From Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and The Beatles to Prince, Jay Z and Lady Gaga, from the Velvet Underground, Kinks and Kraftwerk to Madonna, Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails: David Bowie was the constant sound in pop culture that led mainstream music through its times of rock to glam, jazz to funk, disco to dance, R&B, experimental, and even jungle.
The history of pop music, in my opinion, thrives in colour with David Bowie. Before music was rock-based; guitars, drums and primarily an act on a stage that performed to a standard that would be deemed mediocre to audiences of this generation.
He mastered everything that came before him. Rock, soul, jazz, and ignited the wave of glam and art on the back-end of dark times in Europe post-World War Two. With a sparkling, mischievous mind, gusty ambition, a stupendous ego, but dangerously charming, Bowie dared to do what no other comparable figure of his time had done before - create a new world.
Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, painter and actor. David Bowie was one of the most talented in history. A gay icon who redefined sexuality for an entire generation. He twisted the norms of culture, society and fashion into knots, deciding that the world was too black and white for his androgynous liking, and he didn't do it alone. Continuously 'collecting influences' from his peers throughout his illustrious six-decade career, he's an innovator, and one of the greatest artists ever.
I shall hope to meet him. If not in this life, but in the next one. David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust and Jareth, the Goblin King.