I read the news today oh boy.
Woke up in the early morning last Monday to a text from my pal Noel Butler who was in London:
Greetings from London, Bowie’s died. 18 month cancer battle. Fucking devastating news.
Noel sent the text at 9:20 AM London time. Bowie was his guy. Like Dylan is for so many of us. As I prepared to hit the air 12 hours later I thought about the connection. Bowie began his career as a folkie. He recorded a tribute to Dylan on Hunky Dory. But like many who tried to emulate Dylan he had a tendency to overwrite. Eventually he found his own voice (what a voice) – and definitely his own thing. Both changed their name. Both followed their muse wherever it took them off the musical beaten path, critics be damned. True artists, visionaries – prophets in a sense. Both appeared on the movie screen, Bowie much more successfully.
Later in the day we caught up to Noel. The conversation carried an emotional wallop. Especially after the Drogba update:
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/butler-bowie-touched-so-many-aspects-of-our-lives-1.421497
Here’s a list of Bowie songs we played during the week:
- “Lazarus” – Dark Star (2016)
- “Never Get Old” – Reality (2003)
- “Golden Years” – Station To Station (1976)
- “Looking For A Friend” (1971) – Bowie at the Beeb (Released 2000)
- “Ziggy Stardust” – Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Recorded 1973/Released 1983)
- “Changes” – Hunky Dory (1971) (For Noel)
- “Quicksand” – Hunky Dory (1971)
- “Queen Bitch” – Hunky Dory (1971)
- “Fame” – Live at BBC Radio Theatre 2000 – Bowie at the Beeb (2000)
- “Young Americans” – Young Americans (1975)
- “Rebel Rebel” – Diamond Dogs (1974)
- “Heroes” – The Concert For New York City (2001)
- “Suffragette City” – ChangesoneBowie (1976)
- “China Girl” – Let’s Dance (1983)
- “Let’s Dance” – Let’s Dance (1983)
- “Farewell Speech” > “Rock ‘n Roll Suicide” – Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture (Recorded 1973/Released 1983)
- “The Jean Genie” – Aladin Sane (1973)
- “Dollar Days” – Dark Star (2016)
- “Hang On To Yourself” – Live Santa Monica ’72 (Released 2008)
- “Moonage Daydream” – Live Santa Monica ’72
- “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” – w/ Bing Crosby 1977 TV Special
- “Changes” – Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture (Recorded 1973/Released 1983)
- “All The Young Dudes” – Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture
- “Waiting For The Man” – Live Santa Monica ’72 (Released 2008)
- “Fame” – Young Americans (1975)
- “Reality” – Reality (2003)
- “Life On Mars?” – Hunky Dory (1971)
- “John I’m Only Dancing” – ChangesoneBowie (1976)
- “Changes” – Live Santa Monica ’72 (Released 2008)
- “Heroes” – Heroes (1977)
- “Ashes To Ashes” – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
- “Space Oddity” – David Bowie (1969)
- “Station To Station” – Station To Station (1976)
- “I’m Waiting For The Man” – Bowie at the Beeb (Recorded Jan. 18, 1972) (Released 2000)
- “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” – The Next Day (2013)
