[starman]

Went to see David Bowie last night. The guy's freakin' cool. Damn cool. Great show. Everyone went apesh*t during "Under Pressure", and he did this little tribute to Uncle Floyd which the group we were with really appreciated. Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the release of his first single which he did a piece of. He said this is the last stop on his NA tour so if anyone gets a chance to go, you should.

Mike

[sixz]

There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

http://www.nme.com/news/108493.htm

Not all would agree with you - an entertainer yes, artist no ?

[MacGorilla]

David Bowie has always been more about image than anything else. He's had some notable works but no one goes to one of his concerts to be moved by the power of his lyrics.

[mishap]

last time i saw bowie was at his 50th birthday show... amazing show, tons of guest appearances--the best being Lou Reed.

[wdlove]

I'm happy to hear that you had a good time starman!

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by sixz:
http://www.nme.com/news/108493.htm

Not all would agree with you - an entertainer yes, artist no ?

What a bullsh�t article.

There is no substance there at all, except that Morrissey is whining to get publicity for his new album.

I think that anybody who seriously doubts Bowie's sheer genius has never heard anything beyond "Let's Dance" and maybe one or two other numbers that might have got on the air by accident.

Have a listen to the following albums:

Hunky Dory
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Lou Reed's Transformer (produced by Bowie, it's the one with "Walk on the Wild Side")
Earthling
Outside

before you say any more.

-s*

[sixz]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:

Have a listen to the following albums:

Hunky Dory
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Lou Reed's Transformer (produced by Bowie, it's the one with "Walk on the Wild Side")
Earthling
Outside

before you say any more.

-s*

I think he meant that his musical relevance fell off after
ziggy and he then lost that edge and maybe he just pandered
to popularist tastes rather than continue to be the benchmark.
Morrissey toured with Bowie and he must have found something
about bowies attitude distasteful or artificial . We are all big fans
of half the music you mention in your list including Morrissey -
but Bowie's musical relevance has fallen off the chart since about 1974.
...and his move into art/publishing is really pathetic.

But how many bands have their roots- listening to his 'sound'
must be huge, and IMHO he did continue to innovate into at
least the 1980's everything up to Scary monsters was excellent.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by sixz:
But how many bands have their roots- listening to his 'sound'
must be huge, and IMHO he did continue to innovate into at
least the 1980's everything up to Scary monsters was excellent.

And beyond:

Listen to Earthling (1995) and Outside (sometime around there).

Then tell me that he is no longer innovative.

To my knowledge, *nobody* had ever made anything like Earthling, nor has anybody since. Utterly, utterly sick and ****ing genius - one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard. And still Bowie pop-songs, in a genuinely ****ed-up way.

I do admit that I know nought of his art moves, but his forays into cinema have been pretty interesting, to say the least (watch "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" if you haven't yet).

-s*

[zigzag]

He must be referring to Vince Taylor ("Brand New Cadillac"), the addle-brained rockabilly act that inspired the Ziggy Stardust character. I'm not sure what Morrissey's trying to prove - that Bowie shouldn't have done Ziggy? That would be ridiculous.

Young rock star complaining about older rock star selling out. What else is new.

[starman]

Yeah, cuz when I want to get the pulse of music today I always think "gee, what does Morrisey have to say about this?"

Mike

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Young rock star complaining about older rock star selling out. What else is new.

What I love about that is that Bowie was always the first to plainly state, for example, that he recorded the "Let's Dance" album *purely* because he was broke. He doesn't bother with artistic pretense where there isn't any.

And really: Morrissey (yes, Morrissey) is accusing the guy who founded "Tin Machine" of "selling out"?

To whom, for God's sake?

-s*

[MacGorilla]

What I love about that is that Bowie was always the first to plainly state, for example, that he recorded the "Let's Dance" album *purely* because he was broke. He doesn't bother with artistic pretense where there isn't any.

Let's Dance is a solid pop album, too. Came out just in time to get heavy airplay on MTV. "Let's Dance" the song has a video that includes a mushroom cloud.

[andi*pandi]

bowie:

definitely a trendspotter--but is that a bad thing? rather than just repeating himself, he reinvents.

And still is nice to look at.

[sixz]

Originally posted by zigzag:
He must be referring to Vince Taylor ("Brand New Cadillac"), the addle-brained rockabilly act that inspired the Ziggy Stardust character. I'm not sure what Morrissey's trying to prove - that Bowie shouldn't have done Ziggy? That would be ridiculous.

Young rock star complaining about older rock star selling out. What else is new.

