A Black Star is a dead star. He wrote this when he was terminally ill with months to live. The piece alludes to the pain of cancer, of life-ending and to songs and art from his earlier life. The dead astronaut is Major Tom who featured in the songs Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes. The companion piece to this is called Lazarus and is worth a look.
Its the swan song of a dying man who gave millions around the world permission to be who they are in a volatile era of cultural expansion like never before. He was called a chameleon for good reason. You never knew what he would do next but it was very well crafted to his own liking and was often groundbreaking.
Don't mind explain it to him. His first keywords were creepy and psychotic. Curious because we judge others through the prism of our own culture and experiences and not as curious as black coloured people tend to have a knac for dramatism and for improper judgement...
There are a lot of layers to Bowie’s music. He was coming to terms with his imminent death when he made Blackstar. But there’s no denying the occult symbolism that was part of his musical and spiritual journey.
This was a very odd choice to kick off your introduction to David Bowie. It is kind of like reading the final chapter of someone's biography (in this case, both Bowie's and the protagonist of the song). You simply lacked decades of context to understand the meaning and relevance to this song. This song/album was released on his 69th birthday. He died 3 days later. The album is a defacto farewell and goodbye to his fans. He was gravely ill with cancer when he recorded this and while he hoped he had a little while longer (and possibly time to record more), he knew he was very near the end.
@@LamariusMinorthank you for the reply. I love the channel and you are killing it. I could provide a lot more context on this song and the meanings (it is basically Bowie coming to terms with his stardom and mortality), but you would be better served by going back and starting early in his career and doing a few songs from each of the distinct Bowie eras. Bowie reinvented himself time and time again over the decades and managed to stay relevant and cutting edge for more than 4 decades. He is one of the most innovative and creative artists of all time. I saw him several times in concert and he is the single most charismatic person I have ever had the pleasure of seeing live. Young Grace VanderWaal is in close company (I have also seen her live multiple times. You can check my channel for some up close and personal videos of Grace's concerts). I hope that this video did not scare you away from Bowie. He is amazing. Maybe you can go back and start with Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust and some of his early stuff, then revisit this one again in a few months.
@@kevindobson3701 I am curious as to the thought process on starting Lamarius with this song (being that he has no frame of reference for the context of the song). Bowie is amazing, and the song is a fitting swan song to his career, but I personally would not have started here.
I agree I just love this song and hardly anyone on youtube has reacted to it , that's why I requested it , but I already sent him another bowie request a more straight forward song I love that bowie released in 2003
I fully agree that this is a terrible place to start with Bowie. As a lifelong fan myself, you have no frame of reference to understand what is happening here, although the music is genius but not mainstream by any means. There is lots of symbolism used here from his past, including the be-jeweled skull inside the Major Tom space suit which references his Ziggy persona. The strange jerky movements are references to religious fanatasism and the "button" eyes resemble the old practice of putting coins on the eyes of the dead (you'll have to look up the reason for that, too long to get into). Of course it all has much creative aspects open to interpretation as well, as is the norm for Bowie. A true genius who was facing his own mortality and yet still creating art. I have not words to encompass his beauty, humor, style, etc.
The guy did it all... Beatles type pop, rock and roll, glam rock, avant garde, dance music, 80s pop, punk, industrial, adult contemporary... this album was for himself... it was his testament, cause he knew he was dying... it's awesome... but obviously it's not for everyone... but I like your reaction a lot. You don't seem to get taken by it... but you give it a chance and you don't dismiss it... that's a great trait you have. Kudos...
All music isn't for everyone.. at some point you like what you like and that's ok. But you giving it a chance and being fair with it... that's a strength... it's proof of a great mind. Keep on keeping on.
Bowie was brilliant from the beginning of his career back in the 60's up to its end in 2016. He is trully one of the most influential artist of the 21t century.
This was Bowie's second to last video shortly before he passed from cancer, so he as cramming everything into his last days/weeks. Blackstar is also a term for black hole, the result of a dying star.
