A surprising discovery has added a new layer of excitement to the latest David Bowie exhibition in London. While preparing the vast collection of Bowie’s belongings for display at the V&A museum, organisers came across a handwritten list believed to be the musician’s own selection of favourite songs.
The exhibition, opening this month, is packed with treasures—everything from Bowie’s sketches and personal notes to his unforgettable stage outfits. Among the highlights is the iconic Union Jack coat, designed by Bowie in collaboration with fashion legend Alexander McQueen for the cover of his 1997 album Earthling.
The newly found list, titled Memo for radio show – list of favourite records, seems to have been written by Bowie himself for a broadcast he was scheduled to appear on. It includes tracks from a wide range of artists, such as Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Little Richard, The Beatles, Ronnie Spector, Roxy Music, and Sonic Youth.
V&A director Tristram Hunt expressed the importance of the archive, saying Bowie wasn’t just a musician but a cultural force whose influence stretched across music, fashion, film, and theatre. He explained that the collection will continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans, just as Bowie once inspired figures like Janelle Monáe, Lady Gaga, Tilda Swinton, and Raf Simons.
David Bowie’s favourite song list
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Richard Strauss – Four Last Songs
Alan Freed and His Rock ’N’ Roll Band – Right Now Right Now
Little Richard – True Fine Mama
The Hollywood Argyles – Sho Know a Lot About Love
Miles Davis – Some Day My Prince Will Come
Charles Mingus – Ecclusiastics
Jeff Beck – Beck’s Bolero
Legendary Stardust Cowboy – I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship
The Beatles – Across the Universe
Ronnie Spector – Try Some, Buy Some
Roxy Music – Mother of Pearl
Edgar Froese – Epsilon in Malaysian Pale
The Walker Brothers – The Electrician
Sonic Youth – Tom Violence
Thanks to support from the Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Warner Music Group, the V&A can now preserve and share Bowie’s legacy—offering the world a closer look at the creative mind behind one of music’s most groundbreaking icons.