On his birthday... awww. ♥
I don't get HBO, let me know how it is.
RIP David Bowie.
- Thread starter Lepplady
- Start date
-
This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.
I don't get HBO, let me know how it is.
There's a Bowie documentary too on Netflix in the 'music and specials' section. Haven't seen it yet though.
The documentary on Chicago (the rock/jazz band) is really good. There's an extensive one on The Eagles too - three hours, I think.
The documentary on Chicago (the rock/jazz band) is really good. There's an extensive one on The Eagles too - three hours, I think.
Ah, my very heart...
I miss you DB, and hope you're resting well.
The documentary on Bowie that's on Netflix is quite nice. It's called 'The Man Who Changed the World'. To say he actually changed the world would be a bit much, but he did change the world of music. Before Bowie artists didn't reinvent themselves constantly as is often the case nowadays, both musically and visually. Bands around the time Bowie emerged didn't think so much in terms of image and presentation, which are quite central with Bowie.
What's nice is that it focuses a lot on the years before he broke through (first with Space Oddity, but more permanently with Ziggy Stardust). I'm not sure it is authorized by the Bowie estate as it uses none of his music. Basically it's lots of excerpts of interviews with him over the years and new interviews with people who knew him personally - friends, managers, producers, BBC presenters etc.
It told quite some things I didn't know. He didn't like his own voice much and rather would have someone else perform his songs, but he couldn't find singers who would, so he had to sing himself (once he was famous of course lots of artists covered his songs). His parents and homelife as a youth were really boring. He spent some time in a monastery and if it wasn't for music he might have become a monk. Before he broke through he organized cultural events and festivals in his neighborhood. Even though he liked blues, he saw himself as a folk singer foremost. His singing style was strongly influenced by Anthony Newley.
Recommended, especially for info on his early years.
What's nice is that it focuses a lot on the years before he broke through (first with Space Oddity, but more permanently with Ziggy Stardust). I'm not sure it is authorized by the Bowie estate as it uses none of his music. Basically it's lots of excerpts of interviews with him over the years and new interviews with people who knew him personally - friends, managers, producers, BBC presenters etc.
It told quite some things I didn't know. He didn't like his own voice much and rather would have someone else perform his songs, but he couldn't find singers who would, so he had to sing himself (once he was famous of course lots of artists covered his songs). His parents and homelife as a youth were really boring. He spent some time in a monastery and if it wasn't for music he might have become a monk. Before he broke through he organized cultural events and festivals in his neighborhood. Even though he liked blues, he saw himself as a folk singer foremost. His singing style was strongly influenced by Anthony Newley.
Recommended, especially for info on his early years.
Per the LA Times:
Rock star David Bowie was “a beast of a reader,” according to his son, Duncan Jones. So Jones has decided to start an online book club to honor his literature-loving dad. Although he didn’t give it a name, the official Instagram account of the late rock star dubbed it the Bowie Book Club.
Jones, a screenwriter and film director known for “Moon” and “Warcraft,” made the announcement on Twitter on Boxing Day. The inaugural Bowie Book Club pick is Peter Ackroyd's 1985 postmodernist novel, “Hawksmoor.”
Rock star David Bowie was “a beast of a reader,” according to his son, Duncan Jones. So Jones has decided to start an online book club to honor his literature-loving dad. Although he didn’t give it a name, the official Instagram account of the late rock star dubbed it the Bowie Book Club.
Jones, a screenwriter and film director known for “Moon” and “Warcraft,” made the announcement on Twitter on Boxing Day. The inaugural Bowie Book Club pick is Peter Ackroyd's 1985 postmodernist novel, “Hawksmoor.”
I can still think of few artists who have done so many musical styles as Bowie (well, Prince of course, but funk connects all his styles). The idea of changing your appearance became more common after Bowie, but a lot of artists stay within certain musical boundaries, where Bowie also did completely different things, like the instrumental ambient music on the Berlin albums.
The most drastic change in popular music in recent years has been Taylor Swift I think, who went from very romantic country to completely pimped-up dance pop, Red being the most transitional album. But then pop can consist of many styles, where country is much more defined, that's why it's so striking with her. My favourite song of her is still 'Our Song' from her country period - she looks stunning in the video and I love how well you can hear her accent in that.
The most drastic change in popular music in recent years has been Taylor Swift I think, who went from very romantic country to completely pimped-up dance pop, Red being the most transitional album. But then pop can consist of many styles, where country is much more defined, that's why it's so striking with her. My favourite song of her is still 'Our Song' from her country period - she looks stunning in the video and I love how well you can hear her accent in that.
I watched this about a week ago and enjoyed it, but I did find it a bit frustrating that none of his music was played. I kept expecting them to break out the songs they were referencing, but then it just didn't happen, I was almost tempted to go back and set up a playlist and watch it again.
I had come across a lot of the information in this doco many years ago as a child, I had a couple of really good biographies (can't remember their names now, or the authors) and used to read them like bibles, so it was good revisiting the old days in this way.
I've been finding his loss particularly difficult in the last couple of weeks, it could be his approaching birthday, or maybe that I'm not at work at present so have more spare time to think. In any case, I've been playing more of his music and watching more movies and just, missing him lots.
I just watched David Bowie: The Last Five Years and it made me appreciate him even more. This is definitely a unique and creative individual who wanted to make a difference, somehow.I watched this about a week ago and enjoyed it, but I did find it a bit frustrating that none of his music was played. I kept expecting them to break out the songs they were referencing, but then it just didn't happen, I was almost tempted to go back and set up a playlist and watch it again.
I had come across a lot of the information in this doco many years ago as a child, I had a couple of really good biographies (can't remember their names now, or the authors) and used to read them like bibles, so it was good revisiting the old days in this way.
I've been finding his loss particularly difficult in the last couple of weeks, it could be his approaching birthday, or maybe that I'm not at work at present so have more spare time to think. In any case, I've been playing more of his music and watching more movies and just, missing him lots.
He was a much more attractive older man than he was when he was young. Some people do get better with time.
Such a loss.
The HBO documentary was pretty much what I expected. Not a lot new if you were a Bowie fan. Some of the interviews with the musicians that worked on his last albums were interesting but everything else was recycled material from years or even decades ago. I was a bit surprised how a show about his last five years spent so much time covering the 70s. Sort of hoping against hope that Bowie might have left some record either in writing or film of his last years. I have heard that there may be a few more unreleased songs. Whoever is controlling his music has now released countless greatest hits compilations with most of the same songs just in a different order. It has become almost humorous.
I didn't know a lot about him, so I found the documentary full of new stuff. I think he went out just exactly how he wanted, in control till the end. And the old saying, leave em wanting more is just how it's going to be. Who knows what the future holds. What his wishes were and what he might have left behind. I personally don't think there is anything else. I think he gave it his all while he was here. But, again, he was an entertainer so years down the road, something might surface.