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MISMATCHED_PAIR

                                             January 12, 2016

Two things about David Bowie:
                                              
   (1) While recording "Heroes" he joked "now          
   it's time to add some Bowie histrionics"
   (as opposed to "Frippertronics", I gather).         
                                                       
   That describes his constant approach:            
   melodramatic to a degree beyond "theatrical".    
   He could often get away with things no one       
   else would attempt.                              
                                                    
   He could even almost get "Wild is the Wind"   
   to work.  (Would you try to cover Johnny Mathis?)  



   (2) He was actually a pretty brilliant song-writer,
   and I think he occupys a turning-point in the
   transformation of science fiction from a reviled        PRESS_YOUR_SPACE_FACE
   sub-genre to a major part of the mainstream
   culture. Songs like "Saviour Machine", "Starman",
   "Pretty Things" and so on are really tightly
   crafted pieces of science fiction.  Other songs
   like "Life on Mars" and "Moonage Daydream" directly
   address what this imaginative mindset meant to 
   that particular youth culture.


            There you have it:
            style and substance,
            and both in abundance.






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