This would be my Thesis Formatting Time theme song. ;)
(Also, this clip is from the Dinah Shore Show. Not even kidding.)
David Bowie, “Strangers When We Meet.” This version is from Outside (which I love), but he apparently recorded an earlier version for the soundtrack to The Buddha of Suburbia (which I’ve yet to see).
Something about this song is so sad but so… hopeful. You know? I only realized this just now, but it feels like a b-side to “Diamond Dogs” in a way. Like, Okay, so, hella crazytown apocalyptic shit happened, but now we’re here, and we’re okay. Hey there, Stranger.
Or I suppose it could just be about cruising, if I don’t wanna get so deep about it.
“David Bowie spends two hours before a show caressing his body with paint!”
The snotty dialogue is amazing.
(Also: Thanks, Boyfriend!)
“Panic in Detroit” from Aladdin Sane. Something about that opening guitar riff just gets. me. every. time.
I’m not sure why this is so in my head today. Maybe because I’m writing about my dad? (He’s from Michigan. Not from Detroit — but he has many, many stories about this era of Detroit politics & national politics in general, as he lived thru it all.)
David Bowie’s “Sweet Thing,” LIVE, & then some really awesome footage of Bowie talking about his artistic process (including writing from cut-ups). This is both totally hot & totally fascinating to me.
I dressed up like a glam rock groupie for the Folsom Eve Perverts Put Out last night, so it feels appropriate to be watching this over Folsom weekend. I’ve said this before, and I really do mean it: Glam rock is not unlike fetish for me. I think that I wear glitter the way some people wear leather or latex. I say that genuinely, earnestly, with a totally straight face. Watching old videos on youtube like this is not unlike porn for me. Everybody has their kinks. For a multitude of reasons — most of which have to do with some of my more complicated gender/genderqueer stuff — this is one of mine. (I may write about that more at some point; I also may not.)
Also, geeking out for a minute: Apparently this is the only available footage of the Diamond Dogs tour floating around. It’s from a documentary called Cracked Actor that is all up on youtube. Also also, the “Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)” song trilogy is probably my favorite thing Bowie has ever done of all time (“of all time!”). Thx, melissa.
Bowie’s “Queen Bitch,” from Hunky Dory. This is this week’s theme song/inspiration. In so many ways. Especially:
“If she says she can do it, then she can do it — she don’t make false claims!”
Veruca Salt, “With David Bowie.”
This is officially a great song to sing along & bounce around to on a bright beautiful summer’s day. Just sayin’.
<3
David Bowie’s “Look Back in Anger” from Lodger. I am earnestly loving this song today, but wow, the video is RIDICULOUS.
Bowie’s “Jump They Say” from BlackTieWhiteNoise. One of his hit or miss albums, and the video is… very weird. But damn, the song is catchy, and damn, the man looks handsome & sinister in a suit.
And I should really be doing homework right now. Getting back to that, now.
