David Bowie
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David Robert Jones (born 8 January 1947), most famous using his stage name David Bowie, is a British singer, songwriter, and actor.
[edit] Quotes
- I'm an instant star. Just add water and stir.
- Quoted in Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies 15th Edition (2003) by Leslie Halliwell, p. 60
- I get offered so many bad movies. And they're all raging queens or transvestites or Martians.
- 1983 Comment, quoted in Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies 15th Edition (2003) by Leslie Halliwell, p. 60
- I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human. I felt very puny as a human. I thought, "Fuck that. I want to be a superhuman."
- Quoted in Fas Ferox - A Modern Day Mythology - World Walkthrough (2006), edited by Anna Young and James Curcio
- I think fame itself is not a rewarding thing. The most you can say is that it gets you a seat in restaurants.
- Interviewed in Q magazine, April 1990
[edit] Livewire interview (2002)
- It's odd but even when I was a kid, I would write about "old and other times" as though I had a lot of years behind me. Now I do, so there is a difference in the weight of memory. When you're young, you're still "becoming", now at my age I am more concerned with "being". And not too long from now I'll be driven by "surviving", I'm sure. I kind of miss that "becoming" stage, as most times you really don't know what's around the corner. Now, of course, I've kind of knocked on the door and heard a muffled answer. Nevertheless, I still don't know what the voice is saying, or even what language it's in.
- Strangely, some songs you really don't want to write. I didn't like writing "Heathen". There was something so ominous and final about it. It was early in the morning, the sun was rising and through the windows I could see two deer grazing down below in the field. In the distance a car was driving slowly past the reservoir and these words were just streaming out and there were tears running down my face. But I couldn't stop, they just flew out. It's an odd feeling, like something else is guiding you, although forcing your hand is more like it.
- Heathenism is a state of mind. You can take it that I'm referring to one who does not see his world. He has no mental light. He destroys almost unwittingly. He cannot feel any Gods' presence in his life. He is the 21st century man. However, there's no theme or concept behind Heathen, just a number of songs but somehow there is a thread that runs through it that is quite as strong as any of my thematic type albums.
- I had to resign myself, many years ago, that I'm not too articulate when it comes to explaining how I feel about things. But my music does it for me, it really does. There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It's always been my way of expressing what for me is inexpressible by any other means.
What is very enlightening for me right now is that I sense that I'm arriving at a place of peace with my writing that I've never experienced before. I think I'm going to be writing some of the most worthwhile things that I've ever written in the coming years. I'm very confident and trusting in my abilities right now. But I've got to think of myself as the luckiest guy. Robert Johnson only had one album's worth of work as his legacy. That's all that life allowed him.
[edit] Song lyrics
Carry the news…
- All the young dudes
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes
Carry the news.- All The Young Dudes, performed by Mott the Hoople
- Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can't shake
Oh we're absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you're still smiling
There's nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners.
But if my love is your love
We're certain to succeed.- Absolute Beginners (1986)
[edit] Space Oddity (1969)
- Ground Control to Major Tom.
Ground Control to Major Tom.
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.
- This is Major Tom to Ground Control.
I'm stepping through the door,
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way.
And the stars look very different today.For here
Am I sitting in a tin can,
Far above the world.
Planet Earth is blue,
And there's nothing I can do.- Space Oddity
- I'm the cream
Of the great utopia dream.
And you're in the gleam
In the depths of your banker's spleen.
[edit] The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
- In the corner of the morning in the past
I would sit and blame the master first and last.
All the roads were straight and narrow
And the prayers were small and yellow.
And the rumour spread that I was aging fast.
Then I ran across a monster who was sleeping
By a tree.
And I looked and frowned and the monster was me.
- Day after day
They send my friends away
To mansions cold and grey.
To the far side of town
Where the thin men stalk the streets
While the sane stay underground.Day after day,
They tell me I can go.
They tell me I can blow
To the far side of town
Where it's pointless to be high,
'Cause it's such a long way down.
- Man is an obstacle, sad as the clown
(Oh by jingo)
So hold on to nothing, and he won't let you down.
- Live to your rebirth and do what you will
(Oh by jingo)
Forget all I've said, please bear me no ill.- After All
- We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone, a long long time ago.
- When all the world was very young
And mountain magic heavy hung
The supermen would walk in file
Guardians of a loveless isle.
[edit] Hunky Dory (1971)
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test.
- Still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild.
A million dead-end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet.
