I used to wonder how he would do in his 60's, of course the more time drags on the less likely we are to find out. I saw Paul McCartney and Neil Young last year, still fine musicians and performers in their 60's. Jagger, Fogerty, Cohen, and Van the man still cut the mustard. He would probably do another cool laid back show in a suit. I am really hoping though that he has one more balls to the wall, audience testing 'happening', like the Outside show I marvelled at in Toronto.
Fingers are still crossed.
Who have you seen in their 60's who can still perform with energy? And please don't say Elton and Billy Joel, I'd rather have a disease than sit through that show.
Her voice is superb and she has such energy... still!
I saw Bob D recently... he hardly moved, but Grace J was great (she can hula-hoop for England!), although rumour has it she's a year younger than she actually says she is. I also saw Bruce S at Highbury last year and he was pretty lively -- it was a good 'greatest hits' night!
Alice Cooper has amazing energy level on stage! must be from all that damn golf he plays. Neil Young in his mid 60s is still got tons of energy on stage putting on 2.5 hour shows. David hasn't had the high energy since the earthling days, Some of the Reality and Heathen shows i saw he hardly moved.
Re: What would a Bowie performance look like these days?
May 15 2009, 7:32 PM
I'm all with you for wanting that type of Outside show, Gouster.
Anyone heard any word on that 'new release' that Wossy was on about or is it another false alarm?
I've seen Blondie twice. Debbie was 60 the first time I saw her and 63 the second time. While always cool looking she does do some highly entertaining dancing. Defo has energy!
Is Brucie in his 60s? If so, he certainly looks well. Miles better than Steven who has yet to turn 50...
That's almost funny tonyday. Shlurr Alex is actually embarrassing on the touchline, he throws better tantrums than Ronnie the puppet! As for Rome I'm hoping of course that manure gets fed to the lions of Barcelona. Looks like they've won the league though, but we put up a great fight this year; the only contenders. Next year we will be competing for everything. My prediction is thus: Shlurr Alice will not be able to take our resurgence and will pack it in with a wrecked nervous system within 2 years of us winning the league. Don't bother with a witty retort, I know you have a sense of humour supporting that lot. YNWA
Lol! At least you're not a long-suffering Cardiff CIty fan. I do hope Sheff Utd get back to the top flight. I always had a soft spot over that Tevez business.
---------------------
Baal
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way
I imagine Mr. Bowie still singing with the same passion, feeling, and gusto he always did, and of course, he would sound like an angel -- and look the part, to boot. Yes, he would dance as he performed. Graceful, tasteful yet sexy dancing. No more grabbing of the "lowers" as in his Tin machine and Outside days, (sorry ladies!)and I don't think there would be any more baring of the torso, as he also did in his Tin machine days! (again, sorry, ladies.)Also, no giant crystal spiders, no Kool-Aid-colored shag haircuts, no sun-disks on his forehead or lightning flashes on his face, no lewd acts with his sidemen's musical instruments, and he would not be sitting in a big swing
He would revisit some of his classics, like Subterraneans and Beauty and the Beast and DJ, and even some of the "basement" tunes from his classic recordings, like "Criminal World" and "we Prick You" and "'87 and cry"
It would be a beautiful, enchanting, fun-filled, sparkling performance, as one would expect from The Gentleman.
Correct! He's nearly 60 according to that bastion of knowledge (Wikipedia)
Owt new? Yes indeed we must get in touch soon. I hope Steven shows up for his 26th. Lots of mutterings that he's winding down. Is it the end of the road d'you reckon or is that just morbid Moz fans?
Agreed. Nicely put, Sparkina. Did he really grab the 'lowers' in the Outside days?
What would the image be like? I vote for facial hair at least...
What would a Bowie performance look like these days?
May 16 2009, 11:53 AM
Compared to the performances of years gone by, pretty mundane and ordinary I should imagine.
Reading Sparkinas views, she mentions that the make up, lightning flashes, torso grabbing, etc, etc, antics wouldn't be there which is an inevitability of course due to the fact that Jonesy has now grown older, it's also exactly the point! surely all that we have witnessed before in previous years / decades is the MAIN reason we have all loved David Bowie for all these years?
I know there are those who will support David Bowie doing the older and more mundane thing come what may, and I respect their right to do so even though I can't really get on to their respective wave length in being able to see why they would want to accept a more boring over the hill db?? but here's the crunch point! I loved David Bowie for being David Bowie not for being a modern version of Tom Jones, when compared to what db could do in his more youthful years I fear the inevitable result of him doing a tour these days would result in a lot more mundane show / performance compared to what he gave us before. The Reality tour whilst OKish showed strong signs to me that the db I worshipped for so many years had finally started to wind down, with regards to real innovative art and pure David Bowie originality.
Can he do another show and prove me wrong? I just don't know, having said that though, I really do feel it's time to face facts & reality everyone. Don't shoot me! because I just see it as I honestly see it. I'm not happy about it, but there you go
I respect your opinion, but a show by The Gentleman could never be mundane, even if he didn't grab his "assets," perform shirtless, climb on a spider-shaped giant crystal, sit in a swing, or have hair the color of Kool-Aid. I think that style, grace, good solid musicianship, and that angelic voice count for just as much as the other stuff. A tasteful, graceful performance like this (click link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXZKsKD1UsY
Re: What would a Bowie performance look like these days?
