So sad to hear as I was going to bed last night that David Bowie has died right after his 69th B-day and new album release. It was an eighteen-month battle with cancer that finally ended his greatly creative life. Over here on the west side of the pond, I never heard of any collaborations between DB and RH. Anyone care to comment? I suppose DB must be one of the few artists I've followed in my lifetime to write more songs than Roy (please correct me if I'm wrong) but Roy wrote all the words and music for nearly all his songs, while DB co-wrote most of his with Carlos Alomar. Both Roy and DB have amazing voices. I've already listened to the new album "Black Star" (first thing to appear when iTunes opened Today) and viewed the video. Media here are already looking for hidden messages... I think it is rather obvious DB knew he wasn't going to be around much longer. It's a beautiful and slightly spooky homage to his career and fans IMO. In it, we wonder if we have learned the final fate of Major Tom. The youthful figures in religious piousity and occasional seizures of carefully controlled ecstasy suggest to me the exuberance and absurdity of fandom DB must have witnessed throughout his long career. The only thing missing is a barn-burning rocker of a hit to blow the world of music into submission one last time. But DB did that so many times and to ALL my friends in college he was an icon, equaled by few, surpassed by none. DB's final album is a work of pure ART and I imagine DB would add LOVE and Thanks to all his fans. Love to ALL!
The new album is great in a way that nothing since Scary Monsters has been. It's so focused and fresh, all the musicians sound engaged and the performances are right on the mark. I listened to it a load of times over the weekend and it was pretty exciting to think that Bowie was really on fire once again.