There are many interpretations to both the song and video that reprises many themes from Bowies huge decades spanning career ... at it's core it's the end of life story for one of Bowie's most famous personas Major Tom who first made his appearance as an astronaut who gets lost on a space mission in the song "Space Oddity" but we finally get a message from in "Ashes to Ashes" 11 years later and he's still alive ... in Blackstar we see Major Tom dead on an alien planet where the locals deify him and make relics and a religion from his experience.... The man dies but the "spirit" lives on ... like a dying star leaving behind a legacy that outlives the man .... Bowie the man dies "something happened on the day he died, Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside" his spirit doesn't go anywhere it live on but what we see remaining is the legacy, the black star... the legend of Bowie
There are multiple meanings to lots of Bowie's works and he rarely explained his lyrics .. leaving it up to the listener to draw their own conclusions. It's one of the things I love about Bowie and I find new meaning each time I listen to a song
You can view one aspect of this video as alluding to Major Tom who, having crashlanded on an unknown planet, dies and his skull becomes an icon of worship by the planet's inhabitants, and consequently, Bowie's preacher man character is the prophet of that religion. And bear in mind, Bowie was dying from cancer while he made this.
Lamarius has no concept of who Major Tom is. This is his introduction to Bowie. He needs to go back and watch his earlier stuff (including Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes) and work his way back to this song in a few months.
Mr. Bowie would have appreciated your confusion and as nuch as the fact that you liked the video, I have no doubt about it. Listen to Space Oddity ,I´d love to see a reaction to that one.
Full Circle..... Major Tom dead on a far away planet... you can hear nods to his various personas.... Life as art..... death as art! A genius from the future
Weird in a good way is a good reaction. One of those that linger in a strange way. My friend Candy who was in a movie with David watched this video and said, What the heck's that all about? David of course was dealing with the end of his life and using a lot of cosmic imagery in his thoughts about life and death so the weirdness seems soulful to me even though it reaches no conclusions about anything and doesn't want to. This is a very brave selection on your part since David has a very long legacy. Thanks. 👍
If you haven't already Reacted to I Can't Give Everything Away, please do it. I have been listening to David since I was 13, when I met and fell in love with the equal genius to David, Shirley Chisholm. Shirley should be required reading for every American. Please consider doing a Reaction to MLK's "I Have Been to the Mountain" speech--unquestionably the greatest and most noble human since Jesus or Buddha. Don't let Americans forget that we were once a great people!
Black star is a nickname for the cancer that ultimately took his life. He was dying of cancer when he filmed this video, which I’m guessing greatly influenced the imagery.
You know what, I have been a Bowie fan since I was in middle school. And when I heard this song, even I thought, what the fuck is this? And I still don't "get it". I would recommend some songs from the early 70s. My favorites and most peoples from that time are Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust, and Starman.
David Bowie was more interested in the audience deciding what his work meant to them. He never really liked explaining it. He'd likely invite you to draw your own conclusions as they are quite valid, just like our perceptions of life in general. nobody sees anything exactly the same way.
Just to clear up confusion The woman with the tail was a reference to his song Cat People The convulsing backup singers are a reference to the Fashion video Of course the astronaut is Major Tom from Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes Blackstar is really just a set of easter eggs for us all to agonize over Also the term Blackstar can either refer to a cancerous tumor or the theoreitcal final stage of a star when a white dwarf loses all its heat and light and is for all intents and purposes dead
Oh, and for some sothat are easier to appreciate first time out are many named by your other subscribers, Fame, Let's Dance, Under Pressure w/ Queen, Space Oddity, Young Americans, I'm Afraid of Americans, are all great songs that can be enjoyed first listen without needing backstory or context.
You can't be psychotic and produce that kind of work ...he was a dying man .maybe he could have been on pain relief at the very least but it's called creativity and that he was .
Please react to the song Silly Boy Blue for some really early Bowie from 1967. You'll be surprised by the changes. Or the song Changes from 1971 for something a little more iconic and anthemic. Great reaction, fam!
"I just don't understand the meaning." This brings up an interesting question : is it absolutely necessary to understand the meaning behind a piece of art to fully appreciate it ? I mean, do you need to understand the meaning behind J.S. Bach's fugues, or Mozart's concertos, or Ravel's Bolero, or the Beatles' "Strawberry fields forever" (these are just musical examples : any piece of art would do...) to appreciate and love them ? And yes : Bowie fits among these geniuses. If the afterlife is inhabited by these people, I won't be sad when it's my time to go... In the meanwhile, I'll just keep listening to them, and appreciate every second of it !
