John Raleigh - David Bowie

              Although not overlooked in the readings and clips, David Bowie is very influential and deserves the attention. Bowie was one of the first to really put himself out there, including through his sexuality. He dressed very differently than anyone at the time, wore makeup, and came out as bisexual. His whole manner was very androgynous, particularly for the time. Presently, he is known, whether you like him or not, as one of the most influencial musicians of the 20^th century and one of the best-selling music artists worldwide. Being so well known, it is no surprise that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. His visual art, including music videos were also something very new. They were brightly colored and angles which only added to the experience. His music was very rocky, with many electrical sounds, which he used to his advantage. Some of Bowie’s most popular songs, of which many he received rewards for (in the UK alone he received 10 Platinum album certifications, 11 gold certifications, 8 silver ones, AND he released 11 albums which reached number 1!) are: Heroes (1977), Space Oddity (1969), Let’s Dance (1983), Under Pressure (with Queen, 1982), and Dancing in the Street (1985). Aside from being a great musician, Bowie was also a great actor with his own unique style. He starred in multiple films amongst which are: the Labyrinth, the Prestige, Absolute Beginners, The Hunger, and Basquiat (to which people have accredited Bowie as the best Andy Warhol performance). In terms of legacy, Bowie is extraordinary. Bowie changed the sound of rock; his record company promoted him with the slogan “There’s old wave, there’s new wave, and there’s David Bowie.” People have noted that, in the beginning, 1970s progressive rock wasn’t progressing very much, mostly due to a lack of will to change. That is, until Bowie came along and, well, changed it. Furthermore, Bowie did not just stick to rock, he was successful in many different music styles. As a result, it is difficult to find a current day act (or post-Bowie) that has not been influenced by him; in 2000, David Bowie was toed the most influential artist of all time by other stars, not just the public. Sadly, Bowie past away in 2016 due to his lung cancer, but his legacy will live on.

              Fun fact about Bowie: his eyes are actually the same color-his pupils however are a different size which leads to the perception of different iris colors. The condition is called anisocoria.

Here are some songs and performances to check out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBuwC4VJi50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYMCLz5PQVw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDh_gHDvkk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViftZTfRSt8