Hi. I'd like to share a few words about the last song on Ziggy. Bowie's Rock 'N Roll Suicide conveys the theme that a star has no choice but to kill himself when he gets old.

Notice the words of age in this song: "Time," "clock," "too old," "stumble," and "forget." This song paints a clear picture of a star grown old. Because of this, he has no choice but to die.

At this age, the whole world, which once embraced him, now rejects him. Even the chev brakes "snarl" as the star crosses the street. It's better to "hurry home" than let the sun shine upon that face.

The narrator pleas that the aged star is "not alone," but he nonetheless is. The singer wants to help him "with the pain" because there is so much pain. It's as if "all the knives lacerate" his brain.

Because his head is "all tangled up" there is only fear, darkness and confusion. The only solace is suicide.

The singer pleas to him "gimme your hands" and "you're wonderful" but it's too late. Watch that man: he is a Rock 'N Roll Suicide.

That's why the album is called the Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust!

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Baal

I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way

http://www.helden.org.uk

To all intents and purposes, Ziggy did.
There's a few failed Messiahs in Mr. Bowie's work...it animated his take on Newton in TMWFTE, which certainly resonated through the next several albums.

It was definitely murder - but was it art?

In no particular order; some musical and cultural quasi-vermon (not just regular vermon; rats have a right to life; they don't make music that pisses any one of us off LOL!)

-Lady Gaga
-Creed
-Kanye West (too much like a day at the mall for me)
-The High School Musical Phenomena
-Any current, touring production of The Grateful Dead (I wish I could say I was, providing they were, uh, dead ...)

-U2 sometimes reminding me of the Black Eyed Peas/Coldplay demographic with the new album. Sometimes being privy to the tastes of younger top 40 generations can poison your art. I dunno; I hate those oven-mitt-soft, night at the club with my non-alcoholic Shirley Temple drum machines and b.s. pop aesthetic. I love U2. I just find some of this new album to be a bit overpraised and underfed with some heavier substance. That, and "Get On Your Boots" nicks "Vertigo" a bit too much for my liking, and some off-time singing of Bono's during the title track for 'No Line On The Horizon'.

Eh, I'm boring myself. The first five? Send 'em to the pyre ..



gge

-"Since I'm going to Hell, bet ya $20.00 it looks like a Rob Zombie production ."

I'd like to propose a $10,000 fine for every use of Autotune.

I'm okay, you're so-so

Yes:
A rock star ShoulD just kill themselves... and repeatedly untill it looks good and it looks like art!
Viva snarly chevies!
..and uncooked orchids ;-P

Anyone that simulates lopping their own head off at their own gig will always be cool .

-"Since I'm going to Hell, bet ya $20.00 it looks like a Rob Zombie production ."

And they can take or leave it if they please.

kill the character, keep the man

It is all about re-invention and fresh ideas. That's why Bowie lasted so long with people of taste. Most people have shit taste though, mind...so even shite bands have lasted. Just filter the shite and you'll be alright.

Should David Bowie have committed artistic suicide like we have often witnessed during recent years

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Artistic suicide would be something more akin to doing one of those long stands in Vegas, don't you think?
Despite some lapses of taste, Mr. Bowie has never been that kind of artist.

I'm okay, you're so-so

<< Artistic suicide would be something more akin to doing one of those long stands in Vegas, don't you think? <br> Despite some lapses of taste, Mr. Bowie has never been that kind of artist.>>

I beg to differ.

Tonight, NLMD, Hours, Reality.

Most of his films apart from the VERY! odd one like TMWFTE & MCML

Appearing as a backing singer to the likes of Scarlet Johansson!?

Blowing his hard won reputation as a top grade artistic music talent by appearing like a washed up has been, in comedy's like Extras in which he wasn't even that funny and doing voice overs for projects like Sponge Bob??

Playing the role of sober suited hen pecked husband to Iman, whilst making himself look a prat by hanging onto her coat tails at every socialite function on the social calender.

I could go on! Whilst some of the things he has done could be regarded as just bad taste as well as genuine artistic suicide, the fact that he puts himself in these situations and has produced some mediocre albums is artistic suicide purely with regards to his hard won reputation alone and how he used to be perceived!

More and more I'm hearing from people in general conversation that Bowie is starting to be considered as a bit of a joke these days, compared to the days when he was really admired.

It wouldn't surprise me if he did take up a Las Vegas residency these days

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A reasonable opinion; on the other hand he didn't create endless variations on "Let's Dance" or spend his sunset years making interminable nostalgia tours (like some bands I could mention). He's made artistic mistakes, maybe a lot, but I'd give him credit for doing something other than repeat himself (see 'some bands', above).

And I thought he was funny on "Extras".

I'm okay, you're so-so

Extras seems so long ago.