David Bowie passes away at age 69

[Anonymous]

RIP David Bowie

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35278872">http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35278872

Singer David Bowie has died at the age of 69 from cancer.



Tributes have been paid from around the world to the "extraordinary artist" whose last album was released days ago.



His son, film director Duncan Jones, confirmed the news and a statement was issued on his social media accounts.



"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer," it said, asking for privacy for the family.



His son, who directed Bafta-winning film Moon, wrote on Twitter: "Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all."



Bowie's hits include Let's Dance, Changes, Space Oddity, Starman, Modern Love, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel Rebel and Life on Mars.



He was also well known for creating his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust.



The singer, who had been living in New York in recent years, only released his latest album Blackstar on his birthday on Friday.



The album, which includes just seven songs, has been well received by critics and was intended as a "parting gift" to the world, according to long-time friend and producer Tony Visconti.



Visconti wrote on Facebook: "His death was no different from his life - a work of art.



"He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift.



"I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us."



The Rolling Stones paid tribute to "an extraordinary artist" and a "true original".



Friend and collaborator Iggy Pop wrote on Twitter: "David's friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is."



Madonna said she was "devastated" and that Bowie had "changed her life". She wrote on Twitter: "Talented . Unique. Genius. Game Changer. The Man who Fell to Earth. Your Spirit Lives on Forever!"



Rapper Kanye West said: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."

[keeper]

Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Very sad.

I was shocked..



He had been battling cancer for eighteen months, but it was kept from the media..



He was a pop music icon.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't a fan, but I know his impact on the industry. This song used to make me cringe.

[Anonymous]

This is my favourite song by David Bowie.

[Anonymous]

David Bowie's death is the top story on national news and local news..



He influenced so many artists.

[Anonymous]

Man was I shocked when I found out he had died.

 

I liked Rebel Rebel

[Anonymous]

The other thing I want to say is that I thought this was a hoax. There is a hoax that legendary guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath died.

[Anonymous]

The other thing I want to say is that I thought this was a hoax. There is a hoax that legendary guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath died.

It was very surprising Herman..



He kept his cancer a secret.

[Anonymous]

I actually cried about this.  I was raised on Bowie. My favorite movie as a kid was Labrynth.  I don't get the sudden domino effect of all these good artists but if all we have left at the end of the year is Kanye this will be a world I don't wanna live in lol. Even my kids are sad about Bowie, they loved him to. We blasted his music often. They love Labrynth too.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't a fan, but I know his impact on the industry. This song used to make me cringe.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't a fan, but I know his impact on the industry. This song used to make me cringe.

[J0E]

I wasn't a fan, but I know his impact on the industry. This song used to make me cringe.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't a fan, but I know his impact on the industry. This song used to make me cringe.

[Anonymous]

"According to Wikipedia it was co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, inspired by Iggy's obsession with a Vietnamese woman he knew.



Now read it again, only every time it says "China girl", say "Heroin".



China White was a street name for α-Methylfentanyl, which was a popular recreational drug in the 1970s, similar to Heroin but much more potent. The song is about the effects of addiction to the drug, personified as a girl. Bowie and Iggy both had serious and well publicized drug problems during the 1970s and this song is more than likely inspired by their experience.



The part about "visions of swastikas" may be a veiled apology for Bowie's brief flirtation with Nazi imagery and ideas. He'd attracted considerable negative publicity for pro-Nazi comments in interviews, apparently giving a Nazi salute to fans outside a train station in the UK and was stopped at the Russian-Polish border for posessing Nazi paraphernalia. He later confessed that his judgement at the time was impaired by his drug addiction.



So no, it's not racist, because the "China Girl" of the title is a personification of the drug the singer is addicted to, and not really anything to do with China or the Chinese people.

Written 31 Dec 2013 • "   my bad....it was iggy pop who talked it somewhere. I'll have to look.