#Bowie lazarus free

Numerous musicians and public figures also expressed their grief. Makeshift memorials were created in London, New York City, Berlin, and other cities in which Bowie had lived sales of his albums and singles saw a significant increase. He died two days after the release of his twenty-sixth and final studio album, Blackstar, which coincided with his 69th birthday.īowie kept his illness private, and friends and fans alike were surprised by his death. On 10 January 2016, English musician David Bowie died at his Lafayette Street home in New York City, having been diagnosed with liver cancer 18 months earlier. ‘Lazarus’, the song title, is a biblical figure that rose from the death, like Bowie in this song speaking to us from the death.Flowers outside David Bowie's New York City apartment in January 2016 With this album and this song, he turned his death into art, to match his life as David Bowie.īowie’s death is the key to understanding this song. Bowie knew he was dying when he wrote this song. Until everything became clear when Bowie died and everybody found out that he was diagnosed with cancer 18 months before. On the album release, this song seemed just to be another enigmatic artwork of Bowie, maybe a new faze that he was going through. His passing came as a big shock for almost everyone, because Bowie did only tell a select group of people about his condition and kept it out of publicity. Only two days later, 10 January 2016, Bowie died from cancer. On 8 January 2016, Bowie’s 69th birthday, the album 'Blackstar' was released. To understand these lyrics you will have to see them in context of his death. This song is, along with the rest of the album 'Blackstar', the final piece of art of David Bowie. Do you think Bowie knew that Elvis recorded a song in 1960 titled 'Black Star'? The first verse: It is the first one that doesn't feature Bowie's image on the cover art.

It's over.īlackstar is Bowie's 27th studio album. Once finished with his final composition, he stands and slowly but knowingly, retreats backwards and steps into the closet from which death entered. We see the little reaper girl occasionally, apparently allowing him some time to wrap things up. He sits and begins writing a note or letter. He's reviewing memories and important moments from his life.

#Bowie lazarus free

We next seen him free of bandages, up and on his feet, looking a little better and bright eyed. The levitation might also symbolize entering a state in between life to beyond. As she reaches for him, Bowie levitates in the bed. The ghostly girl who comes out of the closet and crawls under the bed is something of a grim reaper. It's symbolic of a weakened, end of life condition. He appears in a hospital bed, blindfolded with button eyes.

Tony Visconti, producer for Bowie's final album Blackstarīowie is saying goodbye to us in the video for 'Lazarus'. 'His death was no different from his life - a work of Art.'