david bowie

[depeon]

Is anyone else loving the new Bowie single or is it just me?

[inkinthewell]

Haven't heard it yet, but I'm loving that a new Bowie record is coming out.

[depeon]

Personally i think it is a beautiful haunting song, like a farewell. The piano sounds a bit like Sakamoto. It is good to have him back, I wouldn't be a huge fan but there is elements of his work which i adore.

[kitaj]

I love both the song and the video. it's a slow burner of a song, I like that.

[Bern]

I've always been a huge Bowie fan and he was obviously a major influence on Sylvian and I seem to pick up new references every day, I was playing Heroes in the car and the opening track Beauty and the Beast contains the line "like every good boy should" sound familiar?

[Blemished]

So am I the only who finds it horribly middle-of-the road?

The chorus does have a lovely elegy-like quality but for me that can't make up for the awful, plodding music.

[kitaj]

my appreciation is made easier by my not being a huge Bowie fan. my preferred album of his is, indeed, Outside, but I don't have a problem with any style or vein he decides to tackle, I usually appreciate all of them.
conversely, my being an uber-Sylvian fan mars my appreciation of, say, 'Heartbeat' and Nine Horses (his middle-of-the-road pap if I apply the above standards).

the best thing about the song for me is the frailty in his voice - that's a new one for me, coming from him.

[depeon]

Kitaj, i couldn't agree more regarding Bowie's voice in his new song and i'm glad that someone else has detected it. Now with regards to Heartbeat, one word, cheesy. Nine horses, i adore.

[pinenut]

i have never really been a Bowie fan and own non of his works. However heard the fuss over this "stealth" release and took a listen via his site. Love the track, very simple and languid but i think it works great. Well done Bowie.

[billster]

Its Bowie now. After being away for so long and with no previous hope of anything new, the context of this new release is moving enough initself. Songs don't exist in a Vacum, its also about when and where we are when we hear them..for that alone, I find it Deeply moving...also, Kudos for him not trying too hard..It is what it is with no guest rappers or the Like.

Im increasingly befuddled by Sylvian's esoteric direction, Id love him to 'revert' to such simple classic 'Plodding' structures...because with his voice and prescence, such a 'MOR' approach would be at this point subversive and risque...

[Stephenf]

Its Bowie now. After being away for so long and with no previous hope of anything new, the context of this new release is moving enough initself. Songs don't exist in a Vacum, its also about when and where we are when we hear them..for that alone, I find it Deeply moving...also, Kudos for him not trying too hard..It is what it is with no guest rappers or the Like.

Im increasingly befuddled by Sylvian's esoteric direction, Id love him to 'revert' to such simple classic 'Plodding' structures...because with his voice and prescence, such a 'MOR' approach would be at this point subversive and risque...

MOR subversive and risque at this point? Please do explain to me what you mean by that when to you refer to 'Plodding' structures as well.

[billster]

I mean that| Sylvian doing more long form, improvised, ambientesque improvising is what we've come to expect of him, so in that context its barely experimental stylistically.

If Sylvian came out with something like 'Where are we now' or a folkie album, it'd sound truly radical. (to these ears\ at least and obviously, Im only speaking for myself, that goes without saying).

[Simonp]

Im increasingly befuddled by Sylvian's esoteric direction, Id love him to 'revert' to such simple classic 'Plodding' structures...because with his voice and prescence, such a 'MOR' approach would be at this point subversive and risque...

I'm surprised people are still going on about Sylvian's 'esoteric' direction. Surely by now you would realise that this is where his heart lies whether we choose to like it or not?

[billster]

I'm not 'going on about it'.

I'm mentioning it in reference to Bowie's new single- which si the topic of this thread.

I'm glad and grateful for Sylvian's direction and work whatever direction it takes. even though personally I'm a bit tired by the latest 'reprocessed/poetry' releases..

My point was although Sylvian's current work is seen as challenging, outre and radical, I think him doing a 4 to the floor ballad, by comparison, at this point -Like Bowie's single - would in fact be radical and out there- for him.

Why do I feel like I'm addressing a special needs class. Is there an internet equivelent of a blackboard?

[Simonp]

Why do I feel like I'm addressing a special needs class. Is there an internet equivelent of a blackboard?

How delightful. Learn how to spell equivalent correctly before you start addressing people as having special needs.