David Bowie

[kook]

Don't ever criticise my writing style again!

[tonywojo]

:lol:

Until the next sentence.

Well it's Wah's game !

[Kounelaki]

Nice apostrophe use, TW.

[tonywojo]

Nice apostrophe use, TW.

Thank you very much.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I have no memory of Bowie during the 70s, but remember him very well in the 80s. I thought he was cheesy, kind of like Cliff Richard. My memories, other than seeing the video for the rather good Ashes to Ashes, was Let's Dance, Absolute Beginners and that awful Dancing in the Street cover with Mick Jagger, complete with its shite video. Tin Machine. More like Shit Machine. I couldn't stand him.

The somewhat clever way he reinvented himself in the 1990s after he did the soundtrack to The Buddha of Suburbia and that Earthling album, I was won over and Bowie seemed quite hip, including among my peers in their early twenties. Perhaps a lesson for a certain band.

[Frank The Bunny]

But Frank you just made the argument - that he has a few gems since the 70s.

So regardless if he is a product or not (all pop music is - sorry) if he has made some gems then both deserve praise or a few gems are not worth praise - which is it?

I'm going to have to go back to my original post to re-read it, and try to identify what spurred on all this douchebaggery. I thought I was pretty clear. Apparently not.

[Mr. Brian]

The somewhat clever why he reinvented himself in the 1990s

That is how you stay alive in the rock music business isn't it? He's reinvented himself numerous times as other long lasting successful rock artists have done. At the end of the day these artists are still writing good songs but they may have a different wrapper around it. Call it gimmicks if you want, but when it's done well, it's what separates the men from the boys.

[Frank The Bunny]

The somewhat clever why he reinvented himself in the 1990s after he did the soundtrack to The Buddha of Suburbia and that Earthling album, I was won over and Bowie seemed quite hip, including among my peers in their early twenties. Perhaps a lesson for a certain band.

The thing about Bowie's reinventions duing the Outside/Earthling era - I think he did it because he wanted to dabble in something new - in the same way that a painter will go with a different color palette or experiment in a different style. That it won over the youth and younger artists was probably a coincidence.

In contrast, far from reinventing himself, Ian McCulloch has become a parody of himself. We know he's going to go to the press and tell them that his next album, song, concert is going to be the best there has ever been. If he (and those affiliated with him) would just shut the fuck up and put out a solid product - quietly put out an amazing single, an amazing album, or tour with shows that blow people away - with a varied, exciting show, pretending that you may just like your audience and what you do... well maybe I'll listen.

The Bunnymen shows that made me quit going to Bunnymen shows - there was Ian McCulloch, bitching about the lights, the mic stand, the monitor audio, the electric fan at his feet, his audience. Sounds like an asshole that doesn't like his job and oughtta quit.

So, there were these amazing Ocean Rain shows. I was excited listening to all your recountings of these shows. I was hoping Ian McCulloch had reinvented himself as a showman who enjoyed what he was doing.

Then I heard the All Points West concert audio. there was Ian McCulloch, bitching about the lights, the mic stand, the monitor audio, the electric fan at his feet, his audience. Sounds like an asshole that doesn't like his job and oughtta quit.

[withahip]

I have no memory of Bowie during the 70s,

I never saw him in the 70s but youtube, videos, and cds are an easy way to find make new memories.

[withahip]

The thing about Bowie's reinventions duing the Outside/Earthling era - I think he did it because he wanted to dabble in something new - .

He did it because he is a businessman and wants to stay current like Madonna. These were carefully considered choices. I have no problem with this but the notion that he was following a his heart without looking deeply into what was on the verge of breaking is nonsense.
He has always tried to identify what is becoming popular and then go with that.
Slade influenced the space oddity thing. Exposure to Neu! the Berlin years, Phily soul, the New Romantic sound Let's Dance, moving into electronica in the early 90s.
Making soundtracks for cartoon movies and video games.

Never an originator of trends but often improved on them..

[withahip]

I'm confused, what the hell does that mean?

If both Ian and Bowie have produced some gems are they both worthy of praise or not?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I never saw him in the 70s but youtube, videos, and cds are an easy way to find make new memories.

Of course, I have checked his stuff now. It's not really a memory for me though. It's a newly discovered musician.

[withahip]

Of course, I have checked his stuff now. It's not really a memory for me though. It's a newly discovered musician.

That was the case for most of us.