Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
David Bowie, RIP
David Bowie died tonight. He was 69. His birthday was January 8.
I was never much of a fan, but Bowie, like many rockers of the early ’70s, had an impact on me that I’m only beginning to understand now, after all these years. In 1974, when I was a wee lad of seventeen, I landed a job as a disc jockey at the local Top 40 station. My head started swelling that first night — the graveyard shift — because I saw myself as a bit of a star, although I was just wise enough to know that I was living vicariously through men and women who had real talent (or in some cases, what passed for talent). But it was a helluva ride. I figured the chicks would dig it. Of course I was wrong, but self-deception at that age is a necessary stimulant, and at least I was miles ahead of my burger-slinging buddies: I’d done my stint at the Golden Arches Banquet Hall at age 16.
Like I said, I wasn’t much for Bowie. Still, his death has stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly I’m thinking about the songs I played, the on-air smart-aleck remarks that got me canned, and the joys of a youth spent traveling the Pacific Northwest seeking fame and fortune and fun.
Radio was, and is, a volatile business. I got fired at least six times in two years. It didn’t much matter since I could pile all my possessions into my Dodge Dart and head off for the next gig, and the rockers and rollers would follow me around.
Now I’m wistful. Every time I hear of another ’70s singer passing from this mortal coil, I remember they were why I had that work and my joyful youth. I might have made it on a country station (shudder), or even a beautiful music station, what with my mellifluous voice. But I wouldn’t have had fun like that.
I was going to embed Bowie’s first big hit, A Space Oddity. I’ll just link the song.
I’ll put this up instead. It better suits my feeling just now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFO0TeFdAas
Published in Culture, Entertainment, General
I’m, I hate to admit it, not familiar with Bowie’s work except “Under Pressure”, his collaboration with Queen (and his role in the movie Labyrinth). It seems improper to only seek out an artist’s work after they’ve died, but I’ve put off listening to this legend’s music for long enough as it is. RIP David
Interestingly, he was twelve years to the day younger than Elvis Presley.
I’ll bet you are. Did you ever see “the Martian?” You’ve heard it, you just didn’t realize it was Bowie.
He was absolutely awful, but anyone who’s old enough to remember dancing to this remembers good, good times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA
I just saw this minutes ago. For me David Bowie’s music was either very good or very bad. He experimented with music in a way that suggested to me he didn’t understand music well or didn’t have what Hemingway called an “crap detector.” So when he tried something new it either was brilliant or terrible. That’s probably not true, but that’s my impression. I really thought his Let’s Dance album was very solid as an album. Not sure which of his songs were my favorite, but songs like “Young American” just captured something from the time and place, and of course my youth.
Rest in peace, Mr. Bowie.
I believe I read that part of that was a contract dispute. He owed one label x number of albums, but he was not happy with the contract. So, he made some really bizarre, artistic, and unsellable music for them. When the contract ended, he made Let’s Dance, the most marketable, mainstream album he had ever done. I don’t remember where I read that, but it shouldn’t be too hard to track down.
I have long been a Bowie fan. It wasn’t the clothes or the image, it was always the music for me. The Low – Heroes – Scary Monsters era is my favorite. But I was a fan of almost all of it. Even the over-the-top Glass Spiders tour (with Peter Frampton on lead guitar) was great, especially Rebel Rebel kicking off the encore. But the band and tours he put together in the early 2000s before his heart attack looked like some of his best. Great new stuff and clever reworking of classics. If you saw any of those shows live you were fortunate. Fortunately, they are on DVD/Blu-Ray.
In my estimation, he put out more perfect albums than most, including: Ziggy Stardust, Heroes, Let’s Dance, Earthling. And a lot of great ones too. When he was good he was great. When he was bad he was still interesting…
Rest in Peace, David Jones.
Interesting. But he also made some terrible albums after Let’s Dance.
Oh yeah, “Rebel Rebel,” that might be his greatest song. That was punk rock before punk rock existed. Here’s some of the lyrics:
Bowie got me through my teenage years, especially Ziggy Stardust, with Scary Monsters taking me off to college.
Not sure what “unsellable” music Arahant is referring to, but Scary Monsters (immediately preceding Let’s Dance) went platinum and the albums before that were pretty much all gold.
