As those of you who know me know, I have always been entertained, fascinated and inspired by a young man named David Bowie. Perhaps you've heard of him.
He's one of those old fashioned all-round entertainers, but He's particularly fond of producing music. Timeless music (and decades of it), comprising of such a diverse range of sounds and ideas as to make you wonder which planet this talented genius came from. His genres of choice and artistic vision for each album has always been ahead of the curve (with the exception of 80's albums Tonight and Never Let Me Down, which were somewhat behind). He has influenced every recording artist you care to name in the last forty years. - Yep, every single one of them. (Yes, even them!)
His ability to foreshadow musical trends is astonishing even to me. Assuming that He hasn't stolen the keys to my time machine, the man truly is a genius. I feel honoured to be sharing a planet with Him.
But what's waxing lyrical about a fellow genius got to do with Jon's genius ideas? Very good question, imaginary reader. I'll tell you...
About five years ago, in the days when it had seemed that He may have retired, I thought up a fantastic idea for a David Bowie concept album. I also thought it would be a great idea to write a letter to tell Him of said genius idea. The concept was as follows: He should record an album of new songs, each song written and sung in the style of a different Bowie era. Not only that, but for the sake of authenticity, the appropriate instruments and recording technology of the time should be employed, as well as the appropriate musicians and producers for each era (assuming they're still alive. - No-one needs to bother exhuming Mick Ronson*). The whole album would be like a mixed alternative reality 'best of' album. It'd be called Evolution, or some such. Perhaps a naff title, but the more I thought about the album name, the more I realised that didn't really matter - It was the concept that was important.
There'd be a track from his hippy 60's era, a Man Who Sold The World style prog-rock epic, a couple of Ziggy-like glam-rock song, a plastic-soul number, a couple of Eno-written/produced songs, a new romantic song, a pop 80's hit, a song about goblins, a tin-machine-esque rock song, an experimental quirky one that sounded like it was from Outside, a drum'n'bass track, and finally a couple of contemporary tunes that sound like His more recent output. This was a great idea! Ok, maybe not the Tin Machine style song, but the rest of it's all good.
Two weeks ago Bowie released his first studio album since 2003. The Next Day is awesome. It's probably His best album in the last 30 years, and I'm not just saying that.
...Ok, I am just saying that. But if you give it a listen, I'm sure your ears (and eventually your brain) will agree with me, and then you'll be saying that too.
When you hear The Next Day for the first time it's quite obvious that some of the songs sound similar to earlier incarnations of Bowie. On repeat listens, you can pick out a different corresponding album from his back catalogue (from Ziggy onwards) for almost every song on the album. Have a listen yourself and I'm sure you'll agree. Some are more obvious than others though.
My track/album comparisons are as follows:
1. The Next Day : Scary Monsters
2. Dirty Boys : Lodger
3. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) : Reality
4. Love Is Lost : Heathen
5. Where Are We Now? : Hours
6. Valentine's Day : Ziggy Stardust
7. If You Can See Me : Earthling
8. I'd Rather Be High : Heroes
9. Boss of Me : Diamond Dogs
10. Dancing Out in Space : Black Tie White Noise
11. How Does the Grass Grow : The Next Day**
12. (You Will) Set the World on Fire : Tin Machine
(maybe. not so sure about that one^ I've never heard Tin Machine)
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die : Young Americans (maybe)
14. Heat : Outside
**Ok, I couldn't really think of which specific album sounds like track 11. It sort of encompasses lots of Bowie albums... which in itself make it quite typical of this album.
4. Love Is Lost : Heathen
5. Where Are We Now? : Hours
6. Valentine's Day : Ziggy Stardust
7. If You Can See Me : Earthling
8. I'd Rather Be High : Heroes
9. Boss of Me : Diamond Dogs
10. Dancing Out in Space : Black Tie White Noise
11. How Does the Grass Grow : The Next Day**
12. (You Will) Set the World on Fire : Tin Machine
(maybe. not so sure about that one^ I've never heard Tin Machine)
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die : Young Americans (maybe)
14. Heat : Outside
**Ok, I couldn't really think of which specific album sounds like track 11. It sort of encompasses lots of Bowie albums... which in itself make it quite typical of this album.
I know what you're thinking. And the answer is no, I'm not sure that I do have too much time on my hands. And also I realise maybe four or five of the tracks don't exactly sound like the album I've linked them to,... but some really do. Particularly tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 14. They sound like giving them a retro album style was the very idea. And what a great idea it was.
So, did the Gobin King actually go with my idea? ... Well no, because I never actually wrote to Him. I mean, you've gotta ask yourself, am I even worthy to communicate with the great man?
So how come He ended up making an album that seems so close to my original genius idea, even though I'd never published this idea until now? Perhaps He did steal my time machine after all. Other than that, I'd say that it's more likely a case of great minds thinking alike; He must've come up with this genius idea on His own. I mean, it's not like He's omniscient.
*Thinking about it, Ronno would make a pretty good zombie.
So how come He ended up making an album that seems so close to my original genius idea, even though I'd never published this idea until now? Perhaps He did steal my time machine after all. Other than that, I'd say that it's more likely a case of great minds thinking alike; He must've come up with this genius idea on His own. I mean, it's not like He's omniscient.
*Thinking about it, Ronno would make a pretty good zombie.
