This week would have marked David Bowie’s 71st birthday. To commemorate, his former record company released the demo version of his classic hit, Let’s Dance
And here is Nile Rodgers telling the story of how that song came into being:
For those of you wondering how I and Neon Vincent are circumventing Sucuri to embed videos, here is an example of the embed code we use, so that you can replicate as wanted:
Just remember that each unique 11-digit video code in YouTube needs to be pasted in two separate locations within the embed code in order for your video to show up properly. So easy that I can do it!
The bar is open and the jukebox has an infinite playlist (scientists are still studying how an infinite playlist can be stored – they’re stumped). So let’s dance, let’s talk, and let’s just enjoy a little bit of life.
I looked up David Bowie’s favorite drink and got a gin martini with Bombay Sapphire gin. Tipsy Bartender has a video showing viewers How to make a Gin Martini.
each of us has a last moment for doing something, even if we do not know it yet. The existentialist in me considers that a good reminder to make the most of those moments.
Speaking of Life on Mars, I’m a big fan of fantasy and science fiction, as was David Bowie, sci-fi superstar. Science fiction liked him, too. Here is a montage from “The Martian” set to Bowie’s Starman that reflects that mutual interest.
If you enjoy fantasy, I would recommend any of Mark Lawrence work.
He recently started his third trilogy, and the first book, Red Sister, is pretty good.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll make a point of looking for Lawrence’s books as soon as I finish my wife’s copy of “American Gods,” which is by my bedside. Speaking of which, the TV adaptation of “American Gods” features Gillian Anderson as Media playing Bowie, just to bring our conversation back to the subject of this diary.
Gillian Anderson is such a treasure. For me, she will forever be Dana Scully, although that character represents only a fraction of her work. This scene – delicious. Thanks for sharing.
The album Lodger was my first extensive introduction to David Bowie’s work. Not sure if I got it as a Columbia House selection of the month (remember those days, anyone?) or explicitly picked it up at a record store. Been too many years now to trust my memory on that one completely. Through that album, I’d get an introduction to some other recording artists I realized I’d want to follow – especially Brian Eno and Adrian Belew, and as one of the tracks was a reworking of an Iggy Pop tune, let’s mention Iggy Pop as well.
The Low/Heroes/Lodger trilogy rank among those albums I still treasure even after all these years. Let’s just say that if you were ever on a long commute with me and any of those albums come on (I eventually got the digital downloads), expect me to be doing a lot of singing (admittedly badly), and expect that you will be too. 🙂
Anyway, I always enjoyed this track, since I was a 13 year old kid. Always will.
You can hear the influence not only of Eno, but also any of a number of prominent German progressive recording artists of the time.
but his later efforts were pretty damned impressive. That last album was one heck of a way to go out. His magnum opus? Hard to say. I’ve found the title track to Blackstar worth repeated listenings – actually just the whole album.
Heroes
I ain’t going through all that. Imma use links. I saw Bowie on this tour because initially, SRV was going to be the lead guitar on the tour. From the linked video, you can see why that wouldn’t have worked. I still went and was not disappointed.
I’ve always loved Heroes. Wonderful song. I don’t blame you about the video embedding process. For me it’s more a matter of keeping things visual. I have taken care not to pester Booman too much over the fact that Sucuri blocks the standard easy way to embed YouTube vids, as I imagine his plate is already full enough as it is. Hopefully at some point…but in due time. Til then we’ll use whatever workarounds we each wish. No worries. 🙂
My favorite. Come for the Bowie, stay for the David Sanborn and Luther Vandross.