May 16 2009, 4:28 PM
Yes, I do agree that an era is over, David Bowie will not be the same that everyone knew. It's over, it's okay.
I had some hope tho, that he could come up with a completely different, minimalist concert, focused on the music.... I was willing to see something like that. But I think he doesn't see any point in this. Not unless he comes up with an album that allows for such a performance... He could also dust off the eletronic numbers he did for Low, Heroes, Buddha, etc, but he already did something like that in the past, experienced it... Maybe he is not interested in this kind of concert.
Ive seen the new Police DVD and they certainly can still deliver a brilliant performance.
Regarding the most energetic,it just has to go to Jagger.He make look a little wrinkled. but he's still like an elastic band on stage
I reckon Bowie could still do it perfectly,he's just not arsed at the moment?
<< I respect your opinion, but a show by The Gentleman could never be mundane, even if he didn't grab his "assets," perform shirtless, climb on a spider-shaped giant crystal, sit in a swing, or have hair the color of Kool-Aid. I think that style, grace, good solid musicianship, and that angelic voice count for just as much as the other stuff. A tasteful, graceful performance like this (click link)
<br>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXZKsKD1UsY >>
Whilst he is giving a fairly straight performance here compared to say something like Glass Spider or Serious Moonlight, back then he carried a special aura about him, whether it was his weird / beautiful / alien looks, his skinny frame, his hair colour / hairstyle of the period, or simply because of the sheer mystery and originality of the guy back then.
Today the guy is 62! I'm not denying that he could probably still stand there, move around a bit and still deliver a decent tune, but he is simply too old these days to carry it off like he could back then. He didn't help his cause when he became all chatty and matey towards his fans and media starting a few years back.
To me there was always more to David Bowie than just a guy who could sing well and interview in a more open and revealing manner which we have been witness to in recent years, whilst giving a fairly straight performance on something like a TV show, there was so much more to David Bowie than that. Many different parts / elements fused together to make the complete whole, and whether we like it or not, age has quite simply taken away a major part of what David Bowie used to be.
Like I said, he could very well put a decent show on today, but no way will any future show have the same impact and sheer Bowie originality of previous tours from his younger days. Any future tour were there to be one? will probably be good and might even be innovative in a more mature way, but it will simply lack the sheer Bowieness ( for which read mundane) that first attracted me to him as a performer and kept me hooked all for all those years. I mean if he were to try and play it like he used to in previous years at the age of 62, he would simply look ridiculous, well to me he would anyway.
The only show I could maybe see him really getting away with today would be an acoustic or very minimalist arty type of show, but he would have to play it very straight with no gimmicks, stage persona's etc. which surely these days would put him on the same level ( as opposed to being light years ahead which David Bowie was ) as lots of other major talents who operate in that type of field. Welcome to the new era of David Jones as opposed to a new era of David Bowie ( possibly!? )
Very interesting thread. He won't tour again I am sure, but if he did I have no doubt he would come up with a new persona fitting for his age. Part of Bowie's charm is that he is always digified in his performances. He would never try to recapture anything from his youth.
Good points M.T. I could see him doing an intimate and interactive type show. The show I want least of all is another bloody greatest hits, saying that of course I will see him regardless. But I would love to be awed again, watching the NIN fans filing out of the Skydome in Toronto when he replaced Trent onstage was priceless. I want people pissed off because he doesn't do the obvious. David has often surprised us, one more time please...
If Bowie were to do a residency somewhere in NYC, maybe even at the Madison Square Garden Theater or something.. Say, a two or three week run with half new stuff and select older numbers that would gibe with whatever direction he would be in at the time. He could still gig, be home to be with his family without having to travel and it could serve as a cool way to test out new material without the stresses ans full-on obligations of a full-on tour. I kinda picture him doing something more abstract, adventurous and not necessarily commercial. Something that would be new enough to him to excite him to go out and perform. Or, hell, just do all new material during this residency (or at least, 90% of new stuff, or something).
I dunno; I just hope that one day Bowie records something new again. I can accept him not wanting to gig. One day perhaps maybe who knows peace .
<< If Bowie were to do a residency somewhere in NYC, maybe even at the Madison Square Garden Theater or something.. Say, a two or three week run with half new stuff and select older numbers that would gibe with whatever direction he would be in at the time. He could still gig, be home to be with his family >>
Bowie doing a residency anywhere smacks of someone who is totally finished, I mean who is he? an artist in the same vein of Frank bloody Sinatra!
Also whilst a residency in NYC might be OK for Americans it would be a total kick in the teeth for UK fans who might still wish to see him live, fans who after all supported him long before anyone else picked up on him, not to mention he is a British artist despite Bowie thinking he is some kind of honorary yank?? Are UK fans supposed to be both cash and time rich or something?
Yes! Bowie is an international artist, but as a British fan I'm constantly pissed off that everything Bowie these days, seems to revolve around sodding America just because he has decided to make New York his main home at the moment.
Less a "residency" than a matter of comfort and convenience: if he were to do a string of gigs somewhere in NYC, then he wouldn't need to uproot his family to tour..
Eh, what do I know? I'm jus' winging it LOL.
Cheers,
gge
-"Since I'm going to Hell, bet ya $20.00 it looks like a Rob Zombie production ."
![[linked image]](http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h293/trevorhalvo/DavidBowieMothership.jpg)
