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)
DJ
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think this is easy, realism
I've got a girl out there, I suppose
I think she's dancing
Feel like Dan Dare lies down
I think she's dancing, what do I know?
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh no
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I got believers
Believing me, oh
One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces
Fast food, living nostalgia
Humble pie or bitter fruit
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around no, ooh
I am a D.J., I am what I say
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, ooh
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I've got believers
Believing me
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no
Time flies when you're having fun
Break his heart, break her heart
He used to be my boss and now he is a puppet dancer
I am a D.J., and I've got believers
I've got believers
I've got believers
I've got believers in me
I've got believers
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I am a D.J.
The lyrics of David Bowie's "DJ" are a reflection of the life of a DJ, his influence on people, and his relationships. The opening lines of "I'm home, lost my job and incurably I'll, you think this is easy realism" show that the singer is struggling with his life's path. He then speaks about a girl he thinks is dancing, which could represent the listener who is enjoying the music that he is playing. The line "Feel like Dan Dare lies down, I think she's dancing, what do I know?" refers to the British comic character Dan Dare, who travels to different planets and has adventures, which is similar to the travel that the DJ's music provides.
The chorus of the song is simply, "I am a DJ, I am what I play, can't turn around, no, can't turn around" meaning that the DJ is what he plays, and he cannot turn around from his job as a DJ. He has fans who believe in him, and that belief keeps him going despite his difficulties. The second verse talks about the weekend lights and faces, fast food, nostalgia, humble pie, and bitter fruit, which can be seen as the experiences that his listeners go through and find comfort in his music.
Overall, "DJ" is a song that explores the life of a DJ and his relationship with his fans. It's a reflection on how music can bring people together, offer them solace, and help them through tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm home, lost my job, and incurably I'll
I'm at home, unemployed, and chronically sick
You think this is easy, realism
Real life is more difficult than you imagine
I've got a girl out there, I suppose
I have a girlfriend somewhere, I assume
I think she's dancing
I believe she's dancing
Feel like Dan Dare lies down
I feel like a defeated superhero
I think she's dancing, what do I know?
I assume she's dancing, but I'm not certain
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I define myself as a DJ by the music I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh, ooh
I can't change what I am
I am a D.J., I am what I play
My identity is tied to the music I play
I got believers
There are people who believe in me
Believing me, oh
They believe in what I represent
One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces
One more weekend of partying and socializing
Fast food, living nostalgia
Eating fast food is a reminder of my past
Humble pie or bitter fruit
Accepting reality can be hard
Can't turn around no, can't turn around no, ooh
I can't change who I am
I am a D.J., I am what I say
My words reflect who I am as a DJ
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, ooh
I cannot change who I am or what I do
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Music defines who I am as a DJ
I've got believers
People trust and believe in me
Believing me
They have faith in my abilities
Can turn around no, can't turn around
I cannot change my identity
Time flies when you're having fun
Having fun makes time pass quickly
Break his heart, break her heart
Love can be painful and destructive
He used to be my boss and now he is a puppet dancer
Someone I used to work for is now a powerless performer
I am a D.J., and I've got believers
I am a DJ, and there are people who trust and believe in me
I've got believers
People have faith in me
I've got believers
People believe in me
I've got believers in me
People have trust and faith in me as a DJ
I've got believers
There are people who believe in me
I am a D.J.
I define myself as a DJ
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, CARLOS ALOMAR, DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Mccudden
Absolutely true with robert fripp.
On guitar. And Brian eno.
Berlin trilogy. Boys on that album.
With the ending guitar solo fripp.
Out of this world. Amazing
How it got on the radio .ALSO
SCARRY MONSTERS. TOO.
WAS BIZARRE FOR RADIO.
BUT HE DEFINITELY WAS
THE THIN WHITE DUKE
THROWING DARTS IN
LOVERS EYES.
terry denney
Bowie was ahead of his time...this was 1979 but it could have been 1989. He was and will always be a musical genius, not to ever be replaced.
Jose Gomez
1989, he was on hiatus from his solo career. Have you heard of Tin Machine?
Lic. José Chavez
Mike Girard It's just a meme, dude, chill
Julian Hudson
Also not forgetting,he was a massive influence on 'New Wave' in the first place!
nano
@Sameer Kotwal then why are you here, watching a david bowie music video
Kelly Campbell
You’re so right. I get chills.
Joy Campi
One of the best parts of this video is David walking around the streets and people swarming around him laughing, kissing him, following him, dancing......and he is loving it, as they are too!! One of his best songs!! Miss you 💔
thevoid99
he's just like all of us except cooler and more attractive he gets all of dudes and chicks because he's david bowie.
Amber P
I love how he kisses the guy without hesitation, but when the girl starts kissing him he's like "what tf are you doing?" 😂
Selestina118
My absolute favorite is the random woman with the glasses and sweater that he just sweeps up in a little twirl and her face is all "What the hell!!??" xD So great.