David Robert Jones, who was better known to the world as David Bowie was a figure more than a person. His work made him a singer, songwriter and even an actor (in films like The Man Who Fell to Earth). He made his way to the centre of global music with his Berlin trilogy: three albums named Low, Heroes and Lodger. His avant-garde approach to music resulted in experiments with Art rock, Glam rock, post-punk, Electronica, Funk, Industrial and Jazz in his final parting-gift to all his beloved fans: BlackStar. The appeal isn’t simply limited to the works he created but to the very “figure”. His name rests upon the many personas he birthed and then wore, as though a garment. The brilliance lays in the way the personas like Ziggy Stardust and The White Duke entwined with the musical produce more than David Bowie himself. His last album BlackStar surpasses most of his former works not just in its aesthetic quality but also in the way Bowie has spoken to the world about a foreboding sense of the end. The album’s value rises to a considerable height since two days after its release on 8 January 2016 (Bowie’s 69th Birthday) David Bowie passed away, on 10 January 2016.
David Bowie died of Cancer after having secretly struggled with the disease for a stretch of eighteen long months. Over the course of the year many artists have paid tributes to him, from Lady Gaga at this year’s Grammy’s to Philip Glass’s paraorchestra which performed a symphony of Bowie’s “Heroes” at Glastonbury.
The onset of the cool winds of November marked the loss of a deep and raspy bass voice, that of Leonard Cohen. He was one of the most influential singers of all time in the genres of Folk and Soft Rock even though he commenced his singing career at the age of 33. He was a poet and novelist struggling in Greece and under the sway of William Butler Yeats, Walt Whitman and Frederico Lorca’s poetry. And when he moved into music and production he did so due to his lack of financial success as a writer. His music came to life in New York where he recorded his first album Songs of Leonard Cohen and gained a massive cult following. He has been on the charts ever since for the numerous albums he has released many of which have revolved around his understanding of the issues of war, love and political injustice. Not only was his voice one of substance but so was his lyrical content and his album covers increased depth by a play of black and white shades.
This year has seen the crest of music sink a little more with the loss of the lives of some phenomenal artistes. Their music has been a part of millions of lives which now realise the ache of having lost the voice of one’s favourite melodies. 2016 is an end of sorts to much but also a hope to the time of music to come.
Cohen’s loss is a chasm which shall forever echo “Suzanne” and “Chelsea Hotel No.2”. Cohen released his final album You Want it Darker at the age of 82, which makes him the only artists to have done so, following which he passed away in his sleep on 7th November. Even though many paid tribute to the man, the finest was by Keith Urban who played Cohen’s “Hallelujah” for a grand audience while on tour.
With a lot of deliberation looming around his death it is still important to not oversee the loss which the realm of music has suffered. Prince Rogers Nelson was an icon of an age which had imbibed a sense of rebellion but had no channel for its release. He stands as one of the most significant voices in terms of sales, recognition (seven Grammys) and influence as far as Punk and Rock & Roll go. Whether one knows him or not it’s very likely for one to have heard “Purple Rain” in their life. Prince has worked with many professional names which were either too long and had to be abbreviated or symbols which made him nameless.
Reputed for a nefarious stage presence, an obsession with the glam and a long list of groupies Prince died on April 21 this year. He was recollected by Madonna, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys on award stages.
For Rock this year has been a period of demolition. The founder and singer of the forerunning rock band “Eagles” Glenn Frey passed away in January. And it was natural that the tribute had to come from his band member and friend Jackson Browne at the Grammys 2016.The loss is irremediable since one of the most deeply impressing songs of all time — “Hotel California” — is the work of the Eagles. Their impact on the childhood of the last few generations is what shall carry them into the Hall of Fame of memory and he already is a part of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. There have been very few artists who have covered the very expanse of Rock within their careers; at least the heart of what rock stood for during its adolescence and Glenn Frey would have to be one of them. Frey seeped into Pop Rock, Soft Rock and even Country Rock in his albums. Just remembering songs like “The Long Run” and “Desperado” are enough to make you weak with loss and nostalgia.
This year has seen the crest of music sink a little more with the loss of the lives of some of all time phenomenal artists. Their music has been a part of millions of lives which now realize the ache of having lost the voice of one’s favourite melodies. 2016 is an end of sorts to much but also a hope to the time of music to come.