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)
Fame '90
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow
Fame
Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane
Fame
Fame-f-fame
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
Fame
Fame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime
Fame
(What's your name?)
Fame
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it babe?
Really, really?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool
Fame
Fame-f-fame
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain check on pain
Fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame
Fame
What's your name?
(whispered)
Feeling so gay, feeling gay
The lyrics to David Bowie's "Fame '90" explore the concept of fame and how it can both empower and corrupt those who achieve it. The repetitive use of the word "fame" throughout the song emphasizes its all-consuming nature and how it can drive people to do things they wouldn't normally do. The first verse speaks to how fame can give a person an unprecedented level of control and power over their own life, but can also be overwhelming and hard to handle. The second verse explores the more materialistic side of fame - the luxuries it can afford and the fact that it's not guaranteed to last. The line "What you need you have to borrow" is particularly suggestive of how fleeting and uncertain fame can be.
Moving on to the third verse, the lyrics address the dangers of fame. The phrase "It drives you to crime" suggests that the pressure and stress associated with fame can lead people to make poor decisions and engage in unethical behavior. The repetition of the word "fame" throughout the chorus reinforces this idea, as if the very concept of fame is what's driving people to act out of character. The final verse sees Bowie somewhat rejecting fame entirely, perhaps acknowledging its dangerous allure but ultimately coming to the conclusion that it's not worth it. He sings, "Is it any wonder I reject you first?" before ending the song with the whispered line "Feeling so gay, feeling gay," which can be interpreted as a sense of freedom and lightness once fame is no longer a driving force in someone's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Fame, makes a man take things over
Being famous creates an illusion of power and control, giving a man the confidence to take things over.
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
The fame is overwhelming and takes hold of a man, making it difficult to accept or understand.
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow
It turns out the fame is empty, and when you reach the top, you realize you are in a place where things are hollow.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
Fame is not about intelligence, but rather the passion and desire that drives a person to achieve it.
That burns your change to keep you insane
The fire of fame can destroy a person's sense of self and drive them to insanity as they try to maintain their status and wealth.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
Fame-f-fame
Another short repetition of the word 'Fame,' emphasizing its importance in the song's message.
Fame, what you like is in the limo
Famous people get to indulge in luxury and have access to things they like that are often out of reach for regular people, such as limousines.
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
The benefits of being famous do not last forever, and one day they could all be gone.
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
Being famous may give you temporary access to what you need, but it is not sustainable, and you may have to borrow it from others.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
Fame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line
When someone achieves fame, they may say "No, it's mine!" to assert ownership of their success or persona, but it is merely a line that helps them maintain their role.
To bind your time, it drives you to crime
Fame can become an addiction that takes up all of a person's time, leading them to desperation, which can drive them to break the law.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
(What's your name?)
A rhetorical question aimed at the listener, emphasizing the theme of fame and its effect on a person's identity.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
Could it be the best, could it be?
Questioning if fame is the best thing one could achieve in their life.
Really be, really, babe?
Asking if it is truly the pinnacle of success and if it is worth pursuing?
Could it be, my babe, could it babe?
Repeating the question, suggesting that the answer is not clear and can only be discovered by the individual.
Really, really?
Emphasizing the uncertainty and doubt before deciding whether or not to pursue fame.
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
It is not unusual for famous people to reject the opinions or advances of others, who often just see them as a means of getting to their fame.
Fame, fame, fame, fame
A repetition of the word 'Fame' conveying its overwhelming and all-consuming effects.
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool
Because of the scrutiny and pressure that comes with fame, it can be hard for people to fool or deceive those who have achieved it, making them appear 'too cool'.
Fame
A short repetition of the word 'Fame' before continuing the lyrics further discussing the concept.
Fame-f-fame
Another short repetition of the word 'Fame,' emphasizing its importance in the song's message.
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Fame may be desirable for some, but it can also leave others feeling cold and alone, like they are on the outside looking in.
Got to get a rain check on pain
When things get tough or painful, famous people may have to postpone or take a break from their careers, like getting a rain check on a game you can't attend.
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
A repeated chorus of the word 'Fame,' reiterating the song's theme for emphasis and impact.
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Continuing the repetition of 'Fame,' reinforcing its importance.
Fame, fame, fame
One more time, the word 'Fame' is repeated, concluding the song with a final emphasis on the theme.
Fame
The last, short repetition of the word 'Fame' which signifies the end of the song.
"Feeling so gay, feeling gay"
A whispered, seemingly unrelated line at the end of the song that adds a sense of irony and contrast, since 'gay' was once interpreted as being happy, but has come to have a different meaning, acting as a contradiction to the song's message on the price of fame.
Lyrics ยฉ TINTORETTO MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CARLOS ALOMAR, DAVID BOWIE, JOHN LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mandyschmidt7960
A mime, a painter, a writer, a dancer, a singer, an actor, a chameleon, an icon, a legend and a kind man. As long as there's music he'll live on.
@NAVARROWS
amen
@smhart8734
Yeah he did it all . And he did it with such class
@ChristopherLee3247
What time do they serve dinner in here?
@cynthiacurrie5589
A legend. He will be remembered!
@nicolabenelli5978
Is a Man
@solidsealz3933
Im happy Bowie is still uploading from beyond the grave.
@jamesleslie4833
He's transmitting from Mars.
@hayasaky4717
Pls no jokes
@joyandjane2494
@James Leslie :D:) Haha!!