David Bowie RIP

[Conchis]

Unfortunately, his narration of Britten's A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra is not on YouTube.

Unexpectedly, one of the best narrations ever - second only, imo, to Ralph Richardson's classic version with Malcolm Sargent (to, but Sean Connery's is pretty good, as well). It was a much more bizarre idea to get Bowie to do this in 1979 than it would have been twenty years later.

[french frank]

Just a brief word: I think we have established a convention that when someone starts a tribute thread it's to express respect and a personal sense of loss. Anyone who feels indifferent or out of sympathyn should ignore the thread.

[vinteuil]

... such a presence for those of us who were students in the 1970s.

A harsh loss.

http://www.lemonde.fr/musiques/portfolio/2016/01/11/en-images-david-bowie-un-artiste-aux-multiples-visages_4844883_1654986.html

.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2016/01/11/03006-20160111ARTFIG00057-david-bowie-la-mort-d-une-legende-de-la-pop.php

[DracoM]

As others have said, I was taken aback. Had we had any warning at all that the man was dying of cancer? Innovative voice, quiet revolutionary.

[Barbirollians]

As others have said, I was taken aback. Had we had any warning at all that the man was dying of cancer? Innovative voice, quiet revolutionary.

RIP - to an extraordinary musician and artist - one of those rare popular icons who deserve all the eulogies .The fact that all those around him kept his condition secret in the notorious popular music business is a testament to him.

[vinteuil]

... it seems that 'Blackstar' was a conscious farewell gift -

http://bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr/2016/01/11/le-dernier-album-de-bowie-etait-un-cadeau-dadieu/

[eighthobstruction]

....great lyrics, music, rhythms, visuals, thoughts....lust for life....

[Globaltruth]

... it seems that 'Blackstar' was a conscious farewell gift -

http://bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr/20...cadeau-dadieu/

and particularly this track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8

[Lat-Literal]

Too many memories to be able to listen to the radio today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vuPGg2T5Lo

[cloughie]

He was one who, whether or not top of your list of favourites, ticked the boxes in the full range of pop and rock music. He has certainly left his prints and will be very much missed. RIP Mr Jones.

[CallMePaul]

I bought a copy of this for my stepson yesterday, but I have yet to hear any of this. I was stunned when I heard the news this morning - I was aware of rumours that he was ill, but had no idea it was terminal. He will live on through his songs - and don't forget Philip Glass's symphonies based on his Low and Heroes albums.

RIP

[burning dog]

Was on Soul Train in 75 and invited back again. How hip was that?

He kept up with the innovations in Dance/Soul music unlike most rock acts of his age and older, which along with his stuff with Brian Eno put him ahead of the game in chart music territory. I remember critics knocking his stuff with Nile Rodgers at the time. Never shy of a catchy tune. I bet that many old and young farts, squares and bubblegum fans sang along to Sound and Vision or "Ashes to Ashes, Funk to Funky etc."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFImjufN_2I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9OIrJQIn2Q

[Tevot]

I was very taken aback when I heard this news.

a great talent, and a wonderful body of work.
more than anything though, he simply was the soundtrack of the lives of so many people , especially in the 70's.

THe first Bowie I heard ( and saw)was Starman, when I was 10 years old in 1972. A revelatory piece of music and film for me, and even now those first few chords still stop me in my tracks. Fabulous.

Going to be a lot of sad people out there with this news.

Fully agree with you TS and also with Anna's post #3. I thought it was a hoax initially.

A vast body of work. I'm not sure how he'll be best remembered - but fwiw the song I find myself now playing is Life on Mars...

[BBMmk2]

Quite shocked, although, not a great fan of his music, I appreciated that he was a great artist of his genre. RIP

[burning dog]

I remember Space oddity the first time (69'?) around, very popular with a lot of older people it was considered a bit of a novelty record, probably played on R2 as well as R1.

His early influences included Lester Bowie and Anthony Newley who surprisingly never collaborated.

My friends Nan, born in about 1905, had a copy of The Laughing Gnome from its first release ! B Side was "All Coppers are 'Nanas (Bananas) "...Bastards" was the real lyric