A New Angel in the Firmament

A New Angel in the Firmament

David Bowie in 2013

The news came in less than an hour ago of the death from cancer of David Bowie, aged 69.  For many of us who grew up and became adults parallel to his career, such news comes as a huge shock, especially for those of us -- myself included -- who had no idea that he had been ill.

Bowie was a musician of course, but much more.  On the BBC this morning, he was called a true artist.  I would even go so far as to say a real trend-setter:  sexually fluid, fashion conscious, an inventor of on-stage personae such as Aladdin Sane and the seminal  Ziggy Stardust, the public always had in it mind during the heyday of the 70s and 80s, "what will he do next?"  Rather, "eat will he become next?"  I can remember listening to "Let's Dance" on my cassette tape Sony Walkman (C) so much that the quality of the sound began to deteriorate from the tape being played so much.

David Bowie, Aladdin Sane tour, 1973

Many will think of Bowie -- he apparently loved being referred to by just this name, even if it was a "nom de scene" since his real name is David Jones -- and their minds go to the iconic Ziggy, or Space Oddity ("Ground control to major Tom..."), or even the heady, rocking, saturated opening guitar riffs of "Suffragette."  My mind, however, focuses immediately on one of his lesser - known works, a concept album entitled "Low."  Heavily influenced by Bowie's Berlin period, the A-side of the LP was made up of upbeat, rocking songs to get the listener up on to her / his feet dancing, while the B-Side contained low-key tunes designed, I thought, almost for a jazz- or coffee - house crowd needing either calmer or more introspective music.

David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust

In other at forms, David Bowie's best film performances came in the acclaimed and award-winning "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" which took place in a Japanese prisoner of war camp,  and the less deep but beautifully filmed movie "The Hunger," where Bowie played an aging vampire, alongside Catherine Deneuve (en anglais, s'il vous plaît...) and Susan Sarandon, who successfully finds a way to end his life out of sheer boredom or lack of interest in the world as it had become.  He acted in and wrote the soundtrack for the hugely popular "Absolute Beginners" and penned the scored or contributed music to we'll over 400 films¹.

Below is perhaps my favorite of Bowie's songs, Heroes, with the unmistakable melody and singing style -- according to him inspired by the 1960s crooner Anthony Newley -- recognizable from anywhere.

¹Source: www.imdb.com

I, I will be king

And you, you will be queen

Though nothing, will drive them away

We can beat them, just for one day

We can be heroes, just for one day

And you, you can be mean

And I, I'll drink all the time

'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact

Yes we're lovers, and that is that

Though nothing, will keep us together

We could steal time, just for one day

We can be heroes, forever and ever

What'd you say?

I, I wish you could swim

Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim

Though nothing, nothing will keep us together

We can beat them, forever and ever

Oh we can be heroes, just for one day

I, I will be king

And you, you will be queen

Though nothing will drive them away

We can be heroes, just for one day

We can be us, just for one day

I, I can remember (I remember)

Standing, by the wall (by the wall)

And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)

And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)

And the shame, was on the other side

Oh we can beat them, forever and ever

Then we could be heroes, just for one day

We can be heroes

We can be heroes

We can be heroes

Just for one day

We can be heroes

We're nothing, and nothing will help us

Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay

But we could be safer, just for one day

Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day

(Source:  MetroLyrics)

Bowie's images, through the ages.

Let's Dance, 1983

Finally, you may wish to read The Guardian's coverage of the death of David Bowie at this link.

R.I.P.