Ashes to Ashes was my favorite Bowie song. Bowie drops his sundry masks and courageously confronts his demons, drug addiction being the worst. I like to think that as he was departing this world a phrase from an early tune came into his head: Turn and face the strange . . .
All of this is making me terribly nostalgic.
In an industry of entertainers, David Bowie was an Artist. Like any creator, he loathed the idea of repeating himself, slouching into a formula, or merely jumping on the teen trend of the day. He didn’t follow fashion, he designed it.
His just released album, Blackstar, was his farewell, though it wasn’t promoted that way; only he knew he was dying of cancer. But, much like Johnny Cash, he turned his aging and his passing into an artistic statement.
Rest in peace, Mr. Bowie.
https://youtu.be/Tgcc5V9Hu3g
Me too.
Let’s Dance also benefits greatly from SRV’s guitarwork. Great collaboration.
Ditto
Well said.
Ooh yeah! Imagine a stadium-full of fans singing along…
It was divine.
That’s quite an opening line on Lazarus which was just released four days ago: “Look up here, I’m in heaven.”
I also came across his comments on performing Heroes in front of the Berlin Wall.
I’ve been listening to Hunky Dory and Low all morning.
This is a huge bummer.
I wasn’t a fan. I can only think of two songs of his that I like, one of which benefits from my being a huge Queen fan so I’m not sure that one even counts.
But I certainly recognize his influence on bands I do like, most notably Duran Duran (I’ve been a fan of theirs since I was six.)
RIP, good sir. Say hi to Freddie for us.
His mainstream hits were numerous, many being played everywhere today and surprising lot’s of people: Bowie wrote that??
I became a fan after Let’s Dance (the album, not so much the single – who doesn’t love Iggy Pop’s politically incorrect China Girl?) and then started going backward collecting his music.
https://youtu.be/E_8IXx4tsus
Bowie was a musical wunderkind. While many folks didn’t care for his androgynous look, remember it was the early 70’s. When Peter Gabriel was fronting Genesis, he was doing the same weird makeup.
For those unfamiliar with Bowies catalog take some time on You Tube. There are some incredible gems throughout his career. This one (Five Years) played loudly on my mixed tape in my Mustang.
Ashes to Ashes, RIP David.
I like Simon Pegg’s tribute:
My dog is names Ziggy Stardust (we just call her Ziggy). I’m not at all sad about David Bowie dying, as I didn’t know him in the first place. But I did really enjoy much of his music.
I have to say, “Ziggy Stardust” is one of my all time favorites. It’s one of those that just hits me every time I hear it start up.
Like others here, I love some songs and hate others.
I remember as a little kid when “Let’s Dance” came out. It was only later when I was older than I discovered Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory. Hunky Dory is one or two albums that I put on in the office when I don’t know what else to put on.
And from Ziggy Stardust, I love “Moonage Daydream” and “Lady Stardust.”
I was just flipping channels a few nights ago and they were playing some videos for his birthday. I caught it just as they started one of my favorites, “Life on Mars?”
Ha! I only just got the picture. My old Dart.
One of my favorites. I am a fan of his songwriting talent –before he got to his Let’s Dance or China Girl phases. RIP
I was sad to hear of David Bowie’s passing, and didn’t know he was ill. All of his music was part of my youth and I loved it. I was in 10th grade – my best friend Cathy from a family born in Lebanon, and I only being 16, couldn’t afford concert tickets. He was playing at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. The arena had a dome that opened to the fresh air, so you could hear the concerts from the parking lot. I put on my blue denim platform shoes that I added multi-colored glitter to the toes and heels, my favorite jeans that I sewed sequins down the outer seams, we donned our sparkly makeup and boarded a local bus with the other space cadets, outfitted in “out of this world” dress, to hang out near the arena and listen to the legend.
I am transported back to my youth with every song. His shows, lyrics and cultural trends were always ahead of its time. I loved his teaming up with Bing Crosby for a “new” classic. After suffering with illness, I hope he is at peace.
His beautiful wife Iman posted this on Twitter when he died:
“The struggle is real, but so is God“
Is Max looking at this thread? Or Messrs. Gabriel & Lileks? I have a request…. that if the topic of David Bowie comes up on the next flagship podcast, you use this song at the end of the program:-)
David Bowie, “Ricochet” (1983)
<iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/u64Cib_jZco” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>