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)
Somebody Up There Likes Me
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blessing all the papers, thanking one and all
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
Knowing all that you think about from writing on the wall
He's so divine, his soul shines
Breaks the night, sleep tight
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race
He says, I'm somebody
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
He's the savage son of the TV tube
Planets wrote the day was due
All the wisest men around
Predicted that a man was found
Who looked a lot like you and me, yeah
Everyone with sense could see
Nothing left his eye unmoved, he
Had the plan, he had to use (somebody)
He's so divine, his soul shines (somebody)
Breaks the night, sleep tight (somebody out there, somebody)
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race (somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody out there)
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody)
Somebody plays my song in tune
Makes me, makes me, makes me stronger for you, babe
Was a way when we were young, that
Any man was judged by what he'd done
But now you pick them on the screen (what they look like)
Where they've been
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
That given time, the leaders go
Tell me, can they hold you under their spell
Can they walk and hold you as well as a
Smile like Valentino?
Could he sell you anything?
Keep your eyes on your soul, keep your hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Yeah, can't remember (somebody) peace so well
Oh, space to ramble, (somebody, somebody) space to boogie
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
Somebody, somebody, somebody
Yeah, can't remember, peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
Soul shine
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
The song "Somebody Up There Likes Me" by David Bowie is a reflection on fame and the pressure that comes with it. The lyrics are centered around a figurative character who is blessed by everyone and seems to be loved by all. The character is depicted as a token or a symbol representing the aspirations of the masses. He becomes a divine figure, a savior who has come to break the night and shines his soul on the whole human race. He is all-knowing and all-seeing, able to read thoughts as if he's been writing on the walls. According to the lyrics, he's got his eye on our soul and hand on our heart, which seems to suggest that he has some sort of spiritual power that he can exert on people.
The song also touches on the clash of cultures and how the standards of judgment have changed from the past. According to the lyrics, there was a time when a man was judged based on what he had done. But now, people are judged based on their looks and where they've been, often on the screen. The song warns against being influenced by charming individuals who have nothing to offer but an attractive appearance, using the example of Valentino. The chorus repeatedly mentions the phrase "somebody up there likes me," which could refer to a divine force that looks out for the individual. Overall, the song seems to celebrate individuality and warns against succumbing to the pressure of conformity and superficiality.
Line by Line Meaning
He's everybody's token, on everybody's wall
He's a public figure, whose image is everywhere and familiar to everyone
Blessing all the papers, thanking one and all
He's full of gratitude and appreciates everyone who praises him in the media
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
He's a warm and affectionate person, who's comfortable showing affection to people of all ages and genders
Knowing all that you think about from writing on the wall
He's very perceptive and can understand people's thoughts and desires from what they write on walls
He's so divine, his soul shines
He's an extraordinary person, whose inner beauty radiates outwards
Breaks the night, sleep tight
He has a powerful, positive presence that can dispel darkness and help people sleep well
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race
He has a benevolent, compassionate nature that extends to all people, regardless of race or nationality
He says, I'm somebody
He's confident in his own unique identity, and comfortable with himself
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart
He's attentive to people's emotional and spiritual needs, and cares deeply about their well-being
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
He believes there's a higher power who cares for him and wants him to take things slowly and enjoy life
He's the savage son of the TV tube
He's a product and victim of the mass media, which can make people ruthless and uncaring
Planets wrote the day was due
It was fated and inevitable that he would become famous and influential
All the wisest men around
Predicted that a man was found
Even the most knowledgeable and intelligent people recognized his talent and potential
Who looked a lot like you and me, yeah
Everyone with sense could see
He's a relatable and approachable person, and anyone with good judgment could recognize his worth
Nothing left his eye unmoved, he
Had the plan, he had to use (somebody)
He's extremely perceptive and strategic, and can perceive everything around him and make use of it to achieve his goals
Somebody plays my song in tune
Makes me, makes me, makes me stronger for you, babe
He feels supported and inspired by his fans and the people who appreciate his work
Was a way when we were young, that
Any man was judged by what he'd done
In the past, people's value was determined by their actions and accomplishments
But now you pick them on the screen (what they look like)
Where they've been
Today, people are judged based on their physical appearance and their status as public figures
Yeah, can't remember (somebody) peace so well
Oh, space to ramble, (somebody, somebody) space to boogie
He feels like he's lost touch with the peace and freedom he used to enjoy, and longs for the ability to relax and have fun
Someone, somebody
He feels that he's not alone, and that someone is supporting him and looking out for him
Soul shine, so divine
He feels that his inner beauty is radiant and remarkable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, 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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