Morrissey new ?


Edgy yes, groundbreaking, I don't know if it's more of what
a 'dinosaur' can muster together from the musical market
he can buy into - But that is how a large amount of music
is made today - especially pop bands. Bring edgy mixers/
musicians into 'beef' up a 'has been' is probably cruel but
still pertinent to bowie.

The films may have been a reason to his sudden 'musical fall',
from the 'The man who fell to earth' to the 'Hunger' and
'Mr.Lawrence' were all made during his 'poor period'. and who
can forget 1986 when bowie made the muppet caper 'Labyrinth'
and Julien Temples 'Absolute Beginners' - I would not go out of
my way to see a bowie movie. He is a demi-god to so many,
maybe his arrogance ( musical guru, lyricist, artist, entrepreneur
and actor ) got up Morrissey's fog horn.

When an entertainer like Bowie bridges many generations,
It seems each will extract it's own meanings and value from his
oeuvre, and there is nothing Bowie or we can do about that.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by starman:
Yeah, cuz when I want to get the pulse of music today I always think "gee, what does Morrisey have to say about this?"

Mike

Not a big fan of Bowie, but Morrisey has always been a flake.

[paully dub]

Ah Labyrinth...

"You remind me of the babe
What babe?
The babe with power.
What power?
The power of the voodoo.
Who do?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of the babe."

[zigzag]

Originally posted by sixz:
Morrissey new?

Not new, just younger than Bowie and naturally disdainful of Bowie's showbiz proclivities. But Bowie has always had one foot in showbiz (anyone else remember the Bing Crosby duet?).

It happens with every generation. In ten years, someone still younger will probably be complaining that Morrissey is a dinosaur/sell-out, if they haven't already.

I was never a Bowie acolyte but Ziggy is absolutely a masterpiece.

He is a demi-god to so many, maybe his arrogance (musical guru, lyricist, artist, entrepreneur and actor) got up Morrissey's fog horn.

Yes, I'd say that that's probably a fair bet.

When an entertainer like Bowie bridges many generations,
It seems each will extract it's own meanings and value from his
oeuvre, and there is nothing Bowie or we can do about that.

Agreed. Now start using word wrap or I'll report you.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Now start using word wrap or I'll report you.

[sixz]

Originally posted by Zimphire:
:D :thumbsup:

I'm an alligator, I'm a mama-papa coming for you
I'm the space invader, I'll be a rock 'n' rollin' bitch for you
Keep your mouth shut,
you're squawking like a pink monkey bird
And I'm busting up my brains for the words

Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love

Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah!

Don't fake it baby, lay the real thing on me
The church of man, love
Is such a holy place to be
Make me baby, make me know you really care

Make me jump into the air

Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love
Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah!

Freak out, far out, in out

[Jim Paradise]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
And beyond:

Listen to Earthling (1995) and Outside (sometime around there).

Then tell me that he is no longer innovative.

To my knowledge, *nobody* had ever made anything like Earthling, nor has anybody since. Utterly, utterly sick and ****ing genius - one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard. And still Bowie pop-songs, in a genuinely ****ed-up way.

I do admit that I know nought of his art moves, but his forays into cinema have been pretty interesting, to say the least (watch "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" if you haven't yet).

-s*

And that's what I tell people about Earthling. It's my favourite album of his. The Man Who Fell To Earth is a pretty odd film, and despite being slow at some points, it's well worth watching.

Anyway, if anyone wants, here's some photos from the show I saw back in April:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimparadise/...ng%20hello.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jimparadise/...ing%20tall.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jimparadise/...ina%20Girl.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jimparadise/...0World%201.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jimparadise/...t/Rock-out.jpg

[GoGoReggieXPowars]

Saw Bowie on the Earthling Tour, standing 15 ft away in a club that holds 2000 (Warehouse in Toronto)
Magic.

I just couldn't go see him in a stadium after that unless I got really good seats.

[Busemann]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:

Outside

I thought I was the only one who liked that album

[holygoat]

Outside is a fantastic album. I'm personally enjoy Lodger � not populist, but very good!

I had the pleasure of seeing him at Wembly Arena in November '03 (the Reality tour), and he was incredible (even though I wasn't close to the front).

The Loneliest Guy was just wonderful live.

The problem with any artist is that because of the number of singles and pop songs (Changes, Let's Dance, etc.) people attempt to judge based on a non-representative sample. The guy's done over 25 albums!