I bet you didn't expect to see me here. Iv'e never heard this strange one either. This is not even close to one of his best songs. Try "Fame" by Bowie with John Lennon. It's WAY better than this.
Oh ya Blackstar sold out It is bowie only number 1 album ever That's a fact m look it up if u don't believe me He won so many awards for Blackstar his son accepted them after bowie died I'm a bowie fanatic I know every bowie album and song memorized lol I have a book called the bowie encyclopedia lol It has every song , album , concert , everything bowie ever did in this book is a gigantic book lol
You're right, Gary. I didn't expect to see you here. I am actually extremely shocked to see you here. I've only seen you under my Beatles reaction videos. Lol. Welcome to the other side of my channel. And yes, I will add that to my list.
Yup I own Blackstar I'm a bowie fanatic I own every album and know every song I even own the biggest bowie book ever made called the bowie encyclopedia lol
@@kevindobson3701 I am not sure if I own all of them, but I certainly own most of them, including a CD when he was still David Jones with the Lower Third (I purchased it at Tower Records in New York back in the mid 80'). I saw him on the Glass Spider and Sound and Vision tours.
Awesome My fav bowie album of all time is his album called 1. Outside From 1995 A very experimental album He plays 7 different characters on that album It's also a concept album
You ned to understand that the video recording, of this album, was done in his last dying days. He was in a lot of pain. The writing of it was about his battle with cancer and the videos he didn't even have to do but he just did it. It hurt but he wanted to say goodbye. He did so, with style and unparcelled class, with this. It was filmed 3-4 days before he died. A master, to the end! ruclips.net/video/y-JqH1M4Ya8/видео.html
Great reaction, one of my favorites from Bowie. You should react to Bowie’s MTV interview from the 1980s where he asks the interview point blank why MTV didn’t play black artists. The interviewer kept giving him bs answers and Bowie just kept pressing him. It’s was pretty amazing. ruclips.net/video/XZGiVzIr8Qg/видео.html
CHECK OUT THIS PLAYLIST!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!
ruclips.net/p/PLaBGcsNFGIFeX66smi5SIKuykJeGuTAyc
How many Bowie fans loved him saying....”It was extremely weird....in a good way”? YES!
A Black Star is a dead star. He wrote this when he was terminally ill with months to live. The piece alludes to the pain of cancer, of life-ending and to songs and art from his earlier life. The dead astronaut is Major Tom who featured in the songs Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes. The companion piece to this is called Lazarus and is worth a look.
I did not know that. Although I knew this was his last album. Now I will listen to this album very differently. Thnak you
Its the swan song of a dying man who gave millions around the world permission to be who they are in a volatile era of cultural expansion like never before. He was called a chameleon for good reason. You never knew what he would do next but it was very well crafted to his own liking and was often groundbreaking.
Well ... described.
Don't mind explain it to him. His first keywords were creepy and psychotic. Curious because we judge others through the prism of our own culture and experiences and not as curious as black coloured people tend to have a knac for dramatism and for improper judgement...
There are a lot of layers to Bowie’s music. He was coming to terms with his imminent death when he made Blackstar. But there’s no denying the occult symbolism that was part of his musical and spiritual journey.
5 years on this remains one of the most extraordinary songs and videos ever
This was a very odd choice to kick off your introduction to David Bowie. It is kind of like reading the final chapter of someone's biography (in this case, both Bowie's and the protagonist of the song). You simply lacked decades of context to understand the meaning and relevance to this song. This song/album was released on his 69th birthday. He died 3 days later. The album is a defacto farewell and goodbye to his fans. He was gravely ill with cancer when he recorded this and while he hoped he had a little while longer (and possibly time to record more), he knew he was very near the end.
That's horrible. This video was a request for me to react to. Even the little context you gave here was helpful though. Thank you.
