I agree with much of what you say about the movie. It totally ignored him getting sober in AA some time around 1990. For any alcoholic/addict, getting sober is the great fact of one's life, as rare and as transformative it is for the lucky ones who make it out alive. It was important enough to him to have our "Serenity Prayer" tattooed, in Japanese, on his lower calf along with a dolphin.
As far as his post-1990 work, "Heathen" remains solidly in my top five album list. Thanks for this blog. I did a search for David Bowie and found you. Much to read!
Thanks Knox - I really appreciate your message, and yes, Bowie's alcoholism and getting sober is often sadly overlooked. Great that you like Heathen too, and I hope you enjoy what you find here. I've just been working all of this up into a book, due to be published in 2026 - these are very much the rough drafts!
Right, have finally seen the work in question. I tried to keep our conversation pushed far enough back in my mind as to form as uninfluenced an impression as I could. That said, I am not at all inclined to disagree with you. There wasn't much that felt truly new to me, it would have been totally engaging and unobjectionable if just sold as a music video or if I were the sort of person who wanted only to have in idol to worship (without challenge to the enchanting illusion), and it feels improper of the official estate to present this work that ignores everything we know about his sense of humour and the import of collaboration to his career and process. Anyway, just checking back in now that I've seen it.
I haven't yet seen the film, but I've still come back to this one a couple times. (I also appreciate that I'm now less anxious about the delay, knowing I've likely seen most the footage already...on YouTube...) I feel safe believing the film is what you say, in which case the shortcomings you point out are truly concerning. I suppose I'll watch it, once I have the chance, as if it's a fan-made music video. I appreciate that you are one of those who can see around your love of something to come to clear points. It is too common that people allow their love to make them unable (unwilling) to see flaws OR that they use it as some kind of odd fuel to churn out the sort of hot hatred that is barely coherent. And, as an artist who has also felt the way that humour and over-seriousness battle in me AND who has seen the ways that strong collaborators are miracles...Well, an extra dose of appreciation. This was a worthy interlude.
Thank you, Amber - yes, watching it as if it's a fan-made music video is a really good idea. I think the 'officialness' adds a fair bit to my concerns. And Bowie is excellent in it so there's a fair bit to enjoy! Very much looking forward to your views.
I absolutely think that the fact it's official is a problem worth noting, probably the biggest of the problems. It's frustrating enough when there's a fan (of anything) who leans into the view of those involved as something more than human, but when it becomes the party line...and when that party line contradicts things Bowie and others around him have said about who he really was (aka someone with a big, silly sense of humour who deeply appreciated and valued his collaborators)...I agree with you that that is of real concern. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be getting back to you again whenever I finally get to see it!
This is a profound and discerning commentary on the nature of artistry. The world does need to understand the vital role of weakness and vulnerability in the act of becoming 'a god' in our celebrity culture.
I agree with much of what you say about the movie. It totally ignored him getting sober in AA some time around 1990. For any alcoholic/addict, getting sober is the great fact of one's life, as rare and as transformative it is for the lucky ones who make it out alive. It was important enough to him to have our "Serenity Prayer" tattooed, in Japanese, on his lower calf along with a dolphin.
As far as his post-1990 work, "Heathen" remains solidly in my top five album list. Thanks for this blog. I did a search for David Bowie and found you. Much to read!
Thanks Knox - I really appreciate your message, and yes, Bowie's alcoholism and getting sober is often sadly overlooked. Great that you like Heathen too, and I hope you enjoy what you find here. I've just been working all of this up into a book, due to be published in 2026 - these are very much the rough drafts!
Right, have finally seen the work in question. I tried to keep our conversation pushed far enough back in my mind as to form as uninfluenced an impression as I could. That said, I am not at all inclined to disagree with you. There wasn't much that felt truly new to me, it would have been totally engaging and unobjectionable if just sold as a music video or if I were the sort of person who wanted only to have in idol to worship (without challenge to the enchanting illusion), and it feels improper of the official estate to present this work that ignores everything we know about his sense of humour and the import of collaboration to his career and process. Anyway, just checking back in now that I've seen it.
Thanks Amber; a characteristically thoughtful comment.
I haven't yet seen the film, but I've still come back to this one a couple times. (I also appreciate that I'm now less anxious about the delay, knowing I've likely seen most the footage already...on YouTube...) I feel safe believing the film is what you say, in which case the shortcomings you point out are truly concerning. I suppose I'll watch it, once I have the chance, as if it's a fan-made music video. I appreciate that you are one of those who can see around your love of something to come to clear points. It is too common that people allow their love to make them unable (unwilling) to see flaws OR that they use it as some kind of odd fuel to churn out the sort of hot hatred that is barely coherent. And, as an artist who has also felt the way that humour and over-seriousness battle in me AND who has seen the ways that strong collaborators are miracles...Well, an extra dose of appreciation. This was a worthy interlude.
Thank you, Amber - yes, watching it as if it's a fan-made music video is a really good idea. I think the 'officialness' adds a fair bit to my concerns. And Bowie is excellent in it so there's a fair bit to enjoy! Very much looking forward to your views.
I absolutely think that the fact it's official is a problem worth noting, probably the biggest of the problems. It's frustrating enough when there's a fan (of anything) who leans into the view of those involved as something more than human, but when it becomes the party line...and when that party line contradicts things Bowie and others around him have said about who he really was (aka someone with a big, silly sense of humour who deeply appreciated and valued his collaborators)...I agree with you that that is of real concern. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be getting back to you again whenever I finally get to see it!
This is a profound and discerning commentary on the nature of artistry. The world does need to understand the vital role of weakness and vulnerability in the act of becoming 'a god' in our celebrity culture.
Thanks Sheila - that's most kind of you.