Liner Notes| February 2016

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]O[/dropcap]ften there seems to be an avalanche-like momentum to the celebrity deaths reported in the media. Common superstition holds that “these things come in threes,” that whenever a major star dies, there’s usually two more following closely behind. This number was fractured and augmented this past month as a number of long-beloved actors and musicians departed this earth. There have been outpours of grief over Alan Rickman, most famous for playing Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. Equally strong were the condolences for Motorhead’s LEMMY and GLENN FREY of The Eagles. But no celebrity passing held more public attention in the twilight morning of 2016 than the death of DAVID BOWIE, icon in the truest sense of the word.

He pioneered through several genres of music, eras of fashion and cult films. He radically altered the public dialogue about sexuality, masculinity and “cool”. He leaves behind, of course, a long string of hit records; but more importantly, he made an impact as a kid from a working-class background who was able to achieve great things through arts education and more than a bit of passion.

The public tributes have been numerous and heartfelt. Social media has been flooded with Bowie quotes, videos and songs. Concert-goers all around the world have been treated to several new renditions and covers. Bowie’s newest album, Blackstar, even gained enough steam to push ADELE’s 25 off the top spot of UK charts and landing him his first ever US #1. Jarvis Cocker produced a two-hour radio tribute to the late-great Bowie.

All of this speaks to his legacy. His friends have also spoken about his impact and about how sorely he will be missed. MICK JAGGER said he’ll always remember the “fun times” he and Bowie had. He could be referring to their collaboration “Dancing in the Street,” whose video has found a second life on YouTube as being hilariously bad, even being parodied on Family Guy. Jagger’s son, James, said that the video is “hilarious.” “Whenever I’m feeling blue, I just Google ‘Dancing in the Street’ and it makes me laugh. It’s so ’80s, it’s amazing.” Mick Jagger could also be referring to the rumor spread by his ex-wife that she once walked in on Bowie and Jagger together naked in bed.

Kate Bush, a longtime friend of Bowie’s as well, said “he was intelligent, imaginative, brave, charismatic, cool, sexy and truly inspirational both visually and musically.” She went on to say that “he created such staggeringly brilliant work, yes, but so much of it and it was so good. There are great people who make great work but who else has left a mark like his? [There is] no one like him.”

Bush also expressed a sentiment that many on social media have expressed, that she believed, in some small way, that Bowie would never die, that he had transcended it in his perfection.

Bowie was known as a great collaborator as well, the most famous being of course his duet with FREDDIE MERCURY, “Under Pressure.” But he also helped lesser known artists such as TV on the Radio gain more popular acclaim by his participation in their record-making. He also refused high-profile gigs when they didn’t suit him. WILL CHAMPION, guitarist for Coldplay, said the band once tried to have Bowie sing on a track of theirs, to which the legend replied, “It’s not a very good song, is it?” Champion laughed, saying “He was very discerning—he wouldn’t just put his name to anything. I’ll give him credit for that!”

In the end, the androgynous love-god that was David Bowie will live in through his music, his films, and his lasting image as a cultural icon. The best thing for those of us left is to put on a record and dance.