Bowie.net

When learning the news of David Bowie’s passing, the first thing I thought of was the New Zealand novelty band, Flight of the Concords. Do you know them? It’s a fictional band featured in a TV show of the same name. It’s quirky and weird. In one episode, Jermaine (played by Jermaine Clement) dresses up as David Bowie during a dream sequence to talk to the other band-mate, Brett.

This is what popped into my head when I thought of David Bowie. The fantastic, revolutionary musician – and I thought of a weird little TV show.

Although, I suppose it was memorable.

Via Tumbler

In my defense, I am a product of the late 80’s and 90’s – a time when Bowie was experimenting with New Wave music and unique sounds that did not always land on the radio. I didn’t really know of Bowie or his music. But I did know Nirvana and I know “The Man Who Sold the World,” which the band covered in 1994.

I am learning, though, that I may have been a huge Bowie fan and I just didn’t realize it. “Changes,” “Young Americans,” and “Let’s Dance!” All of these are songs I have loved for years – I just did not know who sang them. This wildly talented guy was everywhere. He spans generations and did so seamlessly.

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David Bowie died peacefully just two days after his birthday and the release of his last album. And just last month, Bowie achieved a life-long dream of taking his talents to the theater. His musical, Lazerus just began its off-Broadway run. Incredible accomplishments for someone who has been in the music industry for over four decades. However, more so, considering he was privately battling cancer.

In 1969, Bowie burst onto the music scene with “Space Oddity” – a song most of us should at least recognize when we hear it. You know, “Major Tom to Ground Control…”? Three years went by without much from the artist. And in 1972, Bowie re-emerged as Ziggy Stardust, an extraterrestrial sent to be a messenger of hope to humans. This alter ego launched Bowie to stardom. With his androgonous appearance, fans and critics alike couldn’t help but take notice.

Bowie is a Hall of Fame legend largely due to his experimentation and courage. You cannot possibility come up with a genre of music for this man – he was topping charts with funk, punk, rock, jazz, soul. He dabbled in New Wave music. He has collaborated with all of the greats: Pete Townsend, Queen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tina Turner and Iggy Popp. He has starred in movies, probably most notably Labyrinth in 1986. All of this while constantly pushing the envelope of the “norm” without trepidation.

Did you know, however, that Bowie was a technology-aficionado? He was selling his album online in 1996. He sold 300,000 albums. Online. In 1996. His Earthlings concert was “cybercast” in 1997. We still had dial-up in 1997! And in 1998, Bowie.net was launched – a high-speed internet service – so people could actually watch the cybercasts of his shows in better quality. Bowie.net was available until 2006, when it was shut down. All that time people could have their email be BowieFan@Bowie.net – or something like that. Cutting edge on all fronts.

It is a sad time for us – even us 80’s and 90’s kids. His songs were the soundtrack of our lives and we didn’t even realize it.  

The Man Who Sold the World (exactly what it needed)

The Man Who Sold the World

David Bowie was an artist in every sense of the word

          David Bowie’s legacy had long been sealed as one of the most influential artists of the last 50 years. He passed away last weekend at the age of 69 after an 18 month battle with cancer. Case and point to his impact? Here we sit, publishing blogs with affirmations to the Starman’s influence a mere days after his passing on to the next galaxy and the great beyond.

          Before I became versed in classic rock and roll, I was a grunge loving, flannel shirt wearing punk with a propensity for power chords and all things Nirvana. When they performed for MTV’s Unplugged series they played a number of songs not their own (much to the dismay of the MTV brass) that would go on to be classics. One of these that would become immortalized that night was a cover of David Bowie's ”The Man Who Sold the World.”

 

          At the point of hearing/seeing it, I instantly knew I liked it… the words, the melody, the imagery, and that bassline… oh man that bassline. What I didn’t know then was that my heroes hadn’t changed it very much from the original version and that the song remained a David Bowie song as he had intended it. This was my accidental entrée into David Bowie’s music.

          Fast forward a few years and I became immersed in all things classic rock and roll. It was then that I truly came to appreciate Bowie for the artistic visionary and unique performer and songwriter he was. He was audacious and creative, both inspired and inspiring. He was a trendsetter with regards to fashion, glam rock, art, songwriting, acting, and created the idea of a concept album.

          He was ahead of his time as a voice that challenged accepted gender role norms and societal stereotypes with relation to sex and sexuality. Ever the flamboyant performer with his orange hair as Ziggy Stardust, he showed that a man with makeup and a vinyl silver jumpsuit on wasn’t necessarily a homosexual like many would have concluded. Quite the opposite, he was twice married to women and has a son named Duncan. He described himself in a later interview as a “closet Heterosexual” despite reporting in the promotional run up to Ziggy Stardust that he was gay and then later bi-sexual.

Bowie applying his "Ziggy Stardust" makeup

          I find it interesting that he was not LGBT himself, but rather a straight man who closely identified with that movement very early on. Regardless of sexual orientation, we now have many people who are champions of equal rights causes. A majority of Americans have supported legislation legalizing gay marriage, but David Bowie was advocating on the behalf of LGBT community way before it was fashionable or the cool thing to do. Aside from being a trendsetter, it makes him a true champion of that cause in my opinion. I couldn’t think of a better way to eulogize him in some small way on my blog then to say that he was on the side of love and equality far before it was cool, easy, or popular. Musical and artistic contributions aside, this was a big part of his legacy that deserves mention.

          Dance, pop, new wave, punk… the man was influential and he would often change ahead of the times. Metamorphosis, evolution, and changes were central themes in his work. Once in 1983, he openly challenged MTV VJ Mark Goodman on air about the stations refusal to play videos by popular and successful black artists. I think it’s fair to say he was a trailblazer in this regard as well. He could always evoke a reaction and had an innate sense of what was cool, what was edgy, and most importantly, what was right. I always thought “The Man Who Sold the World” was about a guy literally or figuratively selling the world, but as I reflect today, I realize that David Bowie, the artistic visionary and trendsetter was the man who chose what the world would sell.