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test.
- I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence.
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same.
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations.
They're quite aware of what they're going through.- Changes
- Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
Turn and face the strange.- Changes
- It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen.
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause she's lived it ten times or more.
[edit] The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
- Pushing through the market square, so many mothers sighing
News had just come over, we had five years left to cry in.
News guy wept and told us, earth was really dying
Cried so much his face was wet, then I knew he was not lying.
- There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us,
But he thinks he'd blow our minds.
- Making love with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind
Like a leper messiah.
When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band.
- Ziggy played guitar.
- Ziggy Stardust
- (Hey man) oh leave me alone you know
(Hey man) oh Henry, get off the phone, I gotta
(Hey man) I gotta straighten my face
This mellow thighed chick just put my spine out of place.
- Oh don't lean on me man, cause you can't afford the ticket
Back from Suffragette City
Oh don't lean on me man
'Cause you ain't got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
Is outta sight...she's all right ...Ah wham, bam, thank you ma'am!- Suffragette City
[edit] Aladdin Sane (1973)
- Who'll love Aladdin Sane?
Battle cries and champagne just in time for sunrise.- Aladdin Sane
[edit] Diamond Dogs (1974)
- This ain't rock'n'roll. This is genocide!
- You've got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl.
Hey babe, your hair's alright.
Hey babe, let's go out tonight.
You like me, and I like it all.
We like dancing and we look divine.
You love bands when they're playing hard.
You want more and you want it fast.
- Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress.
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess.
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!- Rebel Rebel
[edit] Young Americans (1975)
- Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?
- Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (fame)Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane (sane).- Fame, written with Carlos Alomar and John Lennon
[edit] Station to Station (1976)
- Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere, angel
Come get up my baby.
Look at that sky, life's begun
Nights are warm and the days are young
Come get up my baby.
[edit] Low (1977)
- You're such a wonderful person
But you got problems oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll never touch you.- Breaking Glass, written with Dennis Davis and George Murray
[edit] "Heroes" (1977)
- I, I will be king.
And you, you will be queen.
Though nothing will drive them away.
We can beat them, just for one day.
We can be heroes, just for one day.
[edit] Scary Monsters (1980)
- Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low.
[edit] Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (1982)
I can stare for a thousand years…
Pull the blinds and change their minds.
- Theme song for the film Cat People (1982)
- See these eyes so green…
I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
It's been so long…
And I've been putting out fire…
With gasoline!
- See these eyes so red
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near
Pull the blinds and change their minds.
- Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat
Just be still with me
Ya wouldn't believe what I've been thru.
[edit] Let's Dance (1983)
Modern love — walks beside me.
Modern love — walks on by.
- Never gonna fall for
Modern love — walks beside me.
Modern love — walks on by.
Modern love — gets me to the church on time.
Church on time — terrifies me.
Church on time — makes me party.
Church on time — puts my trust in God and man.
God and man — no confessions.
God and man — no religion.
God and man — don't believe in modern love.
- My little China Girl
You shouldn't mess with me.
I'll ruin everything you are.
I'll give you television.
I'll give you eyes of blue.
I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world.- China Girl, written with Iggy Pop —Video at YouTube
- Let's dance — put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
Let's dance — to the song they're playin' on the radio.
Let's sway — while colour lights up your face.
Let's swa —, sway through the crowd to an empty space.
- And if you say run, I'll run with you
And if you say hide, we'll hide.
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two.
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower.- Let's Dance
- Let's dance for fear your grace should fall
Let's dance for fear tonight is all- Let's Dance
[edit] Earthling (1997)
- God is an American.
I'm afraid of Americans.
I'm afraid of the world.
I'm afraid I can't help it.
I'm afraid I can't
[edit] Heathen (2002)
- Steel on the skyline
Sky made of glass
Made for a real world
All things must pass
Ooo
Waiting for something
Looking for someone
Is there no reason?
[edit] Reality (2003)
- And there's never gonna be enough money
And there's never gonna be enough drugs
And I'm never ever gonna get old
There's never gonna be enough bullets
There's never gonna be enough sex
And I'm never ever gonna get old
So I'm never ever gonna get high
And I'm never ever gonna get low
And I'm never ever gonna get old
- The tragic youth was going down on me
(...)
I've been right and I've been wrong
Now I'm back where I started from
Never looked over reality's shoulder- "Reality"
- Soon there'll be nothing left of me
Nothing left to release
