Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. "Space Oddity", released in 1969, was his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Bowie's single "Starman" and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as "plastic soul", initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the album Young Americans. In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the "Berlin Trilogy". "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.
After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and "Under Pressure" (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved massive commercial success in the 1980s starting with Let's Dance (1983). Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with The Next Day. He remained musically active until his death from liver cancer at his home in New York City. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016).
During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In the UK, he was awarded ten platinum, eleven gold and eight silver album certifications, and released 11 number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie
Studio albums
David Bowie (1967)
David Bowie/Space Oddity (1969)
The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Hunky Dory (1971)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Pin Ups (1973)
Diamond Dogs (1974)
Young Americans (1975)
Station to Station (1976)
Low (1977)
"Heroes" (1977)
Lodger (1979)
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
Let's Dance (1983)
Tonight (1984)
Never Let Me Down (1987)
Black Tie White Noise (1993)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
Outside (1995)
Earthling (1997)
Hours (1999)
Heathen (2002)
Reality (2003)
The Next Day (2013)
Blackstar (2016)
Blackout
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your lips cut a smile on your face
(Your scalding face) to the cage, to the cage
She was a beauty in a cage
Too, too high a price
To drink rotting wine from your hands
(Your fearful hands) get me to a doctor's, I've been told
I just cut and blackout
I'm under Japanese influence and my honor's at stake
The weather's grim, ice on the cages
Me, I'm Robin Hood and I puff on my cigarette
Panthers are steaming, stalking, screaming
If you don't stay tonight
I will take that plane tonight
I've nothing to lose, nothing to gain
I'll kiss you in the rain
Kiss you in the rain (kiss you in the rain)
Kiss you in the rain (kiss you in the rain)
In the rain (in the rain)
Get me to the doctor
Get me off the streets
(Get some protection)
Get me on my feet
(Get some direction)
Hot air gets me into a blackout
Oh, get me off the streets
Get some protection
Oh, get me on my feet
(Woo-hoo) while the streets block off
Getting some skin exposure to the blackout (get some protection)
Get me on my feet (get some direction, woo-hoo)
Oh, get me on my feet
Get me off the streets (get some protection)
Get a second, get a (woo-hoo)
Yeah, get a second breath and pass, second go, blackout
The lyrics of David Bowie's song Blackout are full of obscure and cryptic references, making them open to different interpretations. The song is evocative of the post-punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s, characterized by a sense of disillusionment, confusion, and angst. The opening lines suggest the singer observing someone walking away while sporting a fake smile on their face - someone maybe trying to escape from their problems. The cage symbolizes the mental and emotional limitations that keep us trapped in our own minds. The reference to rotting wine probably alludes to the futility of seeking pleasure and redemption in destructive behaviors. The singer realizes their situation and seeks help; however, their Japanese influence (Bowie's fascination with Japanese culture is well-known) puts them in a difficult position where their honor is at stake. The chorus is full of urgency, and the singer seems to be in a state of panic, unsure of what's happening around them. The reference to Robin Hood is probably symbolic of Bowie's own identity as an outsider who tries to challenge the established order.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the state of society and the human condition. The singers seem to have lost their way, and their mind struggles to find a way out. The weather and the panthers add to the tension, portraying a sense of danger lurking around the corner. The chorus is the singer's cry for help, asking someone to take them to a doctor, get them off the streets, and provide them with some direction and protection. The final lines are the singer's ode to resilience and taking control of their life. They are ready to take risks, to kiss in the rain and fly away, to get another chance, and to try and find their way out of the blackout.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh you, you walk on past
You continue on your way without acknowledging me.
Your lips cut a smile on your face
You hide your true emotions behind a forced smile.
(Your scalding face) to the cage, to the cage
You retreat to a confined and painful place within yourself.
She was a beauty in a cage
You knew someone once who had beauty and potential, but was trapped by their circumstances.
Too, too high a price
The cost of what you desire is too great.
To drink rotting wine from your hands
You will settle for something unfulfilling or even harmful.
(Your fearful hands) get me to a doctor's, I've been told
You are so afraid that you need professional help to cope.
Someone's back in town the chips are down
A significant and stressful situation has arisen.
I just cut and blackout
You may turn to self-harm or other destructive behaviors to cope.
I'm under Japanese influence and my honor's at stake
You are feeling the pressure to uphold traditions or expectations that contradict your true self.
The weather's grim, ice on the cages
The conditions around you are oppressive and bleak.
Me, I'm Robin Hood and I puff on my cigarette
You see yourself as a rogue figure, striking against the norm, but perhaps in a self-destructive way.
Panthers are steaming, stalking, screaming
You feel threatened and hunted by forces beyond your control.
If you don't stay tonight
You fear being alone and abandoned.
I will take that plane tonight
You are willing to take drastic actions to escape your current situation.
I've nothing to lose, nothing to gain
You feel stuck and directionless in life.
I'll kiss you in the rain
You long for a romantic connection in your life.
Get me to the doctor
You are struggling with mental or physical health issues that need professional attention.
Get me off the streets
You feel unsafe or unstable in your current environment.
Get me on my feet
You need help finding direction and stability in life.
Hot air gets me into a blackout
You may use substances or unhealthy coping mechanisms to escape reality.
(Woo-hoo) while the streets block off
As the world around you becomes more chaotic, you may seek out unhealthy escapes.
Getting some skin exposure to the blackout (get some protection)
You may be putting yourself in danger while trying to escape reality.
Get me on my feet (get some direction, woo-hoo)
You need help finding your way back to a healthy and fulfilling life.
Oh, get me on my feet
You are pleading for help to get back on track.
Get me off the streets (get some protection)
You need to remove yourself from a dangerous and unstable situation.
Get a second, get a (woo-hoo)
You are hopeful for a second chance or a new path in life.
Yeah, get a second breath and pass, second go, blackout
You hope to overcome your struggles and start anew, but may relapse or struggle along the way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DrJKintobor
on I Can't Give Everything Away
I can totally imagine this being the end theme of Sabrina Online, when Sabrina marries Richard and they drive off into the sunset...
Peter Bonney
on Diamond Dogs
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