I can't say I'm getting over this very well. Definitely the worst thing to happen in music since that horrible day in November of 1991. Have been playing tonnes of Bowie over the past few days: happily listening away until the reality sets in again. Arghhhhh. Just so fucking sad.
Sebastian · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Thistleboy1980 wrote:[/b]
Definitely the worst thing to happen in music since that horrible day in November of 1991.[/QUOTE]
Don't wanna diminish David's massive importance and unparalleled talent but I've seen comments like this one a lot and I personally agree to disagree: what about George Harrison, Frank Sinatra, Rick Wright, Chris Squire, Lonnie Donegan, Harry Nilsson, Michael Kamen, John Entwistle, John Denver, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson, Billy Preston, Lemmy, Mick Ronson, Jon Lord, Nicky Hopkins, Ella Fitzgerald, Carl Wilson, two thirds of The Bee Gees, Ray Charles, even Syd Barrett or Pavarotti... ?
I mean, a lot of people may still prefer Bowie (or Freddie) over all of those (and there's nothing wrong with that) but, objectively, at least some of those are definitely on the same level in terms of influence and/or success and/or relevance and/or experience.
Still, obviously the main point remains: he was unique, and it was a huge shocking unexpected tragedy. Writing the previous list it also hit me that quite a few of them also died of cancer. Don't wanna turn this into a political statement but, I just wish governments didn't spend so much money killing innocent people (often over disagreements about what happens after death) and invested on more cancer research and treatments instead. If even people as wealthy and powerful (not to mention still young, many of them) weren't able to successfully battle that disease, I cannot even begin to imagine how many tragedies take place every day everywhere, with people whom, for a few individuals (at least for their parents, siblings, spouses and kids) are as pivotal as Freddie and David were to us (and far more, for obvious reasons).
Anyway, it's so magnificent that he managed to say goodbye with such a great record. A true professional and a determinator, all the way to the end. Will be missed.
Thistle · Member since
^ The statement was just based on my personal taste. I don't value one life as being more important than another, and I don't knock any other artist's significance, relevance or place in pop-culture....but none of the deaths you've mentioned hit me as hard as Bowie, if at all. It was just down to taste and that's why, for me, it's the worst thing to happen in music for a long while. I should have actually said it was personal opinion in my original post.
RE governments and cancer research - you're bang on the money. I've lost countless members of my family and also several friends to cancer, and it's devastating to see anyone deteriorate in that manner.
Sebastian · Member since
Yeah, we're on the same page then.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]Thistleboy1980 wrote:[/b]
Definitely the worst thing to happen in music since that horrible day in November of 1991.[/QUOTE]
Don't wanna diminish David's massive importance and unparalleled talent but I've seen comments like this one a lot and I personally agree to disagree: what about George Harrison, Frank Sinatra, Rick Wright, Chris Squire, Lonnie Donegan, Harry Nilsson, Michael Kamen, John Entwistle, John Denver, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson, Billy Preston, Lemmy, Mick Ronson, Jon Lord, Nicky Hopkins, Ella Fitzgerald, Carl Wilson, two thirds of The Bee Gees, Ray Charles, even Syd Barrett or Pavarotti... ?
[/QUOTE]
Honesty - I remember every one of those deaths, and none of them quite made the world stop and talk the way Bowie has.
Maybe George Harrison compares, but certainly none of the others, even Pavarotti.
Sebastian · Member since
Michael Jackson's certainly did, especially considering it was shortly before the O2 gigs and all that. David made headlines (and rightly so), but Michael kept the world talking for ages. Michael outsold David almost seven to one, and even a lot of people who had nothing to do with music (let alone pop music) knew who he was.
David made the world stop for a few days. Michael made it stop for weeks.
M-train · Member since
The only thing to make me this depressed was the death of Elvis back in 77. I can remember EXACTLY where I was when it was broadcast over the radio.
Same way with Bowie. I was eating breakfast last Monday, and flipping channels, and happened on a news channel where they were telling that Bowie had passed. I almost choked on my breakfast.
I didn't think it had effected my little Asian wife until we were on the road driving to town, and the radio station played "China Girl". Well, she just lost it. She said, "there will never be anyone who sings as good as him".
Just a bad fucking week, that I will never forget. His music got me through many hard times in my life growing up.....................................farewell Starman.
Chief Mouse · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
Michael Jackson's certainly did, especially considering it was shortly before the O2 gigs and all that. David made headlines (and rightly so), but Michael kept the world talking for ages. Michael outsold David almost seven to one, and even a lot of people who had nothing to do with music (let alone pop music) knew who he was.
David made the world stop for a few days. Michael made it stop for weeks.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. I remember certain internet sites crashing. It was nuts!
Sebastian · Member since
The Eagles forum I frequent also crashed (at least temporarily), as expected.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
Michael Jackson's certainly did, especially considering it was shortly before the O2 gigs and all that. David made headlines (and rightly so), but Michael kept the world talking for ages. Michael outsold David almost seven to one, and even a lot of people who had nothing to do with music (let alone pop music) knew who he was.
David made the world stop for a few days. Michael made it stop for weeks.[/QUOTE]
You're right - MJ was huge.
Not that it's a contest. But Bowie is up there with the biggest. That's pretty much undebatable.
Killer_queenIII · Member since
3/4 of my Facebook news feed consists of tributes for Glen. Same thing happened when David and Alan died. Even with that many news confirming his demise, my brain just refused to process it all
Mr.Jingles · Member since
I guess the impact of a music star's death is based on their legacy, their momentum, and age.
Many rock stars die when their musical prime was reached way before, and while they might still be relevant to an extent, their career peak was reached long before.
For Bowie his biggest moment in terms of musical legacy was the 70s, while his most commercially successful in the 80s when he released 'Let's Dance'
My guess is that the biggest shock since I have memory was Kurt Cobain's death.
Nirvana by then had shifted the entire direction of the rock industry in the 90s, and the fact that he was only 27 made the impact even bigger.
Freddie's death was of course a big one, not only because of what Queen had achieved during the 70s and 80s, but also because AIDS at the time was seen as an epidemic that was affecting the entire world. Nowdays, HIV is seen as another incurable disease that you can live with as long as it won't develop into AIDS. Of course, the media ignores the impact of HIV/AIDS in underdeveloped countries.
I was way too young to find out, but in terms of music history the biggest shock was John Lennon's death.
The legacy left by The Beatles remains unmatchable to this day, and the fact that it was a cold blooded murder made it heartbreaking.
Nirvana may have changed the music scene, but The Beatles changed the world.
Vocal harmony · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Costa86 wrote:[/b]
^Although definitely not a musical giant like those you mention, Guru Josh also died shortly after new year.[/QUOTE]
Not quite in the same league as an artist or musician as far as the public perception goes, and he would have been the first to admit that.
But he was a hugely talented keyboard player and pianist
Costa86 · Member since
^Yes, and it's so sad when a person like that decides life is not worth living anymore.
