david bowie

[xerxes]

I think he is on record as saying that, for a spell at least, he composed his lyrics by cutting snippets from newspapers, jumbling them all up, then pulling them out at random and seeing what he ended up with when he put them together. He later used a computer programme to do something similar with less hassle.

Which probably backs up the theory that lyrics were never his strong point.

 

On his Alan Yentob 1970’s documentary he talks about having used cut and paste around “Aladdin Sane/ Station to Station”, a technique explored earlier by the Dadaists in the 1920’s and later by Burroughs in the 1960’s. He is also quoted as having used it for “Outside”.

 

I think any writer plays to their strengths, and Bowie's is imagery. So I would say that the images in his best songs are as good as anyones, but that he gracefully withdrew from taking on the best narrative lyricists.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

I think that Bowie’s genius is as a stylist and composer, not as a lyricist.

I love “The Bewley brothers” , “Cygnet Committee” and “Width of a Circle”, three of his most wordy songs, but I don’t think they mean anything profound, just have some great imagery. I can only think of a handful of successful profoundly personal first person songs he has written, “ Kooks”, “Janine” “Letter to Hermione” , “Heroes” , “Thursday’s Child” and “Absolute Beginners”, otherwise his great songs tend to be idea , rather than narrative, driven. I think his best love song is “Wild is the Wind”, a cover.

 

Most of his career was based on being ahead of the trends. It is ironic that his most successful album commercially, "Lets Dance" came from him efectively ( and commercially wisely) handing artistic control to Nile Rodgers when he had run out of ideas. I hate that record because it is like Bowie is doing session vocals for Rodgers- but ypu can't deny its popularity or the fact that when Bowie didnt have his finger on the pulse, he knew a man who did.

The Lets Dance album proves a point about the picking the right people.

 

The lead guitar on that album is played by the one and only Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[redheart]

I have now listened to the new single a few times and I think it is superb

[captainharris]

Full album now streaming

 

Connecting to the iTunes Store.

 

Only a few songs in so far - sounds decent

[Caramac]

Album has leaked ....apparently.

[Frankenhooker]

Apparently...it has, but it's a webrip/transcode so the quality isn't the best. Probably worth waiting a week or two for the proper leak.

[fowlerisgod]

Listened to the album quite a few times now. Think it's excellent.

 

I was a huge fan of Reality but it's much better than that. It's such a solid album. 'The Next Day' track is brilliant. Sounds like Bowie is singing through gritted teeth. He certainly hasn't lost his vocals either, sounds really young on this album.

 

Amongst his best. Definitely.

[redheart]

This is officially "dead ace"

 

 

[YOUTUBE]gH7dMBcg-gE[/YOUTUBE]

[Woo]

The album is seriously fucking ace. Made up.

[Red Soul]

This second track is fucking superb.Humble pie for me.

[King Emlyn]

I think it picks up where Heathen and Reality left off. It's like 10 years never happened, its not a massive departure. It's a good album, the title track is superb and the best on it for me.

[fowlerisgod]

'The Next Day' is the new single.

 

Made up with that! Best song on the album, in my opinion. Gary Oldman is in the video for it too.

[Carvalho Diablo]

Just got the album and listened to it a couple of times, it sounds great. Fantastic production.

[PestiRed]

Hmmm, if your first comment is fantastic production then my guess is that it's not that great

[Carvalho Diablo]

Hmmm, if your first comment is fantastic production then my guess is that it's not that great

 

Nah mate, not instantly catchy, like I say I've listened a couple of times and the songs are of the type that'll take more than that to really sink in a grip the listener.

 

Some interesting, fresh arrangements too.

[PestiRed]

Does it have a nice personality?

[Carvalho Diablo]

Does it have a nice personality?

 

Hahaha

[stringvest]

If you've ever wondered how he came up with his songs...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR2L98gobTQ

[Mook]

I love everything Bowie did up until Low, I like Sound & Vision but can't really get my head around why the rest of the album is so popular, I maybe need to give it a few more goes.