David Bowie has passed.

[HorseTears]

Bowie: agent of ch-ch-ch-changes (this only makes me love him even more and I didn't think that was possible):

 

 

David Bowie accusing MTV of racism in '83: Read the interview transcript

[FindingNamo]

I remember that.  Nothing beats East Coast programmers blaming their racism on the midwest.

[CarlosAlberto]

Finding Namo wrote: "Just so you know CA, I worked in a record shop when Lennon was shot.  People bought Double Fantasy in droves after that.  If people feel a connection to an artist, or are moved by the artist's death, what difference does it make if they "would have" bought the art before they died?  It's that sort of "purity" and "authenticity" Bowie worked against his entire career."

 

Yes, I guess it really doesn't make a difference. It was just a thought on my part. In the end what matters is the many gifts he shared with us, the legacy he leaves behind that future generations will get to discover and in that sense he will always be "alive".

[JbaraFan1]

This one hit me too, though not near as much as it would have my brother, who himself died of cancer 2.5 years ago. I know he was a huge admirer of David Bowie, whose albums (LPs) were part of his massive rock music collection. My brother was six years my senior and played in a few local rock bands over the years (won some Battles of the Bands) probably at least into his late 20s.  R.I.P., good souls both.

[lovepuppy]

That "David Bowie Is" exhibit is the coolest.  I saw it when it was here at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago last year.  Absolutely mind-blowing.  The costumes, the art, HIS art and designs, lyrics, the biography...the music in your headphones as you moved through the exhibit...just indescribably cool.  It was here for about a month and I saw it on the tail end, then it traveled somewhere else...to Europe, I think.  I wonder where it is,now, or if it's closed.  If it's still open somewhere in the world, try to catch it.  To this day every now and then "Starman" loops in my head (and I don't even know the entire song, to be honest) because it was on repeat through a lot of the rooms in the exhibit, depending on where your feet were.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Starman at least in Bowie's top five songs

[sabrelady]

The tour is in Europe, Netherlands I believe right now til March, last European stop, w  unconfirmed dates  planned for JApan.

[HorseTears]

Love Billboard's new cover...

 

[HorseTears]

As garish and frantic as Gaga's Grammys Bowie tribute was, it had a bit more life in it than yesterday's BRIT Awards tribute.  

 

 

We got two long speeches by Annie Lennox and Gary Oldman...

 

 

...Followed by Lorde croaking out "Life On Mars" (sorry, these vids cannot be embedded)

 

 

 

 

I would have preferred a short speech by Gary Oldman, followed by a long performance by Annie Lennox interspersed with brief shots of Lorde smiling from the audience.  That said, I'm relieved we didn't get that promised Blur/Oasis/Coldplay/Bono/Adele supergroup Bowie tribute.  

[FindingNamo]

Never listen to Oldman speak or Lennox anything, is my rule.

 

I actually like the BRIT tribute a little better than Gaga's.  Not "Let's Dance" era heavy. Less freneticism.  Bowie's actual band.  I saw them on the 2003 tour and I love that Gail at least got to say "Pressure!".

[HorseTears]

I have no idea why some parts of my post have been censored, but you got my drift.  Nearly 9 mins of speeches vs. 1 whole song?  I mean, I would've cut the speeches.  Show, don't tell, right?

 

Yeah, it was nice seeing many of his old band members up there, especially Gail.   And Lorde seems like a lovely person with an appealing stage presence and an interesting voice, but not a voice made for "Life on Mars".  

[FindingNamo]

I didn't even see the speeches so to me it was short and sweet.

[Petralicious]

I thought Lorde was amazing.  Bowie said she sounded like the future of music so I am sure he was looking down and smiling. 

[FindingNamo]

He'd laugh at that idea.

[darquegk]

Wasn't Bowie some sort of pantheist by most regards? Atheism is something one rarely associates with Bowie, who went through religious phases and absorbed what he liked much like Dylan.

[FindingNamo]

He never constructed a heaven with smiles.

