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
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fame (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (fame)
Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane (sane)
Fame (fame)
Fame (fame), what you like is in the limo
Fame (fame), what you get is no tomorrow
Fame (fame), what you need you have to borrow
Fame (fame)
Fame, "Nein, it's mine", is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime (crime)
Fame (fame)
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Could it, babe? Could it, babe?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you're all too cool to fool?
Fame (fame)
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Gotta get a rain check on 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, fame, fame
Fame, what's your name?
(Feeling so gay)
(Feeling gay)
In David Bowie's "Fame," the lyrics explore the dangers and pitfalls of the concept of celebrity culture. The song critiques the way in which fame can take over a person's life, making them paranoid and self-absorbed, leading to criminal behavior and a lack of true connections with others. The repetition of "Fame" throughout the song highlights the obsessive nature of this concept in our society, and the way in which it can consume individuals.
Bowie describes how fame can allow people to act recklessly, without fear of consequences, as it can make them feel invincible. However, this can lead to feelings of emptiness, as they are constantly seeking validation and fulfillment through external means. The line "Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame that burns your change to keep you insane," suggests that fame can strip people of their true selves and force them to put on a facade to stay relevant.
The chorus of the song poses the question, "Could it be the best, could it be?", as Bowie seems to be questioning whether fame is truly worth sacrificing one's true self for. The final lines of the song, "Gotta get a rain check on fame, what's your name," can be interpreted as Bowie suggesting that taking a break from the limelight and reconnecting with one's true self is necessary in order to maintain a sense of sanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Fame (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame drives a person to try and control everything.
Fame (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame gives one freedom, but it's difficult to handle.
Fame (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame takes one to a place where material things and social status are valued more than true meaning and fulfillment.
Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane (sane)
Fame (fame)
Fame corrupts a person's values and mentality and keeps them addicted to it.
Fame (fame), what you like is in the limo
Fame (fame), what you get is no tomorrow
Fame (fame), what you need you have to borrow
Fame (fame)
Fame provides instant gratification but offers no real security, forcing one to constantly rely on it.
Fame, "Nein, it's mine", is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime (crime)
Fame (fame)
Fame creates a desire to own and control everything, which can lead to harmful actions.
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Could it, babe? Could it, babe?
Is fame really worth the obsession and attention it receives?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you're all too cool to fool?
Fame (fame)
Fame can be manipulative and deceiving, which can cause one to be cautious and skeptical.
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Gotta get a rain check on fame (fame)
Fame
Fame is more of a burden than a blessing, and sometimes it's better to take a break from it.
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?
Repetition of fame emphasizes its negative impact and constant presence in society.
(Feeling so gay)
(Feeling gay)
These lines refer to feeling happy, which contrasts the negative tone of the song and adds an ironic twist.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carlos Alomar, David Bowie, John Lennon
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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