David Bowie was a consummate professional. Never one to rest on previous success for very long, he ventured into unusual musical territory often, including the album he released on his 69th birthday just two days prior to succumbing to cancer after an 18-month struggle.
My first exposure to Bowie came from a poster of Ziggy Stardust which hung in my cousin’s super-cool bedroom. She was a few years my senior and was too cool for words, so I paid attention when she spoke. She adored David Bowie like a girl in love. Thus, I began investigating this musical mastermind.
In the ’80s he shocked the rock world by releasing a very pop album called Let’s Dance. To some it was betrayal, to me it was natural and I loved it. While his contemporaries were seeing their careers fade, he utilized raw, new talent and reinvented his style over and over again. Bowie’s sweet answer to his critics was silent. He introduced the world to a young, then-unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan with that album, which many considered a sellout.
The album he released Jan. 8, begins with a song which is a tough first-listen. A 10-minute ditty with two distinct melodies seeming to fight for attention in the same space before melding into one epic piece. I gave the song three listens before putting it aside to re-examine later along with the other tracks to which I barely paid any attention.
That was Friday, and now, a few days later, he’s gone.
I remind myself that some of my favorite albums had the same impact on me. They startled me, musically, requiring time to sink in. Albums I panned on first listen have since become some of my favorites.
“Life on Mars” will probably always be one of my favorite of David Bowie’s songs... but I am certain that as I go over his lengthy discography I will be blown away by all the songs I’ve missed, and which don’t receive airplay on America’s creatively bankrupt radio conglomerates.
With the advent of technology, we have become much less focused on the entire album in place of the song. May I recommend to all you who have never owned a turntable... when reviewing David Bowie, avoid the greatest hits collections, put on your headphones, put down your phones and pads and anything else which distracts, and listen.
The world has lost a musical genius, one of the true greats of our time. I am not even a massive fan nor follower of the man I mourn, but one who appreciates talent. This is the power of music.
John K. Mixon
Salt & Light Entertainment
Let’s Do Entertainment
Milton
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