Saturday, 12 January 2019

Dying to Die

Black Mirror
When your time's up, your time's up; most of us, luckily, don't have the slightest clue when that is. But some of us, apparently, know when last orders have been called. David Bowie knew. He'd been preparing for it. Just listen to his final album - Blackstar; the album he released on his last birthday as an earthling. And, only two days later, achieving almost perfect mortality salience, he floated off in his tin can for the rest of eternity. (He didn't have Five Years left to die in.)

January is a pretty miserable month at the best of times. If it's not the teetotal puritans blockading pubs or right wing loonies telling us how great it's gonna be when Europe cut us loose, we are reminded that David Bowie left us three years ago this week. He was just 69. I'm not sure what that is in human years, but I do know he left behind more than a handful of songs that will never be forgotten. This being my personal favourite:

David Bowie - Conversation Piece (1969, released in '70)


Bowie must have liked it too; enough to put it on a B side, anyway. Conversation Piece is Bowie at his most fragile. Quite how it never made the cut for his Space Oddity long-player is beyond me. But he did rectify matters early the following century when he re-recorded it, made it sadder(?) and put it out on his Heathen album. I love them both.

David Bowie - Conversation Piece (2002)

David Bowie (b. 8 January 1947, d. 10 January 2016)
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7 comments:

  1. The Swede12 January 2019 at 10:04

    Mine too. The two versions top and tail a possible Bowie ICA I've been tinkering with, for JC over at The (New) Vinyl Villan.

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    1. John Medd13 January 2019 at 08:54

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. John Medd13 January 2019 at 09:02

      I shall look out for your ICA. Mine would fluctuate daily, but would always include Drive-In Saturday and Kooks. Always.

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  2. C12 January 2019 at 13:19

    Such a beautiful, poignat song, both versions - which always sends shivers up my spine.
    Look forward to that ICA, TS!

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    1. John Medd13 January 2019 at 08:56

      C - Beautiful, indeed. There's not a word in the song that doesn't need to be there. It's pitch perfect.

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  3. Alyson12 January 2019 at 17:42

    This is a new one for me, but really liked it - The second version with his deeper voice edges it for me. Three years though - doesn't feel like it.

    Yes, January is a bit of a s**t month, but nearly half-way through it already.

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    1. John Medd13 January 2019 at 08:58

      I'm glad you liked it (them) Alyson. What would your Bowie ICA look like?

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