@@LamariusMinorthank you for the reply. I love the channel and you are killing it. I could provide a lot more context on this song and the meanings (it is basically Bowie coming to terms with his stardom and mortality), but you would be better served by going back and starting early in his career and doing a few songs from each of the distinct Bowie eras. Bowie reinvented himself time and time again over the decades and managed to stay relevant and cutting edge for more than 4 decades. He is one of the most innovative and creative artists of all time. I saw him several times in concert and he is the single most charismatic person I have ever had the pleasure of seeing live. Young Grace VanderWaal is in close company (I have also seen her live multiple times. You can check my channel for some up close and personal videos of Grace's concerts). I hope that this video did not scare you away from Bowie. He is amazing. Maybe you can go back and start with Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust and some of his early stuff, then revisit this one again in a few months.
I asked him to react to this song
@@kevindobson3701 I am curious as to the thought process on starting Lamarius with this song (being that he has no frame of reference for the context of the song). Bowie is amazing, and the song is a fitting swan song to his career, but I personally would not have started here.
I agree I just love this song and hardly anyone on youtube has reacted to it , that's why I requested it , but I already sent him another bowie request a more straight forward song I love that bowie released in 2003
From the day he was born to the day he died - genius.
Thanks for reacting you are the best !
I fully agree that this is a terrible place to start with Bowie. As a lifelong fan myself, you have no frame of reference to understand what is happening here, although the music is genius but not mainstream by any means. There is lots of symbolism used here from his past, including the be-jeweled skull inside the Major Tom space suit which references his Ziggy persona. The strange jerky movements are references to religious fanatasism and the "button" eyes resemble the old practice of putting coins on the eyes of the dead (you'll have to look up the reason for that, too long to get into). Of course it all has much creative aspects open to interpretation as well, as is the norm for Bowie. A true genius who was facing his own mortality and yet still creating art. I have not words to encompass his beauty, humor, style, etc.
It doesn’t take a genius to k ow Bowie was an occultist and a demon. You followers of his are weird and satanic
no it's a great start. disagree. I am getting it signed by the saxophonist who worked with David!
@@OMGWorld100 you are DELUDED.
It's pronounced Bow, like Bow and Arrow and EE like in free. Bowie. (Bow EE)
The guy did it all... Beatles type pop, rock and roll, glam rock, avant garde, dance music, 80s pop, punk, industrial, adult contemporary... this album was for himself... it was his testament, cause he knew he was dying... it's awesome... but obviously it's not for everyone... but I like your reaction a lot. You don't seem to get taken by it... but you give it a chance and you don't dismiss it... that's a great trait you have. Kudos...
All music isn't for everyone.. at some point you like what you like and that's ok. But you giving it a chance and being fair with it... that's a strength... it's proof of a great mind. Keep on keeping on.
I couldn't even listen to this until about a year and a half after his death. His final masterpiece and devastating 💔
Elvis Presley also has a song called Blackstar
David bowie and elvis share the same birthday
Ground con..trol to Ma..jor To..m UH HU HUH. Colonel Parker engines on .
Bowie was brilliant from the beginning of his career back in the 60's up to its end in 2016. He is trully one of the most influential artist of the 21t century.
The most influential
This was Bowie's second to last video shortly before he passed from cancer, so he as cramming everything into his last days/weeks.
Blackstar is also a term for black hole, the result of a dying star.
Bowie s career spans over 50 years
There are many interpretations to both the song and video that reprises many themes from Bowies huge decades spanning career ... at it's core it's the end of life story for one of Bowie's most famous personas Major Tom who first made his appearance as an astronaut who gets lost on a space mission in the song "Space Oddity" but we finally get a message from in "Ashes to Ashes" 11 years later and he's still alive ... in Blackstar we see Major Tom dead on an alien planet where the locals deify him and make relics and a religion from his experience.... The man dies but the "spirit" lives on ... like a dying star leaving behind a legacy that outlives the man .... Bowie the man dies "something happened on the day he died, Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside" his spirit doesn't go anywhere it live on but what we see remaining is the legacy, the black star... the legend of Bowie
There are multiple meanings to lots of Bowie's works and he rarely explained his lyrics .. leaving it up to the listener to draw their own conclusions. It's one of the things I love about Bowie and I find new meaning each time I listen to a song
You can view one aspect of this video as alluding to Major Tom who, having crashlanded on an unknown planet, dies and his skull becomes an icon of worship by the planet's inhabitants, and consequently, Bowie's preacher man character is the prophet of that religion. And bear in mind, Bowie was dying from cancer while he made this.
