David Bowie died on 10th January 2016.
He had spent his life adopting multiple personas that have been linked to a family history of
schizophrenia.
The philosopher Simon Critchley argues that Bowie’s lyrics are about yearning and by being oblique it enables us to fill the gaps with our imaginations, with our longing.
It is for this reason that Bowie will have the longevity not enjoyed by many artists.
Ashes to Ashes, funk to flunky
We know Major Tom’s a junky
Strung out in heaven’s high
Reaching an all time low
Here according to Critchley we have depression as a result of addiction from a recurring character in Bowie songs. Not only does it reflect a well known symptom of heavy cocaine use which many who have the habit can directly relate to, but also uses the name of Bowie’s 1977 album Low which serves as an attempt to bring to an end the drug infused state that occurred while Bowie was playing the Thin White Duke.
David Bowie’s contribution to music and culture from the early 1970’s on is immeasurable and his chameleon capacity makes him one of the true superstar’s of our time.
