David Bowie
Born David Robert Jones in England in 1947, David Bowie has worn the hat of actor, painter, record producer as well as a famed career as a musician. Several recording artists today still name him as highly influential to their professional careers, including Lady Gaga.
David Bowie is known for his highly innovative work during which he transformed his music and persona several times going from psychedelic to glam rock then soul, R&B and the minimalist music of the Berlin albums in the late 1970’s.
His ability to reinvent himself was highlighted in the 1980’s when his pop styling saw him reach superstar status. In his later life Bowie has crossed into a neo-classical phase after spending the 1990’s experimenting successfully with Electronica. If you look online, there are free music downloads of songs from each of the genre-bending eras of Bowie.
After first gaining attention for his single Space Oddity his biggest shift in genre came when his fifth album emerged three years later under the guise of his alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The hit 1972 glam rock concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars saw him lauded as a talented and intriguing artist well ahead of his time. The striking visual and theatrical stage presence assured that he also attracted plenty of attention by the media not just concerned with his musical feats.
Young Americans released in 1975 saw Bowie gain success internationally and with the number one hit Fame announced that he was now playing soul or plastic soul as he called it. Many fans of earlier works were aghast at the dramatic shift in musical direction.
Bowie who was fascinated with the local German music scene and also needing an escape from the local drug scene of London headed to Berlin in the late 1970’s. Here he was at his creative best and recorded the albums Low, Heroes and Lodger with ambient pioneer Brain Eno supplying inspiration and Tony Visconti assisting in production. This saw him shift into a low-fi range and capture the essence of the divided city.
The MTV generation of the 1980’s can recall the many memorable pop moments of Bowie as he starred once again in his genre of choice. The 1983 album Lets Dance is a monumental pop classic of the era and gave him the greatest commercial success in his career.
In the 1990’s he broadened his horizons with adult contemporary, blue-eyed soul and industrial releases showing the adventure and passion in which he ventured into music was still alive. Even today with his neo-classical approach he shows no sign of fading, heading towards his mid sixties.
David Bowie is a skilled singer, guitarist, pianist, drummer and harmonica player. He is always current and timelessly cool. Year after year and decade after decade the youth still seek out various albums from his stellar catalog. He is one the greatest musicians of our and all times.
My favorite David Bowie tracks are Ziggy Stardust, Cat People (Putting Out Fire), Golden Years, Heroes, Life on Mars?, Moonage Daydream and Station to Station.
Below is video of Bowie performing Station to Station in the film Christiane F:
Hi, wow nice article. I love Bowie he has spoken to many generations as well. I loved him as Ziggy Stardust and his music featuring in Christiane F is stunning. Did you see him in the fantasy movie Labyrinth? Anyway keep up the good work.