a song by David Bowie, first released on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Written as a parody of Frank Sinatra's My Way, it was recorded on 6 August 1971 at Trident Studios in London and co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, with Rick Wakeman on piano and Mick Ronson's string arrangement. The track is a glam rock ballad with cabaret and art rock elements, telling the story of a girl with mousy hair who goes to the cinema to escape reality, while a cascade of surreal Hollywood images unfolds in the lyrics. In June 1973 RCA released it as a UK single during Bowie's Ziggy Stardust era, where it peaked at number 3. The promotional video was directed by Mick Rock and the song has since been celebrated as one of Bowie's finest works, included on many compilations and remixed in 2003 and 2016, the latter a stripped-down version focusing on strings and piano. It has been widely covered and referenced in media, including Barbra Streisand's version, the TV series Life on Mars, and numerous film and television soundtracks.
