CBS records threatened to pull all their artists from MTV if they wouldn’t play Michael Jackson’s videos. Credit is given to a man named Yentikoff for putting the pressure on MTV. Not that Bowie isn’t great…
An extraordinary human being. R.I.P. David Bowie.
Apologies if anyone has posted this, but Conan did a moving tribute to him on his show:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/conan-tribute-to-david-bowie_5694f9b8e4b09dbb4bac7b9c?
Interesting trivia from the Conan clip… David Bowie started out with the stage name of Davy Jones, but had to change it after not too long when the Monkees released their first album. He changed it to Tom Jones, and well, you can figure that one out. Finally ended up with David Bowie.
I’m just now catching up with my Facebook newsfeed and am so enjoying all the tributes such as the one I just shared. Also just watched a cool performance by El Vy (with the band Colbert house band leader) of Let’s Dance.
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/12/david-bowie-stephen-colbert
Jimmy Fallon also did a small tribute:
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/12/david-bowie-jimmy-fallon-tribute
I was the one who mentioned that “Space Oddity” was seen as a dig at NASA, I also have heard it was meant as a poke at the idea of a British Astronaut. Me, I always imagined it was Bowie getting into what it must be like to be so alone like that, especially given that at the time, the image projected of Astronauts were these tough guys who never had a problem, never got space sick, etc:).
Saw the nice youtube video of him and Bing Crosby singing a Christmas duet shortly before Bing’s death. It was very nice.
@LakeWashington …and the interesting movies he did."
Have you seen “The Hunger?” It’s a vampire movie with Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon? He grows old and disintegrates.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085701/
I remember he named his first child “Zowie.” I guess Duncan Jones was formerly named Zowie.
This is my first memory of Bowie, when he was glitter rock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rajof9Qigos
“Golden Years” came out my first year of college. Still love the album.
“Though nothing will keep us together, we can be heroes, just for one day…” Bowie and Eno, poetic genii. Rest in paradise Mr. Bowie.
Speaking of NASA, did you see how Astronaut Chris Hadfield was given an extension of the Space Oddity license for his cover on a you tube video? Bowie extended the copyright agreement, allowing the video to stay online until November 2016.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/11/10749622/david-bowie-space-oddity-chris-hadfield-cover-memoriam
Way way back… in my good old days: we saw Bowie with the Spiders From Mars band and Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) came on for 3 songs.
“Changes”
Turn and face the strange / Ch-ch-changes / Oh look out now you rock and rollers / Pretty soon now you’re gonna get older.
Saw the film ‘The Hunger’ in college. Wondered then why all the fuss about Catherine Denuve. Bowie didn’t have enough screen time, as far as I was concerned.
A another sidenote about MTV. Rick James also made a famous criticism of the new channel, but I can’t repeat it here on CC.
Heard the Davey Jones-Monkees story years ago. Also I read a few years back that Bowie was one of the wealthiest men in England. Not surprising for a London School of Economics grad. I understand he and Mick Jagger were classmates there.
I love “The Hunger” though I found vampire stories a bit tiresome (for me).
“Labyrinth” otoh is probably one of my favorite movies.
I like that he was offered a title and refused it.
This will mesmerize you
David Bowie & Freddy Mercury of Queen, live at Wembley Stadium, singing “Under Pressure”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rny9ymeCTZY
It chokes me up to hear them sing,
"This is our last dance… "
I like isolated vocals on YouTube and there is an isolated vocal version of Under Pressure with the two of them that is spectacular.
^^^ The only YouTube a cappella version I’ve found is audio only, no video. I’d love to see video if it’s available.
That’s the one I mean, just audio.
Yea, I wonder if there’s a video out there, but is not on YouTube, and maybe will eventually find it’s way there.
The isolated vocals are typically done by stripping out the music tracks from a recording, so it’s unlikely there’s any video. For anyone, Google your favorite artist / song and “isolated vocals” - it really separates the true gifted from the auto tuned! Teriwtt, you’ll like some of the Beach Boys isolated vocal tracks, I am sure!
VH1 Classic is playing tributes to Bowie tonight from 7 PM to 2 AM. Beginning with Storytellers for an hour, and then followed by footage of many of his songs. At midnight, “Ziggy Stardust” is playing and it dates back to 1973.
Wikipedia notes that Peter Frampton and David Bowie attended the same technical high school and Frampton’s father was head of the Art Department.