“Silly Boy Blue;” Is the youthful outpourings of a less mature Bowie. The conglomeration of his childhood experiences under the collective heading of ‘school’. This track was clearly written earlier than the others – possibly when Bowie had just graduated, as it is still permeated with the essence of classroom chit-chat and the casual derisions which peers deal out to each other.
So, with a hint of green still gently petering out behind Bowie’s ears, this song marks his musical maturity as having reached a point; a point which it remains on for the entire CD, but which is only just finding its feet in this track. A slightly shaky, unsure feel to the meaning behind the song (as it simply manages to sum up the general outlook on fellow students when being schooled) is rescued from the road to obscurity by a steady rhythm and measurement throughout the song.
Whilst not a stand-out track in terms of its meaningfulness or musicality, “Silly Boy blue” remains enjoyable through its easy translation to any age group. It can inflict childhood nostalgia on older people, whilst bringing a certain degree of empathy and understanding into the lives of the young.