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)
The Last Thing You Should Do
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What are you doing to yourself
What are you doing to yourself
It's the last thing you should do
Nobody laughs anymore
Nobody laughs anymore
Nobody laughs anymore
Save the last dance for me
Catch the last bus with me
Give the last kiss to me
It's the safest thing to do
David Bowie's lyrics in The Last Thing You Should Do can be interpreted as a commentary on self-destructive behavior. The repetition of the question "What are you doing to yourself" highlights the addictive and harmful nature of the behavior. Bowie seems to be urging the subject to take a step back and consider the consequences of their actions, recognizing that it is the last thing they should do.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of staying connected to others in times of difficulty. "Nobody laughs anymore" highlights the isolation that comes with self-destructive behavior, and "save the last dance for me" and "catch the last bus with me" suggest that there is safety in being with others who care for us. The lyrics demonstrate a concern for the subject's well-being and a desire to help them find a better path.
Overall, The Last Thing You Should Do is a powerful song that speaks to the struggle of addiction and the importance of seeking help and support from others. It shows Bowie's compassion for those who are struggling and his desire to encourage positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
What are you doing to yourself
Hey, stop and take a look at what you're doing to yourself.
What are you doing to yourself
Seriously, you need to evaluate your actions and their impact on your wellbeing.
What are you doing to yourself
It's important to be aware of how you're treating yourself and make changes if necessary.
It's the last thing you should do
Whatever it is you're doing that's harmful to yourself, it's not worth it in the end.
Nobody laughs anymore
People have lost their sense of humor and ability to enjoy life.
Nobody laughs anymore
Laughter has become a rarity and it's a concerning trend.
Nobody laughs anymore
It's disheartening to see that people have become too serious and uptight.
It's the worst thing you can do
Not being able to find joy and humor in life is one of the greatest tragedies.
Save the last dance for me
Make sure to share one last moment of happiness with me before we part ways.
Catch the last bus with me
Let's spend as much time together as we can before we have to go our separate ways.
Give the last kiss to me
Let our parting moment be one of love and affection, rather than sadness.
It's the safest thing to do
Choosing to part ways in a positive way is the best way to ensure our memories of each other are positive as well.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BOWIE, MARK PLATI, REEVES GABRELS
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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