The singer David Bowie died as he had lived. He turned his music, his lyrics, his voice, his last illness, above all his appearance, into a single art form. His last album, Blackstar, and particularly its second track, “Lazarus”, was described by its producer as the star’s final message to his millions of fans. It begins: “Look up here, I’m in heaven.” A man who lived ironically died ironically, so it might be stretching things to read a deliberate religious feeling into his words. But neither could it be categorically denied: he had a strong spiritual side. Bowie loved enigma and ambivalence, including the enigma of his own being – the basis of his art – and the ambivalence surrounding his sexuality. It is revealing to put him at the end of
14 January 2016, The Tablet
Inspired gaiety of David Bowie
Get Instant Access
Continue Reading
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £30 quarterly
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
The full weekly edition in print and digital including our 179 years archive.
PDF version to view on iPad, iPhone or computer.
Already a subscriber? Login