Happy 66th birthday, David Bowie

[Bob Cook]

He celebrates by releasing his first single in 10 years.

 

[Webster]

David Bowie was my best celebrity sighting. When I lived in Manhattan, I had to go to work very early one weekend morning for a meeting. I'm walking to work and on a side street near Central Park, a big limo pulls up in front of a townhouse, the driver gets out and opens the door. Out comes David Bowie in a white suit looking like a million bucks. I assume he was coming home from somewhere -- it was some time before 8 a.m. -- but he looked great.

 

[YGBFKM]

One of the best song openings in rock:

 

[godshammgod]

Just listened to the single. I liked it. Video is really cool.

In fact, I'm now listening to Low. It was really one of the seminal albums I listened when I began getting into more "alternative" music. Bowie and Eno really opened doors for me to get into more electronic music too.

 

[Songbird]

My favorite Bowie song:

 

[Care Bear]

Went to an SNL season opener with my family. Jerry Seinfeld was the host. Was told Ricky Martin was going to be the musical guest. It was David Bowie. I was so disappointed.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

Went to an SNL season opener with my family. Jerry Seinfeld was the host. Was told Ricky Martin was going to be the musical guest. It was David Bowie. I was so disappointed.

Reminds me of this time I went to a festival where Nickleback was supposed to be the opener. Instead, the ****ing Rolling Stones showed up. **** that ****.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Bowie was awesome in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

 

[Care Bear]

Went to an SNL season opener with my family. Jerry Seinfeld was the host. Was told Ricky Martin was going to be the musical guest. It was David Bowie. I was so disappointed.

Reminds me of this time I went to a festival where Nickleback was supposed to be the opener. Instead, the ****ing Rolling Stones showed up. **** that ****.

I was practically a teenager and it was ****ing Ricky Martin. Musical talent wasn't really a concern of mine at that point in my life.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

Just busting your balls, Care Bear. Though it is amusing to think of any girl gushing over a gay guy.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Just busting your balls, Care Bear. Though it is amusing to think of any girl gushing over a gay guy.

Eh, men get erect over hot lesbians. What's the difference?

 

[Bubbler]

David Bowie is the best solo artist in rock 'n roll history. Discuss ...

 

[Care Bear]

I will admit to camping out for GW Bush's inauguration weekend nonsense on the National Mall because Ricky was performing. My roommate and I had a "We love you, Ricky" sign. With hearts and ****. And sparkles.

He came out wearing all black, a turtleneck, I think, and he looked absolutely beautiful. Afterward, we went to Watergate Liquor to fill up on supplies and the owner regaled us with stories about how his sister's friend's cousin's whatever knew Ricky and he wasn't gay. I went with that story for years.

Crushing. Also, Arlen Specter came into the store while we were there and he was blitzed out of his mind. Memorable night.

 

[Bubbler]

I will admit to camping out for GW Bush's inauguration weekend nonsense on the National Mall because Ricky was performing. My roommate and I had a "We love you, Ricky" sign. With hearts and ****. And sparkles.

He came out wearing all black, a turtleneck, I think, and he looked absolutely beautiful. Afterward, we went to Watergate Liquor to fill up on supplies and the owner regaled us with stories about how his sister's friend's cousin's whatever knew Ricky and he wasn't gay. I went with that story for years.

Crushing. Also, Arlen Specter came into the store while we were there and he was blitzed out of his mind. Memorable night.

Ain't no party like a Bush inauguration party!

Please turn your SJ POY trophy in to **** Box posthaste. :D

 

[Bubbler]

David Bowie is the best solo artist in rock 'n roll history. Discuss ...

O rly?

Dylan's awesome, but how much of his solo output would be considered rock? A lot, but not all, certainly not his early stuff that gained him fame to begin with.

This is where we get into hair-splitting over rock 'n roll era or actual rock artist.

 

[Versatile]

David Bowie is the best solo artist in rock 'n roll history. Discuss ...

If we say Bruce Springsteen wasn't solo, I'm fine with that statement. Bob Dylan and Prince have strong cases, but Bowie is more rock 'n' roll than either of them.

Of course, there's Ricky Martin to consider.

 

[Bubbler]

Do you consider what Dylan did early to be "folk rock?" I do.

Either way, Dylan in any iteration rocked at least as hard as this:

The Bowie-Dylan nexus ... Spider From Mars Mick Ronson was part of Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in the mid 70s.

 

[TigerVols]

David Bowie is the best solo artist in rock 'n roll history. Discuss ...

It's not debatable.

 

[Buck]

David Bowie is the best solo artist in rock 'n roll history. Discuss ...

O rly?

Dylan's awesome, but how much of his solo output would be considered rock? A lot, but not all, certainly not his early stuff that gained him fame to begin with.

This is where we get into hair-splitting over rock 'n roll era or actual rock artist.

'Bringing It All Back Home' was released in 1965 and includes tracks featuring electric guitar and Hammond organ that should certainly be qualified as rock and roll.
At the very least, 'Highway 61 Revisited,' released later in 1965, is entirely a rock and roll record.

 

[TigerVols]

Let's see:

Bowie the folky. Check.
Bowie the inventor of glam. Check.
Bowie the inventor of white soul. Check.
Bowie the inventor of trance music. Check
Bowie the New Wave superstar. Check
Bowie the thrash-rock bandmember. Check
And now, at 66, Bowie the surprising comeback just because he can. Check.