David Bowie Cool

I was a little late to the David Bowie fan club.

I became a big fan of British rock in the early 90s when I could explore outside my dad`s music collection. I was obsessed with Radiohead and Oasis in my teenage years, but remember when I picked up David Bowie's 'Earthling' in 1997. There was something about the album cover with Bowie in a Union Jack coat and songs titled 'Dead Man Walking' and 'I'm Afraid of Americans'. My dad didn't listen to Bowie, so I didn't know Earthling was another album in a long catalogue of music, nor did I give it much thought at the time.

In my teens, I lived in my parent's basement and would get stereo gear my dad passed down to me. He`s a bit of an audiophile, so I count myself fortunate. I remember using this monster Dynaco 400 watt amp that he built with its own pre-amp. I had two humongous tower speakers with 15" woofers and horn tweeters. It was like a concert downstairs, every day, and I was always looking for something new to play. Earthling was fast, loud, and perfect for turning the volume up. I would put it on once and a while, in rotation with my other favourites.

When I first went to college in 1998, I met Kris. We were both in the Electronics program at SAIT and shared interests in music and culture. We both dabbled in various instruments and I remember going to a friend's basement with him for a jam session. The song Starman was playing when we walked in. It wasn't immediate who was singing, but I remember Kris saying "Bowie."

Mind blown.

I went to the record store soon after, looked in the Bowie section and discovered a gold mine that I never knew existed before Earthling. Bowie got another adoring fan, a couple decades after the release of my now favourites, Space Oddity, Five Years and the Man Who Sold the World.

Bowie released a new album recently called The Next Day, his first studio album in a decade. The song The Stars (Are Out Tonight) is an honest interpretation of the role celebrities play in our culture and the video with Tilda Swinton is captivating. I like to think Bowie is revealing a small glimpse into his life with these songs and if you listen really closely, you might even make out a few secrets. Review and thoughts on this latest release aside, what is clear is that Bowie still carries the charisma, charm, creativity and genius that has been unambiguous since the days of Ziggy Stardust.

Lately, I've been thinking to myself, I hope I'm half as cool when I'm 66.