David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally… Read Full Bio ↴David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

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)

Star
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tony went to fight in Belfast
Rudi stayed at home to starve
I could make it all worthwhile
As a rock and roll star
Bevan tried to change the nation
Sonny wants to turn the world, well he can tell you that he tried
I could make a transformation as a rock and roll star

So inviting, so enticing to play the part
I could play the wild mutation
As a rock and roll star

Get it on yeah

(Ooh yeah)

I could do with the money (you know that I)
I'm so wiped out with things as they are (you know that I)
I'd send my photograph to my honey
And I'd come on like a regular superstar

I could make a transformation
As a rock and roll star

So inviting, so enticing to play the part
I could play the wild mutation
As a rock and roll star, get it on yeah

I could do with the money (you know that I)
I'm so wiped out with things as they are (you know that I)
I'd send my photograph to my honey
And I'd come on like a regular superstar

I could fall asleep at night
As a rock and roll star
I could fall in love all right
As a rock and roll star

Rock and roll star

Rock and roll star
Just watch me now

Overall Meaning

The song "Star" by David Bowie is a reflection on the desire for fame and fortune through the lens of the rock and roll lifestyle. The lyrics paint a picture of various individuals who have each attempted to make an impact in their own way, but have been unsuccessful. The first two lines introduce two characters, Tony and Rudi, who contrast one another - Tony traveled to Belfast to fight, while Rudi stayed home and starved. Bowie then offers the idea that he could make their struggles worthwhile by becoming a rock and roll star.

He goes on to describe others who have attempted to create change, but ultimately have failed. Bevan, perhaps a reference to the British politician Aneurin Bevan, who was known for his welfare state reforms, and Sonny, who wants to turn the world, but has failed. Bowie suggests that he personally could make a difference through music, and that transforming into a rock and roll star would be the way to do it.

The chorus of "Star" is an expression of how exciting and enticing the idea of being a rock and roll star can be. Bowie muses that he could play any part he wanted, and that he could make the transformation. This sentiment is surely something that has been felt by many eager young musicians throughout the years.

The final verse of the song is an expression of how being a rock and roll star could solve many problems - Bowie could do with the money, he's so wiped out with things as they are, and he could come on like a regular superstar. He concludes that, as a rock and roll star, he could fall asleep at night or fall in love, and that becoming a star would solve all of his problems. It's a reflection on the power of fame and the allure of the rock and roll lifestyle, and it's a theme that Bowie would explore throughout his career.

Line by Line Meaning

Tony went to fight in Belfast
Tony left his home to participate in a war in Belfast

Rudi stayed at home to starve
Rudi chose to stay at home and starve, instead of engaging in the conflict

I could make it all worthwhile
As a rock and roll star, I can make a significant impact and change the world for the better

As a rock and roll star
Being a rock and roll star is what the artist perceives as the ultimate goal

Bevan tried to change the nation
Bevan attempted to influence the nation to make positive changes

Sonny wants to turn the world, well he can tell you that he tried
Sonny had ambitions to change the world but wasn't successful in doing so

I could make a transformation as a rock and roll star
As a rock and roll star, the singer feels they could transform themselves and have a significant impact on society

So inviting, so enticing to play the part
Becoming a rock and roll star is alluring and tempting

I could play the wild mutation
The artist feels they could embody a unique, wild and transformative persona as a rock and roll star

Get it on yeah
Encouragement to pursue the dream of becoming a rock and roll star

(Ooh yeah)
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm for pursuing the rock and roll star lifestyle

I could do with the money (you know that I)
Becoming a rock and roll star would allow the artist to improve their financial situation

I'm so wiped out with things as they are (you know that I)
The singer is exhausted and discontent with their current circumstances

I'd send my photograph to my honey
The singer would send photographs to their loved ones to showcase their success as a rock and roll star

And I'd come on like a regular superstar
The singer would present themselves as a superstar, to further enhance their success and admiration from fans

I could fall asleep at night
Being a rock and roll star would provide the artist with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment

I could fall in love all right
As a rock and roll star, the artist would have the opportunity to explore romantic interests

Rock and roll star
An affirmation of the desire to become a rock and roll star

Just watch me now
A declaration of confidence and determination to achieve the goal of becoming a rock and roll star

Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS