David Bowie, A Star Man

Tributes and remembrances abound. Podcasts, articles, blogs, and other media forms hail the life and work of David Robert Jones, affectionately known as David Bowie. Without questions Bowie holds a legendary place in pop culture across music and entertainment that spans decades and continents. 

 

David Bowie’s library of music broke ground in rock and pop genres, as well as created new conceptual outlets for sound and vision. Moreover, he found ways to remain relevant amid industry and cultural shifts. It feels cliché to note, however it cannot be overlooked, that the lyrics to his song, Changes, connect to the young and the old. The song captures the angst of teenagers and artists and empowers them with purpose and vigor.

I research and teach in areas of influence and inspiration. Bowie’s song Space Odyssey inspired countless other musicians to cover the piece and notably Peter Shilling to write a companion song, Major Tom (Coming Home). Bowie's music has been featured in movies and on stage. You know you are a bedrock of pop culture when professional wrestling develops a character or storyline influenced by you. Bowie’s Starman clearly modeled for the portrait of Stardust, the alter ego role played by WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes, who like Bowie morphed into an altogether different celestial being.

 David Bowie, you may not have been able to "trace time," but you changed it, for the better. Thank you!