Rebel, Rebel
I swapped my blazer for a leather jacket one day at School and felt liberated. God only knows how Bowie must have felt after he'd squeezed into that jumpsuit on Top of the Pops. The orange flame of hair and the chalk-white face, beckoning me to another universe. I knew he was special. I was struck by a feeling of awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius. He was Ziggy Stardust then and soon he would be Aladdin Sane and years on from that, The Thin White Duke. Trend-setter, go-getter and just miles better than the rest. Even his name sparked confusion. A simple argument over pronunciation could spiral hopelessly out of control - knowing how to say Bowie the right way could be interpreted as a rite of passage to possessing some far greater musical knowledge.
"I knew he was special. I was struck by a feeling of awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius."
Arguably in every one of those five decades in which he existed as a rock-star, pop-star, film-star or even a man in drag, he was the reference point. The rest of the music industry just had to simply try and stay in reach. If you stopped for a moment to take it all in, he'd have left you behind already. Most couldn't match him despite their best efforts. He was a bizarre anomalous in a crowded room of musical wannabes. His imitators watch wide-eyed from afar before embarking on their personal missions of emulation. The results were about as thrilling as when somebody tells someone else's joke and spoils the punchline. This musical game of follow the leader that he unknowingly started all those years ago, will continue for everyone else even after his death, and it will be a long time before the game stops.
"He was a bizarre anomalous in a crowded room of musical wannabes."
Even in his final years, Bowie was one step ahead. Beyonce released a surprise album at the end of 2013 and the move was recognized as being "a game-changer" for the industry. Many already considered her to be perhaps the last remaining "Superstar", and those that had awarded her with this accolade would argue that this move was evidence of it. She had avoided the promotional duties that were usually expected before a release, and instead had returned unannounced with music. The thing is, Bowie had already done this earlier in the same year. If he'd outshone a Superstar, what did that make him?
I'm not old enough to have been around when he was 'The Man Who Sold The World' or live through his days as Ziggy Stardust. I wasn't alive when he was the hollow figure of The Thin White Duke, living on "Red Peppers, Cocaine and Milk", looking barely strong enough to carry his own weight let alone the weight of the world as he performed on 'The Dick Cavett Show' in America. I wouldn't know about his days in Berlin with Iggy Pop until decades after they'd happened. My knowledge of David Bowie is merely the product of my Parent's stories and old television footage. I've learnt about him through the leftovers of decades gone by. It's all been gradually pieced together over the years to resemble nothing more than make-shift impressions of a man, but they're good enough for me.
"I've realized that I may never really be able to understand him completely; there was too much going on."
He remained cool until the end and that's what set him apart from the rest of the pack. It's in our nature to give in to temptation and towards the end of his career, temptation was no doubt there to greet Bowie like a naughty friend. It had already persuaded old associates of his. The Rolling Stones are still touring and managed to navigate their way to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage for a headline slot and Paul McCartney is still singing from behind a piano. But Bowie knew when to disappear. He managed to avert his eyes from the brightening lights of showbiz in the nick of time and remain in control, his image kept intact and his dignity preserved. He was a no-show at the Brit Awards a couple of years ago, but found willing servants in a rock-star and a supermodel to accept an award on his behalf. Just moments before, when Gallagher announced his name as the winner, it was met with a chorus of delirium. The prospect of him walking on to the stage to collect the award seemed unthinkable. It was; "You maniacs didn't actually think that David Bowie was going to be here? David Bowie's too cool for that. He don't do this shit." He was right.
He presented one last album to the world as a parting gift on his 69th birthday, two days before his death. He was still ahead of us even in the face of death, his lyrics warning us that he wasn't going to be around for much longer. And then he decided that enough was enough and like some wonderful vanishing act, he was no longer with us.
"he decided that enough was enough and like some wonderful vanishing act, he was no longer with us."
