I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about this week. Unfortunately, I found my topic, and I have to admit, I feel a bit like Major Tom as I spiral out of control …
David Bowie, the blissfully eternal Starman, passed away Jan. 10 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
“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,” his representatives confirmed late Sunday night.
Bowie was a driving force not just in the music industry, but for all those moved by true art.
Joseph Campbell once wrote – coincidentally I read these words today – “The goal of life is rapture. Art is the way we experience it.”
Campbell was right. Bowie’s music was rapture; his persona as infinite as the stars. Reading the news of his death sent a shiver through my entire body … words can’t express – the time I spent getting lost in his lyrics, dancing (if only with myself) to his music and singing (quite badly) along to “Moonage Daydream” in my car will forever be cherished.
As a child, I never realized how much I loved David Bowie because the enormity of his career never really fazed me. His songs spoke to me and resonated in a way I couldn’t explain.
When I got a little older and started to pay attention to artists and their music, I realized a lot of the songs I loved hearing as a kid were from Bowie.
With a powerhouse voice, striking eyes and a frame that made you question if it was ever big enough for his stardom, the musician was an enigma of a vivacity that surpassed a tangible existence.
He was a man of many talents. His fluidity in music is unrivaled, and he sank from sound to sound like a snake slithering on the ground. It’s a beautiful thing we were able to experience his genius.
His music was a rarity indeed, and his work speaks for itself. Although it never needed the extra boost or showmanship, Bowie, the ever insistent artist, never settled for anything other than greatness. Androgyny, dramatics and honesty – he spoke to so many individuals and moved bodies and hearts alike.
While news of his death is a formidable piece of information that has left many uneasy, his hits are endless and music eternal.
That’s the thing about true art, and it’s the thing about music. What makes it so beautiful is the sovereign and subjective experience you get from it. Bowie’s music pulled at our emotions, and like the moon shifting tides, made waves effortlessly in the hearts of many.
His music was versatile, and he made it OK to be yourself. He was always himself. He knew how to be, and how to sink into nature. His music gave us peace of mind, and for that I’m thankful.
David Bowie, you were not just mine, but everyone’s. You are the Starman for every soul consumed by your art. Rest easy and safe travels.
Source:: Rest Easy my Beloved Starman …