David Bowie

[fillow]

You promised me the ending would be clear
You'd let me know when the time was now
Don't let me know when you're opening the door
Stab me in the dark, let me disappear.

I don't know how the fuck I'm gonna sit at work today.

[allegro]

My husband came in and woke me up to tell me.

I can't process this, I was just listening to the new album, we didn't even know he was sick.

I've been listening to Bowie since I was a kid in 1972. We'd play "David Live at the Tower" over the lunchroom loudspeaker when I was in Jr High in 1974.

At least he is not suffering.

[bgalbraith]

Let's Dance is just running on repeat in my head.

Serious moonlight

RIP Bowie

[fillow]

[WorzelG]

God this is the worst.

I'm one of many who grew up with this man in my life. His art touched so many people. Truly one of the greatest artists to ever live. No one compares.

Knowing Blackstar was meant as a final album now really makes it so much harder. Going to have to wait a bit before putting that one on.

I was going to buy it with a Christmas Amazon voucher, but I'm not sure I'll be able to listen to it for a while. My father-in-law is 69 and battling cancer so this hits way close to home, like some kind of horrible sign

[Nyx]

Heartbroken. He was one of the truly big ones. They don't come around very often.

[Ryan]

I found the video to be heart wrenching.

Bowie pulled a Johnny Cash (the guy who wrote hurt.)

I get a "i'm gonna die pretty soon" vibe from Lazarus and the video reinforced it.

In cash's hurt cover, he closed the piano at the end, and i took it to be coffin imagery.

Same goes for bowie getting in that wardrobe. imho.

edit: oh, and for the love of god, i wish he'd quit wearing that nightmare fuel over his eyes in these videos ;P

It appears you were right.

[fillow]

It was such an elegant way to go away though. He finished everything he had started and he was ready, I'm sure, with no regrets.

[allegro]

Lazarus (David Bowie)


Look up here, I’m in heaven

I’ve got scars that can’t be seen

I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen

Everybody knows me now



Look up here, man, I’m in danger

I’ve got nothing left to lose

I’m so high it makes my brain whirl

Dropped my cell phone down below



Ain’t that just like me



By the time I got to New York

I was living like a king

Then I used up all my money

I was looking for your ass



This way or no way

You know, I’ll be free

Just like that bluebird

Now ain’t that just like me



Oh I’ll be free

Just like that bluebird

Oh I’ll be free

Ain’t that just like me

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

One of my favorite videos ever. The man is a legend. <3 R.I.P. David Bowie.

[ambergris]

I'm gutted, and will have to chew on this one for a while...

He gave us one giant final artistic statement though. After all, we were meant to take the Lazarus video literally. He was literally on his dying bed. The creative spirit came out of the closet one last time, wrote new songs in a race against time and then went back into the closet.
I think now we know why the album was maybe one or two songs short. He rather wanted a polished product than simply more quantity. He was in total control over his artistic message until the very end, and that, I believe, is the true definition of an artist, as compared to a celebrity.

I am now 33 years old, so I know that there will never be another artist to fill the gap that Bowie's death leaves in my heart. The cruelty of mortality. A bit like the death of, well, not quite a parent, but a grandparent.

[slave2thewage]

I genuinely cannot process this. It still feels like some sick death hoax.

[Substance242]

@Substance242 the booklet's great, and all the lyrics/credits are printed in glossy black ink against the black pages, with different stills and photos of Bowie throughout.

kleiner352 I went ahead and ordered the CD right on Saturday after this your reply. Now, no words...

Also, on Friday I set my LYNC (communicator at work) status to "★ (bowie)". This morning, I decided to leave just the "★" - BEFORE I logged in here to get the shock.

Another edit: I just remembered, yesterday during my short hike, I was singing to myself also "Heroes", that was really unusual, now it feels even weirder.

[Lambda]

I'm saddened by this news. I think I'll be forever grateful that I was able to see the Reality tour twice. Have some good memories because of him, met some really cool people while he was touring (one is still a good friend to this day.) Just glad he was able to pass on peacefully with his family by him. Really lost a great one.

[Space Suicide]

Well I guess I need to act fast to buy his new album then. Everyones going to be buying it now after this horrendous news. I hope it's in stock most places.

[witte]

this is very sad

[implanted_microchip]

Blackstar truly is a masterpiece. Before his passing, I felt that way, and now, in context, it really is something else. I can't think of another artist ending their career quite so ... masterfully, I suppose. Lazarus really is remarkable. I Can't Give Everything Away had this sweeping, powerful, vibrantly bittersweet sound to it, with vocals right there beside his most powerful of days past, and now I get why; he knew that was how he wanted to finish it all.

I'm very happy he was able to keep things private, since it seems that's what he wanted. He went out quietly, privately, as peacefully as you can, not burdening anyone, finishing his work and giving us one last gift on his birthday before passing.

Fuck, this gets me. I've said to some of my friends for ages that if Bowie passed, I'd be a wreck in a way no one else could make me, and here I am. I've never had the passing of an artist shake me like this one. He's been such a fixture, an anchorpoint for all of us, for so much of our lives or all of our lives. No one can replace that. I just can't believe he's really gone. If anyone felt like they'd somehow always be around, it was him. He was (it's so alien to use past tense) as unique as any artist could ever be, and there will never be anyone quite like him again.

[Frozen Beach]

"He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."
- Tony Visconti

[Mutilated]

So, so, very sad.

I think we should all drown our sorrows in the immense quality of his last album, his parting gift to the world.

[jmtd]

FUCK.

Related: I've been meaning/trying to pick up Blackstar in local shops but they all have copies with the star cut-out all bent out of shape. I'll try again today, or later in the week (might try trading some records).

Related: BBC 6 Music is going to be playing pretty much nothing else but Bowie today, I reckon.

[Ryan]

"He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."
- Tony Visconti

So very poignant.

[elevenism]

Fuck, this gets me. I've said to some of my friends for ages that if Bowie passed, I'd be a wreck in a way no one else could make me, and here I am.

i'm right there with you man. I was JUST talking about this with my wife when the Lazarus video premiered.
The coffin imagery scared me and i was telling her that it would feel like losing a close friend.
I don't think i've cried for the death of someone i never met, but i'm crying now.

as soon as i heard the news, i put in my new black star plugs.

[elevenism]

siiiigh.
this song.

[wizfan]

Few albums can make me smile like Hunky Dory can. Goodbye. You taught me so much about music and life.

[Frozen Beach]

This was posted on the Steve Hoffman forum. I figured I'd post it here.

[ambergris]

Lazarus (David Bowie)


Look up here, I’m in heaven

I’ve got scars that can’t be seen

I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen

Everybody knows me now



Look up here, man, I’m in danger

I’ve got nothing left to lose

I’m so high it makes my brain whirl

Dropped my cell phone down below



Ain’t that just like me



By the time I got to New York

I was living like a king

Then I used up all my money

I was looking for your ass



This way or no way

You know, I’ll be free

Just like that bluebird

Now ain’t that just like me



Oh I’ll be free

Just like that bluebird

Oh I’ll be free

Ain’t that just like me

Who would have thought that the line "I'm so high it makes my brain whirl" refers to his mind on chemotherapy...

[orestes]

Fuck no, man.

[elevenism]

Blackstar was intended as "parting gift to the world"

and here come the tears again.

[GulDukat]

Shocked and saddened. Apart from the Beatles, Dylan and a few others, how many artists have such a massive body-of-work, most of it being excellent? Truly a sad day for rock n roll.

[elevenism]

"Oh i'll be free, just like that bluebird"