If you can dig up a copy of Conversation Piece (it's on a B-side to a recent single), have a listen. For that matter, read the lyrics:

I took this walk to ease my mind
To find out what's gnawing at me
Wouldn't think, to look at me,
that I've spent a lot of time in education
It all seems so long ago
I'm a thinker, not a talker
I've no-one to talk to, anyway

I can't see the road
for the rain in my eyes

I live above the grocers store,
owned by an Austrian
He often calls me down to eat
And he jokes about his broken English,
tries to be a friend to me
But for all my years of reading conversation,
I stand without a word to say

I can't see the bridge
for the rain in my eyes
Ahhh-huh, h...uh, huh

And the world is full of life
Full of folk who don't know me
And they walk in twos or threes or more
While the light that shines above the grocer's store
investigates my face so rudely
And my essays lying scattered on the floor
Fulfill their needs just by being there
And my hands shake, my head hurts,
my voice sticks inside my throat
I'm invisible and dumb,
no-one will recall me

And I can't see the water
through the tears in my ey-y-yes

Just wonderful.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by sixz:

Fixed.

[sixz]

Originally posted by Zimphire:
Fixed.

You made an image just for me, shucks and
it looks so like how I imagined you to look -
while 'typing' on your ouija board thinking
pleasant things to say to fellow MacNNers...




It's only a found image - but here's something to show I care too.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Zimphire:
Fixed.

I really don't care much about the way you usually twist and turn, but please DON'T **** WITH BOWIE.

-s*

[starman]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
I really don't care much about the way you usually twist and turn, but please DON'T **** WITH BOWIE.

-s*

[teaforone]

Outside is a decent little album, but it still has tons of filler on it and therefore should not be considered among Bowie's masterworks. And whoever was saying that Earthling was great...well, it's nice that you think that, but it was pretty stale when it came out (with the exception of the wonderful "I'm Afraid of Americans") and it has not improved with age. Listen to Heathen for a better latter-day Bowie album instead.

[Spheric Harlot]

See, that's cool about Bowie: My opinion is exactly the opposite, and I still love the guy.



Outside is not about individual tracks. It's the first real "persona" album he's done since the 70s. I always listen to it from start to finish. (I put it on when I first bought it, intending to just briefly check into it, but ended up just sitting there and listening to the whole album.)

-s*

[DeathMan]

Originally posted by teaforone:
OutsideListen to Heathen for a better latter-day Bowie album instead.

When that very first track started playing, I got all giddy, cause I could tell I was going to love it. Which I do. One of my favorite albums of all time.

Haven't really caught on to Reality, though. Just not sure what's going on there.

[teaforone]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
See, that's cool about Bowie: My opinion is exactly the opposite, and I still love the guy.



Outside is not about individual tracks. It's the first real "persona" album he's done since the 70s. I always listen to it from start to finish. (I put it on when I first bought it, intending to just briefly check into it, but ended up just sitting there and listening to the whole album.)

-s*

I can't listen to those little spoken-word vignettes he does in the different characters' voices throughout Outside. They just aggravate me. But there are some cool songs on it - I Have Not Been to Oxford Town, Strangers When We Meet, The Hearts Filthy Lesson.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by sixz:


You made an image just for me, shucks and
it looks so like how I imagined you to look -
while 'typing' on your ouija board thinking
pleasant things to say to fellow MacNNers...

[paully dub]

Originally posted by Zimphire:

This a David Bowie thread, not a religion thread. Still mad at Bowie for playing Pontius Pilate?



I have like 10 of his albums, including Earthling, which I didn't as much as his others, but I certainly respect SH's take on it. I also really liked Tin Machine's first album, but haven't listened to it in ages.

How do you sum up his career? Amazing.

[ThisGuy]

i own every bowie album and i have seen him perform live twice. once for the earthling tour and once for the reality tour. i believe he is just as influential of an artist as the beatles and even more so in most cases.
starman, was this the show you went to?

[zen jihad]

Morrissey can also be credited for some great works, especialy The Smiths. It was a great time in the 80's when The Smiths were around, just amazing music. A big influence on music then too.

Bowie is, well, Bowie, a legend too.

[starman]

Originally posted by ThisGuy:
i own every bowie album and i have seen him perform live twice. once for the earthling tour and once for the reality tour. i believe he is just as influential of an artist as the beatles and even more so in most cases.
starman, was this the show you went to?

Yup.

Mike

[ThisGuy]

Originally posted by starman:
Yup.

Mike

i will give it a listen in a few hours. i am amazed that his voice is still as good as it is after all these years.