Panelists Samantha Gold and Ford Donovan discuss refugees in Canada and elsewhere and common misconceptions about them, the state of the Montreal music scene and some of the greats we lost in the past few weeks including David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Plus an interview with Ryan from the Montreal band The Holds, the Community Calendar and Predictions!
The internet has been mourning and remembering David Bowie ever since news of his passing broke a week ago. Amidst all the sharing of classic Bowie tunes, astonishment at his latest video being a farewell (a performer to the end), personal tributes (like the one FTB’s Cat McCarthy did) anecdotes, musical tributes, Labyrinth nostalgia and his latest album going to number one in the US (something no Bowie album had done before) something caught my attention.
It was a video of a 1999 interview with Bowie by the BBC’s Jeremy Paxman. The conversation turned to the Internet, still a relatively new phenomenon at the time. This was when AOL still shipped CDs and many people still thought it was a fad or simply an emerging platform with which to get pretty much the same content.
Bowie had a different idea. He thought the Internet would fundamentally change the relationship between performer and audience. Over 16 years later, it’s clear he was right.
David Bowie’s enormous talent and creativity were a huge part of his success. His willingness to set trends instead of following them, all the while constantly reinventing his public persona, made it possible for him to have a cultural impact for decades. This much is widely known.
There was, however, a somewhat less known key to his prolonged influence. It was his mind. In particular, his ability to understand our culture on a fundamental level and see just where it was headed. If you want proof, just watch this video:
There are stars, legends, and then there’s David Bowie.
I was speechless.
My roommate got a text from her best friend that read “David Bowie is Dead.” Of course I had to check the facts, this can’t possibly be true. Just last week we lost Lemmy, now Bowie!
This can’t be real, an elaborate hoax to boost album sales, a mean trick for sure. I am sad to say it’s true. David Bowie is dead. Confirmed, fin. Cancer, he died of cancer before midnight today.
He was born David Jones on January 8th 1947 and died at age 69 on January 10, 2016, his life went full circle. died right after his birthday that he shared with Elvis, now they are together.
Bowie never faded, he sparkled till the very end, I didn’t even know he was sick. He just released Black Star, his 47th album. The video was so dark and abjectly weird, like much of his work, I loved it. In retrospect it was an ominous last piece that will linger forever, the final opus of a true genius.
Bowie is an otherworldly icon of mass proportions, he is a creature like no other, a magnetic innovator, provocative, androgynous, super star, pop icon, LEGEND. Without him the world wouldn’t have been the same.
He exploded into pop culture as pale waify English dandy boy and never looked back. He was whimsical, bold, charismaticaly fearless, and purely bewitching. Complete gender bent perfection, the makeup, hair, and elaborate costumes, a sensational freak, a rock star beyond rock and roll, he trended before trending was a thing. There will never ever be another like him. His soulful sexy voice resonates beyond music, it is magic, soothing and power evoking.
He rose to fame with Space Oddity in 1969, makes sense, he is not from this planet. Ziggy played guitar, well hung, a snow white tan. I can see why Iman, a statuesque goddess in her own right, married him in 1992. David Bowie was endowed in SO many ways. The Man Who Fell to Earth confirmed what we all knew was under that obvious buldge in Labyrinth.
I remember being absolutely moved by his performance in Labyrinth as a kid. That movie had a huge impact on my young mind. It was released in 1986, the year I was born. It was a profoundly bizarre piece of cinema, the Goblin King was always my favorite, kind of creepy and totally wonderful.
I even loved him as Andy Warhol in the Basquiat movie, it was a small part, but totally funny and a part only Bowie could have pulled off. And who could forget his cameo in Zoolander! There is just so much I can’t mention it all. You know that though, you love him too.
What can I say about the influence David Fucking Bowie had on my life: wow. I had a giant Alladin Sane poster hanging on my wall through the most tumultuous years of my life. My cat’s name is Ziggy. He is the reason why glitter is my favorite color.
I regret every day that I never got to see him live. He came to Buffalo when I was in high school and I couldn’t afford it. I probably would have cried when he started to sing.
As a burlesque performer David Bowie is crucial to my success, I have danced to his music many times. Rebel Rebel was one of my first performances. His makeup and style inspired my own exploration of fashion. I tore my dress right off during the show, my hair was a mess, and my mother was completely in a whirl. I related to his words and basked in the weirdness, he made it ok.
If you have ever been on stage you have been influenced by David Bowie. I can hear the hearts of my family of performers when they hear the sad news of his passing. A lot of shows will be dedicated to him in the coming days. He was truly important.
Goblin King, Goblin King, wherever you may be… rest in peace you beautiful soul, thank you for changing us all with your magnificent art and godlike presence Thank you for being a true original in a bleak plastic world. You have inspired us all to be ourselves and bravely do what we feel, no matter how weird it seems. You blazed trails, you said it best every time and looked incredible while doing it. You sir, will never be forgotten.
“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring”
Arcade Fire has been teasing fans with the new single off their forthcoming album Reflektor, setting 9/9 @ 9 pm as the launch of the first new track but the interwebs have gotten a hold of the new song and leaked it early. The song is titled “Reflektor“ and features David Bowie singing alongside the Montreal group. While it is unconfirmed that Bowie is actually on the album, he was in studio with the band and producer James Murphy during recording.
This is also the suspected artwork for the album. I like that the song track list reads like a sing-songy poem.
Front and Back cover of the album? Single?
Arcade Fire also played a secret show on Wednesday night for few dozen lucky fans at Salsatheque.
As per ThemainMTL:
“Arcade Fireplayed a short set of all new material. The show was unexpectedly dance-oriented, due to the upbeat rhythms of conga drums and electronic flourishes alongside their most poppy sounds. Although the song lyrics shared the same themes as past releases, they traded their somber orchestral sound for something more contemporary.”
Let us know what you think of the song in the comments below and don’t forget to share!
