Topic: David Bowie, 'Space Oddity' artist (1947-2016)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-11-2016 03:04 AM
Singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie, whose first hit song "Space Oddity" coincided with the first moon landing in July 1969, died on Sunday (Jan. 10), two days after his 69th birthday.
David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief.
Duncan Jones, Bowie's son and the director of the 2009 science fiction film "Moon," wrote on Twitter:
Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all.
Bowie's loss was mourned from space by British astronaut Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station.
Saddened to hear David Bowie has lost his battle with cancer – his music was an inspiration to many.
The European Space Agency further noted:
The stars look very different today. Sad news.
On June 24, 1996, the STS-78 crew on board space shuttle Columbia began their fifth day in space by Mission Control playing Bowie's "Space Oddity." It was the first time the song was played from Earth.
(The song was played for commander Tom Henricks, who before rising to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, had at one time been "Major Tom.")
In 2013, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield recorded a revised version of Bowie's Space Oddity on board the space station.
Ashes to ashes, dust to stardust. Your brilliance inspired us all. Goodbye Starman.
Bowie's own final music video was released on his birthday three days ago. The song, "Lazarus" off his 28th studio album, "Blackstar" begins with the lyrics, "Look up here, I'm in heaven..."
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 01-11-2016 03:27 AM
One of a kind. Legendary figure. RIP.
Posts: 1447 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
posted 01-11-2016 04:17 AM
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jasonelam Member
Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
posted 01-11-2016 04:18 AM
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GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 01-11-2016 04:46 AM
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uk spacefan Member
Posts: 168 From: London Registered: Jan 2007
posted 01-11-2016 05:47 AM
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astrobar1 Member
Posts: 112 From: Mishawaka, IN, USA Registered: Apr 2005
posted 01-11-2016 06:06 AM
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bruce Member
Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
posted 01-11-2016 06:30 AM
Farewell Ziggy. And we thank you.
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Gilbert Member
Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
posted 01-11-2016 06:40 AM
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ejectr Member
Posts: 1751 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 01-11-2016 06:50 AM
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minipci Member
Posts: 365 From: London, UK Registered: Jul 2009
posted 01-11-2016 07:40 AM
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randy Member
Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 01-11-2016 07:58 AM
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mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 01-11-2016 09:52 AM
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David Carey Member
Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
posted 01-11-2016 10:01 AM
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Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-11-2016 10:03 AM
David Bowie with Jim Lovell on the set of the 1976 film "The Man Who Fell to Earth."
In the scene in which [Thomas Jerome] Newton (Bowie) attempts to board his spacecraft, he is greeted by a crowd that includes real-life astronaut Jim Lovell (commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission), playing himself...
sev8n Member
Posts: 233 From: Dallas TX USA Registered: Jul 2012
posted 01-11-2016 10:27 AM
Incredible talent. Incredible career. He will be missed by many.
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Norman.King Member
Posts: 375 From: Herne Bay, Kent, UK Registered: Feb 2010
posted 01-11-2016 10:52 AM
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Grounded! Member
Posts: 367 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 01-11-2016 11:20 AM
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Lunar rock nut Member
Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
posted 01-11-2016 11:22 AM
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MarylandSpace Member
Posts: 1336 From: Registered: Aug 2002
posted 01-11-2016 01:15 PM
My favorite/favourite David Bowie songs are: Space Oddity, Let's Dance, Fame, and Little Drummer Boy (duet with Bing Crosby).
I certainly enjoy Commander Hadfield's cover of Space Oddity although I thought he could change 100,000 miles (less than four orbits) to 100 million miles. Just a thought.
dom Member
Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 01-11-2016 02:21 PM
He was certainly a strange man but the world is definitely a lesser place without his unique talents.
Godspeed to one of the true cultural icons of the 20th Century.
posted 01-11-2016 03:06 PM
Saw David Jones perform 1983, "fame" was highlight, LOVED Bing Crosby duet sung before and just released after Bing's passing. Close Up in the space helmet shows reflection of older Bowie in this fab Etsy litho: https://img1.etsystatic.com/035/0/7983919/il_570xN.531730677_mofs.jpg
Henk Boshuijer Member
Posts: 450 From: Netherlands Registered: May 2007
posted 01-11-2016 04:40 PM
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star51L Member
Posts: 340 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
posted 01-11-2016 05:09 PM
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Grew up with his influences, will grow old with his memories.
dss65 Member
Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
posted 01-11-2016 08:20 PM
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One really weird dude. Unique. Entertaining. Very sorry to hear of his passing.
Wehaveliftoff Member
Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 01-12-2016 01:55 PM
Talk about an identity crisis, David Jones changed his name because Davey Jones of the Monkees fame exploded just before David started out, then David changed his name to Tom Jones, but The Tom came out with his first smash LP "It's Not Unusual", so he became David Bowie shortly thereafter, and 5 days before the liftoff of Apollo 11 "Major Tom" was launched. And the rest they say, will go down in infamy.
Posts: 1040 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 01-14-2016 08:56 PM
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Have you ever heard David Bowie's "Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl"? There's something strangely familiar about it, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Kite Member
Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 01-19-2016 03:36 PM
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Glint Member
Posts: 1040 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 01-23-2016 04:46 PM
Just an additional and belated point about the final Bowie album. My opinion is Black Star is the album's best song both musically and in a connection to the "Major Tom" character and the treatment of his possible remains. I also found the duct tape-wrapped boot interesting as the tape's usefulness in space exploration was made famous on Apollo 17. (Similar to an old duct tape-wrapped mud boot of mine I still wear occasionally.)
Also the astronomical references including the depiction of a total solar or stellar eclipse, depending on whether the planet depicted is in our own solar system or not.
Aztecdoug Member
Posts: 1405 From: Huntington Beach Registered: Feb 2000
posted 01-25-2016 05:20 PM
Too bad that we lost him. One of my favorite musical artists. I saw him perform 6 different times including with Tin Machine and playing backup keyboards for Iggy Pop back in 1977.
My favorite songs of his are Drive in Saturday and Heroes.
As for "Black Star" I find it interesting in that it was written with a similar perspective to Warren Zevon's "The Wind" where they both wrote these works knowing their end was near.
I believe that "Black Star," like some of his better works, will need some time for us to appreciate in all of its depth.