David Bowie

I can't see a thread on Bowie, so I thought I'd start one since I consider him to be one of the most influential and greatest rock and pop musicians ever, his impact on contempory music in this country perhaps only eclipsed by The Beatles. Punk, New Wave, Goth, Electronica (Just listen to the magnificent, brooding Warszawa), New Romantics (may God forgive him) to name just a few of the genres he either influenced or spawned.

Not everything Bowie touched turned to gold - he took some wrong turns musically and personally and constantly pushing the envelope can lead to spectacular falls at times, but with a legacy that includes albums such as Hunky Dory, Ziggy, Station to Station, Low, Heroes, Lodger & Scary Monsters, all stone-cold classics, David Bowie has made some brilliant music. True, he's been pants since the early 80's but he is still a hero to me. (Although I do have a soft spot for "Let's Dance" even though you would only ever want to listen to the first 3 tracks)

I am currently listening to the excellent remastered & resequenced Stage (Live) double CD from '78 which features a superb selection of tracks from Station to Station, Low and Heroes as well as about half of Ziggy. You can currently get the mp3 album from Amazon UK for £3.69. Bargain.

Hmmm, Bowie....

I admire him more than enjoy him. Got several of his best albums, but really don't play them all that often. I think he is undoubtedly one of the most talented musicmakers in rock hsitory, but I never got into him too deeply. I think of him as the original Madonna - always changing from image to image and persona to persona, but you never really had the feeling that he was any of those characters, they were just roles he played. He almost struck me as more of an actor than a musician sometimes. And like Madonna, he was good at creating controversy and drama, which all helped him get lots of attention from the press and public.

I think my main issue with him is that, even though the music sounds fantastic, I never really connected with it. There wasn't much for me to hang my emotional hat on, so to speak. Full respect to him for the way he crafted his songs and albums (for the most part), but I guess he just never got under my skin the way other artists have. He's definitely a unique guy and has taken many musical risks during his career, and I like that very much. Wish more musicians would follow that example today and not play it so safe all the time!

Chrissie - Its funny, your comments remind me very much of mine about Radiohead - and I can completely see where you are coming from. There is just something about Bowie that DOES connect with me in a way that Radiohead don't. Perhaps it is because Bowie's music was, along with countless other musicians, part of the fabric of my early teen years, or maybe that's got nothing to do with it at all.

This is one of the wonderful things about art - that it can evoke both an intellectual and an emotional response, and those responses can be contrary.

Heroes is one of my favourite songs, full stop, and I am really looking forward to hearing Peter Gabriel's version on "Scratch My Back" - it could be immense with an orchestra.

I love Bowie too (though it has to be said, on a personal level mainly from the late 60s to the early 80s) and echo what's been said about his influence and genius. I think he has a real indefinable charisma too. I do know what you mean about the theatricality and image-consciousness stuff and normally it's probably something that would really put me off an artist, but as you say it's a matter of whether or not you connect with it, and I do connect with a lot of Bowie's stuff. I sometimes feel it's almost as if he gets emotion across despite himself .

But it's true about the intellectual and emotional comment - certainly a lot of thew way I feel about Bowie - especially the albums I go back to again and again (especailly Hunky Dory and Space Oddity) - is a matter of where I was at a certain time.

Heroes on Scratch My Back is wonderful - a beautiful, really moving arrangement. (Though given the comments in the Gabriel's Mirroball thread perhaps I'll be in the minority).

I also think Bowie's appearance on Ricky Gervaise's Extras is genius.

he is one of my absolute favourite men of all time. I adore him and his music and there is just something about it that makes me like it.
At first listen i usually didn't like the song that much, but then i had to listen again and BAM i've fallen again. Think he is awesome.

Hey you two - remember this?

Heroes - Live Aid - 13/07/1985

Absolutely the best 7 minutes of the whole day - still get a lump in the throat hearing and seeing that. Talk about charisma!

It is scary that this year is the 25th anniversary of Live Aid. A QUARTER OF A CENTURY! Jeez.

Mr_K wrote:

Absolutely the best 7 minutes of the whole day

Erm... yes, you see, I don't agree there... I think Queen absolutely ran away with it!


Still lovin' that tho, and I remember that day so well, how exciting it was and really the first of its kind!
Anyhoo, back to Bowie; saw him live a couple of times and loved his shows. -Pure theatre!

Jones I totally agree with you that Queen were magnificent - I never expected Freddie and co to be anything less than brilliant in front of such a massive worldwide audience. A dream come true for such showmen.
It is just that hearing a belting version of one of my favourite ever songs sung by one of my heroes on such an epic stage topped pretty much everything. It was great that he seemed to enjoy it so much too.

David Bowie has been has been a massive hero of mine since a very young age. I did give up around Scary Monsters though and nothing he has done since has really enthused me greatly. I have tried though, bought a few albums, but the magic has gone now. That said, Ziggy Stardust is one of my top 5 albums of all time and I still get a frisson listening to it - in fact I never get bored by it. All in all that album is perfect.

Just yesterday I bought the "A reality tour" CD.
Loving it. Especially the man who sold the world. Always great!

He's one of those artist who could sing a phone book and I would listen to it, just because his voice gives me goosebumps everytime!!
Great, great artist!!!

We grew up with the Hunky Dory album which as kids, my Dad was a big fan, we played constantly and knew all the words. Fab album.

Happy 65th Birthday. Crikey!

Yeap, happy B-Day to the gentlemen Mr. Bowie.

Just thought on David Bowie,

My sister's boyfriend and his mate went 10 pin bowling in New York last year. His mate's friend David Bowie only rocked up with wife Iman and his son for a game. He said he was one of the most down to earth people he'd ever met. His mate happens to be the husband of Victoria Secrets owner in New York. Small world, ehhh.