Lamarius has no concept of who Major Tom is. This is his introduction to Bowie. He needs to go back and watch his earlier stuff (including Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes) and work his way back to this song in a few months.
👍
@@Erfedwe no he doesn’t need to dabble with satanic occult beliefs, leave that to you racist weirdo luciferians
There's over 36 interpretations to this epic song
@Sam Berna st. Lucy
Brilliant song and video - one of the final big pieces. More Bowie please - amazingly diverse and durable song canon.
This song & video we’re both 💩
This track is from the past and the future simultaneously
When you die, everyone dies. I got it - I think about it a lot - the center of it all - Great artist
Mr. Bowie would have appreciated your confusion and as nuch as the fact that you liked the video, I have no doubt about it. Listen to Space Oddity ,I´d love to see a reaction to that one.
I requested this in wanted to see how you would react to a song and video like this , it's very very different lol
I like Bowie's Davy Jones period in the early psychedelic years with" Can't Help Thinking About Me" etc.
I am getting Blackstar signed by the saxophonist soon!
Full Circle..... Major Tom dead on a far away planet... you can hear nods to his various personas.... Life as art..... death as art! A genius from the future
Weird in a good way is a good reaction. One of those that linger in a strange way. My friend Candy who was in a movie with David watched this video and said, What the heck's that all about? David of course was dealing with the end of his life and using a lot of cosmic imagery in his thoughts about life and death so the weirdness seems soulful to me even though it reaches no conclusions about anything and doesn't want to. This is a very brave selection on your part since David has a very long legacy. Thanks. 👍
If you haven't already Reacted to I Can't Give Everything Away, please do it. I have been listening to David since I was 13, when I met and fell in love with the equal genius to David, Shirley Chisholm. Shirley should be required reading for every American. Please consider doing a Reaction to MLK's "I Have Been to the Mountain" speech--unquestionably the greatest and most noble human since Jesus or Buddha. Don't let Americans forget that we were once a great people!
Black star is a nickname for the cancer that ultimately took his life. He was dying of cancer when he filmed this video, which I’m guessing greatly influenced the imagery.
You know what, I have been a Bowie fan since I was in middle school. And when I heard this song, even I thought, what the fuck is this? And I still don't "get it". I would recommend some songs from the early 70s. My favorites and most peoples from that time are Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust, and Starman.
I left the remaining list thays left and added a few ones under your bee gees dogs reaction video
The 3 people on the crosses had kind of a twisted bible feel.
Bowie has 32 albums , this was his last one before his death
David Bowie was more interested in the audience deciding what his work meant to them. He never really liked explaining it. He'd likely invite you to draw your own conclusions as they are quite valid, just like our perceptions of life in general. nobody sees anything exactly the same way.
💗💗💗💗
.
Just to clear up confusion
The woman with the tail was a reference to his song Cat People
The convulsing backup singers are a reference to the Fashion video
Of course the astronaut is Major Tom from Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes
Blackstar is really just a set of easter eggs for us all to agonize over
Also the term Blackstar can either refer to a cancerous tumor or the theoreitcal final stage of a star when a white dwarf loses all its heat and light and is for all intents and purposes dead
He was dying of cancer ... just a few months later he died,, this was his last statement on fame mortality etc.... out there musically but brilliant
Oh, and for some sothat are easier to appreciate first time out are many named by your other subscribers, Fame, Let's Dance, Under Pressure w/ Queen, Space Oddity, Young Americans, I'm Afraid of Americans, are all great songs that can be enjoyed first listen without needing backstory or context.
That guy was seriously disturbed.
If you didn't understand the video you were in the right direction.
see, the meaning inly really found from die hard fans of his and people who are really into philosophy and the Buddhist station to station stuff
He looks very spiritual. Pour man.
This was my first real introduction to Bowie and it turned me on to him like you would not believe.
This album song and musuc video won awards
You can't be psychotic and produce that kind of work ...he was a dying man .maybe he could have been on pain relief at the very least but it's called creativity and that he was .
