RIP David Bowie.

[RichardX]

Reading that Bowie passed away at his home in the Catskill mountains near Woodstock, NY. The Catskills being a kind of weekend getaway for wealthy New Yorkers. Probably the last place anyone would have ever predicted in the 1970s that Ziggy Stardust would go out. That is assuming it is true. The family has been very quiet about the details which is understandable but only promotes greater curiosity.

 

[not_nadine]

Hear David Bowie’s Hilarious Rock Star Impressions In Unearthed Studio Outtake

 

[AchtungBaby]

As a lifelong Bowie fan there have been a couple of things highlighted about him in the past couple of weeks:

1) his willingness to collaborate with a variety of talented musicians. Rare for a star to be confident enough to allow lesser known musicians to play such an important role in his work. That went on throughout his career up to the final album. He would find people who interested him and then ask them to work with him and let them do their thing. Arguably the secret to his success. He was always reinventing himself via others. Most famous musicians play it safe and stick with a sound that has worked for them to avoid losing their audience. Not Bowie though.
2) his influence on and interest in black music including hip hop. At first glance there couldn't be a more profound contrast than between Bowie and hip hop but he apparently viewed it as one of the few innovative forms of modern music.
3) Bowie was a blank slate. He was like some type of super computer that took in everything that was around him and used it to create something new and innovative. Even in later life the "normal" Bowie was nothing more than the creation of an actor disguised as a normal person. He seemed to relish being able to walk around NY without being recognized the same way he once did the opposite in drawing attention to himself with outrageous personas like Ziggy. Both were a form of creative disguise for whoever the real Bowie was.
4) his longevity. I can't think of anyone else who had the creative impact at such a level for such a long time. Even folks like Jagger and McCartney hit the creative wall in the 80s. They are still around but haven't been relevant in decades.

McCartney's output in the late '80s was rather dreadful but he really came back around after The Beatles Anthology in '95. His music from the last twenty years rivals the best of The Beatles and Wings, IMO.

 

[kingricefan]

Hear David Bowie’s Hilarious Rock Star Impressions In Unearthed Studio Outtake

This is the best way to remember David- laughing and clowning around in the studio. Thank you for posting this!

 

[fljoe0]

Springsteen tribute:

Here is one of the covers that Bruce was talking about. This is a video someone made up with just still photos. There are some great photos in this video including a shot with Bruce early on in the video.

 

[AchtungBaby]

Almost forgot to mention it, at the Bernie rally (yes, I'm still in disbelief that I even got to go) before he came out a loop of songs were played - some Beatles, some Dylan, and LOTS of Bowie! I thought it was a nice tribute and am curious how much of a hand Sanders had in choosing the song selection.

 

[RichardX]

Here is one of the covers that Bruce was talking about. This is a video someone made up with just still photos. There are some great photos in this video including a shot with Bruce early on in the video.

I think Bowie was at the height of his cocaine frenzy when he first met Springsteen. Two exact opposites. Blue collar Springsteen and 120 lb space alien Bowie. Bowie made some humorous comments later about how Bruce must have perceived that strange encounter noting that some pictures had been taken in which he (Bowie) looked like he was made of wax next to Bruce.

 

[RichardX]

Interesting take on some of the symbolism and reoccurring themes in Bowie's songs including the final album:

The Occult Universe of David Bowie and the Meaning of "Blackstar" - The Vigilant Citizen - Understand the Occult Symbolism in Pop Culture

 

[RichardX]

Very cool:

 

[FlakeNoir]

Very cool:

I'd always wanted to know what they were whispering... love this song, thanks RichardX

 

[Lepplady]

Very cool:

I loved her sax player in The Lost Boys.

 

[Scratch]

We may be old, but we got to see the coolest bands.

We did. I wouldn't trade our time for being 16 over again today. My brain tells me every generation must feel this way but my heart tells me no, it was the best of times and you know it was. These days they wave cell phones but lighters were so much better. Everything is a fading echo of what it was. Life itself is an old addict chasing the rush of the first thrill, a harlot desperately grasping the prettiest flesh in search of innocence lost, an asylum orderly looking with longing at the out of control laughter of a lunatic even.

We were bad. Very very bad. But if I took twenty years off my life for those days it was worth it. I'm respectable now and my idols who showed me the way are dying. Sometimes I think if a convertible drove up blaring Bowie with an old friend who wanted to drive all night to the coast just to take a handful of blotter and watch the sun come up I would do it, not as a last gasp, but to remember the why of the first one. I still don't want to die knowing my last conversation was about prostates or politics. I want beauty, the beauty of those days, it's still there. I hear it in the music. And I'm still not afraid to be bad for good reason.

 

[Lepplady]

We did. I wouldn't trade our time for being 16 over again today. My brain tells me every generation must feel this way but my heart tells me no, it was the best of times and you know it was. These days they wave cell phones but lighters were so much better. Everything is a fading echo of what it was. Life itself is an old addict chasing the rush of the first thrill, a harlot desperately grasping the prettiest flesh in search of innocence lost, an asylum orderly looking with longing at the out of control laughter of a lunatic even.

We were bad. Very very bad. But if I took twenty years off my life for those days it was worth it. I'm respectable now and my idols who showed me the way are dying. Sometimes I think if a convertible drove up blaring Bowie with an old friend who wanted to drive all night to the coast just to take a handful of blotter and watch the sun come up I would do it, not as a last gasp, but to remember the why of the first one. I still don't want to die knowing my last conversation was about prostates or politics. I want beauty, the beauty of those days, it's still there. I hear it in the music. And I'm still not afraid to be bad for good reason.

There's a reason they use the "oldies" for commercials and tv shows. Those were SONGS. Not the fluff they gobble up these days.
Let kids today think what they want. We know better.

 

[FlakeNoir]

 

[not_nadine]

Great photos. Now I must listen to some Bowie.

 

[not_nadine]

 

[not_nadine]

 

[not_nadine]

How sweet is that letter? Breaks your heart.

He had no idea what was ahead for him.

 

[Neesy]

Very cool:

Beautiful - thanks RichardX

 

[Neesy]

How sweet is that letter? Breaks your heart.

He had no idea what was ahead for him.

Post # 216 was very touching too - I listened to it on the head phones and that song brought back good memories.