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)
Changes
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mmm
Still don't know what I was waitin' for
And my time was runnin' wild
A million dead end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
But I've never caught a glimpse
How the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There's gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
Mmm, yeah
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame?
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time
Strange fascinations fascinate me
Ah, changes are taking
The pace I'm goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time
The opening lines of David Bowie's Changes speak to his confusion and dissatisfaction with his own life, a theme he explores throughout the song. He confesses that he still does not know what he is waiting for, and that despite all his efforts, he feels like he is running in place. He has tried to find success and happiness, but each time he gets close, it eludes him. This lack of fulfillment has left him feeling like a "faker" and has prevented him from seeing himself clearly.
But then, Bowie pivots to the central theme of the song: change. He implores the listener to "turn and face the strange," to embrace the unknown and unpredictable forces that shape our lives. He recognizes that being resistant to change is ultimately futile, and that it is better to adapt and grow with the world around us. To illustrate this point, he uses vivid imagery to describe the impermanence of life, specifically the way that days and people come and go, like ripples in a stream.
Bowie also takes time to chastise those who would try to stifle change in others, particularly young people. He notes that these "children that you spit on" are well aware of what they are going through, and do not appreciate being told how to live their lives. This vitriol is contrasted with the song's more hopeful and transcendent message of embracing change and growth.
Overall, Changes is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of Bowie's relationship with himself, the world around him, and the ever-changing nature of life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Still don't know what I was waitin' for
I am uncertain about the purpose of my life
And my time was runnin' wild
I was wasting my time recklessly
A million dead end streets and
I had encountered countless unsuccessful paths
Every time I thought I'd got it made
Whenever I thought I had succeeded
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
I found the achievement to be unsatisfying
So I turned myself to face me
I introspected to understand myself better
But I've never caught a glimpse
However, I am yet to perceive my true self
How the others must see the faker
I wonder how others view me as a phony
I'm much too fast to take that test
But I am unwilling to undergo tests to confirm my doubts
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Changes are happening
Turn and face the strange
I must confront the unknown
Don't want to be a richer man
Money is not my goal
There's gonna have to be a different man
I must become a better version of myself
Time may change me
Over time, I will evolve
But I can't trace time
But I cannot slow down time or analyze its effects
I watch the ripples change their size
I observe how things evolve
But never leave the stream
However, everything remains part of the same system
Of warm impermanence
Everything has a fleeting nature
And so the days float through my eyes
Days pass by quickly
But still the days seem the same
Even though time is moving, everything remains stagnant
And these children that you spit on
I observe how society disdains and belittles its youth
As they try to change their worlds
But I notice their eagerness to change the world
Are immune to your consultations
They do not need your advice
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
They are conscious of their struggles
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Do not discourage them from dreaming and growing
Where's your shame?
You should be ashamed of yourselves
You've left us up to our necks in it
Society has left the youth to face problems alone
Strange fascinations fascinate me
I am intrigued by oddities
Ah, changes are taking
The world is evolving
The pace I'm goin' through
Things are changing too fast for me to grasp
Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers
Hey, musicians, be cautious
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
You will age fast
But I can't trace time
Despite my attempts, I cannot comprehend the effects of time
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dolaylitumlec
He is not dead, he is living in our hearts
@silentweeb6581
no, he's on mars
@Crusad3r_69
@@silentweeb6581 he is the starman now 😔
@markjones8798
@@silentweeb6581he went back to the homeland
@El_Frutero
@@Crusad3r_69 He always was the starman, he wanted to come and meet us and he indeed blew our minds
@waynenorthspacebuoy3529
Same here ... I perform and record Bowie Songs on YT ... It keeps me connected with his spirit.
@benw4409
40 years after nearly appearing in Doctor Who, Bowie is used in a Doctor Who trailer.
@gizmomac1520
Yes!!
@djhopkins3443
This is why am here lol😂
@Jackey_Chen
Yep!