[FindingNamo]

I agree with every point made in the NME.  But I also believe Gaga's tribute was 100% American.  A New Yorker (the home he adopted) focusing on the flash and the garishness, which wasn't Bowie but something that intrigued him.  Also, it was the Grammys so it had to be about Let's Dance, his mainstream science fair project.

 

http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/5-ways-lordes-bowie-tribute-was-better-than-lady-gagas#fX6I0O1wAJith2Pd.01

[HorseTears]

Yes, I agree with all of that, too, even if I still think Lorde's voice was ill suited for 'Life on Mars'.  

 

Namo, am I missing something?  Are you using "Let's Dance" as shorthand for something other than the song and album by that name?  I ask, because Gaga sang excerpts from  "Space Oddity," "Changes," "Ziggy Stardust," "Suffragette City," "Rebel, Rebel," "Fashion," "Fame," "Let's Dance," and "Heroes" at the Grammys.  All of them from his incredible 1969-1980 discography.  "Let's Dance" was the only  post 1980 song included and the only one from the "Let's Dance" era.  

[HorseTears]

Just a friendly reminder that The Music of David Bowie tribute concert at Radio City Music Hall is tonight, April 1, at 8pm EST. Presumably, that's the time it will be streaming here as well. 


Lineup:
Ann Wilson of Heart, Perry Farrell, Cat Power, Jakob Dylan, The Polyphonic Spree, Blondie, Michael Stipe, The Flaming Lips, The Roots featuring Tariq & Bilal, Pixies, Jherek Bischoff, Amanda Palmer & Anna Clavi w/Kronos Quartet, Donny McCaslin Group w/Mark Giuliana, Jason Lindner, and Tony Visconti, Mumford & Sons, Choir! Choir! Choir! w/The New York City Youth Chorus, Holy Holy, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, Ron Pope, J Mascis w/Sean Lennon, Esperanza Spalding and Rickie Lee Jones
 

[sabrelady]

Just be aware - it is NOT free- there is a $5. min donation required.  ( GREAT value IMHO) Then they send you the link to the streaming site. I already payed to make sure I didn't get caught in a interweb spasm of folks trying to pay all at once when they realize.

[HorseTears]

sabrelady said: "Just be aware - it is NOT free- there is a $5. min donation required.  ( GREAT value IMHO) Then they send you the link to the streaming site. I already payed to make sure I didn't get caught in a interweb spasm of folks trying to pay all at once when they realize."

 

Sabrelady, I don't believe that's true.  It's a suggested donation, but it's voluntary.  I'm watching right now.  I haven't donated anything.  Stream is here: http://www.ustream.tv/melodiccaringproject

 

[sabrelady]

You're right HorseTears. I did donate before the start but they are also taking donations during the performance.

(would not have picked Nancy Wilson to start w Oddity but Holy, Holy are ROCKING  IT!

[sabrelady]

The Lazarus  instrumental was breathtaking .

[HorseTears]

I had to get back to work.  Just caught the first 2 or 3 numbers.  Anything of note, SL?

[sabrelady]

Blondie did Heroes. Pretty good. Amanda Palmer, Anna Calvi, Jherek Bischoff  and Chronos string quartet  di Blackstar. In.Cred.Ible.  Micheal Stipe did Ashes to Ashes and brought the house down. Pixies did Cactus ( well DUH!) Mumford and Sons did a fabbo It Ain't Easy. Cat Power decided she didn't want to be broadcast(!?)  Joseph Arthur did a crazy version of The Man Who Sold the World. I cant remember who did the Bewley Brothers but  ( as the most incomprehensible song Bowie ever did) he did a good job. Kinda stream of consciousness w all sorts of tones and ranges. Perry Farrell did Rebel Rebel and did it very well Really Good Show. Ended w a final sing along w Choir !Choir! Choir! and others doing Space Oddity again, performers all came out on stage to join in. The Tube of U may have it up at least for a short time but I'm sure it won't last  due to performance rights issues.

Also a side note. Iman's mother just passed away that day too.  Never rains but it pours.

 

Edit- Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio did Bewley.