David Bowie, perhaps one of the most amazing, genderfucking, coolest people out there, turns 66 today! Happy Birthday, Bowie! My mom was a 70’s Southern California girl, one of the lucky people who saw the Ziggy Stardust tour and the Changes tour, introduced me to Bowie at a young age through the magic that is Labyrinth. The love affair continued as I listened to the rest of Bowie’s music throughout my adolescence and eventually saw him in concert when I was 17. He sang “China Girl” in Mandarin, you guys. That’s how cool this man is.
I’m nervous about him stabbing himself with those tweezers right now.
Bowie has also released a new single today in celebration of his birthday and also to preview an upcoming album! According to HuffPo:
“Where Are We Now?” was produced by Tony Visconti and written by Bowie, according to a press release announcing the song. The music video was directed by Tony Oursler and features footage from Bowie’s time in Berlin. Per the release, Bowie is “seen looking in on footage of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time and a lyric constantly raising the question ‘Where Are We Now?'”
Let’s all take a listen and bask in the genius.
I like it. It’s so laid back and mellow and beautiful but also kind of strange, just like how I imagine David Bowie to be.
It really is surprisingly good. I first heard it on the radio at work here in the UK this morning. It has a sad sense of somebody looking back on life, not with regret, but a kind of sad fondness, perhaps.
Obviously I’m too young to have been around when Bowie was putting out his best work and touring, but being introduced to his music by my gran and spending hours listening was the next best thing.
I do love the way it just appeared, no hype,fanfare or big announcement, just a ‘here’s some new music.’ It’s nice to have a Bowie moment of my own!
i’ve been basking in this all morning. love it.
David Bowie makes me happy. I’m sure there are much more complicated ideas that I’ve gotten from listening to him, but mostly? He and the art he makes make me happy. So there.
My roommate in college introduced me to Bowie, I knew who he was just never listened to him.
She gave birth to her first child today, an induced labor, full knowing today was DB’s birthday. This is how big of a fan she is. His announcing this secret album was the cherry on top to an already awesome day… oh and I’m an auntie! holler.
The single is a bit too mellow for me, at least upon first listen. I’ll have to give it a few tries.
My parents are big Bowie fans and had me listening to him quite young, so I associate him with my childhood. Which is although not nice for some people, was for me. So basically good Bowie vibes all around.
-sigh- David Bowie. The Man Who Sold The World is one of my favorite songs, plus I learned how to bend notes on the guitar to be able to play it.
I could listen to this song all day.
yes.
he also is the subject of a major retrospective exhibition upcoming at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London this March. i just heard over 300 costumes will be one display among all other things bowie:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/david-bowie-is/visitor-and-ticket-information/
I am so happy that someone wrote an article about this (and about Bowie, finally!). :D I love him so much, and he was one of my first queer and genderbending/androgynous role models. It’s wonderful to see such an important person in my life represented on Autostraddle. :) Also I am SO EXCITED for his new album AHHHHHH.