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)
Sound and Vision
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Don't you wonder sometimes
'Bout sound and vision?
Blue, blue, electric blue
That's the color of my room
Where I will live
Blue, blue
Pale blinds drawn all day
Nothing to do, nothing to say
Blue, blue
I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
And I will sing, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
Drifting into my solitude, over my head
Don't you wonder sometimes
'Bout sound and vision?
David Bowie's Sound and Vision is a poignant ode to human introspection and the power of music in breaking through the monotony of daily life. The song starts with a repetitive doo-doo-doo chant that underscores the importance of sound in our lives. The chorus then poses a rhetorical question about the significance of sound and vision in our lives, lending itself to various interpretations. Bowie uses color symbolism to describe his existential crisis, describing his room as blue, a serene color associated with calmness and contemplation. However, the blinds are pale, and there's nothing happening, inducing a sense of ennui and making him question the very purpose of existence.
The song takes a hopeful turn when Bowie decides to sit down and wait for the "gift" of sound and vision, indicating that he's holding out for a moment that breaks the monotony and revitalizes his senses. The chant of "doo-doo-doo" takes on a more meaningful tone, as he's waiting for a moment of musical epiphany. As the song progresses, Bowie's voice soars higher, accompanied by swanky horns and groovy basslines, potentially symbolizing the moment of epiphany that he was waiting for. The song ends with the same question that it starts, reminding listeners that the importance of sound and vision is a never-ending meditation on life's meaning, suggesting that Bowie never found an answer to the question he posed.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah
The sound of a singer expressing a feeling of relief, acceptance, or delight.
Ah
A repetition of the same sound expressing satisfaction and comfort.
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
A repeated sound of a music instrument or a voice conveying a sense of rhythm or melody.
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
A continuation of the rhythm or melody, expressing consistency and stability.
Don't you wonder sometimes
The singer is inviting the listener to contemplate life or the world around them, suggesting that there are mysteries that are yet to be discovered.
'Bout sound and vision?
The singer is suggesting that one of the mysteries of life is the relationship between sound and vision, and how they affect our perceptions and emotions.
Blue, blue, electric blue
The singer is describing the color of his room, expressing a feeling of emptiness, loneliness, and detachment.
That's the color of my room
The singer is emphasizing the importance of color in shaping our mood and thoughts, suggesting that his room is a reflection of his internal state of mind.
Where I will live
The singer is suggesting that his room is not just a physical place but a mental and emotional space where he can retreat from the world and find solace and comfort.
Pale blinds drawn all day
The singer is describing the state of his room, suggesting that it is a place of darkness, sadness, and despair.
Nothing to do, nothing to say
The singer is describing his state of mind and his lack of purpose or direction in life, suggesting that he feels lost and lonely.
Blue, blue
The singer is repeating the color blue, emphasizing the theme of loneliness, detachment, and sadness.
I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
The singer is describing his state of mind and his longing for something to fill the emptiness and silence of his room, suggesting that he is waiting for an inspiration, a revelation, or a connection to the world outside.
And I will sing, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
The singer is expressing his desire to create something beautiful, meaningful, or inspiring, suggesting that he sees music as a way of bringing sound and vision together and transcending his feelings of emptiness and loneliness.
Drifting into my solitude, over my head
The singer is describing his mental and emotional state, suggesting that he feels isolated, disconnected, and overwhelmed by his thoughts and feelings.
Don't you wonder sometimes
A repetition of a previous line, emphasizing the importance of questioning, exploring, and discovering the mysteries of life.
'Bout sound and vision?
A repetition of a previous line, emphasizing the theme of the song and the singer's fascination with the relationship between sound and vision.
Lyrics © 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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