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So, nearly a week later and we’re all still on a Bowie kick. A silver lining is that I got to revisit his catalog, something I haven’t done in some time. The song “Five Years” is one that I’ve heard but never gravitated to; too monotonous, too English, too Apocalyptic, too Glam…now topical, energetic, a classic, Glam is good.

As stated in my previous post, David Bowie was a true artist, a chameleon even: Ziggy Stardust>Aladdin Sane>Thin White Duke etc. In fact among his work in film and music he also studied Mime, most evident in his “Ashes to Ashes” video portraying the classic mime character, Pierrot.

In 1967, David Bowie teamed up with noted British mime, Lindsay Kemp for a stage production of the traditional Pierrot love story: Pierrot pining for his true-love Columbine who leaves him heartbroken when she chooses Harlequin. Bowie wrote the songs and performed the soundtrack, as well as portrayed the role of Cloud. Avant Garde in nature, the film artfully represents the classic story, even including some special effects with the mirror. Notably pre-rock Bowie the songs are part theater, part organ grinder, part dirge. Directed by Brian Mahoney, this Scottish production short film was released in 1970 and is a must see for completists.

The songs:

  1. When I Live My Dream
  2. Columbine
  3. The Mirror
  4. Threepenny Pierrot
  5. When I Live My Dream, Again

 

Quite possibly, this can all be tied together much too neatly in song with the love triangle of David, Angie Bowie, and Mick Jagger each figuring into appropriate roles in the Pierrot story. David and Angie’s marriage murdered in the same year that “Ashes to Ashes” was released. Too, this video/song brings things full circle: references to Major Tom and Space Odddity, nursery rhyme-like ending harkening back to his novelty single “The Laughing Gnome”, inverse color palate, and Pierrot costume as mentioned.

Be sure to watch Duncan Jones’ critically acclaimed movie Moon (2009). The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in this Sci-fi film directed by Bowie’s son that features Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey.  Exploring the ethics of clones and Artificial Inteligence.

While the space-age soundtrack from Clint Mansell is quite adequate, a song or two in the vein of “Starman” would have put it over the edge and brought it all back home.