Please react to the song Silly Boy Blue for some really early Bowie from 1967. You'll be surprised by the changes. Or the song Changes from 1971 for something a little more iconic and anthemic.
Great reaction, fam!
St. Lucy
Zoomers don't know about Major Tom, our world is doomed.
"I just don't understand the meaning." This brings up an interesting question : is it absolutely necessary to understand the meaning behind a piece of art to fully appreciate it ? I mean, do you need to understand the meaning behind J.S. Bach's fugues, or Mozart's concertos, or Ravel's Bolero, or the Beatles' "Strawberry fields forever" (these are just musical examples : any piece of art would do...) to appreciate and love them ? And yes : Bowie fits among these geniuses. If the afterlife is inhabited by these people, I won't be sad when it's my time to go... In the meanwhile, I'll just keep listening to them, and appreciate every second of it !
All the women are doing a ritual for thier survival
Looks like Me. Bowie was on drugs all the way till the end.
I bet you didn't expect to see me here. Iv'e never heard this strange one either. This is not even close to one of his best songs. Try "Fame" by Bowie with John Lennon. It's WAY better than this.
Actually it is it won tons of music awards and his album Blackstar is David bowie s only number 1 album of his entire career
@@kevindobson3701 People usually sell big before or just after they die. I haven't heard the album, but Blackstar song is no great shakes.
Oh ya Blackstar sold out
It is bowie only number 1 album ever
That's a fact m look it up if u don't believe me
He won so many awards for Blackstar his son accepted them after bowie died
I'm a bowie fanatic I know every bowie album and song memorized lol
I have a book called the bowie encyclopedia lol
It has every song , album , concert , everything bowie ever did in this book is a gigantic book lol
You're right, Gary. I didn't expect to see you here. I am actually extremely shocked to see you here. I've only seen you under my Beatles reaction videos. Lol. Welcome to the other side of my channel. And yes, I will add that to my list.
@@kevindobson3701 This album is a masterpiece, no great shakes,geez.
This song is all about death
Lazarus even more so.
Yup I own Blackstar
I'm a bowie fanatic
I own every album and know every song
I even own the biggest bowie book ever made called the bowie encyclopedia lol
@@kevindobson3701 I am not sure if I own all of them, but I certainly own most of them, including a CD when he was still David Jones with the Lower Third (I purchased it at Tower Records in New York back in the mid 80'). I saw him on the Glass Spider and Sound and Vision tours.
Awesome
My fav bowie album of all time is his album called 1. Outside
From 1995
A very experimental album
He plays 7 different characters on that album
It's also a concept album
@@kevindobson3701 Kev, he ain’t going to get that one
So he is embracinghis impending death...wanted to say goodbye to fans. He had Iman's blessing. Not creepy...real
Sadly he doesn't look psychotic. That is the look of a man who knows he only has a few weeks or days no live. :(
You ned to understand that the video recording, of this album, was done in his last dying days. He was in a lot of pain. The writing of it was about his battle with cancer and the videos he didn't even have to do but he just did it. It hurt but he wanted to say goodbye. He did so, with style and unparcelled class, with this. It was filmed 3-4 days before he died. A master, to the end!
ruclips.net/video/y-JqH1M4Ya8/видео.html
I expected you to be confused , the video is open to interpretation
Great reaction, one of my favorites from Bowie.
You should react to Bowie’s MTV interview from the 1980s where he asks the interview point blank why MTV didn’t play black artists. The interviewer kept giving him bs answers and Bowie just kept pressing him. It’s was pretty amazing.
ruclips.net/video/XZGiVzIr8Qg/видео.html
Do Oasis swamp song/acquiesce live at Maine road
Please react to: Rammstein - Weisses Fleisch (Live at Madison Sq. Garden)
🇪🇸👌👌👌👍👍👍🇪🇸
Hahaha this is so weird.. this is not even music anymore.. it's something else
He was dying as he made this.
Let's see if u can figure out what this song means lol
John 3:16, Jesus is coming, soon, believe, Romans 10:13, Jesus Saves.
It’s ok, you just don’t understand genius
The music was demonic lol... very dark... great song... but devilish 😂
As background music for a bizarre movie maybe. As far as it's music value, it's pretty much nil.