What is there to say about David Bowie that has not already been said? Genius, innovator, legend- the list of adjectives connected to this musical giant are endless. However, one thing I do know is that he has shaped my musical world for life, and the shoes he has left behind are too large and too unique for anyone else to fill. Bowie was one of the few musicians who understood everything about blues, jazz, and rock and could push each one to their limit. Calling him bizarre would probably be a compliment to him. He didn’t care about popular opinion or fads, he was too busy being an original. You were either on board with what he was doing, or you were left behind. Any music fan can hear his genius laid out amongst the grooves of the records he left behind. The sad truth is, we will never have another Bowie, the same way we will never have another Lennon. Rest in peace David, your life and music will never be forgotten.
The thing that always struck me about Bowie was that his art was sometimes outrageous, sometimes shocking, sometimes achingly beautiful and sometimes grotesque but it was always tasteful – if that makes any sense. Bowie didn’t shock for the sake of shock alone, his art was important; it demanded to be heard and paid attention to. Bowie’s art dealt with important, large themes like isolation and oppression and loneliness and power and communication breakdown and how important it is for we human beings to overcome all the things that we create to divide us. His art was optimistic but never cloying or cutesy and it seemed always hopeful and he could shred the shit out of a guitar. I don’t know if tasteful is the right word, but it’s always the word that comes to my mind whenever I hear a Bowie song or watch one of his videos. The stars look very different today.